Post 70 Victorious Over Hingham in Game 1 of Sectionals

Norwood’s legion baseball team, Post 70, had the baseball gods smiling down on them this weekend.

Not only did they win a coin-toss for the no. 1 seed in the Group C sectionals playoffs, where they received home-field advantage, but last night they picked up seven unearned runs against a very good Hingham team, in their 8-1 victory at the Balch.

“Not the best way," said starting pitcher James Bussiere. “But it worked.”

Norwood’s good fortune continued in the second inning when DH Anthony Perriello reached on an error and scored on PJ King’s double to right, to tie the game at 1-1.

Post 70 added another unearned run in the fourth, when Sean O’Neil reached first on an infield error with two outs. This time Jordan Davis made Hingham pay, when he laced a triple down the right field line to score O’Neil.

Bussiere, who struggled in the bullpen warming up, felt strengthened by the large Norwood crowd and pitched masterfully through seven innings, giving up one run while scattering six hits.

“I started today and I was warming up in the bullpen and I didn’t have it at all,” said the right-hander. "I didn’t think I was going to pitch, and then I saw everyone here and backing me up, and I just knew I had to do what I had to do.”

With a 3-1 lead going into the seventh, Post 70 added three more, the first run on a sacrifice fly by John Gorman and the final two coming on a two-out error to make it 6-1.

“We were fortunate with that error,” said manager Paul Samargedlis. "Because 6-1 is a lot different than 4-1.”

After Bussiere, Samargedlis went with reliever/first baseman PJ King, who after walking the first batter, settled down nicely to finish the game.

“He’s got poise,” said the manager of King. “I told him the only way they are going to come back in this game is if you walk people…He settled in.”

For Hingham, they couldn’t get any of their hard hit balls to fall, accounting for only one extra base hit all night. Throw in seven unearned runs and Hingham wasted a great night from their starter, Rob Madden

Madden was nothing less than superb as he set up his fastball with a sharp breaking ball to keep Norwood’s hitters off balance. A rare accomplishment for any pitcher this season, despite throwing over 120 pitches in the game and allowing one earned run.

“That pitcher,” said Samargedlis. “I would take that pitcher any day of the week. He was crafty. The only guy who I would take over him is my guy, Bussiere.”

Despite scoring 17 runs off no. 1 seed Brockton in their district, Hingham was stymied by Bussiere and King.

“The team was always behind me talking me up and giving me the motivation to go out there and do what I had to do,” said Bussiere.

Next up for Norwood is a 7:30 p.m. match-up against South Attleboro at the Balch, Monday, July 18.