On a bright Monday afternoon in mid‑May 1957, the crowd gathered along the fence at H. Bennett Murray Field felt that familiar early‑season electricity. The Norwood High baseball team—already proving itself one of the most disciplined squads in the Bay State League—was set to face a stubborn Natick nine. What unfolded was a showcase of precision pitching, aggressive baserunning, and the kind of small‑ball execution that defined Coach Richardson’s brand of Norwood baseball.
The star of the afternoon was Pete Wall, the tall, composed right‑hander whose delivery had matured noticeably since the previous season. Wall carried himself with the calm of a veteran, and from the first pitch it was clear Natick would struggle to solve him. His fastball had late life, his curveball broke sharply, and his command rarely wavered. By the time the final out settled into a glove, Wall had allowed only three hits, striking out batters at key moments and stranding runners who dared to reach base.
But Norwood’s victory was not built on pitching alone. The offense erupted for 16 hits, a barrage that began almost immediately.
In the bottom of the first, Gerry Cloherty slapped a clean single to left. Sophomore outfielder Tony Grinavic, already developing a reputation as one of the most reliable bats in the lineup, dropped a perfect bunt down the third‑base line. Natick’s third baseman, rattled by the speed on the basepaths, hurried his throw and sent it skidding into right field. Cloherty and Kev Dixon—who had also beaten out a bunt—came charging home. Norwood led 2–0 before Natick had settled into the game.
The second inning brought more pressure. Bob Armour, Norwood’s sure‑handed second baseman, reached on an error and immediately tested Natick’s defense with a steal attempt. The throw sailed into center field, and Armour raced to third. Danny McKenna lifted a deep sacrifice fly to right, scoring Armour easily. Norwood now led 3–0, and the home crowd sensed momentum building.
Natick clawed back with two runs in the second, capitalizing on a trio of walks and a fielder’s choice. But Wall regrouped, retiring the next hitters and preventing further damage.
Norwood answered immediately. In the third, a single, a fielder’s choice, and a passed ball pushed another run across. By the fifth inning, the Mustangs were in full command. Dixon reached on an error, Wall walked, and Armour singled sharply to left to score Dixon. McKenna followed with a clean drive to left‑center, bringing Wall home. The scoreboard now read 6–2.
The sixth inning brought Natick’s final spark. After a walk and a single by Dick Wells, pinch‑hitter Frank Razinger lined a base hit to center, scoring two. But Wall shut the door, inducing a groundout and a pop fly to end the threat.
Then came the moment that electrified the Norwood bench: McKenna, already having a perfect day at the plate, turned on a fastball and launched it deep into center field. The ball carried over the outfielder’s head and rolled toward the far reaches of the field. McKenna rounded the bases with Norwood’s first home run of the season, greeted at home plate by a jubilant swarm of teammates.
Grinavic finished the day with four hits, extending his hitting streak to nine straight league games. Dixon added two more, pushing his own streak to eight. Cloherty and Ed Feeney contributed timely hits, and Armour’s baserunning kept Natick’s defense on edge throughout.
By the ninth inning, Wall was still sharp. Natick’s catcher Bruce Carter singled to center—only the third hit Wall allowed all afternoon—but the next three batters were retired in order. The final out sealed an 8–4 Norwood victory, their seventh win against only two losses.
The win kept Norwood atop the Bay State League standings and set the stage for a highly anticipated rematch with Walpole High, the only team to defeat Norwood earlier in the season. That showdown, scheduled for the following Monday, promised to be one of the defining games of 1957.
For the fans who lined the fence that day—students in rolled‑up sleeves, parents in work clothes, and younger kids chasing foul balls—the game was more than a win. It was a reminder of the pride Norwood carried in its high school athletics, the strength of its coaching tradition, and the enduring spirit of a community that rallied around its teams.
Provenance: Reconstructed from the Norfolk County Free Press, May 16, 1957.
Text and images may have been created, edited, colorized, or digitally restored using AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini. All content is reviewed for accuracy and historical integrity before publication by the Norwood Historical Society
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