Westwood tally in 7th nips Mtn. View

March 22, 2022 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Westwood scores its first runs in the third inning of its 4-3 win over Mtn. View on this 2-RBI single by Manny Morales. (Azpreps365 photo)

Westwood's Luke McInelly capped a productive game at the plate with the a game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning on Tuesday as the Warriors edged Mountain View, 4-3, in a 6A East Valley Region contest at Westwood.

With the victory Westwood improved to 9-4-1, 5-3 power-ranking games and earn a split in the two-game series that saw Mountain View prevail last Friday, 8-5. Mountain View is 7-9, 3-3. Westwood reliever Devin Begay picked up the win with 2 1/3 innings of work. Mountain View's Brock Snow took the loss despite a solid stint. Snow threw 3 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, no walks and striking out seven.

McInelly, a sophomore, was 2 for 3 with a run scored prior to driving in the decisive run. Westwood, which saw Mountain View score to tie in the top of the seventh, used a pinch-hit single from Hunter McQuade and an infield hit from Seth Wright with no outs to eventually put runners at second and third in the winning rally. The Toros intentionally walked Ryan Adair to load the bases before McInelly lifted a fly ball deep enough to left to notch the victory.

Westwood never trailed. The Warriors built a 2-0 lead after three (two-run single by Manny Morales) and snapped a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth via a double-steal attempt. Mountain View tied it at 3 in the top of seven thanks to a leadoff double from Carson Reimers, a sacrifice by Easton Turner and sac fly from ninth-place hitter Tyler Davis. 

Westwood outhit Mountain View 9-3. Joining McInelly with a multiple-hit game was shortstop Gavin Letourneau (2 for 3). Sam Christiansen collected two of Mountain View's three hits - a leadoff double in the fourth and infield hit in the sixth. Liam Fenning and Joe Terranova had the Toros other RBI.

Mountain View plays next on Friday on the road at Mountain Pointe. Westwood is home for its next game on Friday - a region game vs. Dobson.