WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Pittsfield Babe Ruth 15-year-old All-Stars exploded for 14 runs in the third inning en route to a 16-4 win over Westfield on Thursday to open the best-of-three Western Mass State Championship series.

 

Michael Britten, Sam Sherman and Jonathan Monahan each had a single and a double.

 

Owen Kroboth had a triple and a pair of RBIs, and Nick Hall drove in two with a single.

 

Sherman also was the winning pitcher, allowing three hits and giving up a run in four innings of work. Kaden Codey pitched the fifth.

 

Pittsfield hosts Westfield on Friday at 5:30 at Deming Park. If necessary, the teams will meet again on Saturday.