Undefeated, completing the perfect season
By Cameron Turner
Sun Sports Editor
cturner@evesun.com
SIDNEY – A feat that not many can say they have been fortunate enough to be a part of, the Norwich Pony League rolled over Unatego in the finals of the Otsenango PONY League Championship game on July 19.
This 12-1 beat-down of Unatego caps off a season which saw Norwich secure a 12-0 undefeated record, while also hoisting the championship trophy at the end of the season.
“The game was over at the first pitch,” said Norwich Pony League head coach Nick McCullough. “As a team today, what happened on the field, when our pitching does this and our defense does what they did, and then with our offense coming together, we are literally unbeatable. There is not a team in this part of the state that could be us.”
Norwich would jump out to an early 5-0 lead in just the first third of the very first inning. Already up 5-0, Unatego elected to pull their first pitcher, Caden Clow, in favor of Cooper Thayer. Clow allowed only one hit in his third of an inning that he pitched, however, walked four Norwich batters essentially allowing the five runs to be scored.
“Their first pitcher had little to no command. All year, if you’re going to give us walks we're gonna take it. He was missing the strike zone so badly, he threw a ton of wild pitches and we scored several of our runs right there in the first inning,” said coach McCullough. “I don’t know what it was but his coach had to go get him. He had very good velocity, he just struggled with his command. His coach had to go get him, it's the championship, you cant afford to be going down 5-0 in the first.”
After the pitching change, Unatego would see Cooper Thayer pitch for four and two thirds of an inning before Tyler Shaul would come in to close out the final two innings. Thayer would secure six strikeouts with four walks and six hits allowed, while Shaul would tack on two strikeouts with two walks and two hits allowed.
Unatego would show some fight in the first inning following the devastating start to the game, as their lone run would find its way home in the first, making the game 5-1 heading into the second. The 5-1 game would be stalemated until the fourth inning until Norwich's bats caught fire again, sending four runners home, making the lead 9-1 in favor of Norwich. Norwich would cap off the win sending an additional three runners home in the sixth inning.
“Once we got those five, they just couldn’t catch up, they dug themselves in a hole,” said coach McCullough. “Our whole lineup was good, we haven’t seen what our whole lineup has done all year until today. First round against Oneonta we only had three hits but scored six runs off of walks and errors. The next game it was hard fought fantastic baseball game, we had four hits but it was a typical playoff baseball game great pitching and we played small ball to get the win. Today we showed everybody what happens when our offense clicks on all cylinders.”
Pitching for the duration of the seven inning game for Norwich was Marcus Cashman, earning the championship win with a stat-line consisting of six strikeouts, only three walks, three hits allowed, with the one earned run.
“Marcus (Cashman) pitched very very well today, and he went 2-4 today at the plate. He had a great game,” said coach McCullough.
Recording no errors on the evening was the defense backing up Cashman on the Norwich side, as they helped their pitcher essentially shut out Unatego for the final six innings of play. Unatego would commit five errors in the game, contributing to their ultimate collapsing loss in the finals.
Norwich batters: Tyler Hagen 0-4 with a run, Eli Rodriguez 1-3 with two runs and two RBI's, Mike Trevisani 1-3 with two runs, Marcus Cashman 2-4 with two runs and an RBI, JT Vinal 2-4 with three runs and two RBI's, Josh Willis 0-4, Cameron Birtch 0-0 with a run, AJ Little 0-1, Bret Bates 0-1, Troy Flanning 0-1, Jon Mattlack-Grey 0-3, Brayden Supensky 0-2 with a run, and Drew Walsh 3-3.
“Drew (Walsh) went 3-3 today, he had probably the best game of his life today. He did a great job at the plate, he worked the count, he hit BB's all over the field, stole two bases and on top of that he made three or four fantastic catches in the outfield,” said coach McCullough. “Today was his game, he got the game ball today and he deserved it. For a guy who hasn’t played organize baseball in about two to three years to come out in the championship game and do what he did, it was great to see.”
Unatego batters: Cooper Thayer 0-2 with a run, Colby Flamensfield 1-3, Caden Clow 0-3 with an RBI, and Trevor Winchester 2-3.
With the 12-1 domination of Unatego, Norwich Pony League completes their undefeated 12-0 2016 summer season.
