Pitching And Timely Hitting Propels D-S Baseball Over Defending State Champs Norton

One of the keys for the  baseball team during its state championship season a year ago was outstanding defense.

Unfortunately it was defense that let the Lancers down during their season opener on Friday afternoon against Dover-Sherborn.

The Raiders used effective pitching and timely hitting, taking advantage of some Norton's defensive miscues to open the campaign with an 8-3 victory over the Lancers in a Tri-Valley League game at the David Mollica Baseball Complex.

“I think this should bring the kids back down to earth a little,” said Norton head coach Ted Currle. “They have to work a lot harder than they have been. You are not going to win when you have more errors than hits and when you give up more walks than you have hits. Any time you do that, you are not going to win.”

Raider standout junior left-hander Sam Jordan shook off a little early-season rust, going the first five innings for the victory. He surrendered two runs and three hits over those five innings, striking out six batters and walking four.

“We were eager to get the season started,” said Raider head coach Stephen Ryan. “We knew we had Sam going in as one of the studs in the league. We were hoping it would pan out and it did. And I thought Sam threw well. For his first time out this year, he threw great and had less than 100 pitches. At times, he struggled with his control but that is expected this early in the season. He was wild at times, but was still able to get batters out. His fastball was really running away from their right-handed hitters.”

Dover-Sherborn scored in four of the seven innings, knocking Norton star right-hander and senior captain A.J. Bashaw out of the game after five innings. Bashaw suffered the loss, allowing five runs and six hits. He struck out six, walked two and hit one batter.

Norton got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. Senior captain and shortstop Tom Munger began the rally with walk. Two batters later, Bashaw used a single just inside the right-field line to score Munger with the first run of the day.

However, Dover-Sherborn took the lead for good with a four-run rally in the top of the third. Senior third baseman Matt Prescott began things after being hit by a pitch with one out. Junior catcher Matt Heinlein then reached on an error on a potential double-play ball. An infield single by Jordan loaded the bases.

Sophomore second baseman Walker Littlehale chased home two runs with a single to right, giving the Raiders the lead for good at 2-1. Junior right-fielder Cole Tibbetts followed with a two-run double to the left field wall to give the Raiders a 4-1 advantage.

Dover-Sherborn added a run in the top of the fifth. Prescott reached first base on an infield single and advanced to second on an error. Heinlein struck out, but on the third strike the ball bounced, forcing Norton catcher and senior captain Brian Fox to throw him out at first. On the play, Prescott moved to third base. Jordan then reached first base on one error and second on another, which also scored Heinlein to make it 5-1.

Norton got one run back in the bottom of the fifth. Making the first varsity start of his career, sophomore third baseman Corey Marsden walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third base. Junior second baseman Nick Stanley, playing in his first varsity game, brought home Marsden with a long double to the center-field wall.

However, the Raiders responded with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Junior designated hitter Andrew Mamacos started the rally by reaching on another Lancer error. He then stole second. One batter later, senior center fielder Will Heines chased home Mamacos with a double off the third-base bag. Junior shortstop Tucker Cottrell followed with a double down the left-field line, which brought home Heines and made it 7-2.

“We have to be better than we were today,” Currle said. “I was pretty disappointed with the way we played defense. We knew Jordan was going to be tough and he was.”

Norton looked to get back in the game against Dover-Sherborn senior reliever Ryan Ouellette in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs. Junior right fielder Colin Feeney began the rally with an infield single, followed by a walk to senior center fielder Phil Rizzo. Fox was then hit in the chest by a pitch to load the bases.

Tibbets then came in to relief Ouellette and walked senior Rob Cormier to bring home Feeney and make it 7-3. However, Rizzo was thrown out at home following a wild pitch. One batter later, junior left fielder Chris Delano walked to load the bases. But Munger popped up to Littlehale in short right field to end the threat.

“We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities in the sixth,” Currle said. “We didn’t get it done on offense today. We didn’t have much timely hitting.”

Dover-Sherborn added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Jordan opened the inning with a walk and then stole second base. Two batters later, junior Mike Firn chased home Jordan with a single to right center field.

“I was pleased the most with our hitting,” Ryan said. “We got some timely hits. I was happy with the way we took advantage of our opportunities.”

Ouellette took over on the mound again in the bottom of the seventh, surrendering a one-out single to Bashaw. But he retired the last two batters to end the game.

“Dover-Sherborn is a good team,” Currle said. “They brought a lot of players back from last year and they pitched better than us today.”

It will not get any easier for Norton as the team will have to travel to Hopkinton to face the two-time defending league champions on Monday afternoon at 3:45 p.m.

Dover-Sherborn will also face a tough challenge on Monday when the Raiders host league foe Medfield in their home opener at 3:45 p.m.

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