Westport came from behind to beat West Bridgewater 3-2 in extra innings during a league home game on in frigid Spring weather on Thursday afternoon. The Wildcats have won seven straight since losing two of three to start the season. The win boosts the Wildcats’ record to 8-2, 5-0 in the MAC. 

Senior relief pitcher Shawn Lavoie played the hero for Westport in the eight inning. Lavoie came on in relief of Wildcats’ ace, Max Morotti and pitched a scoreless inning of relief before walking to lead off the bottom of the inning, then moving to third on a base hit by Morotti and scoring when West Bridgewater ace James Sheedy made a wild pitch and threw the ball to the backstop. The win and celebration after the game, warmed the Wildcats hearts and extremities after playing the game in frigid spring weather. 

Morotti, the Wildcats ace, started the game and pitched well for Westport, striking out 6 and allowing just 4 hits, 2 walks and 2 runs in 7 innings of work. He also hit third and slugged three hits with a double and a stolen base. 

Morotti’s only hiccup was in the second inning, when West Bridgewater roughed him up for two runs to take a 2-0 lead. 

Sheedy shut down the Westport offense until the bottom of the sixth inning. Westport then struck for single runs in the sixth, seventh and eight to record the comeback win with heroics by Ben Boudria, Morotti, Max Gallant and Luke Finglas.  

Boudria, the Wildcats senior right fielder, walked to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, Morotti stepped to the plate and laced a single to right center field. Boudria got a good jump rounded second and headed to third base. The throw to third from the out field was off the mark and bounded into foul territory enabling Boudria to scamper home and cut the lead to 2-1. 

Morotti made quick work of West Bridgewater in the top of the seventh.  He struck out a batter, picked-off another and got the third to ground out to Noah Sowle to end the 1-2-3 inning. 

During the pick-off, Morotti threw to first baseman Luke Finglas and he tagged out West Bridgewater’s Jag Garces who took a sizable lead off first base. 

Gallant, who replaced Dylan Kirby in left field, walked to leadoff the bottom of the seventh inning. The sophomore stole second base and moved to third on a ground out to second by freshman Kasen Avila. Gallant ran home on a base hit by Luke Finglas to even the score 2-2. 

Lavoie came on to pitch for Morotti in the top of the eighth inning. He struck out 1, allowed a base hit and recored two fly ball outs to get out of the inning. He scored the winning run with both Morotti and Cam Leary on base. Sheedy threw his second pitch to Gallant by the catcher and Lavoie ran home to score the winning run. 

Next up:

Westport plays four away games next week. The Wildcats travel to Avon on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., Holbrook on Thursday at 3:30 p.m., Southeastern on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and Bishop Connolly on Saturday at 11 a.m.