Blue Devil Baseball Falls to Gov. Livingston in County Tourney

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In what was a memorable county semifinal baseball game played at Elizabeth’s Williams Field Saturday afternoon, third-seeded Westfield was topped by second-seeded Governor Livingston 17-14. There were five home runs hit in the game, including a walk-off, game-winning, three-run blast over the left field fence by GL senior third baseman Mike Cranston that snapped a 14-14 tie with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. When Westfield defeated Johnson in the semifinals at Williams Field last year it was senior third baseman Rob Anderson smacking an opposite field, two-run homer over the right field fence with one out in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Blue Devils to a come-from behind 5-4 triumph. Westfield lost in the semifinals for the first time since 2005 and was seeking to win the UCT for the first time since 2006.

THE RECORDS: Westfield had a nine-game winning streak snapped and fell to 15-3. GL, which was the last team to beat Westfield back on April 15 in Union County Conference-Watchung Division play, won its third straight to improve to 15-3.

THE SCORING: Both teams banged out 15 hits against opposing pitching. GL scored nine runs in the bottom of the second to take a 9-2 lead. Westfield then chipped away at the deficit and got as close as 11-10 after scoring four runs in the top of the sixth. GL scored three more times in the bottom of the sixth for a 14-10 advantage. Westfield tied the game at 14-14 after scoring four times in the top of the seventh to make GL have to bat in the bottom of the inning. Then GL scored three times for the 17-14 final.

VARAKIAN AND RIGGS COME THROUGH BIG-TIME: With A.J. Murray on second base, two outs and Matt Varakian behind in the count at 1-2, Westfield was down to its last strike after scoring two runs in the top of the seventh to pull to within 14-12. Varakian then smacked an RBI-single the other way to right-center to drive in Murray to make it 14-13. Riggs followed with a shot to the left-center gap for a triple, with Varakian scoring the tying run. Varakian was previously 0-for-4, with three strikeouts vs. GL starter Joey Graziano. Against GL relief pitcher Billy Worswick, he kept the game alive. Riggs was outstanding at the plate, going 4-for-5 on the day with two singles, a double and a triple. 

MURRAY, KERR, O’ROURKE: Murray was 3-for-4, with a walk. He singled, hit Westfield’s only home run - which was a solo shot well over the fence toward left-center leading off the top of the third that cut the deficit to 9-3 - and produced a two-run double in the seventh. Dan Kerr was 3-for-5, banging out two doubles and a single. On a 1-2 off speed pitch he belted an RBI-double down the right field line in the sixth. Junior center fielder Jim O’Rourke was 2-for-5, including a clutch, opposite field single to left in the seventh.

A CATCH FOR THE AGES: O’Rourke also made the best catch this reporter has seen all year so far. With GL just having scored again to increase its lead to 11-6 with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth, the lefty fielding center fielder went back on a ball hit hard by GL’s Ryan Jennings. O’Rourke ran back, jumped as high as he could, reached out with his glove hand and snared the shot one-handed over his shoulder while diving in mid-air. Someone behind me said it reminded him of one of the many fine, highlight-reel catches major leaguer Jim Edmonds has produced over the years.

THE QUOTES: “GL is a good-hitting team and hit the ball all over the place,” Murray said. “We fought our best. It was a dog fight and a great game to be a part of. Unfortunately for us we didn’t come out on the winning end.”

“As a spectator this game was worth every dollar spent,” said GL head coach Chris Roof, who earlier this season won his 200th game. “As a coach it takes years off your life. Westfield has some outstanding players and is well-coached. Facing Murray and Kerr is like facing Arod and Cano. I am so proud of my kids and in the bottom of the seventh we were able to redeem ourselves. Mike Cranston works hard and deserves everything he gets. He also shows tremendous leadership. I think that if AJ Burnett (Yankees pitcher) was on the mound today that Westfield still would have hit. They’re one of the best hitting teams I’ve ever seen.”

WESTFIELD STILL HAS PLENTY TO PLAY FOR: Westfield still has the UCC’s Watchung Division title to shoot for and then the North 2, Group 4 playoffs, which will begin the week of May 16. Westfield begins the week 6-2 in the Watchung Division, with four division games to go. The Blue Devils have division contests scheduled at Scotch Plains Monday, at Linden Tuesday, at home against GL Thursday and at Elizabeth May 17. Westfield has won North 2, Group 4 only once, back in 1988. The Blue Devils’ other sectional title was captured in 1949. Westfield last reached the North 2, Group 4 final in 2007.

UNION COUNTY TOURNAMENT BASEBALL SEMIFINAL

AT ELIZABETH’S WILLIAMS FIELD

3-WESTFIELD (15-3)                          0   2   2     2   0   4     4 – 14   15   3

2-GOV. LIVINGSTON (15-3)             0   9   1     1   0   3     3 – 17   15   3

WINNING PITCHER (in relief):

Billy Worswick, junior right hander (4-0)

LOSING PITCHER (in relief):

Jonathan Gribbin, junior right hander

HOME RUNS: Westfield – A.J. Murray. GL – Mike Cranston 2, Aaron Smith, Joey Graziano.