Westport (14-6 regular season) got off to a quick start Wednesday against top-seed Mashpee (18-2 regular season) but in the end the eighth seeded Wildcats’ playoff run was put to an end with a 10-6 …
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Westport (14-6 regular season) got off to a quick start Wednesday against top-seed Mashpee (18-2 regular season) but in the end the eighth seeded Wildcats’ playoff run was put to an end with a 10-6 loss on Cape Cod.
Finally able to play on the Mashpee High School field after two days of rain postponements, Westport attacked the Falcons right out of the gate.
A leadoff single by Nick Collins led to a two-run top of the first inning, but that lead was short-lived.
The Falcons responded with a big first inning of their own, batting through the order and scoring four runs — a lead they would never lose.
Breaking out to a quick lead is something Westport has worked on doing all season long with considerable success, said Coach Jason Pacheco.
“Westport battled, and certainly put a scare into a very talented Mashpee team,” the coach said.
“We had an early lead, and kept it close throughout the game, even had the go-ahead run at the plate in the 6th inning. We put two more men on base in the 7th, but just couldn't get the big hit to draw us closer.”
Westport replied with a run in the second inning to cut the lead to 4-3 after Jay McClure was hit buy a pitch, stole second and made it home on a groundout.
Pitcher Dan Shea settled down after the first, allowing the Falcons no runs in the second and third innings before Mashpee added a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to go up 5-3.
Mashpee went back on the attack in the fifth inning — Westport went to reliever Kyle Avilla after the first batter got on — but the Falcons scored four in the frame to open up a 9-3 lead.
Westport cut into that lead right away in the sixth as both Collins and and Shea drove in runs to reduce the deficit to 9-6.
But Mashpee responded with one more run in its half of the sixth to make the final score 10-6.
“It was a great season as a whole, and I look forward to working with my returning players to get back into the playoffs again next year,” Coach Pacheco said.
“I will remember most the tight-knit group of young men I had the pleasure of coaching. We had a lot of fun, and I'd like to thank the ten seniors for their dedication and commitment to the program.”
Those seniors are: Connor Brown, Danny Clayton, Nick Fay, Colby Hawes, Jay McClure, Ethan Mello, Koby Porawski, Robbie Reitano, Dan Shea and Devyn Vitorino.