Madison on 6/22 (13-12 win)

Via an amazing display of power, resolve and teamwork, Westfield rallied from 10-8 deficit scoring 5 runs in their last at bat to defeat a tough Madison team by the score of 13-12.

Nick Mele's crushing grand slam over the left center field fence in the top of the 6th sent the Westfield faithful into a frenzy and put Westfield ahead to stay. It was a tremendous clutch hit -- estimated at 220 plus feet -- and it will not soon be forgotten. One could almost hear John Sterling making the call "here's the 1-1 to Mele...'crack'...it is high, it is far, it is GOOONNNEEE....a grand slam for Nick Mele!"

Devin Anderson started the rally with a smash single to right off of a very hard throwing Madison reliever. Scott Tupper, Ethan Smith and Chris Rinaldi each walked leading up to Mele's crushing blow. Mele finished 4 for 4 with 4 runs scored and 5 RBIs. Chris Boots (2 for 3, with a double and 3 RBIs), Hopper Murray (2 for 3), Brett Robertshaw (3 RBIs) and Vin Difilippo also came up with big hits to power the offense.

Chris Boots started on the mound and went 2 innings leaving with the lead. Robertshaw and Eric Varakian pitched the 3rd and the 4th innings, respectively. Varakian struck out the side in the 4th. Chris "Mariano" Varano entered the game with bases loaded in the 5th inning, no one out and Madison threatening. Mariano Varano mixed hard fastballs with a few well timed off speed pitches to retire Madison before they could inflict significant damage. He picked up the victory and Rinaldi pitched the 6th, shutting down a late Madison rally to preserve the win.

Mele and Varano made great defensive plays on the 3rd inning to prevent a big inning for Madison. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Mele, who was playing first base, lept and grabbed a hard smash that would have otherwise been a sure double. Later in the inning with a runner on 1st and 3rd, Chris Varano fielded a hard hit grounder in right field and threw a strike to 2nd base to force out the runner attempting to advance to 2nd. Anderson also made a stellar defensive play in the 5th inning. With the base loaded and the infield playing in to prevent Madison from scoring, Anderson fielded a slow roller to 3rd and made a tremendous throw to the plate to prevent a run from scoring.

Next up Merrill Park at Cranford at 10:30am on Saturday.