Westfield's Archambault Throws Complete-Game in Win Over SPF

THE RECORDS: baseball team entered its Thursday game against Westfield 6-4 overall and 2-2 in the Watchung Division. Westfield came to the game 9-2 overall and 3-2 in the Watchung Division.

THE SCORE: 13-8, Westfield. Westfield’s vaunted lineup proved too much for Scotch Plains pitchers Sean Reilly (2-2) and John Howarth. The Blue Devils have now scored 11 or more runs in six of their 10 wins, and have racked-up 114 runs over 11 games, making for a robust 10.36 run-per-game average.

On the mound, Westfield starter Zach Archambault (2-0) went the distance for the first time, tossing a nine-hitter in a 116-pitch effort that included 39 in the seventh and final inning.

Both teams struggled defensively. Scotch Plains committed four errors and two wild pitches. Westfield made four errors and threw one wild pitch

THE HEROES: First, there’s Archambault, who threw his first career complete game.

But as suggested by the high score, each the teams’ entire lineups contributed to the game. For Westfield, senior catcher A.J. Murray went 3-for-4 and reached base all four times, including an RBI-single in the first inning and a two-run homerun over the left-field fence in the fifth; junior left-fielder Matt Varakian went 3-for-4 and also reached base all four times; and senior designated hitter Will Riggs produced the game-winning hit: an RBI-single to center in the third inning that put Westfield ahead 5-4.

For Scotch Plains, sophomore first baseman James D’Angelo went 2-for-3, and slugged his second home run of the season over the leftfield fence; senior right-fielder Ryan Haggerty went 2-for-3; and junior designated hitter and Anthony Krajscik went 2-for-4.

THE QUOTES: “We battled back a bit, but defensively we’re a mess right now,” Scotch Plains head coach Tom Baylock said. “We have to figure out a way to get cleaned uu. We’re making too many mistakes.”

“We hit the ball well, but we didn’t field it well,” Westfield head coach Bob Brewster said. “Zach pitched well for us. We should have had two outs and nobody on in the seventh. We didn’t field the ball well in the final inning.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The Raiders are scheduled to host Johnson Saturday at noon and then Franklin Monday at 4 p.m. in their final two games before the Union County Tournament is seeded Monday night. 

UNION COUNTY CONFERENCE-WATCHUNG DIVISION
BASEBALL GAME AT WESTFIELD:
SCOTCH PLAINS (6-5, 2-3)                   4   0   0     0   0   1     3 –   8    9   4
WESTFIELD (10-2, 4-2)                         3   0   4     1   3   2     x – 13  16    

WINNING PITCHER: Westfield senior right-hander Zach Archambault (2-0).
LOSING PITCHER: Scotch Plains senior left-hander Sean Reilly (2-2).

DOUBLES: Scotch Plains – Anthony Krajscik, Ryan Haggerty. Westfield – Tim Younger, Steve Forgash, Brett Ryan, James Barry.
TRIPLES: Scotch Plains – None. Westfield – None.
HOME RUNS: Scotch Plains - James D’Angelo. Westfield: A.J. Murray.