The Norwich 12U Cal Ripken Baseball All-Stars are headed to regionals after capturing the Vermont state championship, defeating Manchester twice, 15-12 and 12-7, to close the double-elimination tournament last week.
The win marks the first baseball state championship for the Norwich Baseball Association. Prior to 2017, Norwich ball players had played for Hanover before the town created its own team.
Norwich won five straight elimination games to claim the championship, trailing in three of the contests, including being down to its last strike and trailing 12-8 in the first game against Manchester.
“This group of kids in Norwich has been playing together — some of them have been playing together since kindergarten, and they show up for each other, they encourage each other and they never get down,” said the squad’s coach, Michael Costa.
“I think it’s one of those cases in life where they truly are a team,” he added.
Up next for Norwich is the New England Regional Championship, set to begin on July 17 in Dover, N.H., featuring eight teams: two from Massachusetts, two from New Hampshire and one each from the remaining New England states.
“Vermont playing the big New England states — it’s David versus Goliath — but we think we’re up for the challenge,” Costa said.
