Walpole, Westfield fit to be tied after rain suspends thrilling game

WALPOLE No squad had scored a run off of Walpole in seven straight postseason games dating back to last season But Westfield pulled off the gargantuan feat Saturday in the Nick of time in more methods than one The Bombers rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to force extras where the event was suspended due to heavy rain Fifth-seeded Westfield and No Walpole which was a rematch of last year s state final will resume the contest Monday in the top of eighth inning with the Bombers having two runners on and one out in a - battle Westfield pitcher Shea Hurley is congratulated after recording her th career strikeout during a state tournament event against Walpole on Saturday Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill Boston Herald The dramatic turn of events for Walpole will give it a chance to regroup with a trip to the Division state semifinal on the line We just reset like it s a - tournament and come out like we came out in the current era which was with tight D and really aggressive at the plate Walpole coach Rachael Sprague explained We ll be OK It s not an ideal scenario for the Bombers who will have to make the nearly two-hour long trek back to Walpole in hours No question about it mentioned Westfield coach Tyson James on his crew losing momentum It s unfortunate but it is what it is Nothing we can do about it Westfield displayed its perseverance in the seventh as Grace Tempe led off with a double and came around to outcome on an RBI single by No hitter Caitlyn Arooth Sharlotte Stazinski s eighth strikeout of the battle put Walpole one out away from a win but Sydney LaPanne blooped a single to shallow right to plate two runs LaPanne s hit almost didn t drop in as Timberwolves second baseman Grace Todd nearly made an incredible diving catch and had the ball in her glove but it jarred free when she made impact with the ground Walpole s Caroline Doran dives unsuccessfully for the ball as Sydney Bissonnette chases the drive of Westfield s Grace Trempe down on Saturday in Walpole Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill Boston Herald Todd made a stellar defensive play to get Walpole out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth though and opened the scoring in the bottom half of frame by singling to center off Westfield ace Shea Hurley who notched her th career strikeout in the encounter The Timberwolves scored two more runs in the inning thanks to an RBI triple by Stazinski and an error Both sides leaned heavily on their dynamite starting pitchers and despite the history between the teams they don t plan to change to their approach when they reconvene They re a great squad You can t take that away from them Sprague stated And Shea really is very strong She s not going to miss much So we had a plan coming in at the plate and I think the girls are doing a great job executing it And we ll have the same plan for Monday Westfield s Adyson Rowell screams after scoring and tying the battle against Walpole Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill Boston Herald