The game was an inning deep when the sun set over Westwood's Morrison Field and the lights were flickering on. It was a gorgeous night for baseball, mercifully a bit cooler than the day, which pushed toward the century mark yet again. The field was already aglow, but after a scoreless first, the Needham Rockets were set to provide their own sort of luminosity.
Aidan McGaugh worked a leadoff walk, and William Popper, raking of late, moved him into scoring position with a line drive to left for a single. Tom Berkley singled to right center, and McGaugh came around to put Needham on the board first, 1-0. First and second with nobody out for Jeffrey Hohler. First pitch swinging, Hohler lined one into right field to jack the bases for Joe Dateo, who put fat metal on the first pitch he saw, and drove in Popper and Berkley with a long single to right. 3-0, Rockets, after one and a half.
Jack Morgan, who delivered a shut-out first, returned to the hill for the Rockets on a mission to keep the lead intact. He found himself in a bit of a jam, with runners on first and second and nobody out, but managed to induce a tapper back to the mound, while catcher Joe Dateo gunned down another on his way to third. Morgan sealed it up with a K for out number three. Westwood got one across to narrow the gap 3-1, but that was all they could squeeze out of their rally thanks to a cool and collected Jack Morgan.
Top of the third... Steven Donovan worked a leadoff walk. Popper and Morgan loaded the bases, both by free pass, and Berkley brought Donovan in with a ground ball to short. With two on and one out, Jeffrey Hohler stepped in and got all--and I mean all--of a 1-2 fastball launching it deep to right center, way back... Way back... Gone! First dinger of the season for the young slugger and for the Rockets--a three-run blast that put the Rockets squarely in command 7-1.
Westwood would notch two more in their half of the third to make it 7-3 after three complete.
The Rockets were in the market for some insurance going into the fourth. Joe Dateo singled to center field to lead it off. Steve Donovan and Will Dorion would each walk to load the bases for Aidan McGaugh. McGaugh looked at five pitches to work the count full and then sent the payoff pitch on a line into center field for a long single that scored two. 9-3, Rockets. William Popper would make it 11-3 with two-run double to left, and the Rockets were breathing a bit easier.
Inheriting a solid lead, Will Dorion came in to relieve Morgan, and gave nothing back. He struck out the side with a scorching fastball and a little trickery as he worked in a change. 11-3, Rockets.
The Rockets put up another crooked number in the fifth, with Dateo, Siegenthaler, and Donovan each singling and Popper doubling on a monster shot back to the fence in left field. 15-3, Rockets, when the dust cleared.
Westwood put up another couple in their half to make it 15-5 going into the final frame.
Eric Gage singled on a shot into right field in the top of the sixth, but the Rockets were not able to bring him in.
Westwood fought back in the bottom of the last, adding four runs, but closer Steven Donovan came in and shut out the lights. 15-9 was the final at Morrison.
An excellent effort at the plate tonight for the Rockets with 15 runs on 13 hits against some very solid Westwood pitching. It was certainly a thrill to play under the lights and to come away with a win against one of the premier teams in the Suburban Youth Baseball League.
Tomorrow, the Rockets face Walpole American at Small. See you there!
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