Baseball
Norwich 5, Seton Catholic Central 4
NORWICH – Norwich gave up a four-run lead in the seventh inning, but regrouped in the next inning to extend its unbeaten streak to six games.
The Saints generated all four of their runs with two outs, and the rally began with an infield error. Connor Ligeikis two-run double catapulted his team into a tie.
After Norwich reliever Ben Barnes threw a scoreless eighth, Norwich ending a four-inning scoreless string with the game-winning tally.
Colby Griffin singled and moved to third on Mackay Hotaling’s single. Griffin, though, was cut down at the plate after a Barnes grounder. Thomas Kalicicki then walked to load the bases, and Lucas Follett drew a bases-loaded walk to score Hotaling.
“The great thing about this team is that no matter what the score is, I have all the confidence that we will play hard to the end of the game,” said Norwich coach John Martinson. “We’re finding ways to win close games. It builds character and will help us gain momentum as we work toward sectionals.”
Norwich (5-1-1) scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Griffin reached on an error with the bases loaded scoring two runs, and Hotaling added a run-scoring single.
Martinson singled out the defense of left-fielder Kyle Cashman as a big key to the win. “The wind was blowing hard, and (Kyle) made four outstanding catches for us,” Martinson said.
Norwich plays at Windsor today.
SCC 000 000 4 0 4 7 1
NHS 004 000 0 1 5 6 3
Justin Lindenthaler, Nate Winans (5), Ben Barnes (7, W) and Kalicicki. Connor Ackerman,Connor McCormick (5) And Conor Ligeikis. Doubles: (S) Ligeikis.
Greene 5, Walton 4
GREENE – Greene and its young lineup is quickly coming of age in close games.
The Trojans, who lost two games in the final inning earlier this season, rallied with single runs over the final three innings to squeak by Walton Wednesday.
Curtis Richards, who went 2-for-3 in the game, drew a one-out walk in the seventh and promptly stole second. Cole Browning grounded back to the pitcher, and Richards broke for third base on the play. A low throw combined with Richards’ hard slide resulted in an error allowing Richards to race home with the game-winning run.
In the previous two innings, the Trojans’ runs scored on passed balls. “The funny thing is that two times after we scored on passed balls, the next batter had a basehit,” said Greene coach Steve Burghardt.
Browning’s relief pitching was the biggest story line, Burghardt said. Browning entering the game in the fourth inning and on the short side of a 4-2 score. He pitched four scoreless innings of one-hit relief to earn his second win of the season. “He came in and did a great job for us,” Burghardt said of Browning. “When he was batting in the fifth, he was hit on the elbow with a pitch. He went back in and pitched the last two innings.”
Greene (3-1, 4-3) hosts Oxford today.
Walt 103 000 0 4 7 2
Gre. 020 011 1 5 8 3
Dan Bowker, Josh Hammond (3), Dalton Kaminsky (5, L) and Joe Sinistine. Nate Patrick, Cole Browning (4, W) and Andy Norton. Doubles: (G) Curtis Richards, Triples: (W) Dalton Walley
Softball
Greene 8, Walton 0
GREENE – Greene chipped away at Walton pitcher Allie Forkey for four innings, and broke open Wednesday’s game with a five-run fifth to stay unbeaten on the season.
Sophomore Morgan Ellis had a two-run double to key the Trojans’ fifth inning, and Forkey was hampered by four passed balls. “Forkey was tough last year, and I told our girls to stay focused,” said Greene coach Rick Smith. “She moved the ball around, and she handled us pretty good the first few innings.”
Rebecca Hanrahan picked up her fifth win striking out eight, allowing two hits, and giving up her first walk of the season.
Caitlin Willis was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Hanrahan and Taylor Ellis also had 2-for-3 days at the plate.
Walt. 000 000 0 0 2 0
Gre. 200 150 x 8 9 2
Rebecca Hanrahan (W) and Brittany Youngs. Allie Forkey (L) and Carolyn Butler. Doubles: (W) Forkey. (G) Morgan Ellis. Triples: (G) Caitlin Willis.
Seton Catholic Central 5, Norwich 0
