Westfield Blue Devils in Cooperstown

Westfield Blue Devils

This blog tracked the experiences of the Westfield Blue Devils at Cooperstown Dreams Park July 1 through July 6, 2006. Artticles are now arranged chronologically.

Saturday Morning Check In

A view of the barracks, oops ...I mean clubhouses.

Mike Mondon finds a place to rest his non pitching arm. (Justin Ricardo as armrest)

James O'Rourke

Peter Mebane, Mike Coletta and Ryan Elliott.

Matt Varakian and Mike Coletta

Brian Duffy and Alex Graf

Mike Clancy, Alex Graf, and Mike Mondon get right down to pin trading.

Skills competitions

Westfield Blue Devils participated in the opening ceremonies and skills competitions Saturday evening. Ryan Elliott blasted one out of the park in the Sultan of Swat contest, Michael Mondon scored 3 points in the golden arm, just missing the finals, and Matt Varakian (pictured) circled the bases in 13.95 seconds in the roadrunner competition, which is about 45 seconds faster than his dad can circle the bases.

Photos from Opening Ceremony

Above - James O'Rourke and Johnny Gribbin
Below - Matt Varakian waiting patiently for the games to begin!

Michael Mondon offering the team an encouraging smile.

Opening Ceremonies & Skills Competition

Coaches with team get ready for the competitions.....yes, we see you Mike Mondon & Mike Clancy!

Visitors even dropped from planes!

Kurt Kowalski and Charlie Scott

Game 1 - Westfield runs into a Powerhouse Team from Miami

It was a tough team to have in the first game, as the Blue Devils fell to the Tamiami Reds from Florida by a score of 21-0. It's only up from here! The game was highlighted by towering home runs from several of the players on the Reds, including 3 homers by the player who had won the home run derby the night before. It should be noted that the ball travels farther in the thin air of Cooperstown and the wind WAS blowing out.

On the Westfield side, Justin Ricardo started the game and was keeping the Reds off balance a bit for 2 1/3 innings with his knuckleball and actually kept Westfield in the game, allowing us to get to the 4th inning with the score 8-0.

When the ball was kept in the park, James O'Rourke was busy fielding it. He played a stellar game at shortstop, with at least 5 assists.

At the plate, the Blue Devils were pretty much shut down by a crafty leffthander who allowed only 2 hits, a single to the right side by Peter Mebane and a line double down the right field line by Charlie Scott.

It is important to remember as Bill Scott says... "In Baseball, it is all about the hot dogs"

Game 2 - Westfield Bounces Back Big... Grand Slam by Duffy

In their second game in Cooperstown, the Blue Devils won with an impressive array of hitting in a 25 - 2 victory over the Oregon Ohio Eagles on Sunday night. The game was held up by two early rain delays before the thunder of the Westfield offense began.

Down 1-0 in the top of the second, Westfield sent 16 men to the plate and scored 11 runs.
Matt Varakian started it with a lined single to right, and promptly got himself picked off first!
Mike Coletta singled and Jon Gribbin reached on a third strike that got past the catcher. Alex Graf powered a long single off the right field wall, driving in Westfield's first run. Then Justin Ricardo walked, Brian Duffy doubled, knocking in two runs, and James O'Rourke singled plating another run. But that wasn't all. Kurt Kowalski walked, Mike Mondon singled, and Ryan Elliott reached on a fielder's choice. Matt Varakian atoned for the pick-off by doubling to left, and the scoring was rounded out by consecutive singles by Coletta, Gribbin, Graf and Ricardo.

After a scoreless third inning, the Blue Devils went to work again in the top of the fourth.

Varakian started it this time with a single off the wall in right. The offense produced nine more hits in the inning. Mondon and O'Rourke doubled. Kowalski singled. Mike Coletta and Jonnie Gribbin each picked up two singles in the inning, with Coletta accomplishing the feat for the second time in the game. Brian Duffy, who had singled earlier in the inning, capped the scoring by lining a grand slam to right field.

In all Westfield pounded out 21 hits, including 3 by Duffy who had 8 RBI in the game. Mike Coletta was 4 for 4. Matt Varakian, Kurt Kowalski and Jon Gribbin had 3 hits each. Justin Ricardo and Charlie Scott shared the ninth spot in the order and reached safely all 4 times they batted.

Mike Mondon pitched three innnings and Peter Mebane came on for the "save" by pitching a scoreless fourth. The game also marked the heralded return of Mike "Hidecki" Clancy who just the day before had a cast removed from his wrist. What a gamer!

