Westminster 11-year-old All-stars advance to playoffs

The Westminster 11-year-old All-stars secured advancement to the Massachusetts District 3 playoffs on Tuesday, Aug. 1, defeating Quabbin, 7-5.

Trevor Garofano's walk-off two-run homer over the right field fence in the bottom of the sixth inning broke the tie game and launched the team into playoff competition.

The Western Division of the Massachusetts District 3 Willie Sinclair tournament has been hotly contested. Westminster entered the night 3-2 and needing the win to lock in to a playoff spot. Quabbin was leading the Division 4-1 before Westminster's squad turned in an exceptional performance and uprooted the first place team.

Seamus Bell, Jason Davis, Trevor Davis, Alex Demarco, Zack Despres, Cam Estelle, Trevor Garofano, Tommy Loomis, Evan Phillips, Max Rameau, and Derek Wegener all contributed to the win. Liam Murphy was injured during pre-game warm ups and did not play.

The game was a continuation of one begun on July 22, and postponed in the top of the third due to torrential rain with Quabbin leading 1-0.

This time the rains held off and record heat set in as Westminster's bats, base running, fielding and pitching kept them in contention.

In the top of the third, 3 Quabbin runs crossed and they jumped out to a 4-0 lead mid game.

In the bottom of the third, Westminster began to chip away at Quabbin's lead. Loomis led off with a single that dropped in left field. With one out, Jason Davis ran out a bunt and landed safely on first. Loomis moved over to third on a wild pitch and was batted in by Garofano who singled, advanced to second on an error, but was left stranded in a 4-1 game.

In the top of the fourth, Westminster's defense came together and the game's momentum began to shift when they turned a double play on an infield grounder handled by second baseman DeMarco who made the put out while covering first and shortstop Jason Davis who made the tag at third. Westminster's starting pitcher Bell, K'd the final batter to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, Bell started Westminster's rally, leading off with a base hit to right. Wegener came into pinch run and stole second. Phillips drew a walk and DeMarco's bunt loaded the bases with no outs. Estelle singled into the hole in centerfield and batted in a run. Trevor Davis hit a blooper over the first baseman's head and delivered Phillips home. Garofano banged in two more run and Westminster regained the lead, 5-4.

In the top of the fifth, Quabbin answered back and tied the game, 5-5.

In the bottom of the fifth, Westminster's Phillips was left stranded after he singled up the first base line.

In the top of the sixth, Bell struck out the first two batters, fielded a ball to the mound and tossed it to Estelle at first for the third out - setting the stage for a base hit by Wegener and Garofano's big at bat in the bottom of the sixth.

Bell went the distance and helped keep a tough Quabbin team in check, striking out 11 batters and settling in nicely on the mound. Westminster's first playoff game will be on Sunday afternoon.

Team defeated 'Gansett in extra innings, 8-7

The squad narrowly defeated a surging Narragansett team, 8-7, in an electrifying come from behind win in extra innings on Saturday, July 29.

Westminster came back from behind to tie the game in the sixth and came back again to win it in the seventh against a tough Gansett squad.

In the first inning, Westminster jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead. Seamus Bell launched a two-run homerun over the right center field fence which brought home

Liam Murphy who had singled and moved to scoring position on an error.

In the second, Narragansett answered back with one run and men on base. Westminster ended the threat when Tommy Loomis quickly scooped up a ball in left field, relayed it to Bell at short who fired it to catcher Jason Davis for the tag at home plate that ended the inning.

In the fourth, Max Rameau drew a walk. Zach Despres' ground out but advanced the base runner. Jason Davis' sacrifice bunt moved Rameau over to third. Trevor Davis connected for a hard-hit single to center and a RBI, giving Westminster a 3-1 cushion at the end of four.

Gansett came back to tie the game 3-3 in the top of the fifth.

Westminster's starting pitcher Rameau had a good outing, striking out 11 batters and allowing only 3 runs in five innings of work. Rameau exited the tied game in the top of the sixth with a sore arm.

With Gansett base runners looming, Trevor Davis was called in from centerfield to pitch in a pressure situation and showed composure throughout the remaining innings. Davis hit his stride and K'd the final batter to keep the game within reach, but Gansett had gained control and led 6-3.

Westminster fired back with an impressive two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth and tied the game 6-6. Phillips drew a lead off walk and Narragansett collected two outs. Trevor Davis hit a hard grounder up the middle that was fumbled by Gansett and allowed him to reach on the error. Loomis drew a walk. Cam Estelle kept things alive when he banged a single and loaded the bases. Derek Wegener came through in the clutch - delivering two runs to tie the game on a long fly ball to center that hit the fence within inches of being gone.

In the seventh, Trevor Davis came in off the mound and caught an infield pop up for the first out. Gansett's go-ahead run crossed the plate. With Gansett looking to widen their one-run lead, Despres made a beautiful snag at third and then doubled off the Gansett base runner coming over from second to end the inning.

Trailing 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh, Westminster's Bell drew a lead off walk.

Alex DeMarco came in to pinch run and bring his speed to the bases. Evan Phillips banged a base hit to right field and reached second on an error - while DeMarco raced in with the tying run. Phillips advanced to third on a well placed ground ball by Zach Despres. With one out and Phillips in scoring position, Jason Davis came through big and bunted in the winning run.

Narragansett ended their pre-playoff season 4-2, falling only to Chuck Stone of Athol and Westminster.