After a successful high school season, the West Haven U19 baseball team opened the summer season recently. With weather having an impact, the Westies have played just three games thus far.
West Haven opened the season with a doubleheader in Plymouth against the New England Knights. The Westies were swept by scores of 3-0 and 4-1.
In the opener, the Westies had just four baserunners in the contest, but could not put any runs on the board. Hudson Axelrod walked in the first and Mike Madera singled in the third, but both were left stranded.
Ray Gilbert walked in the fourth and Jeremiah Douglas did the same in the sixth, but neither was driven home.
The Westies managed to get on the board in the nightcap, but it was not enough in the 4-1 defeat.
West Haven picked up its first victory of the season with a 6-4 victory at Clinton. A sacrifice fly by Josh Osborne gave the Westies a 2-0 lead in the second inning, before Clinton evened the game at two off West Haven starter Haygen Axelrod.
The Westies took a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning on a fielder’s choice grounder by Ryan Wilson to score Jacob Fowler, who was hit by a pitch, and a bases loaded walk by Lucas Forgette.
With the game even at four, the Westies took the lead for good with a run in the sixth and another in the seventh.
In the sixth, walks to Douglas and Zach Bouteiller, and a single by James Harp loaded the bases, before Madera’s sacrifice fly scored Douglas for a 5-4 advantage.
West Haven added an insurance run in the seventh as Gilbert reached on a one-out error, Cam Cruz singled to center, and Fowler reached on an infield single to first to score Gilbert.
The Westies needed the insurance as Clinton put the tying runs on in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Clinton was denied with a game-saving catch by Bouteiller for the final out of the game.
Good luck to Post 71 American Legion, a team long coached by a good friend Alan DePew.
Always a very successful program and a chance for young players to move up in their
careers a ballplayers.