Westfield defeats Scotch Plains 3-1 in Cranford Tourney

The boys faced one of their toughest challenges of the year as they went up against Scotch Plains in the Cranford tournament. Westfield combined strong pitching, solid defense and opportunistic base running to defeat Scotch Plains 3-1. The win places Westfield at 7-1 on the year and 3-0 in the Cranford tournament.

Scotch Plains jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning on three walks and a base hit, however Nick Mele quickly settled in and found his zone and he proceeded to strike out 3 consecutive Scotch Plains batters to end the threat. Mele struck out the 1st two hitters in the 2nd inning before allowing a two out walk. On a 2-0 pitch to the next batter, the Scotch Plains runner on 1st base attempted to steal 2nd, but he was gunned down by Eric Varakian who fired a strike to Chris Rinaldi to end the inning. Varakian shot down another Scotch Plains runner attempting steal in the 3rd inning, firing another laser to Rinaldi who applied the tag. Mele left the game at the end of the 3rd inning and was replaced in the lineup by Matt Macik and on the mound by Rinaldi.

The Westfield offense scored all of it’s runs in the 4th inning. Rinaldi led off the inning with a walk and Macik immediately followed with a hard single to right field. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Westfield attempted a double steal. The throw to 3rd to get the lead runner was off target and went into left field and all the way to the fence. Rinaldi scored easily and heads up base running by Macik allowed him to score all the way from first. Chris “Boots” Boustikaris kept the offense going with a single and Devin Anderson followed with a hard hit ball to the left side that the Scotch Plains 3rd baseman fielded and fired to second to retire Boots. With Brett Robertshaw at the plate, Anderson attempted to steal 2nd on a ball that started to get away from the catcher. The catcher’s throw to 2nd sailed high into center field and all the way to the fence. Anderson turned on the after burners and scored on the play to make it 3-1 and it stayed that way for the rest of the way.

Westfield played very solid defense in the game and there were a few plays that deserve mention. With two outs and the bases loaded in the 4th, Rinaldi knocked down a hard grounder back to the mound and when he recovered, his only play was at 3rd base. He threw to Brett Robertshaw who made a heads up play covering the bag and the final out was recorded at 3rd. Macik made a long run in left field to catch a difficult fly ball in the 5th and Hopper Murray snared a very hard hit liner at 2nd base to prevent a run from scoring in the 5th.

Scott Tupper was the first Westfield batter to reach base safely, when he singled in the 3rd inning.

Next up -- on Sunday we play Hazlet in the Cranford tournament at 10:30AM and Union at 2:30PM (Gumbert #3) in North Jersey league play. The boys will wear blue jerseys in both games.

Video Highlight: Triples by Varakian and Mele

Video highlight of back-to-back triples by Eric Varakian and Nick Mele.
(Press play button in lower left hand corner of video frame below)

Directions to Memorial Field in Scotch Plains

Quick note on the directions to Memorial Field for the games tonight and tomorrow night. If you're on North Avenue and make a right on Westfield Road as if you were heading to Booth Field, you're going to make a right on Westfield Avenue and travel between 1/2 and 1 mile and you'll see Memorial Field on your left. If you're heading west on Plainfield Ave and you pass Scotch Hills on your right, Memorial Field will be a little ways up on your right.

Official Directions...

From Route 22 WEST
Take exit for Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Berkeley Heights, New Providence (about 0.6 miles after you pass Lone Star Restaurant), exit just past McDonalds. Turn left at light onto Route 22 overpass, stay in right lane and bear right at end onto PARK AVENUE (Snuffy's on right). Continue straight up PARK AVENUE to 2nd traffic light. Make a left on to WESTFIELD AVENUE. Continue through one traffic light, the field (MEMORIAL Field) will be up on your left about 4 blocks.

From Route 22 EAST
Take exit for Scotch Plains just past Snuffy's Steakhouse. Continue straight up PARK AVENUE to 2nd traffic light. Make a left on to WESTFIELD AVENUE. Continue through one traffic light, the field (MEMORIAL Field) will be up on your left about 4 blocks.


From Garden State Parkway (GSP)
Take exit 135, Clark/Westfield. {From GSP South, bear right onto Central AVENUE, from GSP North bear left onto circle ¾ around, towards Westfield onto CENTRAL AVENUE}. Shop Rite will be on your right. Continue straight on CENTRAL AVENUE to NORTH AVENUE (next block after passing under railroad tracks). Make a left onto NORTH AVENUE. Make a right onto CLARK STREET (across from Lord & Taylor). Take to end; turn left onto BRIGHTWOOD AVENUE, which turns into PLAINFIELD AVENUE. The field (MEMORIAL Field) will be up on your right just past the golf course.

