Oxford huddles up prior to the start of a previous PONY League game. Oxford handed the Norwich ‘A’ team its first loss of the season on Sunday. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

NORWICH – With the 2023 PONY League baseball season winding down, the Norwich ‘A’ team and the Oxford Blackhawks faced off on Sunday night. Norwich held a brief 5-3 lead before Oxford took over and held on to win 10-9, ending the Purple Tornado’s undefeated streak.

Oxford scored three runs off Owen Olds in the first inning. Conner Dunagan and Caden Rifanburg both reached on walks before moving into scoring position on an error. With the bases loaded and one out, Kyle Benjamin drove in two runs on an RBI single to right field. Degan Endress hit a sac-fly in his at-bat.

Norwich answered back with two outs in the bottom half of the inning. Zack Parker led off with a walk and came in to score on a RBI double from Zac Turner. Carmine Pastore kept the inning alive with a single to drive in Turner. Oxford was able to get out of a jam to keep it a 3-2 game.

Olds had a scoreless second inning before helping Norwich take the lead. Down 3-2 with two outs and two runners on, Olds drove in a pair with an RBI double to left field. Olds stole third base and came in to score off an error during Kaden Downey’s at-bat. He finished the game with three RBIs.

Both teams were held scoreless until the top of the fourth inning, when Oxford took the lead for good.

The Blackhawks had the bases loaded with three walks, but Blake Barrows got caught stealing third. Landen Olinski reached on a walk to load the bases back up for Nic Dodzweit. Dodzweit tied the game at five all with a two-run single to center field. Kyle Benjamin drove in the go-ahead run with a single to right field.

After holding Norwich from scoring in the bottom half of the inning, Oxford added on in the fifth. With two runners on and in scoring position, Noah Bush grounded out to send in a run. Conner Dunagan also drove in a run with a two-out single before scoring on an error that allowed two runs to score.

Down 10-5, Norwich got one run back in the bottom of the fifth. Two hard hit balls and one stolen base helped provide a scoring chance for the Purple Tornado. Carmine Pastore grounded out to shortstop to send in a run.

Kassen Stubb and Zack Parker both pitched an inning in relief to hold Oxford from scoring to give Norwich a few more chances. Norwich had a great chance in the bottom of the sixth inning. Stubb and Joey Parker both singled before Zack Parker was intentionally walked with only one out.

In the next-at bat, Owen Olds grounded out, sending home Stubb and advancing the other runners. Joey Parker scored on a wild pitch during Kaden Downey’s at-bat. Downey reached base on a hit by pitch with two outs. Zack Parker scored on an error to make it 10-9 Oxford, but Norwich couldn’t plate the game-tying run.

Zack Parker struck out the side in the top of the seventh inning, giving his offense one more chance to tie the game. Norwich had the game-tying run on third base, but Nic Dodzweit stood his ground in relief to get the final batter to strike out swinging.

Oxford hosts Sherburne this evening at 6 p.m. in the final regular season game while Norwich will await the playoffs starting Thursday and throughout the weekend. Norwich finished the regular season with a 7-1 record and Oxford is in second place at 5-2.

For more information, please visit the Otsenango PONY League web page through league lineup.com.

Box Score:

Runs by Inning: R H E

OX:

3-0-0-3-4-0-0 10 7 4

NO:

2-3-0-0-1-3-0 9 10 4