As the visiting team via a coin flip, Norway got off to a strong start offensively at Brackett Field. After Tyler Sternhagen reached base with one out on a Birmingham error, Colton Lord blasted a triple to the fence in the left field corner for a 1-0 lead.

Norway catcher Landon DeBakker ripped a triple to right center field, scoring Lord. After a Tristan Lessor walk, Jaxson Walker grounded out to the pitcher, which scored DeBakker to give Norway a 3-0 lead. With Hunter Langin at bat, Lessor scored on a wild pitch, which gave Norway a 4-0 advantage before Birmingham got a chance to bat.

“We got off to a rough start, it seemed to knock the wind out of our kids,” said Birmingham head coach Nick Harris. “We couldn’t bounce back from our start, but Norway played a really good all around game. The bright side for us, we still have a chance the next two days in pool play format.”

Norway’s Sternhagen struck out the side on 12 pitches in the bottom of the first inning.

Norway’s Zayden Rochon (8) leads off of first base in the fourth inning of a pool play game versus Birmingham after drawing a run- scoring walk.

“Today was one of those familiar things, we got off to a fast start, and before we knew it, we lead by four runs,” said Norway head coach Scott Sternhagen. “Our pitching and defense was strong all day.”

By the middle of the third inning, Norway had starting Birmingham pitcher Nate Peard at 50 pitches, and Harris removed him to keep Peard available for Sunday per Little League pitch count rules. Norway loaded the bases in the inning, which brought up left fielder Brock Vanginkel with one out.

Vanginkel hit a deep fly to left field, which scored DeBakker. No. 9 hitter Dylan Erickson cracked a bases-clearing triple, adding two more runs, as Norway took an 8-0 lead.

“Another huge hit for Erickson, and he was great in center field, making two huge catches that were keys as well,” coach Sternhagen said. “Tristan Lessor made a great play on a very hard hit line drive to third base.”

Sternhagen was removed from the game at 35 pitches, and replaced by Tucker Buchanan in the bottom half of inning No. 3. Peard drove in Birmingham’s only run of the game with a single. The third inning was Birmingham’s only offensive threat in the game.

Norway added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning, as they loaded the bases, with reserve players Trenton Halvas and Zayden Rochon each being credited with RBI’s off of walks. Also in the fourth inning, Walker reached base for the second time via a bunt.

Norway scored a run in the top half of the fifth inning, to make the score 11-1. DeBakker came in to pitch, allowing just one hit and shutting the door on Birmingham, who traveled 460 miles to play in the tournament.

Birmingham plays in the Birmingham Area Little League with Commerce as their biggest rival. Harris noted that Commerce defeated Birmingham in pool play in District 4, but Birmingham bounced back and won the district title.

“I told the kids today, to remember how we bounced back to win our district after losing to Commerce in a preliminary game. Let’s go forward like that with two more games left,” Harris added.

Norway did basically the same thing in District 10 play, falling to Kingsford on July 8, before defeating them on consecutive nights on July 15 and 16 to capture the district crown.

“Today was a great team effort, everyone contributed,” coach Sternhagen stated.

Pool B action continues today for both teams, as Norway will face South Portage this morning a 11, while Birmingham will face Beach Little League at 4 p.m.

On Sunday, Norway will face Beach at 6:30 p.m., while Birmingham has the 4 p.m. time slot again, facing South Portage.

Schedules are subject to adjustment in the event of rain delays.

Norway 4 0 4 2 1 — 11/7/0

Birmingham 0 0 1 0 0 — 1/4/1