Westfield Sweeps Concorde, Wins Title 4-0
The Westfield Bulldogs pose with their Concorde District Championship banner after beating the Robinson Rams 4-0 Monday night. The Bulldogs went undefeated in the Concorde District this season, an impressive feat in the always tough district...
Photo By: Julia Nguyen / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Westfield's Danny Thorpe continued his dominance, striking out 10 in 6 innings of work for the Bulldogs on Monday. Thorpe led the Bulldogs to the Concorde District Championship...
Photo By: Julia Nguyen / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Westfield's Ryan Sweet turned in a great performance on Monday in the 4-0 win for the Bulldogs. Sweet's RBI double and RBI single helped give the Bulldogs enough to close out the season a perfect 14-0 against Concorde District teams...
Photo By: Julia Nguyen / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
CHANTILLY, VA - I thought about writing a game recap after Westfield beat Robinson on Monday night 4-0, but it was the same old story. Great pitching, clutch hitting, and tremendous defense, it hasn't changed all year for the Bulldogs. They won the championship like they had won their previous 13 Concorde District games, impressively.
Here's how it went in one paragraph. Danny Thorpe struck out 10 batters, the entire lineup put pressure on the Robinson defense at the plate, and the Rams couldn't buy a hit even when it was scorched. Ryan Sweet had two big hits, including a RBI double, and Kevin Reardon continued to tear the cover off of the baseball. The final score was 4-0, but it didn't feel that close.
At the beginning of the year, few expected Chuck Welch's club to finish near the top of the Concorde, and nobody predicted they would be undefeated in district play. Their only loss occurred in another state, and on spring break.
Every time I see this team play, I keep thinking that their dominance may end because they aren't flashy. They pitch extremely well, yet their starters don't throw 90 mph or overpower hitters. Their lineup doesn't hit 3 home runs a game like prior Bulldog squads, yet they all have enough power to hurt a pitcher with one swing. Defensively, they make it look easy, and just when you think they will miss a hard hit line drive down the third base line, they dive and make a sportscenter play to get the out.
Every aspect of this team, if put under a microscope, would hardly intimidate an opponent, yet with all of the parts together, they continue to roll up every team they face.
Here at Gameday, we believe the value of our media platforms is what we describe as the sum of all parts, not just one individual one. For Westfield's 19-1 baseball team, it is the same thing. The sum of all parts for the Bulldogs has equated to a ton of wins, and now a Concorde District Championship.
One of my good buddies Jim Wheaton told me today that there is no way a team can win a Northern Region Championship if they can't hit a good pitcher. That may seem like a captain obvious baseball statement, but that basically describes how each of Westfield's opponents has fallen.
One of the reasons why nobody could predict Westfield's success is junior Danny Thorpe. He has been dominant to say the least, and nearly untouchable. The last three times I have personally seen him pitch, he's had over 10 strikeouts. His fastball may hit 86 mph, but combined with his slider that moves almost a foot, he is really difficult to measure for hitters.
With Thorpe, the Bulldogs have a bona-fide #1 starter, but before you throw that compliment out, you have to consider what sophomore Aaron Hoover has done this year. Hoover has an ERA under 1.14, and is coming off a perfect game this past Friday. He doesn't throw hard, but he has great control, and really good stuff from the left side. With Hoover and Thorpe, Westfield can feel good about their rotation in the Northern Region playoffs, and then you add closer Ryan Williams, who has the 90 mph fastball. Now I know why Coach Welch is often smiling from ear to ear when he talks with us on our Best Buy post game shows.
So the question that most have asked me in the past few days is, who can beat Westfield? I've seen the Liberty District, and McLean is an equal. They have two starters (Fitzgerald & Buckley), and a solid hitting lineup. However, they seem to give up more runs than Westfield does, and I'm not sure they can score enough on Thorpe or Hoover to get the win.
Could Stone Bridge beat Westfield? They have good pitching too, but it depends on what Stone Bridge team shows up. If Johnny Bladel is throwing at the top of his game, and Westfield has an off night on the mound, it is possible, but that scenario is not likely because to this point, Westfield hasn't had an off night on the hill.
The Patriot District has power pitching from teams like West Springfield and Lake Braddock, but can they hit well enough? That question will be answered in the final two rounds of the tournament.
One thing that won't get Westfield beat is their coaching. Welch and his staff have proven year after year that they know the game, and they know how to teach it. Their players hustle, and they continually beat out plays that other teams don't.
When I was a junior in high school, my team entered the state tournament as a long shot, and we knocked off every team that was supposed to beat us, all the way to the championship game. Part of the reason was the fact that every player on the roster had played together for years in American Legion.
I can't confirm this suspicion yet, but this Westfield team looks as if they have been playing together for a long time as well.
Talent, chemistry, and coaching all play a factor in Westfield's success this season. While most teams entering the first round of the Northern Region playoffs have glaring holes in their arsenal, Westfield is the most well rounded team this area has to offer.
We'll find out if that equates to even more banners to hang in the coming weeks.
If you would like to comment on Andy's Point After editorial, you can reach him by e-mail at GamedayMagazine@aol.com.
