Runners on first and second base for Brearley, as the conditions worsened and the rain poured down stronger and stronger by the second. With this game already getting postponed Wednesday, May 14, coaches, players, umpires and fans on both sides all hoped to get this game in and continue the Union County tournament. A 30 minute rain delay was inevitable to ensure the safety of the players. Some teams might use this delay as a time to relax and hangout, but the Blue Devils did the exact opposite. Head coach Jay Cook said, “[We] kept everybody loose, kept everybody warm and [ready] to go back in there.” Westfield came out firing, ending the half inning with a double play.
Brearley, on the other hand, did not utilize this time to regroup and were unable to measure up their performance in the first two innings. The Bears let up four runs in the fourth inning, which would prove to be the motivation the Blue Devils needed to overcome the quarterfinal round. Brearley pitcher Sean Budis hit three Westfield players bringing in runners on third each time.
After the fourth inning, the Blue Devils maintained their momentum scoring another four runs in the sixth inning, winning 8-0. Cook said, “We had really competitive at bats. [Budis] hit us a couple times, so that helped us.”
Although the Blue Devils benefited from Budis’s pitching, the defense still needed to stop any possible energy from Brearley’s offense. Senior tri-captain Grant Como pitched six innings for the Blue Devils, recording six strikeouts and letting in no runs. Cook said, “We knew we were going to get a good arm on the mound. [Como] was going to be in there, we know he is going to get us the two strikes. And when he does, we just have to be able to battle.”
Senior outfielder Charlie McCormack credited their success to Como, describing how reassuring it is knowing a strong arm is on the mound. McCormack said, “Como did an [outstanding] job pitching. He really kept us in the game.” Como stayed calm and collected despite a momentary pause. Como said, “[The team] made sure to stay off our phones. Everyone stayed locked in, it was obviously a bump in the road, but we didn’t let that phase us.”
Looking ahead the Blue Devils play against rivals Scotch Plains-Fanwood at 4pm on May 16. They seek revenge, as they previously fell short to the Raiders earlier this season. The semifinal game in the UCT is set for May 17 against Union Catholic. Westfield previously lost to Union Catholic during a regular season game, 9-5. With a county final appearance on the line, tension will be high and both teams will bring their best performance. Cook said the Blue Devils are “constantly working on their defensive performance,” an aspect that will be “crucial for upcoming games.”
