Norwood Blues

After a first game loss, the Blues proceeded to win four straight and walk away with the Tri State Classic title.  Genoa City, who defeated Norwood in the opener, was the opponent in the title game.  George Karavidas was the winning pitcher in the complete game effort.  The wins on the mound in pool play were credited to Chris Ruiz and Jake Andrews, who threw a complete game two hit shutout in a 2-0 win over the host Watertown team. The winner on the mound in the semi final was Zach Kaloustian with a complete game  win over Milwaukee RBI.  Game three in pool play saw a bottom of the 7th, walkoff base hit credited to Ken Serwa  which allowed the Blues to advance to the semi final round.  Also conributing to the offense  all week were Drew Thomas, Austin Wills, Joe LaCivita, Paul Cappetta, Robert Vargas, Chris Huerta, Justin Halpern, Andy Hayes , Sam Reichert, David Hochstadt and George Karavidas.  Blake Kons was the Blues opening game starter on the mound and Kevin Garcia's  middle infield glove work was  outstanding all week.       GREAT  JOB !

The Blues won five straight games to win the 2015 Fred Gordon Memorial Holiday Tournament.  Norwood swept three games in pool play; with wins over Genoa City, Grayslake and Morton Grove.  The semi final saw the Blues defeat Zion and the title game was a rematch with the Mustangs of Morton Grove. The game was tied at two at the end of seven innings.  The California Tie Breaker was then used for the extra inning(s) and the Blues erupted for five runs in the top of the eighth.  The Mustangs scored two in the bottom of the inning resulting in a 7-4 Blues win and the title.  Pitchers of record in the tourney included; Blake Kons in the opener, Jake Andrews, Chris Ruiz and Kenny Serwa ending up with two decisions including the "W" in the title game.  George Karavidas earned the "Save" in the finale.  Recording multiple hits in the title game were Austin Wills and Chris Huerta.  Also recording hits in the decisive eighth inning were Drew Thomas, George Karavidas, and Eli Mercado.  Others contributing all week to the success were Angel Comas. Kevin Garcia, Paul Cappetta, Joe LaCivita, Robert Vargas, Sam Reichert, Michael  Jahnke, Justin Halpern and Andy Hayes.    CONGRATS 

 

The Blues bounced back from a first game 1-0 loss to win four straight and the 2015 "Top Prospect Invitational" played at Carthage College.  Wins on the mound went to Kenny Serwa, Jake Andrews, George Karavidas and Blake Kons in the title game.  In game two against Milwaukee RBI, the Blues scored two in the bottom of the 7th for a "walk off" 5-4 come from behind win.  Kenny Serwa's home run tied the game and Kevin Garcia's double drove in the winning run. The Blues then defeated the Lakeside Cardinals 7-4  In the semi final the Blues defeated the Madison Sluggers 11-3 and in the title game shut out the Prairie Ridge Wolves 5-0.  Multiple hits in the final were notched by Sam Reichert, Chris Huerta and Joe LaCivita.  LaCivita's hits included a double and home run.  Also contributing greatly on the final day were Austin Wills, Eli Mercado, Paul Cappetta ,Justin Halpern, Andy Hayes and Michael Jahnke.

The Summer Slugfest saw the Blues win their first two games and then run  into a weather shortened tournament.  The Blues prevailed over the Longshots by a score of 4-2 and Kane County 6-2.  Friday's game and Sunday's games were the victims of weather related cancellations.

Tommy O'Hara (Blues 2014) has been selected First Team "All New England Region" NCAA, D3. Tommy is a Senior at Tufts University.     CONGRATS !