WESTFIELD, Mass. – Cam Hillard and Noah Arnold combined on a three-hitter Wednesday to lead the Pittsfield Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars to a 13-2 win over Westfield in the opener of the Western Massachusetts State Tournament.

 

Hillard struck out six and allowed a pair of hits and a pair of runs in three innings of work.

 

Arnold picked up a strikeout in two innings on the mound in a game that was ended early due to the mercy rule.

 

Eddie Ferris went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored three times to lead Pittsfield’s offense.

 

Connor Paronto went 2-for-2 with a double and a pair of RBIs, and Even Roccabruna doubled in a run in a 15-hit Pittsfield attack.

 

Pittsfield, which represented New England in the 13-year-old national championship last summer, started its 14-year-old post-season with a bang, scoring five times in the top of the first inning. It added six more in the second to take an 11-0 lead at Bullens Field.

 

Pittsfield will host Westfield on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Deming Park in Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series.