This Day in Norwood History-April 11, 1963-Norwood Nine Bombs Boston Trade 12-2 in Exhibition

The Norwood High School baseball team racked up its second straight exhibition victory by clouting Boston Trade, 12-2, on Monday at Balch Field In Norwood.

Coach Johnny Poce gave ace pitcher Skip Loper a good pre-season workout as he allowed him to go the full seven innings. Loper was never in any serious trouble as he scattered eight hits and struck out seven batters. It was his second straight exhibition win as he also got credit for the Newton victory last week.

Second baseman Mike Carney led the Norwood assault as he collected 3 oí the team’s 10 hits Dana Maus and Rick Falcone had two hits each for the locals. Leading 7-2 in the bottom of the sixth, the Hilt-toppers erupted for five runs in the big inning and put the game out of reach. Four of the Norwood team each drove in 2 runs The big R.B.I, men were Maus, Carney, Falcone, and Dick Baxter.

Three in First

The home towners jumped off to a big three-run lead in the first on only one hit and some rough Trade fielding. Carney opened with a line shot to left which he hustled into a double. Rich Hebner walked and both moved up on Trade second baseman Murphy’s throwing error Carrabino k’d and Falcone walked to load the sacks. Dana Maus popped to second and Carney scored on an attempted double play that went wild Jack Bayer hit a hard shot to third but Trade baseman Candora threw wild over first and Hebner and Falcone scampered across with the second and Oiird unearned runs oí the inning.

The City Leaguers bounced back with Iwo runs in the third after two were out. Joe Candora singled and scored ahead of Charlie Murphy who blasted a long home run over the head of Falcone in center to close the gap to 3-2. It was the first two runs off Loper in his 6 innings on the mound.

Baxter Drives In Two

Norwood wasted no time in getting the runs back in their half. Rick Falcone opened with a single to center and promptly stole second and went to third on a passed ball. Maus walked and stole second and Junior Dick Baxter drove them both in with a single to center. Norwood added single runs in the fourth and fifth as Capt. Bill Carrabino and Dave Eck drove in Carney and Maus with the sixth and seventh runs.

Poce decided to get a look at some of the other boys a$ he inserted Paul O’Donnell at first with Rich Johns behind the plate and Bill Lowry in right field.

Norwood really opened up in the eighth as they rolled up five more runs for an enormous 12-2 lead. In the outburst they batted around. Carrabino opened with a walk, Rick Falcone got his second single and both moved up on a passed ball. Senior third baseman Dana Maus drove them both in with a well-stroked single to light. Lowry, O’Donnell and Loper all walked, forcing Maus across with the tenth run of the game. Mike Carney capped the rally as he rapped his third single of the game to left, scoring Lowry and O’Donnell with Norwood’s final two runs. With one out in the top of the seventh and Walton on first with a single. La Rosa hit back to Loner who wheeled and tossed to second baseman Mike Carney, who made a fine pivot and strong throw to first to complete the double play and end the game

Diamond Dust

The infield continued its fine defensive play, going through the second game in a row without an error . . . Maus made a gem in the fourth as he went behind the third sack and stabbed a hard grounder off the bat oí Sullivan and gunned a perfect throw to first] for the out . . . Bill Carrabino got his first hit of the year ns he singled in the third . . . Out of Norwood’s 10 hits, all were singles except one, a double by Mike Carney . . . Freshman Richie Hcbncr, who collected three hits in the opener, was shut out but hit a couple of long flies to right. Amazingly he made both the first and last out in the big sixth . . . The boys had their running shoes on as they stole 5 bases and gained 8 more on Trade miscues . . . Rick Falcone made a great running catch in the first, his second in two games . . . Charlie Murphy was Trade’s big gun as he banged out three hits, including a homer . . . The game was changed at the last minute to the Batch School as the Civic diamond was being put in playing shape . . . The. team travels to Billings Field, West Roxbury, today for a game with Boston English and then they entertain a strong New Bedford team Monday at the Civic, starLing at 1.30 because of the Easter vacation . . . The Bay State League opens Monday, the 22nd, as Norwood hosts Walpole at the same Civic Field.

(All articles were originally published in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)