Westfield Battles Back to Victory Over Watchung Hills

Reported by Maura/Written by Renee

In dramatic fashion, Westfield White erased a 7-1 deficit in game three of the States to clinch a 13-8 victory over Districts rival, Watchung Hills.


Westfield dug itself an early hole falling behind 3-0 in the first inning off of defensive miscues. However, Varano got on board with a walk and DiFilippo singled. Heinbokel knocked in Varano putting Westfield's first run on the board. However, Watchung Hills came back with another run in the bottom of the second, and then tacked on three more in their next at-bat. Westfield inched back when DiFilippo drove in a run followed by a RBI by Anderson, but still trailed 7-3.

Rinaldi took the ball in relief in the fourth inning and put Watchung Hills on notice that Westfield was firing up for a comeback. At its next at-bat, with two outs in the fifth inning, Westfield came charging back. Bremer and Mele got on board with walks setting the stage for a huge two-run single by DiFilippo. Heinbokel then laced a double to left field enabling DiFilippo to score and closing the gap to a two run, 8-6 game. Strong defensive plays by Lin and Oberman in the outfield and Barmakian in the infield kept Watchung Hills scoreless in the bottom of the inning.

Oberman and Rinaldi got on board with consecutive walks, which were taken advantage of by Barmakian, who singled and by Varakian, who put down a perfect sacrifice bunt. With runners still on board, Mele provided a timely hit driving in another run and DiFilippo served up his fourth RBI on the night.

Leading 10-8, Rinaldi made quick work of Watchung Hills, striking out the first batter, knocking down a hard hit line drive for the second out, and scooping up a hit to the mound over to Boutsikaris on first for the last out. Looking to tack on some security runs, Oberman and Rinaldi both came out swinging and singling, while Barmakian worked a walk. Varakian delivered his second RBI of the night with a single, and Varano took one for the team (HBP) to move another Westfield runner across home plate. Mele provided a sac fly RBI to cap off a three-run seventh inning.

Rinaldi provided the final heroics of the night with a clutch performance on the mound, striking out two of three batters, while Mele chased down a hard hit fly to center field to end the game.