For the second time in three weeks, the Westhill baseball team matched up with Bishop Ludden.
And just like the initial meeting on May 1, the Warriors rode Mike DeCarr’s strong pitching to victory, this time beating the Gaelic Knights 5-2 on Ludden’s home field.
In a small contrast to that first game, won by Westhill 6-1, the Warriors never trailed, and didn’t need a single big inning to make it all happen.
Still, protecting a 1-0 margin, Westhill broke through in the top of the third inning, getting three runs off Ludden pitcher Terry McFadden. DeCarr, aiding his own mound effort, earning three RBIs, while Rich Hevier banged out a solo home run and Mike Mascari added an RBI.
Bouncing back from his poor outing against Hannibal May 10 at Alliance Bank Stadium, where he didn’t even get out of the third inning, DeCarr went the route, giving up seven hits, one of them a single by Chris Davis in the fifth inning that netted both of Ludden’s runs. McFadden actually gave up fewer hits (six), but they counted more.
A whole lot had changed for Westhill and Ludden since the start of the month, as they had drifted behind Hannibal in the OHSL Liberty division.
Westhill, in particular, had slumped, losing four in a row and giving up double-digit runs each time. Thus, it badly needed to break that spell — and did so last Monday afternoon, beating the Skaneateles Lakers 10-4.
DeCarr brought the power, twice going deep for home runs and finishing with three RBIs as Westhill bolted to a 6-0 lead through two innings and never allowed the Lakers to catch up.
John Carbone drove in two runs, while Hevier hit a solo home run. P.J. Niedzwicki, Ryan Malley, Dave Tamutus and Brian Kane also earned RBIs. Tom Piscitell pitched most of the way to get the win, as Pat Lemmo offered help in relief.
Ludden gained a boost of confidence by beating a strong Class C foe in Cooperstown by a score of 6-2, as four first-inning runs made the difference.
Mike Solan drove in two runs, as John Rooney and Michael Kogut earned one RBI apiece. Ryan Ross pitched five innings for the win, as McFadden pitched in relief.
