The season got off to a slow start for the West Haven baseball team. Scoring in each of the first four innings, Amity topped West Haven, 9-1, at Amity High Monday afternoon in the season opener for both teams.
The Westies never got going offensively, managing only six hits in the game. Cam Cruz led the way with a double and single in three at bats for West Haven.
Chase Supan started for West Haven on the mound and took the loss. The junior pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs, seven of which were earned. Supan gave up just four hits, while walking three and striking out five.
After West Haven went down quietly in the top of the first, Amity struck first with a two-out rally. A walk and a hit batter loaded the bases before Derek Porto singled to left to score a pair of runs.
West Haven had a pair of hits in the second, but a double play ball erased a single by Supan, and Cruz was left stranded after his two-out single.
Two hit batters helped Amity take a 4-0 lead in the second, before K.J. Harp reached on a two-out error but was left stranded in the third. A sacrifice fly by Porto in the bottom of the third gave the Spartans a 5-0 lead.
West Haven’s Jose Padilla doubled with two outs in the fourth, but was left stranded, before Amity put the game away with four more runs in the bottom of the inning, all coming after two were out.
West Haven’s lone run came in the sixth when Ray Gilbert hit a one-out single, moved to second on a passed ball, and scored when Padilla reached on an error.
Three West Haven pitchers combined to strike out seven and allow just five hits, but the Westies also walked four and hit six batters.