However, the Knights couldn’t muster any runs against the Shamrocks (33-1) as their season ended in the MHSAA Division 4 semifinals.

Norway finished the season with an overall record of 28-5-1. 

“It hurts now, but in the long run, there are teams that move things,” Knights head coach Tony Adams said. “The first team made it to the quarters and then we broke through last year. And they backed it up this year. We’ve shown people back home, we can get here. 

“We have to get better at things we just don’t see enough of. Hats off to St. Patrick. That’s a good baseball team.”

(Sean Chase photo) Norway junior Carter Cazzola loses his cap but not the ball as he makes a running catch in the outfield against Portland St. Patrick on Friday.

Portland St. Patrick starting pitcher Brady Leonard (12-0) picked up the win. He pitched seven scoreless innings while striking out five batters.

Norway didn’t struggle to score this season and entered the game with a 10-run differential. However, it couldn’t find an answer for Leonard.

“(Leonard) was really good, but we hit a lot of balls at people,” Cole Baij said. “That happened to us against North Dickinson, too. This was a better team today and I think that was the problem. We couldn’t break through and get that one run we needed.”

Baij (12-3), the co-Skyline Central Player of the Year, started on the mound for the Knights. He recorded five strikeouts in five innings of work. 

Norway moved runners to the corners in the bottom of the first. However, a base running error ended its chance to score. 

(Sean Chase photo) Knights junior Cameron Varda (1) retreats back to third base on Friday during the MHSAA Division 4 state semifinals at Michigan State University.

The Shamrocks took advantage, scoring a run in the bottom of the first off an error.

“I just try to calm everyone down,” senior Landon Amundson said. “Usually, it’s just one run and we don’t need to get down on ourselves because one error will lead to the next. We were just trying to stay calm and play our game.”

The Knights rallied defensively and found their rhythm. However, with repeated bunts Portland St. Patrick added three runs off of errors in the third to grab a 4-0 advantage. 

“I didn’t do a good enough job getting this team defensively ready to play that brand of baseball,” coach Adams said. “You’ve got to see it. You’ve go to be familiar with it. You can simulate it, but it’s not a game.”

The Shamrocks added a run in the fifth inning and two runs in the sixth to secure the 7-0 win.

(Sean Chase photo) The Knights gather after an MHSAA Division 4 state semifinal loss to Portland St. Patrick.

Junior Owen Baij, the Skyline Central Conference Offensive Player of the Year, led Norway with two hits. Senior A.J. Gallino also recorded a hit while junior Cameron Varda tallied one walk. 

The loss means the end of the road for Norway’s four seniors –Cole Baij, Amundson, A.J. Gallino and Bryce Adams. 

“We had a meeting at the beginning of the year — we sit in Mr. Adams’ room specifically and talk about what our goals are,” Amundson said. “This year, the goal was to get back here and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Over the past two seasons, the Knights posted a 56-9 overall record, including back-to-back trips to the state tournament.

“Being here again is really special, especially with this team,” Cole Baij said. “I’ve been with these kids since I was seven years old and being able to end it here. It isn’t the way we wanted it to end, but it’s very special.”

For coach Adams, it was this group of kids that was special.

“They’ve meant a lot,” coach Adams said. “They showed hard work, class and dignity. They did it in the classroom. They did it in the community. They did it on the field.

“They’re the winningest class now. They raised the bar for the groups behind them. It’s going to hurt, but they’re so talented in other things in life. That success is going to be there and hopefully they learned somethings from baseball. I’m proud of them.”