Cameron Turner Photo

UNADILLA VALLEY – The Norwich Pony league looked to pick right back up from where they ended last season, when they traveled to take on the Unadilla Valley Pony League, downing them with an impressive 14-1 win.

Boasting a solid 9-2-1 record last season, and losing in the semi-finals to Cobleskill, is how the 2015 summer season ended for the team last time around.

“As a team we were stacked from pitching to offense. Cobleskill was just a better team that day,” said Norwich Pony League head coach Nick McCullough.

Norwich seems to have corrected some mistakes in their play from their last game of the 2015 season, and have now bounced back to a tremendous 14-1 dominating win over UV, on June 13.

“I respect them enough to where we're gonna come right at them. And they'll see our ace,” said McCullough prior to the start of the matchup yesterday.

McCullough noted that the Norwich Pony League program has lost their entire starting outfield, something many would view as a major problem coming into a new season.

“Young talent, and I think as a team, I think we can be even better(than last year). Every players expectations are very high. We added some great new players as well as bringing back some of last years best,” said McCullough. “We added Norwich track star Drew Walsh, and Troy Flanning from Sherburne. Troy will give us pitching depth. Drew gives us everything, he's simply a five tool player – Speed, power, contact, arm, and fielding – Plus Tyler Hagen will be a great complement to him in the outfield. And we have Marcus Cashman who led the team with a .645 batting avg. and Mike Trevisani who was 4-0 with a 0.67 ERA coming back as well. Plus our entire starting infield.”

The new additions to the team, as well as the returning players wasted little time getting to work on the start of the season.

The matchup saw Norwich take a slow start to the game, as they seemed to struggle somewhat early due to the pitching from Osborne of UV.

Osborne would somewhat command the mound early, as he pitched for two and a third innings, striking out one batter.

“The first pitcher, Osborne, he pitched very well the first two innings. He kind of scared us a little bit. He got out of a jam in the first and shut us out in the second and I figured it would be a good game,” said McCullough. “But then he kind of lost his command in the third and we just never stop after that. I told the guys, just never give up, just keep pushing until we're satisfied.”