Bryce Detwiler Powers Norwich to Thrilling Home Run Derby Victory
Norwich, CT – The Norwich Sea Unicorns needed the Home Run Derby on Friday night to pick up a hard-fought victory over the Westfield Starfires. The victory improves Norwich to 10-15 through 25 contests and ends the Sea Unicorns 3-game skid.
Westfield opened the scoring in the 2nd capitalizing on command troubles from Norwich starter Brendan Grady. A leadoff single followed by a hit batsman and a walk immediately loaded the bases for the visitors. Seth Alford produced the first 2 runs of the night on a ringing double to the right center field gap. Later, a one out infield single from John Mass extended the lead for the visitors to 3. Grady battled his way out of the inning without further damage thanks to a critical double play turned by the Sea Unicorns middle infield.
Norwich chipped into the Westfield lead in the 3rd slicing the Starfires lead to 2. Aidan Stern reached on a hit by pitch to start the frame and Antonio Ducatelli followed with a base hit back up the middle to give Norwich immediate traffic on the bases. Gabriel Rivera manufactured the first run of the night for the host on a sacrifice fly to right.
The Sea Unicorns took the lead in the 4th breaking through for 3 runs against Westfield starter Connor Niemiec. Anthony Tirado jumpstarted the Norwich attack, cracking a leadoff single to right. Connor Scanlan followed with a walk and once again Norwich had immediate traffic against Niemiec. A grounder to 1st from Jack Ohman advanced both runners into scoring position. Joe Durso cut the Westfield lead to 1 scoring Tirado from 3rd on a controversial infield single. Next, a wild pitch from Niemiec forced the Westfield infield defense in as both Durso and Scanlan took 2nd and 3rd. Aidan Stern gave Norwich the lead on a clutch single into centerfield scoring both Durso and Scanlan.
The score remained the same until the 8th when Westfield battled back with a pair of runs to retake the lead. Josh Frometa reached to start the inning after an error committed by the Norwich reliever. After Frometa reached, Norwich elected to make a pitching change, calling on Nick West for his Sea Unicorns debut. The right hander walked the first batter he faced but bounced back with an infield pop-up to record the first out in the inning. Jonathan Chatfield gave Westfield the lead on a single into right field scoring Frometa from 2nd and a throwing error from the Norwich right fielder allowed Ruggiero to score from 1st. West mitigated any further damage holding the Westfield lead to a run.
Norwich tied the game at 5 in the bottom of the inning without recording a hit, taking advantage of walks, hit batters, and a costly Westfield error. Joe Durso was hit by a pitch to open the frame, and Jack Byrne came on as a pinch runner. After Aidan Stern drew a walk, both runners executed a double steal to move into scoring position. Antonio Ducatelli reached on a fielder’s choice, and when the ball was misplayed at second, Jack Byrne scored the tying run while Aidan Stern was thrown out at the plate for the first out. After an intentional walk to Gabriel Rivera and a flyout from CJ Nolan, Norwich loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch, but continued threats to take the lead came up short as Westfield escaped with a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
The Starfires threatened in the 9th to take the lead after Norwich reliever Eric Mathewson allowed the first 2 batters to reach. With traffic on and no outs the Sea Unicorns elected to make a pitching change for flame throwing right hander Gio Conte. The move paid off as the UCONN transfer popped up the first batter he faced on a failed bunt and struck out the following two batters he faced in order. Gio continued his dominance in the 10th stranding the automatic runner at 3rd and was named Futures League Pitcher of the Night for his efforts on the mound.
With the game still tied after 10 innings, a home run derby was needed to decide the outcome. Westfield’s Seth Alford and Anthony Ruggiero came up empty in their attempts, giving Norwich a chance to win it with one swing. Bryce Detwiler called game, launching a mammoth drive over the double wall in left field to cap a nearly four-hour marathon for Norwich.
Norwich Is back in action today for a double header against the Nashua Silver Knights at Holman Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and game 2 will start at approximately 6 p.m.
Win – N/A
Loss – N/A
Time 3:49
Written by Adam Plager