Mestre Pitches Post 68 Past Northampton
But Izaiya Mestre had things covered.
Mestre struck out 15 and allowed just four hits in a complete-game, 4-0, win over Northampton Post 28 that kept Pittsfield unbeaten in the Western Massachusetts tournament.
Post 68, which scored 36 runs in its first wins of the double-elimination tourney, was held to a tourney low offensive production on Sunday at Clapp Park. Pittsfield had just one extra-base hit, and Patrick Colvin’s two-out double did not lead to a run.
Pittsfield used stolen bases, bunts and, of course, pitching to eliminate Post 28.
Mestre was masterful, returning from a hiatus to compete in last week’s Bay State Games to retire the first nine men he faced.
His only real hiccup came in the fifth, when a two-out walk put the tying run on base and brought Northampton’s leadoff man to the plate.
Mestre dug down deep and delivered a four-pitch strikeout to strand three. He then K’d five of the next seven men he faced to finish the win.
“They got a couple of hits, and I walked a guy,” Mestre said. “You’ve just got to bear down and give everything I had to get out of that inning.”
Post 68 coach Pat Bassi had no doubt Mestre could work out of the jam.
“I have confidence in Izaiya,” Bassi said. “He played youth ball for me, and I know his characteristics. He’s very confident in himself, and he knows when to bear down.
“He has the heart of a lion. He’s a very tough pitcher, mentally.”
Post 68 opened the scoring in the first when Matt Koperniak singled, stole second and beat a throw at the plate after Matt Schneider dropped a single into short right field.
Pittsfield added a pair in the second. Chad Shade reached on an infield single, stole second and went to third on an errant throw and scored on a basehit by Jack Cooney. Cooney then stole second and scored on Koperniak’s second hit of the day.
In the bottom of the fifth, Shade led off with a bunt single, moved up on a wild pitch and Cooney’s sacrifice bunt and scored on a Koperniak sac fly.
“We had to go to a little bit of small ball,” Bassi said. “We have the team to do that. That’s my brand of ball anyway.
“Izaiya pitched a great game today. The guys executed, and we got a couple of key hits. Northampton is a very good team. They’re an excellent team. I’m glad we eliminated them because we don’t want to have to play them again.”
Post 68 is home again on Monday against the winner of Sunday’s game between Aldenville and Westfield.
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