Norwood ready for another postseason run on diamond
The Norwood Pirates’ baseball team opened their season last week with an impressive, 15-5, road victory over Hurley with the help of an 11-hit attack.
It was a 5-4 game through three innings when the Pirates put six more runs on the board in the top of the fourth inning. They added four more in the top of the fifth to seal the win.
Offensively, Holten Lopez had a big game with three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored. Gary Williams and Cooper Vaughan both added two RBIs and three runs scored; Brady Vaughan had three RBIs; Pete McCune added one RBI and two runs scored; Carson Vaughan had one RBI and one run scored; while Laken Coatney, Pierce Lawson and Noah Drake each scored one run.
On the mound, Cooper Vaughan tossed three innings and gave up two earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
Coatney tossed two innings and gave up one earned run on one hit and one strikeout with five walks.
Season Preview
The first game for 2025 comes after the Pirates went 5-6 in the fall.
As for last spring, the Pirates made a run to the Class 1 state quarterfinals, where they fell to Oran, the eventual state champion, by a 1-0 score. It was the closest game for the Eagles in their road to a championship.
One key to the Pirates’ success this season will be their pitching staff.
Returning is No. 1 pitcher Cooper Vaughan, who went 7-3 last spring with a 1.51 ERA. Holten Lopez was 4-4 with a 4.40 ERA and will also eat some key innings. Laken Coatney, Pierce Lawson and Caden Black may also see time on the mound.
Offensively, Gary Williams returns after leading the team in RBIs while Lawson led the squad in total hits. Lawson went on to earn All-State honors for Norwood.
The list of returners is led by seniors Noah Drake (CF), Cooper Vaughan (IF) and Gary Williams (IF/P).
They are joined by juniors Carder Kelly (2B), Caden Black ((IF), Holten Lopez (1B/P) and Pierce Lawson (LF/P). Sophomores include Laken Coatney (IF/P), Pete McCune (RF) and Brady Vaughan (catcher).
“I feel like we will be very competitive this year,” said Norwood head coach Drew Miller. “We are bringing back a seasoned group. Our seniors have played in two state quarterfinals in their three years of high school. We will lean on upperclassmen leadership.”
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