Westfield got a nice bounce-back win on Thursday, sailing past Zionsville 11-1 in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game played at Grand Park.
The Shamrocks began with two runs in the top of the first inning. Trey Anderson scored the first run on an RBI groundout by Tyler Smitherman. Bryce Dorton got home on a fielder’s choice by Zach Collins. Westfield added another run in the third inning, with Luke Hutson getting home after Austin Wessel hit a sacrifice bunt.
The ‘Rocks opened up the game in the fifth inning, scoring six runs. Kyle Pepiot singled in Dorton, then Smitherman and Hutson scored on an error. Pepiot got home on a wild pitch. Jack Lawrence hit a double, Payton Tamm was walked, and both were sent home by a base hit from Anderson.
Westfield scored a run in each of the last two innings. Collins brought Dorton in with a sixth-inning single, and Collins hit a sacrifice fly to score Anderson in the seventh.
“Credit to the kids,” said Westfield coach Ryan Bunnell. “They really came out and were able to flush Monday.” The Shamrocks lost to Noblesville on that day, so it was a satisfying comeback win.
“A lot of guys, they crumble under that, and that takes them into a deep valley,” said Bunnell. “But these guys, to their credit, they’ve been great at practice. They’ve had really good practices this week. And we’re battling weather and all that, and you don’t know whether you’re going to be in or out till the end of the day. And there’s just a lot of distractions this time of year. A lot of credit to them for coming out and having good practices this week and then putting together a performance like today.”
Dorton finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate, including a double, while Collins and Pepiot each batted 2-for-3. Parker Bard pitched six innings for the win, striking out eight and allowing four hits. Eli Patchett finished the game with a perfect seventh inning.
Westfield is 8-5 and will host Zionsville at 6 p.m. tonight to continue the series.
Westfield 11, Zionsville 1
Westfield AB R H RBI
Trey Anderson 2 2 1 2
Bryce Dorton 4 3 3 0
Drew Coy 1 0 1 0
Tyler Smitherman 4 1 1 1
AJ Bunnell 1 0 0 0
Zach Collins 3 0 2 3
Kyle Pepiot 3 1 2 1
Zach Zaborowski 1 0 0 0
Austin Wessel 3 0 0 1
Eli Patchett 3 0 0 0
Jack Lawrence 4 1 1 0
Payton Tamm 2 1 1 0
Josh Stegner 1 0 0 0
Luke Hutson 0 2 0 0
Totals 32 11 12 8
Score by innings
Westfield 201 061 1 – 11 12 0
Zionsville 000 010 0 – 1 4 3
2B: Dorton, Lawrence. SB: Dorton, Hutson, Pepiot, Smitherman, Tamm. SAC: Wessel, Collins. HBP: Collins.
Westfield pitching IP R ER H
Parker Bard (W) 6 1 1 4
Patchett 1 0 0 0
Strikeouts: Bard 8, Patchett 1. Walks: Bard 1.
Westfield’s Luke Hutson (2) is congratulated by Tyler Smitherman (9) after they score in the fifth inning of the Shamrocks’ game with Zionsville Thursday at Grand Park. Also pictured is Austin Wessel (7). (Richie Hall)