Norwood manager Paul Samargedlis has reiterated numerous times this season that he feels his Post 70 squad is just as talented as any in District 6 West.
Recently, Norwood has played like a team worthy of such high praise. Post 70 overcame a four-run deficit and won its fourth game in a row with a 13-7 victory over Canton Post 24 last night at Peter Wall Field. With the win, Post 70 improves to 9-4 overall and is in sole possession of second place in the District, four games behind unbeaten Walpole.
“We’re not playing the best we’re capable of but we’re playing our best of the season right now,” said Samargedlis. “We’re not striking out as much, we’re putting the ball in play, and we made some good defensive plays. We’re a good team and I think we have a shot at being a real good team.”
Post 24 scored a run in the first inning off Norwood starter Pat Eckhardt on an RBI single by Trevor Boyce scoring Jonah Francese. Canton (3-8-3) made it 2-0 in the second on a solo homer off the netting in left field by Gary Powers. Post 70 tied it with two in the bottom of the second on and RBI single by Pat Hickey to score Brian Williams and a run scoring single by Paul Colantuoni to plate Hickey.
But Eckhardt lost his control in the top of fourth, issuing four walks and hitting a batter leading to four Canton runs. The leadoff batter walked, but Norwood catcher Jesse Shaughnessy gunned him down trying to steal second. Eckhardt issued another walk before registering a strikeout. But he couldn’t seem to get the final out of the inning as he walked another and hit a batter to load the bases before issuing another free pass to Boyce to force in a run.
A wild pitch gave Canton another run and Samargedlis pulled Eckhardt for Hickey with a 2-0 count on Canton’s No. 3 hitter Charlie Beshwaty. Beshwaty proceeded to triple into the gap in left-center, giving Post 24 a 6-2 advantage. Hickey got out of the inning without allowing anymore damage as Canton scored four runs on just one hit.
“I wasn’t surprised they jumped on us early,” said Samargedlis. “Canton put up 15 against Dedham the other night and I don’t care what your record is, when you put up 15 runs you’ve got to be doing something right and they showed that.”
Post 70 came right back with five runs in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead at 7-6. Williams scored on a wild pitch, Hickey doubled in McCabe, Colantouni singled in Hickey and Sean Keady tied the game with an RBI single to right field to score Colantouni. Norwood took the lead when Tony Verrochi scored on wild pitch.
Norwood took a 2-run lead on a Colantouni (3-for-4, 3 RBI) triple to plate McCabe (2-3, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored) in the fifth. Post 24 battled back to make it 8-7 in the sixth when Beshwaty (2-4, 3 RBI) doubled to score Boyce (2-3, 2 RBI). Beshwaty injured his leg going for third on the play and went down in the baseline before being easily tagged out. Hickey got the next two batters to fly out as Norwood maintained its slim lead.
Post 70 made sure it has this one wrapped up when they tacked on five insurance runs in the sixth highlighted by two-run homer to left by McCabe.
Hickey settled in to pitch 2 1/3 innings of relief allowing just one run on four hits to pick up the victory. Ryan White worked a 1-2-3 seventh to close it out for Post 70. Ryan Melaugh went 5 1/3 innings and took the loss for Post 24.
Norwood will look for its fifth straight win when it travels to Dedham tomorrow. Post 18 beat Post 70 in their last meeting a week ago, 13-7.
“Dedham will be a big one on Thursday,” said Samargedlis. “It’s always big because of the rivalry between the two towns.”
After Thursday’s game, Norwood hosts a big showdown with Walpole on a Friday night with a special 8 p.m. start time for Independence Day holiday.
