Displaying both brilliant pitching and an overwhelming offensive onslaught, the Norwood American Legion baseball team opened the Northeastern Regional Tournament in New Bedford with an emphatic 15-6 victory over Portland, Maine.
Backed by Harvard-bound ace Bob Baxter and a relentless batting order that pounded out 15 runs on 14 hits against four different Portland pitchers, Norwood improved its stellar record to 32-1.
“There was no key to this game,” reflected Coach Pete Wall near the on-deck circle after the final out. “We just hit the hell out of the ball.” Norwood opened the scoring in the first inning capitalizing on walks to Chris Maloof and Kevin Igoe, a single by Bill Goonan, and a sacrifice fly from third baseman Mike Generazo. The floodgates blew open during a massive third-inning rally where Norwood batted around the order. Maloof lined a single to left, Mike Wall drove in a run to knock out Maine starting pitcher Mike Davis, Derek Ghostlaw launched a two-out, two-run triple to deep right field, and Jim Delbou crushed a two-run home run just left of the 370-foot marker in dead center.
Norwood extended its cushion to 10-0 in the fourth inning following walks to Baxter, Maloof, and Igoe, coupled with RBI singles from Wall, Ghostlaw, and Ted Decareau. Meanwhile, Baxter put on a pitching clinic, firing a complete-game four-hitter over seven innings while striking out 10 batters and lowering his earned run average below 1.80 against a potent Portland lineup that had entered the Maine state tournament boasting a .345 team batting average. Though Baxter surrendered three unearned runs in the fifth frame due to an outfield miscue and an opposite-field triple by Scott Dutton, and Norwood added five insurance runs in the eighth, the outcome was academic.
Outscoring its tournament opponents 25-4 over two rounds, the two-time state champion squad advances to face Sweeney’s Post of Manchester, New Hampshire, at Sargent Field. The New Hampshire titlist advanced by defeating Brattleboro, Vermont, 8-1, while New Jersey runner-up Irvington downed Cumberland, Rhode Island, 7-4, in tournament action.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Norwood Debate—Which Is Hebner’s Top Sport?-May 12, 1965
Is Norwood High’s Richy Hebner a better baseball or hockey player? Sixteen‑Year‑Old Richie Hebner Dominates Diamond and Ice In a town that knows its sports and takes pride in its athletes, there is no debate about the brightest young star currently wearing Norwood’s colors. Everyone in Norwood agrees that Hebner, a 16‑year‑old junior, excels in…
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‘Skip’ Lockwood To Stay With Majors-This Day in Norwood History-April 14, 1965
Claude (Skip) Lockwood of Norwood has been kept by the Kansas City Athletics on the Major League roster for the coming year: Lockwood thus joins a select group of Norwood athletes who have played in the major leagues. Others who have played on major league teams were Ray Martin, Charlie Bowles, and Marty Callaghan. Callaghan…
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Braves Win LL Pennant On 6-1 Victory Over Indians-This Day in Norwood History-July 8, 1964
The Union Savings Bank Braves defeated the Westover Indians 6-1 at Pleasant Street Field to claim the 1964 Norwood Little League title before a massive crowd. Behind a masterful two-hitter from Pete Tamulonis, the Braves capped off their dominant 15-win season with a championship performance.
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“Skip” Lockwood Signs With A’s For Huge Bonus; Assigned To Midwestern League-This Day in Norwood History-July 2, 1964
This Day in Norwood History-July 2, 1964-“Skip” Lockwood Signs With A’s For Huge Bonus; Assigned To Midwestern League
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Braves, Indians To Clash Thursday For Norwood Little League Crown-This Day in Norwood History-July 1, 1964
This Day in Norwood History-July 1, 1964-Braves, Indians To Clash Thursday For Norwood Little League Crown
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“Skip” Leads Norwood To Little League State Finals-This Day in Norwood History-June 17, 1964
Story of The Amazing “Skip” Lockwood By now it’s history. Every sports fan across the country has heard the news that “Skip” Lockwood of Norwood has signed a $100,000 bonus contract with the Kansas City A’s of the Major League. He has put the town of Norwood on the map all over the country even…
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Carrabino NHS Diamond Leader-April 4, 1963
William (Bill) Carrabino, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Carrabino of 52 Saunders road, will captain this year’s Norwood High baseball entry in the Bay State Baseball League. Bill will again be patrolling left field for the locals as he did last year. He is a left-hander all the way and possesses one of the…
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Marty Callaghan First in Big Leagues from Norwood-October 4, 1962
By FRANK WALL Marty Callaghan is certainly a “must” in our sports biography series as he was Norwood’s first ballplayer to play in the Major Leagues. He played four years of outstanding baseball in the majors and 11 years in the minors, and is considered the best player ever to come out of Norwood. Reading…
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Ortins Cop Local Rec. Softball Championship-August 30, 1962
Ortins Cop Local Rec. Softball Championship Ortin’s Sporting Goods softball team, had just won the Norwood Recreation League championship, and Manager Jack Walker was happy. “You know softball isn’t as soft as many people believe,” he observed. “We’ve been hit hard with injuries all season. Pete Wall suffered a broken leg, I had a broken…
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Meet The Nitros-Pete Dixon-August 23, 1962
This Day In Norwood History-August 23, 1962-Meet The Nitros-Pete Dixon
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