Westfield teases victory against Stratford Academy

MACON — There’s an old saying: ‘Hope is something you give yourself.’

Russ Hiley gave the Westfield Hornets hope in the top of the seventh on Friday.

A double play earlier in the inning wiped the bases, though Niel O’Brien hit a line drive to left field for a base hit before Hiley stepped up to the plate.

Hiley stared down senior pitcher Billy Noblitt, who went seven innings, and delivered a two-run bomb that smacked into the scoreboard situated over the center field fence.

As the ball hit the scoreboard with a loud ‘clunk’ and fell to the ground, the Westfield (5-14) dugout hesitated before coming alive and piling around home plate as Hiley trotted around the bases.

PHOTOS: More scenes from Friday night’s game.

That cut the Stratford Academy Eagles’ (9-9) lead to one, but Mason Easom hit into the final out on the next at-bat to end the game 4-3.

This was the Hornets’ first game back since spring break, and though it was their ninth straight loss, there were some positives.

Kaleb Hancock started for Westfield and threw 3.1 innings before William Stringer came in to finish it out.

Both hurlers had good moments to go with the bad, but four runs and four hits isn’t a bad start for the ‘second half’ of the season.

Hancock found the best command of his pitches in the second inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced.

Stringer started wild, hitting all over the zone before settling in the final few innings.

The bats also got better as the game went on. Win Hoots and Grayson Waller uncorked two base hits to start the fourth, before a bad throw to second base brought Hoots home to score Westfield’s first run of the game.

The Hornets made good contact to finish the game but ran into three double plays in the final two innings.

Westfield coach Ryan Wetherington declined to comment following the loss.

UP NEXT

The Hornets host Mount de Sales Academy at home at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 6 as the first game of a doubleheader. A game against Taylor County will follow.

Region play resumes next week, Strong Rock Christian comes to town on Tuesday, April 9 at 6 :30 p.m. before the series finishes on the road on Thursday, April 11 with a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m.