SIDNEY – The Norwich PONY League team for the 2019 summer picked up right where last year’s squad left off – with a win. The 12-0 victory of Sidney on Thursday afternoon, the first of the season, makes it 27 straight for the Norwich team.

Two pitchers combined to throw a one-hit shutout while the Norwich bats at the plate combined for 11 hits in the game.

Torin Lawerence got the start and the win for Norwich Pony, surrendering one hit over five and two-thirds innings. Lawrence rung up 11 Sidney batter before Trey Bates came on in relief for the final one and one-third innings. Bates ended the game with a strikeout.

The Norwich relief pitcher had a day at the plate, going 3-for-3 – one hit a double – and driving in four runs in his plate appearances.

Norwich got on the board early, scoring five runs in the first inning. Lawrence and Nolan Dodzweit started the inning with back-to-back walks. Evan Sylstra hit a grounder to the second baseman, who tried to turn a double-play but was only able to get Dodzweit at second.

Then, facing two outs in the frame, Logan Ford sent a screaming line drive on a 1-0 count to centerfield, scoring Lawerence and Sylstra. Bates’ double to right field scored Ford from first.

Norwich rallied for another two runs as Keegan Franklin sent Bates across the plate and later tallied a run scored by stealing third and coming in on passed ball.