Norwood Captures EMass Babe Ruth League Title with 3-2 Victory Over Fall River-July 25, 1986

Remaining undefeated throughout post-season play, District 5 winner Norwood relied on airtight defense, clever trick plays, and clutch pitching to secure the double-elimination tournament title and punch their ticket to the New England Regionals in Warwick, Rhode Island, scheduled for August 1–8, where they would open against Maine on August 2.

Norwood drew first blood in the second inning, capitalizing on two Fall River errors and a perfectly executed suicide squeeze. Tom Benson laid down the ideal bunt to drive home Jim Weber for a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, Norwood manufactured its second run: Todd Newman singled sharply to left and advanced when left fielder Chris Costa bobbled the ball, moved to third on an infield single by Baxter, and scored on a delayed steal.

Fall River answered in the bottom of the third when Carlos Ries singled, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by Kyle Kupiek, who took second on the throw home. It was then that Norwood unveiled its first piece of defensive deception.

Pitcher Brian Adams—voted the tournament’s Most Valuable Player—stepped onto the rubber as if to wind up, but immediately stepped off, catching Kupiek napping as he broke for third. Adams fired to third baseman Ken Kozak, who applied the tag for a crucial out.

Fall River tied the game 2-2 in the fourth inning on three consecutive singles and an error by left fielder Tim Coyle. After loading the bases with a walk, Brian Adams escaped further damage by inducing Tim Furtado to hit into an inning-ending double play, with Kozak stepping on third and firing to first.

Defensive heroics continued in the fifth when Chris Costa launched a 330-foot drive toward left-center; Norwood center fielder Mike Cronin sprinted off the crack of the bat and made a sensational, somersaulting catch to rob Fall River of a certain extra-base hit.

Norwood broke the tie in the sixth when Jim Weber singled to center off losing pitcher John Silvia and came around to score the winning run courtesy of three wild pitches by the Fall River right-hander.

Fall River fell victim to a second piece of trickery in the bottom of the sixth. After Dave Cote singled and stole second, shortstop Tom Benson broke toward second base as Brian Adams stepped off the rubber, wheeled, and faked a throw. Benson played the role of an unsuspecting fielder chasing a wild throw into center field, prompting Cote to bolt for third, where he was easily cut down on a throw from Brian Adams to Ken Kozak.

Fall River manager Norm Yelle conceded, “That was the key play in the ballgame. It’s the old U of Miami play, which was first seen in the College World Series. It’s legal, but I don’t think that’s baseball.” Fall River mounted one final threat in the seventh, loading the bases on a pair of walks sandwiching a single by Tim Furtado.

With the game on the line, Yelle pinch-hit Joe Pacheco for Carlos Ries. After Brian Adams opened with two high pitches, manager George Hawley walked to the mound. “I asked him how he felt and he said, ‘good, I want the ball,’” George Hawley recalled. “So I gave it to him.” Brian Adams locked back in, evened the count at 2-2, and induced a game-ending 1-2-3 double play to clinch the championship.

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