From Route 78 East
Take exit 41, Scotch Plains/Berkeley Heights. Turn right at end of ramp. Follow signs for Scotch Plains/Route 22; make a right at traffic light onto Plainfield Ave. This will turn into BONNIE BURN ROAD. Follow this road for about 2 miles. Make a right at the 2nd traffic light – going over Route 22. Stay in

right lane and bear right at end onto PARK AVENUE (Snuffy's on right). Continue straight up PARK AVENUE to 2nd traffic light. Make a left on to WESTFIELD AVENUE. Continue through one traffic light, the field (MEMORIAL Field) will be up on your left about 4 blocks.

From Route 78 WestTake ext 41, Scotch Plains/Berkeley Heights. Turn left at end of ramp. Follow signs for Scotch Plains/Route 22 make a right at traffic light onto Plainfield Ave. This will turn into BONNIE BURN ROAD. Follow this road for about 2 miles. Make a right at the 2nd traffic light – going over Route 22. Stay in right lane and bear right at end onto PARK AVENUE (Snuffy's on right). Continue straight up PARK AVENUE to 2nd traffic light. Make a left on to WESTFIELD AVENUE. Continue through one traffic light, the field (MEMORIAL Field) will be up on your left about 4 blocks

July 4th, 6PM Basking Ridge Game Rescheduled

The Basking Ridge game that was originally scheduled for July 4th at 6pm has been rescheduled to Tuesday, July 3rd at 6pm. We will play the game at the Mountain Park complex -- directions are as follows...

It's located just off route 78, near Pingry:

From Route 78:

• 78 west to exit 33 (Bernardsville / Martinsville)
• At end of exit ramp, take left onto Martinsville Road (route 525) and cross back over 78
• Proceed for about 1 mile and make right at light onto Mountain Road
• Park is immediately on the left

We will still play Basking Ridge on the morning of July 4th in the Cranford tournament. That game is scheduled for 9am.

Westfield defeats New Providence 12-3

Westfield’s offense came alive early and often tonight in a 12-3 win over New Providence. Scott Tupper, Ethan Smith and Brett Robertshaw each contributed 2 solid innings of pitching, combining to collect 6 strikeouts. Robertshaw was awarded the save. The defense played very strong behind them with Chris Varano demonstrating excellent range at 2nd base on a couple of difficult grounders and Brett Robertshaw throwing a dart from behind the plate to Scott Tupper at shortstop to nail a New Providence player attempting to steal.

Westfield got a scare in the 4th when shortstop Scott Tupper caught a very bad hop on a hard hit ground ball. Tupper was attempting to stay down on the ball when it took a “Gumbert hop” and came up and hit him in the chin. Tupper who was knocked to the ground on the play and who was left with an imprint of baseball stitching on his chin demonstrated his toughness when he immediately bounced back up to get back into the play.

The entire team put forth a very strong offensive performance. Eric Varakian (2 for 4 with a triple and 2 runs scored), Chris Rinaldi (2 for 2 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs), Nick Mele (3 for 3 with 2 triples, 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs), Boots (2 for 2 with an RBI), Deven Anderson (2 RBIs), Hopper Murray (double and an RBI), Chris Varano (2 for 2 with a double, a run scored and an RBI). Matthew Macik and Tupper also added singles.

Next up is Scotch Plains on Saturday at 12:30PM in the Cranford Tournament – we will wear blue.

Pictures (1) from New Providence on 6/27

Eric practicing his Jeter imitation

Brett setting up low and inside

Boots waiting for the pitch (Coach Rinaldi asking to get hurt)

Devin firing to 2nd

Pictures (2) from New Providence on 6/27

Ethan Smith pitching sequence




Chris Rinaldi gets ready for some action

Summit hands Westfield its first loss (6/26)

Our streak of 5 consecutive wins came to an end tonight at the hands of a tough Summit team – we lost 8-5. Summit jumped out to an early 8-0 lead after just an inning and one half. The Summit batters hit the ball hard in the 1^st and 2^nd innings and they came up with some clutch hits, including 2, three run triples. Our defense struggled early as the team committed 3 errors in the first two innings helping Summit keep their rallies alive.

Things started to turn around in the bottom of the 2^nd. Chris Boots led off with a double and scored when Matt Macik drew a bases loaded walk. The Westfield pitching and defense tightened from that point forward and did not allow Summit to score another run. Nick Mele and Chris Rinaldi struck out 4 and allowed only 4 base runners over the final 4 innings. Boots recorded the final out of the 3^rd inning on an outstanding diving catch at first base.

Westfield scored 2 more runs in the bottom of the 4^th. Macik singled home Hopper Murray with a hard single to right and Mariano Varano scored when Ethan Smith drew a hard fought, bases loaded walk with a great at bat. Westfield then pulled within 8-5 in the 5^th. Rinaldi and Mele led off with singles and were knocked home by a single fom Boots. Westfield loaded the bases in the bottom of the 6^th and brought the winning run to the plate but fell just short.

