East Sectional Champions Face Spindle City of Fall River in Opening Game of Double-Elimination Tournament Following a Dominant 24-1 Zone Season
If consistency over a long period of time is a mark of greatness, the Norwood American Legion baseball team has more than reached the top of the mountain known as success. Starting tonight, the team representing Post 70 will once again seek the state title as it participates in the state tournament at Sargent Field in New Bedford. Norwood, capturing the East sectional championship, will shoot to defend the state crown it secured the previous year. The defense of the title starts at approximately 8:15 p.m., when the Norwood squad faces the Spindle City team from Fall River, winner of the South area title.
So far this season, Norwood—making its 15th trip to the playoffs—has encountered very little trouble dispatching opponents, finishing zone play with a stellar 24-1 record. Their first-round series against Peabody ended swiftly with a two-game sweep, setting up a sectional final matchup against a strong Lawrence squad where Norwood erupted for 19 runs and 28 hits across two lopsided victories. “I think that we’re ready for anything,” said Norwood manager Pete Wall. “We only lost three players from last year’s title team, so the kids are experienced. We haven’t scouted them [Spindle City] at all, so we don’t know what to expect. Even if you scout a team for 10 games, you’re not necessarily going to learn anything about them.”
Norwood’s offense has proven lethal, led by Mike Wall, who batted .500 with seven hits in nine at-bats during the Lawrence series, alongside Mike Generazo, who rapped out five hits and three RBIs, and catcher Derrick Ghostlaw, who drove in six runs in the sectional final. Pitching has been equally formidable, anchored by Bob Baxter (12-1), who fanned 13 Lawrence batters in a brilliant three-hitter, and Scott Generazo (8-0), who scattered eight hits to win the sectional title game. Manager Wall announced plans to start Baxter tonight, followed by Generazo tomorrow. Spindle City enters the double-elimination tournament with a 32-3 record after sweeping Braintree in the semifinals and rallying past Barnstable. Fall River manager Tom Arruda selected John Cipollini to start on the mound against Norwood, leading a pitching staff that has won 32 games utilizing finesse.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
-
Norwood Prevails Over Westwood in Hard-Fought American Legion Matchup-July 16, 1986
Despite a demanding schedule and early deficits, the reigning state champions maintained their momentum ahead of the upcoming playoff series.
-
Mustangs Punish Rebel Miscues in Tournament Opener-June 5, 1986
Capitalizing on nine defensive miscues by rival Walpole, Coach John Solomon’s Norwood Mustangs cruised to an 11-3 postseason opening statement.
-
Norwood Caps Dream Season, Captures First State American Legion Title Since 1942-August 15, 1985
Behind a stellar pitching performance from Bob Baxter and a clutch two-run triple by Ned Brigham, Norwood edged Grafton Hill 3-2 to win the state title.
-
Norwood American Legion Baseball Team Takes Control of State Finals- August 13, 1985
Undefeated at 2-0 in the state finals, Norwood defeated Braintree 11-2 behind Tim Cox’s complete-game pitching and six combined RBIs from Pete Jr. and Mike Wall.
-
Norwood American Legion Crushes Weymouth 12-4 in State Tournament Opener-August 14, 1978
Powered by home runs from Chris Collins, Dan Kennedy, and John Balerna alongside 15 hits, Norwood routed Weymouth 12-4 in the state tournament opener.
-
Norwood Dominates Needham in Zone 6A American Legion Baseball Playoffs-July 26, 1978
The sun was shining brightly on the baseball field as the Norwood team took to the field against their arch-nemesis, Needham. The stage was set for an epic battle between two of the top teams in Zone 6A American Legion Baseball playoffs. However, it became clear early on that Norwood had a distinct advantage over…
-
The John Balerna Show-June 3, 1978
Mustangs Blank Waltham in Tourney Opener In high school postseason baseball, you occasionally see an individual athlete put a team on his back and single-handedly dictate the outcome of a game. But what senior ace John Balerna did on Friday, June 2, 1978, went far beyond a standard standout performance. In the opening round of…
-
Surgery Helped Bill Travers Elbow His Way To Big League Heights-July 4, 1976
MILWAUKEE — Young Bill Travers likes to think of himself as a modern marvel of medicine, on sort of a low-budget scale. He is the $400 Bionic man. At least that’s how much an operation in 1973 that turned around his career cost. “One guy wrote that I go out and pitch each game with…
-
Mustangs Erupt for 21 Runs-June 4, 1975
An 8-inning rain delay brought mercy to Lynn Tech as Coach Pete Wall’s Norwood Mustangs ran wild in a massive 21-0 postseason routing.
-
Norwood Legion Team Masters the Suicide Squeeze-July 3, 1974
The Norwood American Legion baseball team showcased a high-stakes brand of baseball on the evening of July 2, 1974, demonstrating a masterclass in the “suicide squeeze” play to secure an 8-4 interzone victory over Wellesley at Legion Field. While the play is often considered a rarity in the modern game, Norwood coach Frank Wall has…
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.