Norwich trying to keep pace in pennant race: What to know about American Legion baseball

The American Legion Zone 6 baseball standings are starting to take shape and it looks like two-time defending Zone champion Waterford will have a target on their backs again.

Waterford flexed its muscles with a 12-2 five-inning mercy rule victory over Norwich on Wednesday night at Mitchell College in New London.

Waterford, which improved to 8-2, moved a half-game into first place ahead of Willimantic (7-2). As of Thursday morning, those top two teams were followed by Norwich (4-4), Danielson (3-5), Tri-Town (3-6), and Moosup (2-8).

Players from St. Bernard, Fitch, East Lyme, and Waterford

Post 161, which made a magical run in last year’s state tournament before falling to Danbury in the finals, features another potent lineup of players from four high schools: St. Bernard, Fitch, East Lyme, and Waterford.

Norwich head coach Stephen Sieczkowski sent Daniel St. George to the mound against Waterford. The crafty lefthander, who had a terrific season pitching for Norwich Free Academy, carried a 2-1 lead into the fourth inning.

Waterford, however, took advantage of a pair of walks, a pair of errors, and got key RBI doubles from Martin Light and Cam McGugan to take a 6-2 lead. Before the inning was over, Jason Hicks had replaced St. George.

“Dan was throwing great,” Sieczkowski said. “He’s a gamer. He’s probably one of the best pitchers not only in this Legion Zone but all of the ECC, honestly. He’s got a bright future ahead of him. Unfortunately, our defense let us down today. We have to pick it up, come back tomorrow, and be ready to play.”

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Waterford added six more runs in the fifth, all after two were out. Evan McCue fueled Post 161’s big inning with a bases-loaded single. Joe Basso and Brian Ingraham also added RBI singles, with Ingraham’s hit ending the game via the 10-run mercy rule after five innings.

Norwich got both of its runs in the first inning off winning pitcher Justin Saad. With one out, Mason Bordeau and Max Sanchez hit back-to-back singles. Chris Southworth drew a walk to load the bases for Randy Jimenez, who lifted a deep fly ball to center field that scored Bordeau. Conor Doyle then reached an infield error that allowed Sanchez to race home, giving Norwich an early 2-0 lead.

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Saad got out of a jam in the second inning with a double play grounder before retiring Norwich in order in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to earn the win.

Norwich baseball summer standings

Norwich got off to a fast start this summer by taking four of five games from Danielson and Tri-Town.

“We ended up grinding those games out and finding ways to win,” Sieczkowski said.

Norwich, however, has dropped three straight and has two more games left (Thursday and Friday) with Waterford hoping to get back into the Zone 6 pennant race.

“We keep beating ourselves right now,” Sieczkowski said. “We’re kind of battling with ourselves but I have full confidence that we’ll figure it out as a team. We have the players, we have the talent, we just need to string it together as a team.”

American Legion baseball state tournament: Looking ahead

The top four teams in the Zone qualify for the state tournament. Besides two more games against Waterford, Norwich has one game left against Willimantic, a three-game series against Moosup, and a make-up game against Danielson to end the regular season.

“I’m very happy with how the team is going,” Sieczkowski said.  “I get upset when they don't do as well as I know they can but that's because I love these guys so much.”

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: American Legion CT Zone 6 baseball standings: Norwich in pennant race