NORWALK, Conn. After his 14-and-under softball team swept its state tournament, Norwalk Riptide manager Wally Hurd expects a more difficult challenge in the New England Regional that begins Friday in Lynn, Mass.
Norwalk went 3-0 in the state tournament, outscoring opponents 48-4. The Riptide got off to a tremendous start in the states, as Amy Hurd and Ryan Lajoie pitched back-to-back no-hitters. They combined on a three-hitter in the championship game, an 11-3 win over New Milford.
"I told the girls that it proves that they're actually a very good team,'' Hurd said. "Sometimes they kind of forget that. I expected when we went to some of these elite tournaments, they'd lose a few games. When I tell other coaches that this is a town team, other coaches shake their heads. There's not a lot of town teams that are of this caliber."
Hurd and Lajoie are the backbone of the pitching staff. As the state tournament proved, the Riptide also packs a tremendous wallop. That's a dangerous combination. "I've told these guys from Day 1, we can manufacture runs,'' Hurd said. "If you have great pitching and good defense, that will win you games, especially if it's one-run games."
Norwalk plays Vermont in its opening game at noon Friday. It returns to play Kingston, Mass., at 6 p.m., and finishes pool play at 11 a.m. Saturday against a team from New Hampshire. The top three teams in each pool continue in elimination games beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The tournament concludes Sunday.
The Riptide finished third in the New England Regional last year. Many of the same players from that team returned.
"Ryan and Amy are throwing very well,'' Hurd said. "They're in a good place. I believe they're ready."
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