Epic 14-Inning Walk-Off Sends Norwich to Futures League Championship

Norwich, CT – Exactly one year ago to the day, the Norwich Sea Unicorns walked off the Westfield Starfires to claim their second straight Futures League title. Tonight, in another dramatic finish, Norwich punched its ticket to the Championship series once again, walking off the top-seeded Worcester Bravehearts in a 14-inning thriller.

Norwich starter Frank Spirito turned in his best performance yet, tossing 8 shutout innings, holding the Worcester offense to 2 hits and a walk while striking out 6. Last night’s masterpiece matched his July 24th outing in Worcester when the UCONN product held the Bravehearts scoreless over 8 innings.

On the other side, Worcester starter Jake LeFrancois held Norwich to just 1 run over 5 innings, scattering 4 hits. The Sea Unicorns scratched across their lone run against the right-hander in the 4th, when a 4-6-3 double play brought home Antonio Ducatelli. The inning began with a leadoff walk and a Chace Chaplin single, putting runners at the corners for Bryce Detwiler. LeFrancois induced the double play to minimize the damage, then struck out the next batter to end the frame.

Worcester battled back to tie the game in the 9th against Norwich reliever Sean Connolly. The Stonehill commit struck out the first batter he faced before trouble set in. Casey Wensley sparked the Bravehearts, wiring a base hit into right, then moved into scoring position on a balk. Jackson Marshall was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with one out. Jaylem Sepulveda tied the game with a soft single to right, scoring Wensley. The Bravehearts looked poised to take the lead on a grounder to third, but Connor Scanlan fired a perfect throw to the plate to cut down Evan Cali who was pinch running for Jackson Marshall for the second out. Connolly then retired Henry Digiorgio on a fly ball to center to end the threat.

The game remained deadlocked at 1-1 until the 14th, when Norwich finally scratched across the winning run. Chace Chaplin worked a leadoff walk to kickstart the offense, with Jack Byrne entering as a pinch-runner. Byrne promptly stole second, moved to third on a Bryce Detwiler grounder to second, and set the stage for Charlie Walsh. With one out and the infield drawn in, Walsh delivered, slicing a game-winning single down the left-field line to seal the victory and sweep the best-of-three series, sending Norwich to the Futures League Championship.

Justin Gouin earned the win, delivering four shutout innings of one-hit baseball, setting a season high in innings pitched. It was his second victory of the summer—both coming against Worcester.

Win – Justin Gouin (1-0)

Loss – Patrick Chapin (0-1)

Time – 3:34

UPCOMING

Norwich will await the winner of Game 3 between Vermont and New Britain to determine their opponent in the Futures League Championship. Game 1 will tentatively take place on the road Thursday night before Norwich returns home Friday night for Game 2. Please continue to check the Sea Unicorns website and social media pages for further updates about the schedule.