WESTFIELD ― No. 1 Westfield defeated No. 2 Agawam in the Western Massachusetts Class A finals on Tuesday, 9-0, to clinch the Bombers’ third consecutive Western Mass. title.
Leading from the circle as she has all season, Westfield pitcher Shea Hurley struck out 11 batters in a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits and zero walks. This marks Hurley’s 12th game with 10+ strikeouts on the season, collecting over 200 strikeouts in total.
“I have so much confidence in her all the time,” Bombers’ center fielder Ciara Toporowski said about Hurley. “Obviously we’re ready for whatever happens (in the game), but I know she can do her job whenever, wherever. She’s just amazing.”
Hurley struck out the side to start the game and set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. In the bottom half, Toporowski reached base on a walk before stealing second base. Toporowski then tagged and advanced to third on a deep fly ball to right, but an infield pop-out then put the Bombers’ early scoring opportunity in jeopardy.
But on a passed ball in the dirt, Toporowski reacted like a rocket, sprinting down the line and sliding into home plate to give Westfield an early lead.
Back-to-back, two-out singles from third baseman Allie Rehor and right fielder Marlow Murphy set the Bombers up for a big start, but a fly-out to right field kept the lead to one to end the first inning.
Agawam starting pitcher Kylie Circosta came back strong in the second, putting down the Bombers in order. After connecting on one hit in the second inning, Agawam put itself into a prime scoring opportunity in the third, stringing together back-to-back, two-out singles from shortstop Alexina Lentes and Circosta.
But Hurley refused to break, forcing a groundout to third to end the inning.
Toporowski led off the third loudly, smacking a deep fly ball to the left-field corner for a triple. Westfield’s catcher Kenzie Raymond stepped up next and knocked Toporowski in with an RBI single. After stealing second, Raymond advanced to third after tagging up on a flyball to right field and came around to score on an RBI single from Rehor.
Westfield kept the rally going, ending the inning with a 5-0 lead after a two-RBI single from LaPanne. With a strong foundation to work on, Hurley dominated the rest of the way, allowing one hit in the fourth before going perfect through the final three innings.
At the plate, Westfield kept its bats rolling, with designated hitter Moja Premny adding a run in the fifth with an RBI double. Second baseman Kelsey Bouchard secured the lead with a two-RBI single in the sixth before Rehor added the finishing touch for the Bombers with an RBI single.
Alongside Hurley’s dominant performance was the Bombers’ ultra-aggressive approach on the basepaths, keeping Agawam on its toes and creating a number of scoring opportunities.
“Taking risks on the bases is good because it puts a lot of pressure on the defense to make throws and make plays,” Raymond said. “It leaves a lot more room for error than just playing it safe on the bases, being aggressive definitely creates a lot more runs.”
The Bombers came into the postseason confident in their chances to repeat as Western Mass. champions.
But now, the three-peat is official.
“It’s awesome, it’s what we’ve been working for (all season)” Hurley said.
“(Completing the three-peat) is great for our program,” Westfield softball coach Tyson James added.
“A lot of different kids contributed for all three of them... to see those three (years) up on the banner when they put them up will be nice.”
Westfield (18-1) and Agawam (11-10) will now wait for the start of the Div. II state tournament.
“I’m so ready,” Toporowski said about the state tournament. “It was such a rush last year. I just hope that we can play our game, do the same (as we did today), and honestly, we have a really good chance again. I think we got this - go Bombers!”
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