WESTBROOK – It took Keenan Lowe a couple innings to find his groove, but when he did he was nearly unhittable.

After giving up an early run, Lowe settled down and limited Deering to two hits during a four-inning stretch to help Westbrook to a 6-2 win in a Telegram League baseball game Saturday afternoon at Westbrook High School.

“It was the first time that I pitched this season,” said Lowe. “Last year in (American) Legion ball, a lot of times it took me one or two innings to get going, and then I kind of zone in and I feel it.

“I think I need to start taking longer warming up. I mean, I feel like I should be more focused when I’m warming up before games.”

Westbrook turned in a solid defensive play in each of the first two innings to give Lowe time to hit his stride.

Luke Boyle led off the game with a single and moved to third on Lowe’s wild pickoff attempt. One out later, Jared Bell’s infield single scored Boyle to give Deering (1-3) a 1-0 lead. Westbrook (4-0) then turned a double play to get out of the inning.

Advertisement

With the game tied at 1 in the second, Westbrook authored the defensive play of the game. Trey Thomes reached on a two-out error and tried to score on a double to deep left by Kenny Sweet. Kaleb Kent came up with the ball and threw a strike to cut-off man Collin Joyce, whose throw home beat Deering’s fastest base runner to the plate.

“It was kind of a deep hit and we were trying to get the guy at home,” said Westbrook catcher Kyle Heath, who applied the tag. “I don’t think we really expected to (get the out), but everything just worked out and we were able to get him.”

The defensive gem seemed to spark the Blue Blazes. Heath drove in a pair of runs with a two-out double in the bottom of the second to put Westbrook up 3-1.

Lowe took over from there. He retired 11 of the next 13 batters, allowing only singles to Nick DiBiase in the third and sixth. He struck out five during that stretch.

“(Lowe) did a great job,” said Deering Coach Tim Eisenhart. “He had a rough first couple of innings, and then he settled in and started spotting his pitches a little better. His velocity seemed to pick up a little bit and he started gaining confidence.”

Westbrook added to their its in the fifth, as Matt Moody’s double highlighted a two-run inning that gave the Blue Blazes a 5-1 advantage.

“We just got the big hits in the game,” said Westbrook Coach Greg Souza. “Some guys came through for us, and it was a good win.”

Sam Luebbert started and took the loss for the Rams, after allowing five runs in five innings.

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.