The Westwood American Legion Post 320 baseball team’s tank looked near empty in the late innings against Needham yesterday, but at least it has a couple days to fill back up.
After holding on for tight wins in the seventh inning each of the last two nights, Westwood ended its stretch of seven-games-in-seven-days by giving up five runs in the final three frame of a 6-1 loss.
Post 320 drops to 4-8-1 on the season but went 4-2-1 over the seven-game span to creep onto to the fringe of the playoff hunt and now has a much need three-day break before facing Dedham Sunday night.
“Obviously this was a game we needed but we played well defensively, pitched well and it was a close game until they broke it open late,” said Westwood manager Dick Paster. “I guess we should be happy we are playing even with the top teams but we still would have like to have won.”
After scoring the go-ahead run in the fifth on a Chuck McCann sacrifice fly, Tucker Healy put the game away in the sixth with a three-run home run them closed out the game by hurling the final two innings in relief of winning pitcher Matt Dunn. Needham jumps over Norwood into second place with 19 points at 9-4-1.
Westwood went on top in the first inning when Matt Morin singled with two out and stole second, setting the table for Brian Morante single. Healy tied it with the first of his four RBI, following a Sam Kelly triple with a base hit.
Ryan Walsh had a soling outing, surrendering three runs in five-plus innings.