“Baseball wise as a team we have come to a stop. It's sad in a way but these guys finally deserve a break. They have been playing since like March when spring sports started. But they finish their long baseball season as champions, that's important,” said coach McCullough. “Nobody can take credit for getting these guys here except them. They have worked their tails off all season, they've got better everyday as the season went on. They deserve to host this trophy more than anybody, and nobody can take credit for that but them. They get to call themselves champions at the end of the day.”
Notably, even though the regular and post-season are now complete for the 2016 summer season, four Norwich players will be continuing on in playing baseball as they have been selected to play in the All-Star game. The All-Star game will be played in Cooperstown this coming Monday at 5:30 p.m. on July 25.
The following four Norwich players have been selected as 2016 All-Stars: Tyler Hagen for his batting average of .389, four doubles, four RBI's, 16-runs, 10-walks, and 17-stolen bases; Eli Rodriguez for his batting average of .300, four RBI's, 17-runs, 23-walks, and 11-stolen bases; JT Vinal for his batting average of .314, four doubles, 19-RBI's eight walks, and 11-stolen bases; and Mike Trevisani for his batting average of .323, 18-runs, four RBI's, 10-walks, seven stolen bases, with his pitching stats of
eight games pitched recording a 6-0 record with one save, pitched 38 1/3 innings, striking out 66-batters, seven runs, with only two earned runs, and a season ERA of 0.36.
“I am very very proud of these guys. This is by far one of the best group of guys I have been around in coaching. The season ends now and it is kind of bittersweet, but we're all tired. It has been a phenomenal season, how many people can say they went 12-0 and got to host the championship, it's unreal,” said coach McCullough. “I cant take credit for anything, I guided them, but they got better, they worked hard, they made the adjustments at the plate and just did everything they were supposed to do. I am very very happy for them, I'm gonna miss all of them, but it was a great way to end the perfect season.
Notably for the Norwich Pony League team will all be celebrating the championship win on the weekend of the 29th through the 31st of July, with a team trip to Hershey Park.
N: 5 0 0 4 0 3 0– 12
U: 1 0 0 0 0 0 0– 1
Sun Sports Editor
cturner@evesun.com
SIDNEY – A feat that not many can say they have been fortunate enough to be a part of, the Norwich Pony League rolled over Unatego in the finals of the Otsenango PONY League Championship game on July 19.
This 12-1 beat-down of Unatego caps off a season which saw Norwich secure a 12-0 undefeated record, while also hoisting the championship trophy at the end of the season.
“The game was over at the first pitch,” said Norwich Pony League head coach Nick McCullough. “As a team today, what happened on the field, when our pitching does this and our defense does what they did, and then with our offense coming together, we are literally unbeatable. There is not a team in this part of the state that could be us.”
Norwich would jump out to an early 5-0 lead in just the first third of the very first inning. Already up 5-0, Unatego elected to pull their first pitcher, Caden Clow, in favor of Cooper Thayer. Clow allowed only one hit in his third of an inning that he pitched, however, walked four Norwich batters essentially allowing the five runs to be scored.
“Their first pitcher had little to no command. All year, if you’re going to give us walks we're gonna take it. He was missing the strike zone so badly, he threw a ton of wild pitches and we scored several of our runs right there in the first inning,” said coach McCullough. “I don’t know what it was but his coach had to go get him. He had very good velocity, he just struggled with his command. His coach had to go get him, it's the championship, you cant afford to be going down 5-0 in the first.”
After the pitching change, Unatego would see Cooper Thayer pitch for four and two thirds of an inning before Tyler Shaul would come in to close out the final two innings. Thayer would secure six strikeouts with four walks and six hits allowed, while Shaul would tack on two strikeouts with two walks and two hits allowed.
Unatego would show some fight in the first inning following the devastating start to the game, as their lone run would find its way home in the first, making the game 5-1 heading into the second. The 5-1 game would be stalemated until the fourth inning until Norwich's bats caught fire again, sending four runners home, making the lead 9-1 in favor of Norwich. Norwich would cap off the win sending an additional three runners home in the sixth inning.
“Once we got those five, they just couldn’t catch up, they dug themselves in a hole,” said coach McCullough. “Our whole lineup was good, we haven’t seen what our whole lineup has done all year until today. First round against Oneonta we only had three hits but scored six runs off of walks and errors. The next game it was hard fought fantastic baseball game, we had four hits but it was a typical playoff baseball game great pitching and we played small ball to get the win. Today we showed everybody what happens when our offense clicks on all cylinders.”
Pitching for the duration of the seven inning game for Norwich was Marcus Cashman, earning the championship win with a stat-line consisting of six strikeouts, only three walks, three hits allowed, with the one earned run.
“Marcus (Cashman) pitched very very well today, and he went 2-4 today at the plate. He had a great game,” said coach McCullough.
Recording no errors on the evening was the defense backing up Cashman on the Norwich side, as they helped their pitcher essentially shut out Unatego for the final six innings of play. Unatego would commit five errors in the game, contributing to their ultimate collapsing loss in the finals.
Norwich batters: Tyler Hagen 0-4 with a run, Eli Rodriguez 1-3 with two runs and two RBI's, Mike Trevisani 1-3 with two runs, Marcus Cashman 2-4 with two runs and an RBI, JT Vinal 2-4 with three runs and two RBI's, Josh Willis 0-4, Cameron Birtch 0-0 with a run, AJ Little 0-1, Bret Bates 0-1, Troy Flanning 0-1, Jon Mattlack-Grey 0-3, Brayden Supensky 0-2 with a run, and Drew Walsh 3-3.
“Drew (Walsh) went 3-3 today, he had probably the best game of his life today. He did a great job at the plate, he worked the count, he hit BB's all over the field, stole two bases and on top of that he made three or four fantastic catches in the outfield,” said coach McCullough. “Today was his game, he got the game ball today and he deserved it. For a guy who hasn’t played organize baseball in about two to three years to come out in the championship game and do what he did, it was great to see.”
Unatego batters: Cooper Thayer 0-2 with a run, Colby Flamensfield 1-3, Caden Clow 0-3 with an RBI, and Trevor Winchester 2-3.
With the 12-1 domination of Unatego, Norwich Pony League completes their undefeated 12-0 2016 summer season.
“Baseball wise as a team we have come to a stop. It's sad in a way but these guys finally deserve a break. They have been playing since like March when spring sports started. But they finish their long baseball season as champions, that's important,” said coach McCullough. “Nobody can take credit for getting these guys here except them. They have worked their tails off all season, they've got better everyday as the season went on. They deserve to host this trophy more than anybody, and nobody can take credit for that but them. They get to call themselves champions at the end of the day.”
Notably, even though the regular and post-season are now complete for the 2016 summer season, four Norwich players will be continuing on in playing baseball as they have been selected to play in the All-Star game. The All-Star game will be played in Cooperstown this coming Monday at 5:30 p.m. on July 25.
The following four Norwich players have been selected as 2016 All-Stars: Tyler Hagen for his batting average of .389, four doubles, four RBI's, 16-runs, 10-walks, and 17-stolen bases; Eli Rodriguez for his batting average of .300, four RBI's, 17-runs, 23-walks, and 11-stolen bases; JT Vinal for his batting average of .314, four doubles, 19-RBI's eight walks, and 11-stolen bases; and Mike Trevisani for his batting average of .323, 18-runs, four RBI's, 10-walks, seven stolen bases, with his pitching stats of
eight games pitched recording a 6-0 record with one save, pitched 38 1/3 innings, striking out 66-batters, seven runs, with only two earned runs, and a season ERA of 0.36.
“I am very very proud of these guys. This is by far one of the best group of guys I have been around in coaching. The season ends now and it is kind of bittersweet, but we're all tired. It has been a phenomenal season, how many people can say they went 12-0 and got to host the championship, it's unreal,” said coach McCullough. “I cant take credit for anything, I guided them, but they got better, they worked hard, they made the adjustments at the plate and just did everything they were supposed to do. I am very very happy for them, I'm gonna miss all of them, but it was a great way to end the perfect season.
Notably for the Norwich Pony League team will all be celebrating the championship win on the weekend of the 29th through the 31st of July, with a team trip to Hershey Park.
N: 5 0 0 4 0 3 0– 12
U: 1 0 0 0 0 0 0– 1
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