Norfolk Legion Baseball Ekes Out a Win Against Walpole

Norfolk Post 335 traveled to Walpole on Sunday to play a home game caused by an earlier rain out and a lack of availability at its home field in Norfolk.

The game required extra innings, with Norfolk walking off in an exciting 4-3 win over first place Walpole.

In a repeat of an earlier matchup against these teams (a 2-1 Walpole win), Mike Capobianco (Wrentham, KPHS) was matched up against Walpole’s Tom Ryan in a great pitchers duel. Both pitchers went seven innings, with Capobianco giving up six hits to Ryan’s five.

Walpole would strike first in the top of the fifth. After the leadoff hitter struck out, Walpole’s Troy Salvatore singled, stole second and third, and scored on a strikeout that got away from Norfolk catcher Cam Walsh (Norfolk, KPHS).

In the inning, Capobianco struck out the side, ending the day with five strikeouts.

Norfolk would answer in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff single by Alex Lagos (Wrentham, Millis). Lagos stole second base and then advanced to third on an infield error. With two outs, Joey Presti (Wrentham, Catholic Memorial) would deliver a single, scoring Lagos to tie the game 1-1 after five.

Capobianco was able to retire the side 1-2-3, allowing his hitters to come back to the plate. After the first two batters failed to reach, Matt Ferreira (Norfolk, KPHS) walked. Charlie Harrington doubled to right-center on a hit & run, scoring the speedy Ferreira and giving Norfolk a 2-1 lead after six. 

That lead would not last long, as Capobianco went to the mound to face the hard-hitting Walpole lineup. Trying to secure the win, Capobianco quickly got the first two batters out. The next batter, John Adams, singled to left. Matt Levanchy then also singled, placing runners at first and second. After what appeared to be a strike, the umpire signaled ball four to Craig Hanley loading the bases.

Dan King then found a hole in the defense, scoring two runners before getting thrown out at second base trying to advance.

As Norfolk came to bat in the bottom of the seventh needing a run to tie the game, James Wallace (Wrentham, KPHS), who had been playing first base all day, began to loosen up in the pen. Capobianco left the game after a great performance.

“I’m not sure if I have seen him that hungry before,” said Coach Lagos. “He wanted it, and it showed. He was throwing harder in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings then he had thrown all year”

Lagos led off in the seventh, and was able to reach via a walk. After an infield popup, Lagos stole second, putting the tying run within scoring distance. Walpole’s Tom Ryan was then able to get another out with a fly to left field. Dan Scannell (Plainville/Bishop Feehan) got to first thanks to an infield error, allowing Lagos to make it to third base.

On the next pitch to the plate, the ball was in the dirt, and Lagos raced home with the tying run.

Wallace pitched the eighth inning, retiring Walpole in order. After the first batter struck out, Matt Ferreira singled to right center. The next batter fouled out to the Walpole catcher, but Ferreira then stole second base.

Up stepped the Norfolk catcher Cam Walsh (Norfolk, KPHS). Walsh ripped a ball down the third base line, which easily scored the speedy Ferreira with the game-winning run. 

After the game Coach Lagos spoke about his catcher.

“It was great to see Cam get that hit and win it for us with his bat," he said. "What most don’t see is the fact that he blocked about 25 balls in the dirt today with runners in scoring position. This game could have easily resulted differently if Cam were not back there”.

This is a good Walpole team, their guy Tom Ryan pitched very well, but on this day, we just had that one extra run in us,” he added.

-Courtesy American Legion baseball.