Norwood Halts Walpole Coaster Ride
For the last three days, the Walpole High School softball team has been riding an emotional roller coaster.
The ride came to a screeching halt yesterday as the Rebels, playing their second game in as many days, were soundly beaten by Bay State League rival Norwood, 11-3, in the first round of the MIAA EMass Division 1 South sectional softball tournament.
Walpole fell victim to itself as nine Rebel errors – seven in the first two innings – led to eight unearned Norwood runs, while Mustang pitcher Kathleen Hilliard was holding the visitors to just four hits. “The kids have played under tough circumstances the last couple of days,” Rebel coach Peter Turco said, referring to the recent death of a Walpole student who was close to many of the team members. “Today, we just couldn’t get past the first inning.”
Walpole pitcher Tracey Smith didn’t have much luck from the start. She mishandled a grounder which allowed Maura Herlihy to reach base in the first inning, followed by consecutive bunt singles by Melinda Moleon and Sue Lynch to load the bases. Following a strikeout, Carissa Metta sliced a bloop single to center field to score Herlihy. A throwing error on the play plated Moleon, and Laura Connolly continued the barrage with a two-run bloop single to right. The Mustangs then cashed in on some Walpole generosity. Connolly and Narekian eventually scored when Narekian’s grounder to shortstop was followed by three consecutive throwing errors.
The Mustangs (17-2) went right back to work in the second frame. An error and a walk set the table for Jessica Breen, who singled in a run. Two outs later, Narekian hit a shot just inside the third base bag to plate two more runs.
“To be honest, I thought we’d be more nervous than they were,” Norwood coach John Solomon said. “We’ve got a good offensive team and a great defensive team and we finally showed all of it today.”
Walpole (12-8) finally got to Hilliard in the fourth inning when Linda De Michele drove in Mary Beth Connolly, who had reached earlier on a three-base error. Two more Mustang miscues led to another score. Patti Burns scored the Rebels’ final run in the seventh inning on a wild pitch. Norwood added an insurance run in the fifth on a Debbie Smith groundout, and another in the sixth on a run-scoring single by Kristen Cieri to close out the definitive tournament victory.
Text and images may have been created, edited, colorized, or digitally restored using AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini. All content is reviewed for accuracy and historical integrity before publication by the Norwood Historical Society
-
Lou Gehrig League Debuts in Norwood-July 11, 1973
Inaugural Season of the Lou Gehrig Baseball League On July 11, 1973, the newly formed Lou Gehrig League prepared to launch its inaugural teenage baseball season. ⠀ The debut was scheduled for a Thursday night under the lights at American Legion Stadium in Norwood, featuring two teams of 13 and 14-year-old local boys. Named in…
-
Norwood Defeats Wellesley 4-1-July 10, 1973
Norwood vs. Wellesley American Legion Baseball On the evening of July 9, 1973, the Norwood American Legion baseball team traveled to Wellesley with aspirations of securing a lead in the Zone 6A standings. The team successfully achieved its goal, returning home with a 4-1 victory, which placed them just a half game ahead of Walpole…
-
Norwood’s Upset Victory in Zone 6A American Legion Baseball-July 14, 1971
The Patriot Ledger’s coverage of the Zone 6A American Legion baseball games on July 13, 1971, revealed a series of thrilling matches that left fans on the edge of their seats. One of the most notable upsets occurred when Norwood defeated league leader Needham in a closely contested game. As the evening began, Needham’s Jack…
-
Joe Porcello Joins Norwood’s Lineage of All-Around Baseball Superstars-April 5, 1971
Norwood High School has produced its share of standout athletes, and in 1971, Joe Porcello emerged as the latest “does‑it‑all” baseball star. Following in the footsteps of Richie Hebner and Bill Travers, Porcello earned praise for his versatility and dominance on the diamond.Porcello, a senior, excelled in hitting, fielding, and pitching, making him a rare…
-
Bill Travers Drafted by Milwaukee Brewers-June 5, 1970
Fresh off setting the all-time Norwood High pitching record, 17-year-old lefty Bill Travers is heading to professional baseball after being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.
-
Norwood’s Loss Means Title Tie‑This Day In Norwood History‑May 28, 1969
The Norwood Mustangs entered their final Bay State League game of the 1969 season with a simple assignment: defeat a Dedham team sitting below .500 and claim the league championship outright. But baseball has a way of humbling even the strongest clubs, and after 11 tense innings, Norwood found itself on the wrong end of…
-
Mustangs’ Coach lopes It Happens-May 22, 1969
On May 22, 1969, Norwood baseball fans were buzzing with anticipation. The Norwood High School Mustangs, already leading the Bay State League, were preparing for a marquee matchup against Walpole. But the real story was the lanky junior left‑hander who had become the talk of the town: Bill Travers. Travers, who had already compiled a…
-
Pirates Rookie Richie Hebner On a Hot Streak-May 13, 1969
This Day In Norwood History-May 13, 1969-Pirates Rookie Richie Hebner On a Hot Streak
-
Giampa, Hebner Boost Norwood-May 25, 1966
On May 23, 1966, the Norwood High School Mustangs traveled to Natick and delivered a gritty, late‑inning surge to secure a 4–2 Bay State League victory, powered by the steady arm of Joe Giampa and the explosive bat of Richie Hebner. Natick struck first, plating a run in the bottom of the opening inning. But…
-
Norwood All-Star Baseball-August 5, 1965
This Day In Norwood History-August 4, 1965-Norwood All-Star Baseball
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.