Asad Khimani
Staff Writer
Yesterday, April 25, the WA boys’ varsity baseball team lost 2-1 against Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
It was a cold, cloudy, and rainy day, which disappointed much of the crowd at the game. Adding to the disappointment of the home crowd was that Westford Academy’s 1-0 lead was blown in the top of the seventh inning, and Lincoln-Sudbury came away with the win.
LS started off batting in the first inning and #6 Brian Rosinski was the first pitcher for WA. The first and second batters for LS both grounded out and the third hit a fly ball into right field, which was caught.
Then, WA was up to bat. #12 started pitching for LS, and he would go on to pitch a complete game. The first two batters for WA, Jake Mooney and Tim Orton, both struck out. The third batter, Mark Cornelius, was hit in the foot by the ball and walked to first base. He was followed by Dan Lawson, who also struck out.
The second inning was uneventful for LS as their two most successful batters only got to first base. #15 attempted to steal second base, but he was called out.
WA, however, had success in the second inning. First, Mark Hennessey hit the ball tripled into deep right. Although the next batter, Ryan Cobb, struck out, Will Alden was able to get the RBI as Hennessey scored. Alden would have been safe if he had stayed at first base, but he was tagged out stretching his single to a double. Patrick Dugan batted afterward and flew out to end the inning.
The third inning was uneventful with neither team getting any hits and WA would hold on to its 1-0 lead. In the top of the fourth inning, LS’s #23 hit a ball into right field, but it was caught. The next batter would ground out, but #24 for LS then hit a single to left field. Following this, #15 hit a single into center field and the hit was enough to get #23 to third base. With two outs, the next batter, #10, grounded out and LS was not able to score a run.
WA was also close to scoring in the fourth inning. After Cornelius grounded out, Lawson hit a ground rule double. Hennessey struck out after Lawson’s hit. Next, Ryan Cobb was up to bat. On one of the pitches, the catcher made an error and Lawson was able to get to third base while the catcher scrambled for the ball. However, Ryan Cobb struck out and WA was unable to score.
In the fifth and sixth innings, neither of the teams was able to score and WA kept its lead.
In the top of the seventh, LS had a final chance to keep the game alive, and it succeeded. With one out, LS had #8 on second base and #10 on third. #22 was up to bat and he walked to first. Rosinski left the game and Cornelius came in from center field to pitch. WA’s #22 replaced Cornelius in center field. The bases were loaded when #14 on the LS squad came up to the plate. He hit the ball and got to first base, #10 ran home, and #8 got to third base. #22 was out while running to second base. With two outs in the top of the seventh, #11 on LS came up to bat in an attempt to take the lead. He hit a single, #8 ran home and #14 got to second base. Then, #12 was up to bat and he walked to first. LS had again loaded the bases, but the team was not able to score another run.
The bottom of the seventh inning had to be played due to the surprising comeback that LS made. Alden was first up to bat and he hit the ball into center field, but it was caught. Then, Dugan grounded out. Adam Ciampi kept WA standing and hit a single. However, Mooney, the next batter, struck out, and the game was over. LS had won an exhilarating battle.
WA’s next game will be tomorrow, Wednesday the 27th at home against Boston Latin at 4 pm.
