Westhill’s Kyle Kipp strikes out 13 to win city championship vs. Stamford

STAMFORD — With the city championship on the line, Westhill pitcher Kyle Kipp wanted the ball against Stamford and he delivered once he got it in front of a large crowd at Cubeta Stadium on Monday.

After Stamford scratched out a run in the top of the first inning, Kipp dominated the rest of the evening, striking out 13 and going the distance for the complete-game 3-1 win.

“Of course I wanted the ball. Under the lights, Cubeta Stadium against our city rivals, that’s the perfect game to pitch in,” Kipp said. “When runners get on, I get more focused to get the job done and throw strikes with runners on. They got a run early and I had to battle back and whenever I give up a run, that’s what fuels me, and seeing them score runs makes me dial in more and focus up.”

Westhill tied the game 1-1 in the third and scored twice in the fourth, propelled by a triple down the right-field line by Mika Petersen.

“I didn’t expect to start with them scoring a run off Kipp in the top of the first,” Westhill coach Mike Riveles said. “I always think with Kipp pitching if we get one run we’re good, but they got on the board first but we fought back. We ended up on top but it was a great, great game.”

Stamford would get a few baserunners on after the first but could not get any of them around with Kipp dominating.

“I always preach to our guys to compete. That’s the biggest thing I want out of them,” Stamford coach

Patrick Murphy said. “A few things didn’t go our way but overall, I don’t think there was any lack of desire from us to win. I’m proud of how our guys did.”

Stamford pitcher Kelesidis Vasilios kept Stamford in the game, giving up just two earned runs.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Kyle Kipp, Westhill: The junior pitcher gave up three hits, a leadoff single and two hits which had chances to be caught in the outfield.

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“The moments are never too big for him,” Riveles said. “He wants these games; he lives for these games. In the last inning he’s having fun out there.

When he’s on the mound, the guys know what we’re getting.”

Westhill improves to 9-5 and 7 -2 in the FCIAC while Stamford falls to 6-9 and 3-7 in the league.