Who will be the next hero for these Westbrook Little Leaguers?
Your guess is as good as ours.
Already this summer we’ve seen Nick Finocchiaro, Sean Murphy, Zack and Jacob Gardiner, Zack Collett and Tommy Lemay come up big in big situations.
And Michael Mowatt, Reid Coulombe, Jared Martin, Mitchell Chipman and Joey Royer have all contributed with amazing plays, pitches or hits.
Sunday, however, it was Mike Boothby’s turn.
Boothby, hitting in the eighth spot, launched a back-breaking, three-run homer over the left field fence in the third inning, a turning point that led to Westbrook’s 7-2 win over Rhode Island in the championship game.
“It was a fastball, right down the middle,” said Mike, who sat unassumingly, peeking over the table after being invited to the post-game press interview room, along with winning pitcher Finocchiaro and manager Rick Knight. “I was thinking, ‘I was going to get a good hit,'” he said of the moments before that at bat.
Boothby seems to save his best for last. His most recent homer before the championship blast came in the final game of the regular season.
On hand for the big hit Sunday was Mike’s father, Mike Sr., who hadn’t been able to make it to a game in Bristol before that game.
“It was big thrill,” his father said a few innings later from his spot in the bleachers. “It was nice to be able to see that.”
Added Knight, “I think having his dad here was a little inspiration. I would say his dad helped him by being here.”
Boothby also had a looping RBI-single to left in the second inning, giving Westbrook a 2-1 lead.
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