Michael Giovino (12) rounds second and heads to third for a two-RBI triple in the top of the sixth inning. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Still in search of their first win of the 2021 Summer Legion baseball season, Needham Post 14 (0-6) hosted Westwood Post 320 (2-5) on Thursday evening at DeFazio Field.
Westwood's bats got right to work in the top of the first inning. Michael Giovino led off the game with a walk and later came around to score, thanks to an RBI triple by Derek Nelson.
Will Hanson struck out the side in the bottom of the first for Westwood, stranding Terrance McFarland and Dillon Cooney at first and second, who reached on a walk and single to left to lead off the inning.
Xaverian's Ty Longo crushed a triple into the right-centerfield gap to lead off the top of the second. Longo came in to score two pitches later, thanks to an RBI single by Eddie Rogers. Westwood doubled its lead to 2-0.
The game remained 2-0 until the top of the fourth, when Westwood blew it open with a six-run inning. Longo drew a walk to lead off the inning. Eddie Rogers reached on a hit-by-pitch, followed by an RBI single to left by Michael Noone to score Longo. Back-to-back passed-balls with runners at first and second allowed Rogers to run home with the game's fourth run. Giovino then reached on an infield hit to short to bring home Noone to make it 5-0. With the bases loaded, Derek Nelson drew a walk to force home the fourth run of the inning, followed by a two-RBI single to center by Jack Rufo. When the dust finally settled, Westwood took a commanding 8-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth.
Needham scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, thanks a two-RBI double by Cooney and an RBI sacrifice fly by McFarland to make it 8-3. However, Westwood responded immediately in the top of the sixth with three more runs. Longo cracked an RBI double following a walk by Rufo to lead off the inning, followed by a two RBI triple by Giovino to make it 11-3. Westwood would go on to add three more runs in the top of the seventh and prevail by a final of 14-5.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
