Westtown heads into playoffs on high note

UWCHLAN >> Westtown entered Sunday having scored just one run in its last 18 innings of play.

The Express left Sunday feeling much better about themselves, with the playoffs on tap Thursday.

In the last regular season game before the playoffs, Westtown pounded out nine hits and was aided by three Lionville errors and seven hits batsmen, roaring into the playoffs with a 10-4 victory over the Hillcats.

Lionville (7-7) took a 4-1 lead after three innings and held that advantage until Westtown (6-8) came alive in the top of the fifth inning. The Express scored nine runs in the last three innings and received a strong four-inning relief appearance by Connor Bartholomew to get the win. The Express hurler pitched four shutout innings, not walking a batter and striking out three Hillcats to get the win.

“Connor was really, really strong today for us,” Westtown manager Tom Travers said. “He really has been good all year. And he did not pitch at Archmere Academy. I don’t know why. He has been very strong for us.”

With Lionville up 4-1, Westtown came alive with a little help from the Hillcats in the top of the fifth. The Express sent 10 batters to the plate and scored three runs on just two hits. Lionville committed three errors in the inning and walked a batter to help the Westtown cause and the Express took a 5-4 lead after five innings. Westtown had two runners thrown out at home plate in the first four innings, so it was a relief for Westtown to finally break through.

Westtown poured it on in the top of the sixth, however. The Express scored four more runs on three hits and were aided by Lionville pitcher Matt Bertolami hitting three batters in the inning. Ben Watson, Bartholomew and and Ryan Wittman got the big hits, with Wittman crushing a two-run single to make it an 8-4 game after six innings. Wittman had four big RBI on the day.

“We have been struggling at the plate,” Watson said. “But, it was real good to come out today and hit the ball and have a lot of good at-bats. We feel we can do well in the playoffs because this league is very even and competitive. If we have at-bats like we did today we will be fine.”

With Bartholomew cruising on the mound for Westtown, the Express put the game away with two more runs in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Lionville reliever Connor Lynch hit Bartholomew and Gabe Puzzangara to put men on first and second with one out. Then, Lynch walked Zach Steinrock to load the bases and then walked Spencer Piercy to force in a run. Again, Lynch forced in a run when he then walked Wittman to make it a 10-4 game.

“We have been hitting the ball right at people lately,” Travers said. “Today we had good at-bats and we came alive. The hit batters helped us but they were not doing it on purpose. It is good to head into the playoffs on a good note and hopefully we can keep things going. We have the pitching we just have to swing the bats.”