Baseball

Norwich 8, Oneonta 7

EDMESTON – Norwich used the same formula for success that led it to 12 straight wins heading into the Otsenango Pony League championship game Thursday night against Oneonta.

Once again, Norwich grabbed the early lead scoring three runs in its opening at-bat, and never trailed to capture its fourth league championship in 10 years. It was also the second unbeaten season matching the 2006 team’s accomplishment.

Brendan McInerney was 3-for-4 for Norwich and 6-for-7 over the final two games reaching base safely in eight of nine trips to the plate. McInerney’s lead-off double in the first set the stage for the early advantage. Reid Rose followed with a solid single, and McInerney scored after a stolen base and a passed ball. Colby Griffin’s double scored Rose, and Griffin came in to score on another pitch that got away from Oneonta catcher Zach King.

In the second, John Yacano walked and Justin Lindenthaler beat out an infield single. Back-to-back errant pick-off attempts allowed Yacano to score, and McInerney’s second hit of the game scored Lindenthaler. A wild pitch scored McInerney as the lead grew to 6-1.