I’m very proud of the way the boys never quit and kept fighting until the final out.

Next up is New Providence tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 6pm on Gumbert #1. We will wear blue.

Professional Photos Available from Cranford

A professional photographer was taking photos at this past weekend's Cranford tournament. You can preview these by going to this website. The password for the site is CBSL.

Summit Game Rescheduled for Tuesday, 6/26

The Summit game that was originally scheduled for Monday, 6/25 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, 6/26 at 6pm at Tamaques Field #6. We're wearing our blue jerseys.

Roselle Park Video Highlight - Matt Macik Playing Solid D

(Press play button in lower left hand corner of video frame below)

Mele and Tupper contribute to Roselle Park no-hitter

DiFilippo, Robertshaw and Varano getting ready for Roselle Park

Westfield Pitchers No-hit Roselle Park (6/24)

The offense, pitching and defense continued to sparkle as Westfield defeated Roselle Park by the score of 15-3. The win puts Westfield at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Cranford tournament.

Chris Rinaldi, Nick Mele, Devin Anderson and Scott Tupper combined to throw a no-hitter, striking out 7. The pitching struggled a little bit at times with their control as they walked 9 batters, however they did not allow a hit in the 4-inning, mercy rule shortened game.

The Westfield offense got busy early, scoring 9 runs in the 1^st inning. Eric Varakian and Chris Rinaldi led off the game with walks and Mele followed with a 3-run homer to right center -- his 2^nd home run in the last 3 games. Vin Difilippo and Devin Anderson then walked and Brett Robertshaw launched a hard hit liner to right to continue the scoring. Chris Varano and Ethan Smith followed with walks and then Eric Varakian cleared the bases with a double. Rinaldi then knocked in Varakian with his first of two triples to deep left center.

Varakian finished 2 for 2 with a double and 3 RBIs, Rinaldi was 2 for 3 with 2 triples and 2 RBIs, Mele was 2 for 3 with the home run and 3 RBIs, Chris “Boots” was 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs, Ethan Smith had 3 RBIs, Robertshaw had 2 RBIs and Chris Varano walked and scored 3 times.

For the 2^nd game in a row, Matt Macik made a great play at 3^rd base in the last inning to secure the victory (video to follow). Varakian (playing 2^nd) and Boots (playing 1^st) also combined on a great defensive play earlier in the game. A hard hit grounder hit of off Boots’ glove and ricocheted towards right field. Varakian who was heading towards first to back up the play, changed direction to stop the ball and then fired to a heads up Boots who had immediately headed to 1^st base after the ball went past him.

Next up is Summit on Monday (6/25) in Westfield at 6pm. Please note that this game may need to be rescheduled as we still do not have a field.

Pictures from the Merrill Park WIN!

Pre-game instruction prior to Chris R's blast down the left field line.


Having fun in the dugout before the game


Coaches Rinaldi and Varano finalize today's line-up


Our biggest "little" fans


Coach Rinaldi providing post game details


What a great looking bunch!

Westfield vs Merrill Park Video of Hits (6/23)

Video compilation of some of today's hits.
(Press play button in lower left hand corner of video frame below)

Westfield defeates Merrill Park to open Cranford tournament (6/23)

The boys opened up strong in the Cranford tournament defeating Merrill Park (MP) 13-3. Vin Difilippo, Hopper Murray and Chris “Mariano” Varano limited MP to 1 hit while striking out 9 batters. Mariano’s cutter was working so well that one of his pitches actually broke one of the MP hitter’s bat in half.

The defensive plays of the game were turned in by Eric Varakian, Matt Macik and Chris “Boots” Boutsakaris. Varakian made a diving catch in right field on a sinking liner to right field with a runner on first base to stop a potential MP rally. Macik turned in a stellar play at 3rd base to record the last out of the game. He charged a ground ball to throw and made a strong throw to Boots at 1st, who made a great stretch to nip the MP runner.

The offense continued to shine with the team collecting a total of 15 hits. Westfield jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the first. Mele started the scoring with a 2 run single that scored Varakian and Rinaldi. Boots, Brett Robertshaw and Devin Anderson followed with RBI singles and then Hopper Murray cleared the bases with a double to right field. Mele, Anderson and Boots each finished with 3 hits and Anderson, Murray and Mele each had 3 RBIs. Varakian was 2 for 3 with a double and 2 runs scored and Rinaldi had a double and scored 3 times.

The win puts Westfield at 4-0 for the season. Next up – Roselle Park on Sunday at 3pm in the Cranford tournament.

Pictures (1) from Merrill Park (6/23)

Eric V

Chris R

Nick M

Vin D

Boots

Pictures (2) from Merrill Park (6/23)

Brett R

Devin A

Hopper M

Chris V

Scotty T