Playoff Teams Set, Seeding Still Up In The Air
The Norwich Sea Unicorns split their Saturday doubleheader against the Westfield Starfires needing a home run derby to secure a 7-6 victory in the opener and fell in the finale 5-2. Since Westfield earned a point in the opener and won the finale outright, 1st place is still up for grabs heading into the final day of the regular season.
GAME 1
The Starfires pounced immediately, striking for a pair of runs in the 1st after escaping Norwich’s threat to start the night. Westfield immediately applied pressure having their first 2 batters reach base safely. Back-to-back one out base hits by Taylor Gaspar and Jayden Novak provided Westfield with an early 2-0 lead. Norwich starter Kaden Murphy battled back to retire the next 2 Starfires he faced to escape the frame without any further damage.
Norwich answered back with a pair of runs in the 2nd to draw the game even at 2 apiece. Connor Lane ignited the offense for Norwich, rattling a leadoff double down the line in left field. The Sea Unicorns loaded the bases with one out when Aydan McNelly drew a walk. Westfield starter Clark Churchill continued his command trouble issuing a wild pitch to Anthony Tirado, helping produce the first run of the night for Norwich. A ground ball to first by Tirado brought home Chris Carson to even the scoring.
The offense continued to roll in the 3rd for Norwich, as the Sea Unicorns jumped out to a 5-2 lead. Nick Tomasetto began the danger, ripping a one out single to center field. Shaun Callahan provided the Sea Unicorns with their first lead of the night crushing a double to drive home Tomasetto. Alex Irizarry continued the offensive surge with a two out base hit to extend the lead. A ground rule double by McNelly ended the night for Churchill surrendering 5 runs over 2.2 innings.
Westfield punched back with a pair of runs in the home 3rd to cut the Norwich lead to 1. Kaden Murphy dealt with some command trouble early in the frame, plunking the leadoff batter and issued a one out walk to give Westfield a pair of baserunners. Aidan Redahan ended the night for Murphy, smashing an RBI double to left field, and the lead for Norwich was 2. Manager Kevin Murphy elected to bring in Gavin Hawkes to escape the threat with one away and a pair of runners in scoring position. A ground ball to first brought home the Starfires runner from 3rd, but helped secure an important 2nd out. Hawkes preserved the lead for Norwich retiring the next batter he faced on a fly out to left field.
Jayden Novak tied the game at 5 in the 5th clobbering a leadoff home run. There was no more scoring the rest of the way sending the contest into extra innings. Both sides brought home a run in their turn at the plate, forcing a homerun derby to decide the winner.
Alex Irizarry won the game for Norwich hitting the only home run in the derby. Although Norwich won the game, Westfield also received a point because the game was decided by a homerun derby.
GAME 2
Norwich began the scoring in the finale of last night’s twin bill, striking for a pair of runs in the 2nd. Westfield starter, Alex Grant walked the bases loaded to begin the Norwich 2nd. A wild pitch to Owen Turner gave Norwich the lead. Anthony Tirado extended the lead with one out, on a comebacker to the mound that Grant was unable to handle.
Sea Unicorns starter Justin Marks held Westfield off the board until the 4th, including working around a bases loaded jam in the 2nd. A 2-run blast by Cameron Papetti was the only blemish in the outing for Marks, who had 8 strikeouts over 4 innings of work.
The second home run of the ballgame for Westfield was all the offense the host would need to take down Norwich in game 2. Jackson Haker’s 4th longball of the summer in the 6th provided Westfield a 5-2 lead. Reliever Tyler Rice had been perfect for Norwich until that point, holding his opponents scoreless through his first 6 innings of relief this summer.
UPCOMING
The Norwich Sea Unicorns will close out their regular season this afternoon at home against the Road Warriors. It is also A Reason to Ride Bike Night at Dodd Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. EST. A victory for Norwich would clinch the Sea Unicorns the top seed heading into the Futures League playoffs.