Close Call Rainout Saves Mustang Baseball Victory Over Marauders

A called game against Rte. 1 rival Dedham gave the Norwood Mustangs the 8-6 victory over the Marauders yesterday after 5 1/3 innings of play.

"I was a little surprised that [the umpire] called it to be honest with you," said Norwood manager James Sweeney, whose Mustangs move to 7-8 on the year with five games left on the schedule.

"With the downpour in the top of the fifth, I thought that was when it was going to get stopped," added Sweeney.

With the Mustangs holding on to an early 3-0 lead going into the top of the fifth, the rain became very heavy and the Dedham defense, as well as starting pitcher Chris DeLouchrey, had difficulty handling the ball.

DeLouchrey gave up a lead-off double to Norwood’s Sean O’Neil. After an infield error, P.J. King added another double to the gap to score both O’Neil and Anthony Perriello. Billy Morrison added an infield single, and Jordan Davis was hit in the back by a wet ball, and both scored on a infield hit and error to make it 8-0 after the top of the fifth.

Despite the rains it was apparent to both sides that this game was going to be played for at least five innings, no matter what the weather conditions, to make it an official contest.

Dedham responded in the bottom half when Norwood’s starting pitcher James Bussiere gave up a single and two walks to load the bases with no outs. Dedham senior Cam Clifford walked up to the plate and smacked a triple to right-center to score all three runs and the Marauders were back in the game.

Clifford scored on a wild pitch and Bussiere was visibly shaken after struggling to find the plate with the wet baseball. After a visit to the mound by Sweeney to calm his pitcher down, he was able to get out of the inning but not before giving up two more runs to make it 8-6.

In the top of the sixth with one out and a Norwood runner on first, the rain seemed to have let up and spectators began to make their way out of their cars and onto the field for what appeared to be another exciting Bay State tilt between two rivals.

However, Norwood’s Billy Morrison swung and missed on a Kevin Boudrow pitch, and Morrison’s bat went flying into the dugout. The umpire immediately called the game due to safety concerns to both teams.

"Unfortunately, it’s the way it is," said Dedham manager Kevin Quaranto, whose team dropped to (7-9). "The safety of the kids come first, and we have to respect that."

When asked why the game wasn’t called in the fifth when there was a hellacious downpour and the pitcher could not control the ball, Quaranto said, "no comment."

"I gave them all the credit in the world to be down 8-0 and to answer with six, granted it was difficulty today with the balls getting wet," said Sweeney.

"I am frustrated right now, it’s my last time playing Norwood," said Dedham senior Dan O’Connor. "[The umpire] doesn’t even give us a chance to keep our momentum going,  just disappointing, we fought to the end - it’s just unfair."

Softball

Norwood 5, Dedham 4

For the second time this season the Marauders came up just short against the undefeated Mustangs. Down 4-1 in the sixth inning, Dedham scored three runs sparked by a double by Meaghan Paton double and followed by a triple off the bat of Gina Reid. Norwood won the game in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh on a passed ball with no outs.