Bats Power Rockets Past Norwood National

Coming off Monday's disappointing tie vs Walpole American, the Rockets were eager to regain some swagger. Today was a new day, Norwood National was a new opponent, this was a new game--a brand new chance for the Rockets to show what they are made of.

Apparently, they are made of metal--loud, hard, punishing metal like the kind that Sean Greene used to crank a leadoff single hot up the middle and into center field in the bottom of the first. After yielding a run to Norwood in the top half, Greene and his crew could feel it in the dusty air at Small Field: it was going to be one of those monster innings for the Rockets. Drew Siegenthaler followed Greene with a line drive to left for a single, and it was on... Joe Dateo walked, Steven Donovan singled on a shot to center, Aidan McGaugh hit a bomb over the center fielder for two bags, William Popper singled to left, Will Dorion singled to center, Jack Morgan walked, Matthew Dougherty singled, and the Rockets' hit parade had put up seven runs before Norwood could record a single out. Tom Berkley brought Morgan in with a productive ground ball to third making it 8 runs in the bottom of the first, and the Needham Rockets never looked back.

Commanding dead red, Rockets starter Will Dorion struck out the side in the second. Untouchable.

The top of the Rockets' order was hungry for more. Greene ripped one into left field for s leadoff single, Siegenthaler walked and Dateo singled to load the bases with nobody out for Steven Donovan, whose shot to center was easily deep enough bring in Siegenthaler. McGaugh singled to score Dateo, and Popper brought McGaugh in with a shot up the middle. Four more for the Rockets made it 12-1 after two.

Norwood would notch three runs in the third, but it was not nearly enough to keep pace with the Rockets, who sealed up a mercy rule victory by adding a pair of runs in the fourth. Matthew Dougherty paved the way in the top of the fourth by striking out the side in a perfect inning of relief. Jeffrey Hohler singled in the bottom half and Eric Gage walked. Some crafty base running brought them both across the plate to make the 14-4 Rockets' win official.

A strong showing at the plate, on the mound, and in the field for the Rockets, who are clearly back in their groove and ready to take on Parkway on Friday in West Roxbury. See you there!