District 11 Little League Tournament: A two-town tussle

The recipe that created an undefeated run in pool play produced once again for the Norwood National 12-year old All-Stars last night in the District 11 Little Leagie Tournament playoffs. A stirring pitching performance, crisp defense, a dash of speed and a heap of power had manager Bill Plasko’s team cooking in a 10-1 drubbing of Needham West in a Pool 1 semifinal match-up yesterday at Wall Field.

“It’s been a great run,” said Plasko, “What made us successful in pool play carried into the playoffs. We got great pitching from Ken Michael, played tight defense, ran the bases well and hit for power.”

The number back up Plasko assertion as the Michael pitched three-hit ball for 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts an errorless fielding behind him and Nationals stole seven bases and blasted a pair of home runs.

Norwood National advances to the Pool 1 final tomorrow (5:30 p.m.) at Norwood’s Kelley Field against Wellesley North, a 4-1 winner over Norfolk. The Nationals banged 10 home runs and allowed a district-low 0.31 runs per inning to finish as the only undefeated team entering the single-elimination playoffs.

Hard-throwing righty Michael struck out the side in the top of the second before Needham West took a short-lived 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a pair of walks, an infield hit and a wild pitch.

The Nationals (6-0) answered with four in the bottom of the frame starting with a solo bomb to left center by MaKenna Lane. Brendan Walsh followed with a single and raced home on a ringing double by Jake Ryan (2-for-3). Wild pitches scored Ryan and Jack Sheehan (1-2, 3 runs), who had walked.

Michael quickly dispatched of Needham West in the third and fourth innings, retiring six straight batters, three via strikeout. Catcher Mark Sauliner contributed to the dominance by making a nice catch of a short t pop behind home plate. Slick fielding second baseman Lane also had strong defensive game with four assists and two putouts.

Michael nearly went distance but had to surrender the baseball with one out to go due to the 85-pitch rule, with Sheehan finishing up in the sixth. 

Norwood’s second four-run inning came in the fourth thanks to some two-out magic. Sheehan roped a double to left and came around on an inside-the-park homer to right field by leadoff hitter Steve Chisholm (2- 3, 3 RBI). Norwood ran wild on the bases to create another couple of scores. Michael singled and moved to third on a double by Sauliner, before scoring on a double steal. Sauliner crossed the dish on a wild pitch.

A pair of runs in the fifth inning closed out the scoring for Norwood. Mike Doliner reached base on a fielder’s choice and came home on an infield error. Chisholm’s second hit of the game knocked in Sheehan, who had reached on an error.

Norwood American manager Jack Gorman has coached his share of Little League games over the past few seasons, leading Norwood to its last District 11 Championship in 2004. After scouting yesterday’s Pool 2 semifinal opponent Hopkinton and realizing he was going up against a fastball-hitting team, Gorman gave curveball artist Nathan Webber the ball in favor of flamethrowers T.J. George, Pat Shore and Paul Panetta.

 The end result was a complete game, three-hit, seven-strikeout masterpiece from Webber that helped the Americans post a 6-1 victory, propelling them into the tonight’s Pool 2 final (8 p.m.) against Wellesley South, an 8-2 winner over top seed Walpole National last night.

“Nathan pitched a nice game,” said Gorman. ‘That was probably his best game in Little League, especially considering the circumstances of the district playoffs and single game elimination.” 

Hopkinton leadoff hitter Andrew McMillan gathered two of his team’s three safeties, including a double to open the game. He scored on a groundout to give Hopkinton a 1-0 advantage. Following the play, an alert Panetta at first base saw a Hopkinton runner straying off third base and threw a strike to Joe Rydzewski to end the frame. 

In the bottom of the inning, a run-scoring single by 11-year old cleanup hitter Shore (2 - 3, RBI, run) and double by Panetta put Norwood ahead to stay, 2-1.

A four-run third inning gave Webber some breathing room as a Panetta double delivered Anthony Delmonaco (1-3, 2 runs) and George, who had both singled. Rourke Flynn was hit by a pitch and crossed home on a wild pitch before Webber helped himself with a groundout that plated Panetta.

Gorman had high praise for Delmonaco and Panetta, who combined for four hits, three runs and four RBI.

“Anthony and Paul make the plays in the field and produce at the plate,” said Gorman. “They’re two of the best players in this tournament.       

Sporting a five-run cushion, Webber went into cruise control, retiring 13 straight batters before McMillan singled with one out in the sixth. Fittingly, Webber ended his strong performance with a strikeout to cap the night.