Westwood is able to sweat out win
ROCKLAND - On a muggy, sweltering day, Westwood's John Sheehan brought the heat.
The junior righthander went the distance in yesterday's Division 3 South final at Rockland Stadium, striking out eight as the Wolverines defeated East Bridgewater, 4-2.
Sheehan threw 107 pitches, 73 for strikes, to give Westwood its first championship in 20 years.
"We played the whole season to win these six playoff games," Sheehan said. "It's just crazy, I'll never forget this."
Sheehan outdueled David Pierce, who started strong for East Bridgewater, retiring the first nine batters he faced, striking out five. But Westwood was able to manufacture runs and wear the hurler down.
Connor Walsh reached on an error to start the fourth inning. After stealing second, Walsh went to third and scored on successive sacrifice flies.
Sheehan gave the run back in the bottom of the inning. The junior fielded Justin DeAndrade's slow chopper but his throw was well over the head of the first baseman. DeAndrade advanced to third on the error and scored when Pierce singled up the middle. After Sheehan retired the next two batters, two errors enabled the Vikings to load the bases. But the righthander struck out designated hitter Shane Murphy on three pitches, ending the threat.
"It was kind of like the first game of the playoffs where I had bases loaded and nobody out," Sheehan said. "I just [had to] go out there and hit my spots."
Westwood took the lead for good the following inning. Sheehan started the inning with a walk. Pinch runner Jon Neimann stole second and later took third when Andy Musto showed bunt and the third baseman charged in, leaving the bag unmanned. Pinch hitter Tyler Schuck brought the run home with a fielder's choice to short that eliminated David Milano, who had reached on a walk. Westwood had a 2-1 lead, but still no hits.
The no-hitter ended in the sixth, when the Wolverines put two more runs on the board and chased Pierce. The heat and short rest (Pierce pitched two innings in Friday's Viking win) resulted in the hurler wearing down.
"I think [that game] took something out of him," East Bridgewater coach Patrick Cronin said. "The Sheehan kid pitched a [great] game, one of the best we've seen. Nevertheless, he came in rested. I would have liked to see Pierce come in rested."
Sheehan let up a run in the seventh but struck out three in the inning. DeAndrade, who represented the tying run, struck out swinging for the final out.
"He's got the three qualities we look for," Westwood coach Brian Whelan said. "He's smart, he's got some heart, and he's got some intestinal fortitude . . . and talent, that helps."
