Westfield Little League Baseball Majors launch postseason with three home runs

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June 21, 2025

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Westfield Little League Baseball Majors launch postseason with three home runs

WESTFIELD – The Westfield Little League Baseball Majors (12-Year-Old) All-Stars are just one game into the postseason, but they are already having a blast – three, in fact.

Bobby Strange-Skribiski homered twice, and J.J. Rodriguez launched a two-run dinger as the Westfield Majors smashed Longmeadow 11-0 in five innings Saturday morning at Ralph E. Sanville Memorial Field (Cross Street).

Rodriguez got things started with his two-run blast in the bottom of the first inning.

“I didn’t think it was gone at first,” Rodriguez said regarding his homer. “I thought it was a ground rule double or something but … it was very important. If you don’t get on top, it could be a very different story.”

Not to be lost in the shuffle by any means was Westfield starting pitcher Eric Dean. Dean retired the first three batters in order. He struck out all three batters he faced in the top of the second inning.

“I was just trying to strike everyone out and have them put the ball in play because I know I have a good defense behind me,” Dean said.

While Dean silenced the Longmeadow bats, Westfield’s offense continued to make noise.

Micah Dolan led off the bottom of the second inning with a single, and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Brady Panis singled and stole second. Jaedon Badillo plated a run with a ground out. Christopher Paros hit an RBI single. Dean walked and Liam Purdy singled to load the bases, chasing the Longmeadow starting pitcher from the game.

A wild pitch made it 5-0. The Longmeadow reliever hit Jackson Daley with a pitch. Ryan Lemieux knocked in another run. The visitors escaped any further damage in the inning with a tag out at home plate.

Westfield continued to pile on the runs.

In the bottom of the third, Strange-Skribiski launched a solo shot to make it 7-0. Longmeadow’s Leo Diamond broke up Dean’s no-hit bid in the top of the fourth. Dean walked the next batter but bounced back with two straight strikeouts to escape unscathed.

Westfield tacked on another insurance run in the bottom of the fourth with two base hits, one each from Panis and Paros, the second of which scored the team’s eighth run.

Westfield reliever Jacob Moltenbrey took over for Dean to begin the fifth. After allowing a double to Longmeadow’s J.J. Gonzales, Moltenbrey struck out two straight batters and induced a ground out to end the half-inning.

Westfield ended the game in grand fashion.

Daley singled to begin the home half of the fifth inning. Lemieux walked. With one out, Strange-Skribiski launched a three-run homer.

“I was just thinking line drives, hopefully hit the ball somewhere, hopefully it would drop, and it did,” Strange-Skribiski said.

Westfield’s starting pitcher said their tournament opener was a good litmus test.

“I feel like it was really important [to win our first game] because now we know if we can beat Longmeadow, I think we can beat everyone,” Dean said. “I think we have a good future ahead of us.”

The Westfield Majors All-Stars hit the road for their next game Monday against Easthampton at Milne Field at 5:30 p.m. They return home Wednesday against Belchertown before wrapping up round robin action Sunday at Amherst.

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