Things get tough again at 8:30 AM Monday with a game against the Coppell Cowboys of Texas, who are 2-0 thusfar in the tournament.

Above - Brian Duffy hits a grand slam!
Below - Matt Varakian hits the wall for a double

Ryan Elliott singles (stock MLB photo)

Mike Coletta goes 4 for 4...(another MLB stock photo)

Justin Ricardo holds a man at 2nd base

Mike Mondon shows no mercy at the mound...just before hitting one off the wall!

Game 2 - More Photos

Ryan Elliott swings for the fences

Alex Graf powers one off the wall!

Kurt Kawalski fakes a bunt before slapping one for a single.

Alex Graf attempting to catch the runner sleeping.....didn't work.

James O'Rourke - another day at the office with a single to center

Mike Coletta testing the pitcher's move to third....that was a little too close Mike!

Mike Mondon getting one of his Ks

More Photos!

Game 3 - Westfield Loses a Squeaker...Varakian Homers Twice

The Blue Devils comeback bid fell short this morning in a 9-8 loss to the Coppell Cowboys from Texas.

The game started with a run for Westfield in the top of the first when Jonnie Gribbin singled, stole second and Ryan Elliott moved him to third with a ground out. Gribbin then stole home when the ball got away from the Cowboy's catcher.

Picture Above - Jonnie Gribbin gets ready to fire a fastball.

Westfield was sluggish after a wild party in the barracks on Sunday night. As a result, they gave up 5 runs (4 unearned) on a few plays they normally make in the field. Coach Kowalski has vowed to enforce the 10:30 lights out rule from here on, or the offending player(s) will be forced to eat the macaroni and cheese surprise. Texas added 2 more runs in the third to take a 7-1 lead.

In the top of the 5th, Charlie Scott started things with a single up the middle. Matt Varakian followed with a 2 run HR to right center to cut the lead to 7-3.

James O'Rourke singled and scored on a hot shot up the middle by Gribbin to make it 7-4. Jonnie advanced to third and scored on a sac fly by Ryan Elliott to narrow the gap to 7-5.

Texas added 2 in the bottom of the 5th to extend the lead to 9-5.

In the top of the 6th, Pete Mebane led off with a single and Brian Duffy followed with one of his own, but was caught at second trying to advance on a wild throw. Justin popped out to short center for the second out. Charlie Scott once again kept the inning alive with a liner to right to score Mebane and make it 9-6.

Matt Varakian went yard for the second time with a 2-run blast to center to make it 9-8. James O'Rourke flied to center as Texas held on by the skin of their longhorns for an exciting victory.

Here it comes..................

There it goes!!!

Game 3 - More Photos vs Coppel Cowboys

More Photos vs the Coppel Cowboys from Texas!

Mike Coletta line drives one into center.... Ryan Elliott saves one from getting away.....

Jonnie Gribbin goes for the outside corner.....

Peter Mebane fires a fastball, hits the inside corner.......

Kurt Kowalski rounds first base on a walk...good eye Kurt!

James O'Rourke nails another at first base!

Peter Mebane slugs one down the first base line......

Game 4 - Elliott, O'Rourke lead Westfield to Victory

A three run homer by Ryan Elliott in the first inning was all James O'Rourke needed as he pitched a 6 inning complete game gem in a 4-2 victory for Westfield over the Martinez Baseball Club Crush of California.

James O'Rourke at the top of his game

The game was well played by both sides. Westfield's defensive play of the game came in the top of the first as Brian Duffy killed a rally by catching a deep fly to center field and then throwing a strike to Kurt Kowalski to nail the runner tagging from third base.

(A little blurry yes but we assure you, that IS Brian Duffy making the play) FYI - the photographer had just returned from Happy Hour)

The Blue Devils received excellent infield defense from Jon Gribbin, Justin Ricardo and Charlie Scott as they charged the grounders induced by O'Rourke. Elliott, who broke out of a mild slump with his towering drive, raised his fist in celebration as he rounded first on his homer. The team needed his offense as they were shut down for the rest of the game, scoring only one more time on a bases loaded walk to Michael Mondon.

But the star of the game was O'Rourke, who after a shaky first inning, starting throwing tantalizing curve balls mixed in with an occasional heater that kept the Crush from scoring after the second inning. Asked after the game what he felt was the key to the victory, O'Rourke commented that he knew things were going his way when his father, Terry made a superb play on a foul ball down the left field line.

The Westfield team faces the Marshall County Monarchs from West Virginia in a web televised game on the 4th of July at 11 Am - field 8. Westfield will be the home team and wear red as they seek to maintain their undefeated record in web - games. (1-0).