Westport nine bash 18 hits, clobber Case 12-4

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr. 

The Westport baseball team bashed 18 hits as they clobbered Case 12-4 during a non-league home game on Friday afternoon. Westport who lost to Upper Cape Cod 8-7, are currently 1-1 and have one more non-league game left, before starting league play at West Bridgewater on Thursday April 13. After crushing Case, the Wildcats lost to Southeastern 5-2 on 4/11, then beat West Bridgewater 4-0 on 4/13 and walloped Bishop Connolly 10-1 on 4/15 for an overall record of 3-2. 

Against Case, Wildcats ace Max Morrotti (1 strike out, 6 walks, 4 hits and 4 runs in 5 innings of work) pitched well and collected his first win of the season as the big righty kept Case hitless through the first three innings with his change up and curve. 

“This was a big win,” said Morotti after the game. “Case is always a good team. I can’t remember the last time that we beat them.”

“It was a little rough,” said the senior of his outing. “It’s all about bouncing back.”

The Wildcats nine played stellar defensively, making 17 outs behind Wildcats pitching, with just one error. Cam Leary and Connor James each pitched a scoreless inning in relief. 

“We have seven returning seniors that we’ll rely heavily on,” said head coach Jason Pacheco. “They have all played at this level and we’ll go as far as they take us.” 

The Wildcats senior laden lineup attacked Case pitching, scoring two runs in the first inning, three in the second, five in the fourth and two in the fifth. 

“Since I have been here we’ve always been pretty young,” said Morotti who began playing with the Wildcats as an 8th grader. “This year it feels really good to have a lot of veterans on the team. This is the year we’ve been waiting for.” 

How the Westport lineup pounded Case:

Senior shortstop Noah Sowle, batting leadoff, went 2 for 3 with a run scored. He injured his leg in the first inning, stealing second base, but stuck it out and hobbled home to score the Wildcats first run and played till the big fourth inning. He was replaced by freshman Kasen Avila who went 0-2. 

Senior centerfielder Cam Leary batting second, went 2 for 3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Leary drove in Ben Boudria who led off the inning with a single and stole second and third and ran home on Leary’s single in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

Morotti, a senior, batting third, went 2 for 3 with an RBI. He smashed two doubles and scored two runs and drove in Sowle in the first inning. 

Sophomore third baseman Connor James batting fourth, went 2 for 4 with a triple, a single and 2 runs scored. James hit a single in the fourth inning and blasted a line drive in the fifth inning over the Case left fielder whose playing deep. The hit would have been a homer in most parks, but the Case outfielders rallied and held him to a stand up triple. 

Designated hitter Michael DeGagne batting fifth, went 3 for 3 with a double, two singles, a walk, 2 RBI and a run scored. DeGagne drove in Morotti in the first inning and Leary in the forth inning. 

Senior second baseman Will Souza went 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and 2 RBI. Souza plated Finglas and DeGagne in the fourth inning to give Westport a 10-3 lead.  

Senior right fielder Ben Boudria batting ninth, went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases. Luke Finglas walked and scored a run. Noah Lacey went 1 for 4. 

“They are a great group that I love coaching every day,” said Coach Pacheco. “But they are seniors and there are other things going on. I just have to try and keep them focused because they are capable of winning a lot of games and having a really good season.”