Pirates return after making state in spring

The Norwood Pirates’ baseball team was the only Wright County squad to win a district championship last spring.
Though they were just 3-8 in the fall of 2023, they improved to .500 in the spring after making a run all the way to the state quarterfinals.
Seniors leading the Pirates into the fall 2024 season include Noah Drake (CF), Cooper Vaughan (SS/P), Gary Williams (Utility) and C.J. Saladin (OF).
Norwood head coach Drew Miller said the pitching staff, led by Cooper Vaughan, is expected to be even better this season.
“We have some experience coming back so I expect us to compete,” Coach Miller noted.
Offensively, the Pirates have already been hitting the ball hard in the fall and he said they are improving daily.
The defense, Coach Miller said, is expected to keep the Pirates in every game this year as every starter is returning along with some freshmen who are working to get into the line-up.
Coach Miller said summer ball helped his team mesh.
“We had our older guys showing our younger guys the ropes,” Coach Miller said.
Norwood opens its season at home against rival Hartville on Sep. 10 at 4:30 p.m.