Ron Marshalsea Throws Complete-Game Shutout and Chris Collins Hits Bases-Loaded Single Sparking Late-Inning Rally as Manager Minty Kuporatz’s Squad Advances
LAWRENCE — On a night when there was no margin for error, the Norwood American Legion baseball team excelled in all phases of the sport, sweeping a doubleheader from Lynn Post 6 last night at Mark Devlin Field to secure a coveted berth in this weekend’s State American Legion Championships. Short on pitching and facing elimination, Norwood received a stellar opening performance from Ron Marshalsea, who pitched a masterful five-hitter in a 6-0 shutout victory. In the Eastern Playoff championship nightcap, John Balerna contributed 3.1 innings of hitless relief and Chris Collins delivered the big bat in a dramatic 8-3 come-from-behind win.
“It looked bad,” admitted Norwood manager Minty Kuporatz, whose club trailed 3-1 in the fifth inning of the second game. Norwood clawed back with single runs in the fifth and sixth before breaking the game open with a two-out, five-run rally in the eighth. “We were just trying so hard to get one run. I never thought we’d get five,” Kuporatz said. Collins stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in a 3-3 tie after Paul Yelapi reached on an error by Lynn shortstop John Wade, followed by walks to Balerna and Phil McAvoy. Collins wasted no time drilling reliever Art Georgeau’s first pitch to left field for two runs. Following an infield hit by Frank Auditore—his fifth hit of the night—Tom Kates walloped a bases-loaded triple to right-center, cementing an 8-3 lead. “He threw me the curveball my last time. I just kept my head on the ball,” said Collins, who went 3-for-3 down the stretch after starting the tournament 3-for-18.
In the opener, Marshalsea commanded the mound, walking only one batter in the ninth inning and retiring 12 straight hitters at one point, while Lynn starter Dave McCarthy struggled with control, walking nine batters in six innings. Norwood capitalized on defensive miscues and walks, highlighted by John Balerna’s two-run home run in the eighth and Auditore’s three hits. Defensively, Larry Copponi preserved the shutout in the sixth inning with a sensational diving catch in right field on a sinking liner by John Valeri.
In the nightcap, Marshalsea started on short rest but grew weary, giving up a 3-1 lead before relievers Dan Kennedy and Balerna shut down Lynn. Collins added an RBI single in the fifth, Yelapi tied it in the sixth with a bases-loaded infield hit, and Balerna slammed the door in relief to earn the pitching win, sending Norwood to the state finals.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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