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BARK RIVER -- Norway freshman Alex Ortman cracked a two-RBI double in the top of the seventh inning -- a part of a three-run inning for the Knights -- as they captured the MHSAA District 98 baseball District championship Friday afternoon, defeating host Bark River-Harris, 8-6.
Ortman also drove in a run in the fourth inning, as the visiting Knights put up five on the scoreboard. Carson Chartier and Brent Lagina also had RBIs for the Knights in the fourth inning.
"In all honesty, we were a JV team to start the season," said Norway head coach Tony Adams. "We have so many young players, and we showed glimpses of what I thought we could be. What I am most happy about, is we didn't fall apart tonight -- well held the lead."
The Knights were accustomed to having a single, detrimental inning in several games throughout the regular season.
"I am very proud of the kids. We all rowed the boat in the same direction. We supported each other," Adams stated. "The boys earned this today."
Norway's lone senior Gannon Bray toed the mound for five innings, fanning six, while only walking one batter. Bray gave up four runs, two of them earned, and eight hits.
"Gannon did what he normally does on the mound, give us what we need to succeed," Adams added.
Bark River's Nick Javurek started on the mound, striking out nine batters, walking one and allowing five runs, with three earned.
"Our pitcher (Javurek) pitched great," said Broncos head coach Al Botwright. "They (Norway) played a better defensive game than we did, and that was the difference. Our errors were very costly in the two innings that they scored all their runs in."
The Broncos got on the scoreboard first, plating two runs in the bottom of the third, after Norway put up three scoreless innings to start the game. Johnnie Robinette drove in a run on a double in the inning.
BR-H plated two more runs in the home half of the fourth inning -- via Zach Robinette's RBI single and a wild pitch -- to tighten Norway's lead to a single run. The Broncos tied the game at 5-5 going into the final inning, on an error by a Knights outfielder.
The Broncos' last two runs in the game came off of Norway junior Nolan Amundson, who picked up the win in relief of Bray. However, the left-handed hurler was able to close the door on Bark River to clinch the Knights a trip to the Regionals.
"Bark River is a great team. They're well-coached," Adams added. "I know how they feel right now being on the losing end of a game like this, but hats off to them."
Botwright praised his team, despite the loss. "This was a great group of kids and a great group of seniors to work with, a pleasure. I wish them all the best of luck going forward."
There were a couple of key defensive moments for the Knights in the game. The first was a nifty catch by Chartier at second base on an infield flyball in the third inning.
The other two moments came in the fifth inning, as Amundson made a catch in center field and threw a dart to catcher Chase Carlson who dove back to successfully tag out the Bark River runner Carter Zawacki at home. The other, Knights first baseman Michael Peterson scooped a throw out of the dirt, in time for an out to end the Broncos threat in the inning.