Norwich’s Kaden Downey scores the first run of the season on a bases-loaded walk in the 11-3 loss to Windsor. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

NORWICH – The Norwich Purple Tornado baseball team kicked off its 2023 season against Windsor on a windy Monday evening. Windsor spoiled Norwich’s home opener with an 11-3 victory.

Both teams had a shaky start with all pitchers combining for eight walks, which helped Norwich score runs. For Windsor, they were able to produce hits with runners on base.

Senior Trent Marinelli led off with a base hit for Norwich in the bottom of the first, but couldn’t score with his move to third. Both teams were scoreless after the first inning.

In the second, Windsor cashed in with four runs off multiple hits and some fielding trouble by Norwich. Kaden Downey in left field caught a hard hit line drive ball to end the inning.

Trey Bates on the mound had a clean inning following the early deficit before Windsor tacked on more runs to follow. His day was done after three and a third innings pitched and Graham Burton filled in for the remainder of the contest.

Norwich, down by eight runs, answered back in the bottom of the fourth on a bases-loaded walk RBI for Trent Marinelli, who walked three times in the game. Downey scored the first run of the season. The second run came in the same fashion as Braden Reid walked with the bases loaded to send Bates home in the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Windsor continued to build up a comfortable lead, but a notable play on defense was center fielder Kassen Stubbs with a phenomenal falling catch to take an extra base hit away that turned into a sacrifice fly for the Black Knights.

Norwich scored their final run of the game in the last inning of play as Windsor committed a few mistakes of their own defensively. Trent Marinelli walked and made it home on Nick Ragonese’s at-bat due to a passed ball and two errors. Marinelli, Downey, and Burton contributed with Norwich’s three hits in the loss.

The Purple Tornado (0-1) will travel to Oneonta on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Box Score:

Runs by Inning R H E

Windsor

0-4-0-4-3-0-X 11 10 2

Norwich

0-0-0-1-1-1-X 3 3 3