By Christopher Tremblay

The goal each and every year for Norwood Baseball Coach Kevin Igoe is to win more than you lose. Last Spring, the Mustangs went 10-10, earning a 17 seed, but were sent home in the Round of 16 losing to the number one and eventual Division 2 State Champion Milton. 

This year, Norwood improved their record slightly from the year prior going 12-8 during the regular season. The four extra wins also allowed them to decrease their seeding this season to tenth. Although the Mustangs were not able take-out Longmeadow in the first round and then upset number seven seed Somerset Berkley in the second round, the squad then had to face another top seed in number two Plymouth North in the Round of 8; a team they could not beat. At the time of this writing Plymouth North was getting ready to play in the Division 2 State Championship. 

Playing in the Tri-Valley League (TVL), Igoe believes no one plays a tougher schedule than the Mustangs do against the likes of Westwood, Hopkinton, Ashland, and Walpole to name a few. 

“Each year you hope for more than you lose,” the Norwood coach said. “We feel that we have the talent that’s good enough to compete each year; with that said, next year we look to be even stronger.”

Although next season is a year away, Norwood did roster some great senior leadership this season, and although the team as a whole was not one of the most talented teams during Igoe’s regime, they did maximize their ability to the fullest.

Leading the team into the post-season were senior captains Giacomo Serratore (left fielder and clean-up hitter), Gerry Frey (right field, 1st base, and pitcher) and Owen Desharnais (1st base and pitcher). Serratore and Frey were named to the TVL All-Star team. According to the Mustang skipper, Serratore is a beast of a player who led the league in most offensive categories and could have had the home run title as well if he didn’t hit the ball as hard as he did.

Two underclassmen that will definitely lead Norwood into the future will be sophomore shortstop Sam Larkee and junior catcher Angel Olaverria. The Norwood catcher was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the TVL and had himself an incredible season behind the plate and can also hit the ball with the best of them.

Norwood will be graduating eight seniors, five of whom were major contributors this season, but with a strong junior and sophomore class of athletes that will once again be taking the field next season, the coach is not all that worried. 

“We’re just going to be reloading next season and have ourselves another decent year,” Igoe said. “Especially bringing back the TVL Defensive Player of the year and a talented shortstop who should be amongst the best players in the league.”

Igoe is looking at Jacob Sheehan and Brian Dearborn to captain the Mustangs next year, and according to the coach, the duo are bona fide athletes that may also be captains for their other sports as well.

“Jacob (baseball, hockey, and golf) and Brian (baseball, football, and basketball) are certified 3-sport athletes,” the coach said. “And although I cannot speak for their other coaches, they both have the ability to be captains in all three of their sports.”

Over the past two seasons, Norwood has not only improved their regular season record but have moved ahead one round each year in the State Tournament. Igoe will once again be looking for improvement next spring, and with a very talented group of athletes returning, he is hoping for nothing less that what the team accomplished this year. The way things are going it looks as though the Mustangs should at least make the final 4, but the team is hoping for more, like a State Championship.