Norwood American Legion Captures Second Consecutive State Title, Advances to Northeast Regionals-August 13, 1986

⠀

NEW BEDFORD — Pitcher Bob Baxter struck out Aldenville’s Keith Sullivan looking at a third strike and immediately hoisted catcher Derek Ghostlaw off the ground as Norwood erupted in celebration last evening at Sargent Field. With a 6-2 victory over the Chicopee-based team, Norwood successfully defended its state championship, finishing a phenomenal 31-1 season and capturing an unprecedented second straight state title. Index fingers were thrust into the air across the diamond, symbolizing Norwood’s dominance as the premier American Legion team in Massachusetts. “We just worked hard as usual,” Coach Pete Wall said, “and it paid off. We end up 31-1; I think that makes us the best team in the state.”

The hard-fought championship game featured stellar defensive execution under pressure. Leading 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning, Norwood thwarted a dangerous squeeze play when Aldenville’s Mark Nadeau attempted a sacrifice bunt with runners at the corners and nobody out. Norwood first baseman Jim Delbou charged the plate, made a spectacular diving stab of the errant bunt, and scrambled back to cover first base himself for a crucial double play that halted Aldenville’s momentum. “That was the key,” Coach Wall noted. “We heard that they lived and died by that play all year, so we were kind of expecting it. Delbou made a great play.” Following the defensive heroics, Coach Wall called on ace Bob Baxter out of the bullpen to lock down the victory. Baxter was untouchable, striking out five of the seven batters he faced to earn the save, while relief pitcher Bob Goonan—who took over for starter Jim McCready in the fifth inning—picked up the win.

Offensively, Mike Wall once again delivered the game’s biggest moments. His solo home run to open the sixth inning broke a 2-2 tie, after Norwood had initially grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first frame on back-to-back RBI doubles by Wall and Goonan. Norwood put the game out of reach in the seventh when Ted Decareau drew a walk, advanced on Baxter’s sacrifice bunt, scored on a single by Chris Maloof, and was followed by Mike Wall’s towering two-run double off the left-field fence. Pacing the team with 16 hits across his last 24 postseason at-bats, Wall reflected on his hot streak: “I was hitting the ball well during the season, but right at people… I’ve been getting the breaks in the playoffs and I’m very confident now. I hope we can do it. I want to go to South Dakota.”

As state champions, Norwood earned an automatic berth hosting the Northeast Regional Tournament from August 20–24 right back at Sargent Field, where they will open play against the Maine state champion next Wednesday at 5:05 p.m. The regional winner will advance directly to the American Legion World Series in Rapid City, South Dakota.

(Reporting by Paul Lijewski and photography by Brian Walski for The Patriot Ledger).

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger