SOUTH OTSELIC— The South Otselic Post 973 team is tearing up the 2026 American Legion baseball season, being a new team this summer. On Friday, Post 973 started a two-game set with Norwich Post 189 and went to 4-1 on the summer with a 7-6 victory.

After a scoreless first inning, South Otselic got on the board in the bottom of the second with three runs and then added three more in the third.

Post 973 loaded the bases up in the bottom of the second and a run came home before Norwich turned two.

A wild pitch and a RBI single by Troy Miller made it 3-0.

Sullivan Waldron tripled with one out in the bottom of the third to drive in two runs and then came in to score on a groundout RBI by Trevor Barnum.

South Otselic added one additional run, that ended up being the game-winner, in the bottom of the fifth as Lukas Schieferstein singled to lead off the inning, stole second, and scored on L Lounsberry’s groundout RBI.

After being down 7-0, Norwich had a good chance to tie it in the latter innings. Post 189 got on the board in the top of the sixth with three runs as Noah Eddy scored on Zac Turner’s RBI single. Carmine Pastore singled to drive in a pair before Norwich drove in three more runs in the seventh.

An error and a single by Joey Parker drove in a run on the next a-bat as Eddy doubled and then Parker scored on Turner’s groundout RBI. Eddy scored on Blayne Sutton’s groundout RBI before another groundout ended the rally.

Barnum got the start for South Otselic, allowing just one hit, a walk, and struck out two batters through three innings. Waldron reliefed Barnum, going four innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits, three walks, and struck out two batters.

Kassen Stubb went four innings to start for Norwich, allowing six earned runs on five hits, five walks, and struck out two. Kolbey Redenback worked two innings in relief, allowing one earned run on three hits, no walks, and had one strikeout.

Both teams meet again in Norwich on Tuesday at 6 p.m.