Having had success a year ago in the inaugural event, the Washington-Liberty High School baseball team will host the second-annual Norwood Classic early in the 2025 season.
The tournament is named for former and legendary W-L head baseball coach Del Norwood. The late Norwood is a member of four Hall of Fames as a result of his success as the Generals’ head coach.
The one-day, four-team, four-game event is scheduled for Saturday, March 22 on the Quincy Park diamond, home of the W-L Generals team. First-round games begin at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., with the consolation game at 3:30 p.m. and the championship contest at 6:30 p.m.
“It’s nice and fun event to honor coach Norwood, and gives our players two games to get some good game repetition,” current Washington-Liberty head coach and tournament director Kevin Healy told ARLnow.
The same four teams will participate, headed by the defending champion Generals, which won each game by a shutout last season. The Meridian Mustangs, Thomas Jefferson Colonials and Hylton Bulldogs also will compete.
Meridian finished second last season, Jefferson third and Hylton fourth.
Meridian and Jefferson play at 9:30, followed by W-L and Hylton at 12:30.
Former W-L baseball player Alan Walker will throw out the first pitch prior to the Generals’ first game.
Norwood is a member of the Virginia Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Virginia High School Hall of Fame, the Arlington Sports Hall of Fame and the Washington-Liberty Sports Hall of Fame.
In nearly 30 seasons (1959-89) coaching W-L, Norwood’s teams won 19 district and 14 regional titles and compiled an overall record of 384-180.
At last season’s classic, members of Norwood’s family attended some of the event. Healy does not yet know if that will be the case this season.
The games will be the second and third of the season for Washington-Liberty. The Generals are scheduled to open their campaign Tuesday, March 18 in Vienna against the Madison Warhawks.
“We have some pitching depth this season,” Healy said. “For us it will be a case if we can stay healthy and hit a little bit.”
