Make it two in a row: Tornado use walk-off single to stun Yellowjackets

NORWICH – After starting the season with six straight losses, Norwich has found their groove with big wins in their previous two games played. The biggest of the two came Thursday afternoon against a tough Oneonta Yellowjackets squad, where the Purple Tornado won 1-0 with a walk-off single by JT Vinal in the bottom of the eighth inning.

“This is the best two-game stretch Norwich baseball has played in a while and [Thursday’s] win was huge for us,” said Tornado head coach Rich Turnbull.

It was a pitcher’s duel throughout the game as Oneonta’s ace Teddy McGraw got the start on the hill for the visiting team. Norwich had their hard-throwing youngster Jordan Jacquette on the mound.

In the top of the eighth, with Jacquette still toeing the rubber, the Yellowjackets started the inning off with a single and a walk, bringing McGraw to the plate with runners at first and second.

The two teams battled in their first meeting but Oneonta came away with a walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh inning on their own field with a McGraw single.

Thinking for their next move, Turnbull decided loaded the bases by intentionally walking the Yellowjackets’ stud with just one out in the frame.

Story Continues Below Adverts

The gutsy move paid off as Norwich’s Jacquette fired in three straight strikes to the next batter, striking him out looking at the pitch and getting the final hitter of the inning to fly out to right field.

“I told the guys when I called time and came out to the mound, we are not going to let McGraw beat us again,” said Turnbull on his bold decision. “Jordan’s strike out with the next batter was huge and I felt we made the right choice.”

McGraw stepped onto the hill in the bottom of the eighth but with is pitch limit nearing the max, he was allowed to face just the first batter. He picked up his 12th strikeout of the game with that Norwich batter but was pulled for relief pitcher Jordan Goble.

Goble walked the Tornado’s Tanner Franklin to put one running on the base paths for the home team. Franklin stole second base and the Yellowjackets’ then decided to walk Marcus Cashman intentionally.

With runners on first and second for Vinal, the Norwich junior took the first pitch to the left side of the infield. The ball went through the gap of the third baseman and shortstop and rolled into the outfield. Franklin used his speed to score from second as the throw home was off the mark for the walk-off win.