WESTBROOK – It’s a frustrating quirk of the Heal Point system that a team can have no losses and still be in seventh place.
The Westbrook baseball team is currently the only undefeated team in Class A West at 6-0, yet because of the Heal Point standings, the Blazes are mired in seventh place overall.
On Wednesday morning, the Class A West Heal Points looked like this: Cheverus was on top with a 5-1 record, Biddeford was second at 5-2, South Portland was third at 6-2, Marshwood was fourth at 6-1, Deering was fifth at 6-1, Scarborough was sixth at 5-1, the Blazes were seventh at 6-0 and Portland was eighth at 4-3. The top eight teams make the playoffs.
The powerful Blazes have outscored their opponents 56-3 so far this season, posting five shutouts in six games, and have their share of players among the league leaders. Scott Heath leads in runs scored with 10 and teammate Zach Collett is in a second-place tie with Cheverus’ Louie DiStasio and South Portland’s Nick Whitten with nine. Collett is also tied with Marshwood’s Jack Verrill for the league lead in runs batted in with 11 and his six doubles puts him on top in that category.
For pitchers, Heath, Sean Murphy and Matt Weimer are among the league leaders in earned run average with a perfect 0.00 on the season. Heath leads the league in strikeouts with 25 and is tied with Deering’s Sam Balzano for the league lead in wins with three.
The Blazes have also posted some impressive defensive numbers this spring as Sam Stauble holds the top spot in putouts with 42 and, along with teammate Kyle Heath, has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
With an undefeated record and such strong performances, it would seem odd that the Blazes are not at the top of the standings, but they are victims of something they have no control over, their schedule. The Heal Points are determined by the strength of the opponent, and with wins over Windham (3-0), Noble (23-0), Massabesic (4-3), Sanford (14-0), Gorham (4-0) and Bonny Eagle (8-0), the Blazes haven’t faced off against any of the top teams in the league.
But that’s about to change.
Westbrook is about to enter a portion of its schedule that could make or break its season. Starting on May 12, the Blazes will be taking on the teams above them in the standings, and if Westbrook can continue its winning streak, the Blazes will shoot right up the Heal Point standings.
On May 12, the Blazes will host No. 4 Marshwood in a 4 p.m. game, then after a game at No. 10 Kennebunk the next day at 4 p.m., the Blazes will get a shot at No. 2 Biddeford at home on May 17 at 4 p.m.
Things don’t get any easier for the Blazes after they take on the Tigers, on May 19, Westbrook hosts No. 3 South Portland at 4 p.m. and travels to No. 5 Deering on May 21 at 2 p.m. The remaining portion of the schedule includes games against Scarborough (May 24), Portland (May 26) and a regular season-ending showdown at home against No. 1 Cheverus on May 31.
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