On Monday, April 18, a cold overcast spring day, the Boys Varsity Baseball team won big against Westhill High School. The last time these two teams met, Westhill beat Staples in the FCIAC playoffs, which made this victory particularly sweet.
“We really came into this game with a bad taste in our mouths,” Brendan Bernstein ’11 said. “It felt good to win this one.”
Rob Gau ’11, the starting pitcher, started off strong in the first inning with two strikeouts. The Staples offense picked up quickly after, scoring four runs, setting the offensive pace for the rest of the game.
Gau did not stay perfect all game. While only allowing two hits, he let up multiple walks. A combination of great Staples defense and a failure of the Westhill offense to take advantage of walks kept the Staples lead strong.
After five innings, Jimmy Kopack ’12 came into to relieve Gau. Kopack was able to maintain the lead into the last two innings of the game. Gau is credited with the win, while Kopack gets the hold.
Ben Lipper ’11, a team captain and centerfielder, was a standout offensive player, stealing three bases. Tyler Jacobs ’11, another team captain and shortstop, also played an impressive game. He had a single, a leadoff double, and a two run home run. This gave him a total of three runs and three RBI’s.
This win is even more impressive considering the pitching staff that Staples batters were up against. The Westhill pitchers mainly threw knuckleballs and off-speed pitches.
“It’s always tough to bat against a knuckleballer, since you rarely see that in this league,” Mike McGowan, Wreckers catcher, said. “But I think we made the right adjustments.”
With this win, Staples advances to 7-0, while Westhill falls to 2-5. Staples is ranked no. 1 in Connecticut according to the most recent Hartford Courant poll.
Bob Smith • Apr 28, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Go Staples Baseball!
John Mann • Apr 27, 2011 at 11:25 am
You make a good point…
Robert Haynesworth • Apr 24, 2011 at 10:29 pm
There is absolutely nothing worse than a pitcher who only throws knuckleballs and off-speed pitches. I hate scum like that, as they are slowly ruining the baseball world. Also, the Hartford Courant, what kind of relevance does that have to anything? Pretty soon, will we be quoting from “news sources” like Fox News and the Long Beach Times for accuracy? This is blatantly ridiculous. Luckily, Ben Lipper was there to save the article with his memorably line about three stolen bases. Even I couldn’t do that, and I was one of the fastest members of my tee-ball team. Very impressive sir. Having been in the Westport community for years, I have seen many baseball games covered, and this one stands out to me. It is about time that we get back at those awful Westhill athletes. Ever since my days as a whippersnapper they have been sly and tricky with their baseball methods. It warms my old heart that our team of superior athletes was able to lay them to rest. Congrats to all involved, and also the amazing writer who covered this game. He deserves a raise.
Brianne • Apr 25, 2011 at 9:10 pm
Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?