Pittsfield 15s Impressive in Babe Ruth District Opener
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Pittsfield Babe Ruth 15-year-olds got the holiday fireworks started early and sent the visitors from Westfield home early, too, on Friday night.
Pittsfield pounded out 10 hits, including a home run and a triple, against three different pitchers in an 11-0 win that ended in the middle of the fifth in the District 1 tournament opener for both teams.
Devon Walker hit a two-run homer to left-center to lead the hit parade at Deming Field, and Jake McNeice left the bases loaded twice in four innings of scoreless pitching for Pittsfield.
"Jake did what he does best -- throw strikes and get a head of the hitters," Pittsfield coach Tom Rizzo said. "That's when he's most effective. He did a great job out there.
"He's got two pitches he can throw for strikes at any time, his fastball and his curve ball. And he's got a nasty changeup. He's difficult to hit when he's throwing strikes -- very difficult."
McNeice struck out four, walked four and allowed three hits.
He faced the minimum through two innings after picking off the only baserunner he allowed.
After Pittsfield scored five in the bottom of the second, Westfield was on the verge of answering with three singles to load the bases with two out. But McNeice got the next man to fly out to center fielder Jack Cooney.
Pittsfield scored four more in the third to give McNeice a 9-0 cushion, but he had trouble finding the strike one in the top of the fourth.
After the first Westfield batter grounded to first base on the first pitch of the inning, the next three men drew walks to load the bases again.
McNeice got the next man to fly out to Anthony Whiteley in right, and shortstop Izaiya Mestre fielded a grounder and tossed to second baseman Drew DeMartino to end the threat.
Jake Flynn came on to start the fifth, and after allowing a leadoff double he got the next three men in order to end the game.
As good as Pittsfield's pitching and error-free defense was, it was the offense that carried the day.
The five-run first was started by a pair of walks to Hunter Brasie and Walker. Ty Cowdrey singled to load the bases, and Whiteley followed with a single to left to drive in the game's first run.
DeMartino followed with an RBI single, and a passed ball allowed Cowdrey to score before Mestre singled to right to drive in two and make it 5-0.
In fourth, it was all about the long ball. Walker went out of the ballpark to drive in Brandon Peaslee, who had reached on a walk. Then after Cowdrey drew a free pass, Whiteley tripled to right-center. An errant throw to third allowed him to score and make it 9-0.
In the fourth, McNeice was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Cooney doubled him home. Then with two outs, Flynn singled to left to drive in Cooney and provide the final margin.
"We're preaching the same thing to them all the time: short and quick to the ball and good things happen," Rizzo said. "They've been doing that for a long time, and it's nice to see them stringing hits together."
Pittsfield travels to Greenfield on Sunday evening to play Franklin County. Westfield will host North Adams on Sunday night.
