NORWICH — The Norwich Post 189 Legion ball team hosted the South Otselic Post 973 team on Tuesday night. South Otselic won the first meeting 7-6 last Friday and Norwich won Tuesday’s game 5-4 to split the two-game set.

Special First Pitch:

Prior to the game, both teams welcomed Legion member and veteran Edwin J Tucker, who threw out the first pitch. Tucker, a 1955 Norwich alum, enlisted in the US Army in 1960 and retired in 1990.

During that 30 year span, Tucker had oversea assignments such as Libya, North Africa, Hawaii, Vietnam twice, Germany three times, and has been based out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia (twice), Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Bliss, Texas, and retired at Fort Knox, Kentucky (stationed twice).

Tucker reached the rank of Command Sergeant major 23 in December of 1980 and was Senior NCO (non commissioned officer) in four artillery battalions and an armored brigade.

Tucker currently serves as Adjunct of Post 189 in Norwich and the Chenango County American Legion.

Thank you for your service, Ed!

Norwich 5- South Ot 4

Post 973 took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first off Brayden Lawrence and Post 189. Caleb Loomis drew a one out walk and advanced to second on a single by Troy Miller. Both would move on Everett Bush’s groundout. Loomis scored on Sullivan Waldron’s two-out RBI single.

South Otselic added on with a run in the top of the third as Bush led the inning off with a single to right field and Waldron reached on a hit by pitch. Bush scored on an error to make it 2-0.

Norwich answered back with four runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.

Two walks and a single by Kassen Stubb loaded the bases for Joey Parker, who reached on a walk, which scored a run. Zack Parker doubled to bring in two runs and Joey scored on a groundout RBI by Zac Turner.

Norwich added its fifth run, which ended up being the game-winner, in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Joey Parker.

South Otselic answered back with two runs in the top of the fifth, but were held to just that. Crue Judson grounded out to bring in a run and a run came home on a passed ball.

Post 189’s Brayden Lawrence went four innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits, four walks, and a strikeout. Blayne Sutton was credited with the save as he went three scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one walk, and three strikeouts.

Sullivan Waldron pitched five and two thirds for Post 973, allowing five earned runs on five hits, five walks, and struck out eight batters. Logan Lounsberry pitched a third of an inning in relief.

Norwich Post 189 (2-4) hosts a double-header with George F Riordan Post 974 on Sunday, starting at noon.

South Otselic Post 973 (4-2) hosts Hillcrest Post 1194 tonight at 6 p.m.