The Norwood Babe Ruth teams are off to a strong start in the District 5 Double-Elimination Tournament, with each age group posting two victories at the end of June.
This impressive performance has put them in good position to repeat last summer’s achievement of sweeping through the tournament and appearing in the Eastern Mass. State Tournament.
The team’s president, John “Lighty” Lightizer, has been coaching all-star teams for 31 years and is well aware that a great start does not guarantee a trip to the states. He emphasized that the boys need to remain focused and continue playing their best baseball if they hope to achieve their goal.
Norwood’s 15-year-old team, which includes centerfielder Joe Colton, has been particularly impressive in their victories over Hopkinton and Dedham. Colton’s diving catch in the fourth inning of Sunday’s game against Hopkinton was a highlight of the tournament, and his all-around skills make him one of the top players in the area.
The 14-year-old team has also had a strong showing, with pitcher Sean O’Neill striking out 11 batters in five innings of work against Needham. The team’s victory over Parkway was a critical win, putting them in the winner’s bracket and sending Parkway to the losers’ bracket.
The 13-year-old team has not been left behind, with Tyler Gover taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning against Walpole and leading his team to a 6-0 victory. The team’s crushing of Dedham on Saturday was also notable, with Brendan Zablocki pacing the attack and Sam Anderson launching a 3-run homer.
Overall, Norwood’s dominance in the District 5 Double-Elimination Tournament is setting the stage for another historic run by the team. With their strong start and talented players, they are well-positioned to make it through the tournament and appear in the Eastern Mass. State Tournament.
“We’re happy going 6 for 6 over the weekend, but there are some good teams at each level so the boys have to keep focused. We haven’t done anything yet.” – John “Lighty” Lightizer, Norwood Babe Ruth President
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.