Westfield 6, Heritage Christian 3

Indianapolis – Westfield holds off Heritage Christian to claim their first victory of the season on opening day.  After both teams scored early, it was Westfield who took over late in the game.  Nathan Manworren would score first for Westfield as he was brought in on a single by Wade Burtron.  Heritage Christian would respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the first by getting Adam Meadows across the plate. 

Colin Marsh, the starting pitcher for Heritage Christian, had a great second inning.  Marsh got two Westfield hitters to ground out and struck out the third to retire the side.  He then decided to help his own cause by hitting a solo homerun to right field, giving Heritage Christian the 2-1 lead. 

Westfield added to their score in the fifth.  The first came when a ball skipped off of Jake Celleghin while attempting to steal second allowing Manworren to cross home plate.  Celleghin would take third on that play and then score when Burtron grounded out on the next at bat.  Westfield would score two more runs in the sixth off an error.  Manworren would score yet again, this time with Baily Partlow as they scored on the error to give the shamrocks a 5-2 lead. 

Heritage Christian managed to get one run in the bottom of the sixth as Grant Findlan doubled down the third baseline scoring Gates Maier making the score 5-3.  Westfield would post their final run in the top of the seventh.  Alec Nelson would score off a ground out by Partlow giving the shamrocks a 6-3 lead. 

Mike McBride received the opening day start for Westfield.  After allowing two runs in the first two innings, McBride settled in allowing three hits in the next three innings and got some help from his defense getting two double plays in the third and fourth.  McBride would get the win as he allowed six hits and two earned runs in five innings of work.

Westfield - McBride: Win, 5 IP, 1 SO, 6 Hs, 2 ER; Manworren: 1-2, 2B, 2 SB, 3 R; Burtron: 2-4, 1 RBI, 2 SB;

Heritage Christian - Marsh:  3 IP, 3 SOs, 2 Hs, 1 R, 0 ER; HR, RBI, R; Walker: 1-3, 1 SB; Cork: 2-3, 1SB;