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George Hawley, manager of the Norwood Babe Ruth All-Stars, knew that any hopes of contending for the New England Babe Ruth championship hinged on strong pitching from ace righthander Tom Baxter. Having struggled to get past the third inning in several recent starts, Tom Baxter silenced those doubts by tossing a brilliant four-hitter, leading Norwood to a 2-1 victory over the representatives from Maine in the first round of double-elimination tournament play in Warwick, R.I. The win vaulted Norwood into the winner’s bracket for a matchup against a team from Manchester, N.H.—a contest originally rained out and rescheduled for the following morning.
The story of the ballgame was Tom Baxter, manager George Hawley praised afterward. It was great to see him get past the third inning. In fact, he got stronger after the third. I’m really happy for him. Mixing a blazing fastball with a sharp-breaking overhand curveball, Tom Baxter walked three and struck out seven, retiring the first seven batters before allowing a one-out infield single in the third. Norwood broke through against Maine righty Shane Slicer in the bottom of the third when Tim Coyle hit a two-out single, advanced on a walk to Todd Newman, and scored when Tom Baxter helped his own cause with an RBI single to left. After thwarting a Maine threat in the fourth by picking off Shane Slicer at first base, Norwood doubled its lead in the bottom half when Derek Grudinskas crushed a 400-foot double to left, pinch-runner Brian Adams advanced on a sacrifice by Tom Benson, and Mike Cronin drove him home with a center-field double.
Maine mounted a dangerous rally in the top of the sixth, putting runners on second and third with no outs. But Tom Baxter rose to the occasion, striking out cleanup hitter Rod Bartlett, conceding a sacrifice fly to Jason Douglass, and stranding the tying run by striking out Teddy Quinn on a called third strike. Tom Baxter punctuated his stellar performance by retiring the side in order in the seventh, striking out the final two batters looking.
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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