WHITNEY POINT – After defeating Bainbridge-Guilford on June 30, the Norwich ‘A’ PONY League team was well-rested, but prepared to extend their win-streak. They did just that with a 13-7 victory against Whitney Point to stay undefeated. They will be put to the test with the regular season winding down and remaining games on Friday and Sunday before playoffs

Norwich got things started in the top of the first inning with two outs. Jaxson Francis doubled and scored as Zac Turner followed with a double as well. Turner also scored as he stole home to make it 2-0 Norwich. Turner finished 3-for-3 at the plate with a double in the first and two singles in the latter part of the contest. He also drove in another run in the top of the sixth inning.

Norwich scored two more runs in the third after Whitney Point answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the second inning. Whitney Point kept up with Norwich, but Norwich came together offensively while holding the Eagles defensively in the end.

The Purple Tornado fired up in the fifth inning as they scored five runs on three hits. Jaxson Francis drew a bases-loaded walk that drove in a run and Colin Reid was hit by the pitch with the bases-loaded for his RBI. Carmine Pastore and Mike Brunick had RBI singles as Norwich finished with 12 hits on the night as well as 21 stolen bases. Francis led the team with four stolen bases while Reid, Pastore, Turner, and Zack Parker all had three.

Whitney Point threatened in the fourth and fifth innings to make it a 10-7 deficit, but Norwich held on and scored three final runs in the sixth to seal the victory.

Colin Reid earned the start on the mound for Norwich and went three and a third innings before exiting with a high pitch count. He allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits, three walks, and struck out nine batters. Mike Brunick got the final two outs in the fourth inning, giving up two runs, a walk, but got out of a jam with a strikeout. Zack Parker finished the game in the fifth and sixth innings, allowing a hit, three walks, and struck out three batters.

Norwich picked up another win off a forfeit and has two regular season games remaining. On Friday, Norwich hosts Sherburne before they’ll face Oxford on Sunday. Both games are scheduled for 6 p.m.

The 2023 Otsenango PONY League season will end on Monday with the postseason quarterfinals starting on Thursday. Official playoff games will be announced on the league’s webpage through leaguelineup.com.

Box Score:

Runs by Inning: R H E

NO:

2-0-2-5-1-3-X 13 12 0

WP:

0-1-2-3-1-0-X 7 6 0