BASEBALL: Pioneers swing into action against Montello

By Kevin Morales

MONTELLO — Westfield's offensive outburst was more impressive considering how little time the Pioneers have spent in the batter's box this spring. 

"It was the first time that we saw any live pitching this year and I thought we came out and hit the ball well," Westfield coach Luke Showen said. "That was huge for us. We haven't even hit off the machine much really. It's just going off soft toss and tee work."

The Pioneers' offense hummed to the tune of 15 runs, 10 hits and eight walks as the Westfield opened its season Thursday with a 15-5 win over host Montello in six innings.

Westfield (1-0) scored five first-inning runs and added four more in the second, taking advantage of a number of Hilltopper (0-1) pitching and fielding miscues to pull away early. Jeremy Podoll led the Pioneers with four RBI, going 2-for-3.

Montello starter Caleb Lloyd — a first-team all conference pick in 2007 — surrendered five hits and struck out one over the first two innings. He also was plagued by a pair of fielding errors and a number of wild pitches that helped extend Westfield's early rally.

"We did some things pretty well, but... the main thing that we need to strive for each game is to get better with not walking guys, give free base runners and give them extra outs," Montello coach Mark Hanson said. "We did that tonight. We need to have all three of our pitchers when they're out there come in, throw strikes and we gotta have our defense make plays. We can't be giving them four outs or five outs every inning."

Montello, which lost five seniors last season and had many of its players suiting up for their first varsity game, suffered an error on its very first defensive play of the game. The next three Westfield batters reached on a single an two walks before Podoll — in his first varsity at-bat — scorched a two-run single.

"I thought we hit the ball pretty well for, we haven't seen any live pitching yet," Podoll said. "First time hitting a curveball or anything that fast. I thought we did really well."

Podoll, who pitched the last four innings for Westfield, said his motivation at the plate was simple.

"It's my first year playing varsity and I didn't want to strike out or anything," Podoll said.

Trailing 5-0 heading into the bottom of the first, Montello took advantage of a rocky start by Pioneers pitcher Eric Rau. Rau walked three of the first five batters he faced and threw a number of wild pitches that allowed the Toppers runners to advance and score.

Montello sophomore Jake Polk drove in Justin Galloway with a two-out single, but Polk was later thrown out at the plate trying to score on a passed ball.

Rau threw two innings and allowed four runs — two earned — and walked four to earn the win.

Westfield, which lost three pitchers to graduation last season, needs better control out of its pitchers, Showen said.

"Eric's pitched his entire life and he's thrown and I expect him to be better than that," Showen said. "It was a shaky outing for him tonight but he'll come around."

WESTFIELD 15, MONTELLO 5 (6)

Westfield .............. 5 4 2   2 0 2   —   15  10   3

Montello ............... 3 1 1   0 0 0   —     5     6   6

Pitchers — Rau (W), C. Lloyd (L). SO leaders — Podoll (W) 4, Polk (M) 4.

Leading hitters — Mills (W) 3x4, Podoll (W) 2x3, Johnson (W) 2x2, S. Lloyd (M) 2x3, Polk (M) 2x2. 2B: Mills (W), Polk (M).

kmorales@capitalnewspapers.com

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