Sun file photo

OWEGO/NORWICH – The Norwich varsity baseball team came alive in the top of seventh inning Friday May 21st against the hosting Owego Indians as the Purple Tornado won 6-5.

With the game knotted at four apiece headed into the penultimate inning, Norwich started their rally with a Torin Lawrence lead-off single. Lawrence proceeded to steal second, before advancing to third on a fly-out by Mike Hagen for the first out of the inning. Logan Ford would walk on four straight pitches to set-up runners at the corners for Norwich.

Evan Sylstra stepped to the plate and wasted no-time in bringing Lawrence home as he hit a textbook base hit into left field. Logan Ford advanced to third on the play and one batter later, NHS’ Angel Elizondo brought in Ford on a single to centerfield for its sixth run of the game, giving NHS all the wiggle room it needed to grab the win over Owego.

Torin Lawrence earned the win for the Purple Tornado, recording six strikeouts in the process. Lawrence went 2-for-3 on the afternoon with 2 RBIs.

Norwich wouldn’t rest for long, as on Saturday May 22nd the Tornado were back in action against Owego; this time hosting at Norwich High School.

And as it turns out Saturday’s matchup proved to be just as exciting as Friday’s matinee.

Norwich took an early 4-2 lead through the first three innings before Owego managed to tie the game at four.

With the game knotted at four heading into a pivotal fifth inning, the Tornado blew the game open as they scored seven runs in the inning.

Norwich’s Evan Sylstra led off the bottom of the inning with a triple. Blaine Orlando’s subsequent single scored Sylstra. Orlando stole second before scoring on a Keegan Franklin single. Franklin later scored on a Trey Bates two-out single, putting Norwich up 7-4.

A bevy of singles by Mike Hagen, Logan Ford and Orlando scored Bates, Torin Lawrence and Ford to give Norwich the lead for keeps as they defeated Owego for the second day in a row 11-5.

Norwich’s Keegan Franklin went the distance on the mound, throwing 78 pitches over seven innings of play, recording three strikeouts in his outing.

Norwich’s high powered offense was led by Evan Sylstra who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two triples and an RBI, Gehrig Sastri went 3-for-4 with a double, Trey Bates went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs, Torin Lawrence went 3-for-4 and scored two runs.

Norwich is back in action today May 25th, when they travel to Conklin to play the Susquehanna Valley Sabers with first pitch slated for 4:30.

Game 1: 5/21

NOR 0 2 0 2 0 0 2 – 6 6 4

OWG 0 2 0 2 0 0 1 – 5 5 1

W- T. Lawrence; L- English

SB: (NOR) T. Lawrence, B. Orlando, A. Elizondo, M. Hagen.

2B: (OWG) Harbel

Game 2: 5/22

OWG 0 0 2 2 0 1 0 – 5 3 1

NOR 1 1 2 0 7 0 X – 11 19 2

W- Franklin; L- Farrell

2B: (NOR) G. Sastri

3B- (NOR) E. Sylstra (2), T. Bates, M. Hagen.

SB- (NOR) T. Lawrence (2), B. Orlando (2), K. Franklin, L. Ford.