Norwood Prepares for American Legion Baseball Rubber Match-August 8, 1985

Following a 16-7 Defeat, Coach Pete Wall and the Norwood Squad Turn to Pitcher Tim Cox for Statewide Finalist Showdown

The postseason battle between Norwood and Lawrence in American Legion baseball has transformed into a fierce, back-and-forth slugfest reminiscent of a historic campaign.

On Tuesday evening, Norwood brought out its heavy artillery to bombard Lawrence 15-3. However, Lawrence struck back last night, shelling Norwood with 21 hits en route to a decisive 16-7 victory. The hill is not won yet, and the battle for one of Massachusetts’ four coveted finalist spots will be decided tonight in a 7:30 p.m. matchup at Norwood’s Balch Field. The winner advances to play at Milford at 4 p.m. on Saturday against the victor of the Grafton Hill versus Indian Orchard pairing, with the final four teams squaring off in a double-elimination series to crown the state champion.

“I’m not worried,” asserted Norwood Coach Pete Wall. “With Tim Cox pitching, we’re not going to have any trouble at all. They won’t hit him the way they hit us tonight. I could’ve pitched Cox [nursing a back injury] tonight, but I gambled, hoping to get some runs.” Lawrence Coach Jim Toomey remained tight-lipped regarding his starting pitcher after utilizing three arms in each of the past two games during Lawrence’s sixth consecutive day of competition. “The kids wanted this game. They wanted to prove we are as good a hitting team as them,” Toomey said.

Lawrence seized control early last night, plating five runs in the top of the first inning sparked by a grand-slam home run to left field by Bob Farrington off a bases-loaded count. Norwood immediately countered in the bottom half when Chris Maloof doubled and scored on Mike Wall’s single, though Norwood’s Achilles’ heel proved to be stranded runners—leaving 17 men on base, including loaded bags in the first, second, and eighth innings. Norwood clawed back to tie the game 5-5 in the third inning behind a triple by Bob Goonan, a walk to Mike Generazo, and an RBI single by Joe Benson coupled with a wild pitch. However, Lawrence pulled away with a five-run sixth inning fueled by Dean Borelli’s bases-loaded double, followed by a solo home run to deep center by Norwood’s Dave McMullin in the bottom of the sixth. Ultimately, Lawrence secured the 16-7 win, setting the stage for tonight’s high-stakes rubber match at Balch Field.

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

Lou Gehrig League Debuts in Norwood-July 11, 1973

Inaugural Season of the Lou Gehrig Baseball League On July 11, 1973, the newly formed Lou Gehrig League prepared to launch its inaugural teenage baseball season. ⠀ The debut was scheduled for a Thursday night under the lights at American Legion Stadium in Norwood, featuring two teams of 13 and 14-year-old local boys. Named in…
Norwood Defeats Wellesley 4-1-July 10, 1973

Norwood vs. Wellesley American Legion Baseball On the evening of July 9, 1973, the Norwood American Legion baseball team traveled to Wellesley with aspirations of securing a lead in the Zone 6A standings. The team successfully achieved its goal, returning home with a 4-1 victory, which placed them just a half game ahead of Walpole…
Norwood’s Upset Victory in Zone 6A American Legion Baseball-July 14, 1971

The Patriot Ledger’s coverage of the Zone 6A American Legion baseball games on July 13, 1971, revealed a series of thrilling matches that left fans on the edge of their seats. One of the most notable upsets occurred when Norwood defeated league leader Needham in a closely contested game. As the evening began, Needham’s Jack…
Joe Porcello Joins Norwood’s Lineage of All-Around Baseball Superstars-April 5, 1971

Norwood High School has produced its share of standout athletes, and in 1971, Joe Porcello emerged as the latest “does‑it‑all” baseball star. Following in the footsteps of Richie Hebner and Bill Travers, Porcello earned praise for his versatility and dominance on the diamond.Porcello, a senior, excelled in hitting, fielding, and pitching, making him a rare…
Bill Travers Drafted by Milwaukee Brewers-June 5, 1970

Fresh off setting the all-time Norwood High pitching record, 17-year-old lefty Bill Travers is heading to professional baseball after being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Norwood’s Loss Means Title Tie‑This Day In Norwood History‑May 28, 1969

The Norwood Mustangs entered their final Bay State League game of the 1969 season with a simple assignment: defeat a Dedham team sitting below .500 and claim the league championship outright. But baseball has a way of humbling even the strongest clubs, and after 11 tense innings, Norwood found itself on the wrong end of…
Mustangs’ Coach lopes It Happens-May 22, 1969

On May 22, 1969, Norwood baseball fans were buzzing with anticipation. The Norwood High School Mustangs, already leading the Bay State League, were preparing for a marquee matchup against Walpole. But the real story was the lanky junior left‑hander who had become the talk of the town: Bill Travers. Travers, who had already compiled a…
Pirates Rookie Richie Hebner On a Hot Streak-May 13, 1969

This Day In Norwood History-May 13, 1969-Pirates Rookie Richie Hebner On a Hot Streak
Giampa, Hebner Boost Norwood-May 25, 1966

On May 23, 1966, the Norwood High School Mustangs traveled to Natick and delivered a gritty, late‑inning surge to secure a 4–2 Bay State League victory, powered by the steady arm of Joe Giampa and the explosive bat of Richie Hebner. Natick struck first, plating a run in the bottom of the opening inning. But…
Norwood All-Star Baseball-August 5, 1965

This Day In Norwood History-August 4, 1965-Norwood All-Star Baseball