Westfield has comeback win for the ages, extends series to game three on Saturday at noon
The Westfield School Hornets defeated Trinity Christian School-Dubln 13-12 after having to climb back from a 10-1 deficit on Friday night. Everything that could have went wrong for the Hornets did go wrong for the first three innings of game two of their Sweet 16 series. Everything that had to go right on order for Westfield to win the game did go right, in particular during the 4th inning.
Game three of the series is on Saturday at noon.
The score was 10-1 with a Trinity-Dublin runner on second base and the mercy rule on Westfield’s doorstep when a Crusader popped out to end the third inning. The Hornets came into their series as a favorite but after three innings looked more like the lesser of the two teams, in particular after losing the first game of the series 9-7.
The Hornets immediately got the first two outs of the fourth inning on routine plays, then the rally started. For the next 10 consecutive hitters including Matt Hucabee who had two RBI hits during the inning, the Hornets would manage to score 11 runs to not only come from behind but to end the inning in front 11-10. The last time they led the game was at the top of the first inning on a, you guessed it, a Hucabee RBI single.
Down 10-7 with the bases loaded sophomore catcher Michael Fitzpatrick double off the right field wall to bring all three runs home and tie the game. Earlier in the day on two occassions he would come to the plate with runners on and be walked. Why he was pitched to this time remains a mystery.
Despite all of the hits, the 11 runs scored in the fourth inning and the heroics in the field, the star of the game would have to be sophomore right-hander Hunter Hancock who came on in relief of Bennet Wellman (1.1 IP, 6 ER, no K’s) and immediately gave up three runs taht out Westfield oin a 9-1 hole. He would give up a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning and would look like a Cy Young candiddate the rest of the way.
Hancock had shown signs despite the runs he had given up, including two strike outs to end the thrid inning. His dominant performance would continue through the next four innings where he would only give up two more, one coming on an outfield error in the seveth inning that made the score 13-12.
Game one goes to Trinity
What began as a four-run lead after the first inning for the Westfield School Hornets quicly desolved into what would eventually become a 9-7 loss to the visiting Trinity Christian School Crusaders in game one of the best of three Sweet 16 state playoff series on Fridayt afternoon.
The Hornets got a two-run home run from Michael Fitzpatrick in the first round to take a 2-0 lead. Senior outfieldwer Payton Black drove in a run a few moments later befor Hatch Brannen’s walk with the bases loaded put the home team up by four in the first inning. Trinity didn’t waste any time getting runs back, scoring one in the secong inning and three more in the third inning to tie the game at four after three innings of play.
Westfield starter Tee Adams had a two strikeout inning in the first amnd second innings but would only strike out two more Crusaders before being pulled from the game early in the fourth inning. The Mercer University signee pitched 3.1, giving up five earned (he was responsible for a runner on third base when Gage Locke came on in relief) and six strikeouts.
Tied at five after four innings, Trinity scored two runs in the fifth inning to go ahead 7-5 after Locke walked three consecutive batters (all wer hit by pitch). The runs would score vai an infield single and a sacrifice fly deep to centerfield.
Fitzpatrick would get his second hit of the game (he was intetionally walked twice in the game) in the sixth inning and would ultimately score from third base on a passed ball at first base. Adams would get his first RBI of the game on a double to center to being the Hornets within two runs in the seventh inning. Trinity went ahead a ha;f inning earlier on a sacrifice fly and single to left field.
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