Senior left fielder Bryson Norwood isn’t your typical leadoff hitter for Oswego. He also had never handled that spot in the batting order coming into this season.
Veteran Panthers coach Joe Giarrante, however, had an idea at the start of the spring. He approached Norwood to see if he would like to try that slot out.
“In the preseason, I talked to him to see if he was comfortable in the leadoff spot,” Giarrante said of Norwood. “He seemed to be open to it. I’m trying to get him some better pitches to hit.
“Being up there in front of Kamrin (Jenkins) and the middle of our order, I think that’s helped him.”
Over the past three games, Norwood has caught fire. He had another big game Monday by going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs in a 13-8 nonconference loss to Joliet Catholic.
Easton Ruby went 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice for Oswego (6-1), while Dylan King went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs. Keegan Farnaus went 3-for-5 with two RBIs for JCA (2-4).
It took Norwood a few games to settle into his new role, but he’s getting into it even more.
“Start of the year, I was a little bit uncomfortable because I’d never been a leadoff hitter before,” Norwood said. “I was usually a five or six hitter, but I feel like the last few games I’ve adapted to it.”
Something that has helped the Spoon River recruit has been the presence of Jenkins hitting behind him. Teams spend a lot of time focusing on the highly regarded Missouri commit.
That has opened up some opportunities for Norwood.
“I feel like him getting more fastballs in the leadoff spot is something he can do damage on,” Jenkins said. “He started off a little rough, but now, anything that’s there, he’s smashing it.”
After going 2-for-13 in the first four games, Norwood has erupted. In his last three games, he’s at 7-for-13 with four runs, three doubles, a grand slam and nine RBIs.
“He’s seeing the ball well,” Giarrante said of Norwood. “He showed that a little bit last year when we started working him into the lineup. He’s done a great job for us at the top of the order. He’s done a better job of getting on base with walks, trying to be a better leadoff hitter.
“Last year he was a first-pitch swinger, but he’s done a great job for us up there to start the season, so hopefully we can keep that going.”
Oswego was in command early Monday, jumping out to a 6-0 lead with Brogan Mello dominating through three innings on the mound.
Things fell apart in the fourth, though, as Joliet Catholic scored six runs to force a 6-6 tie. Ultimately, the Hilltoppers scored 11 straight runs to take control of the game.
“They’re struggling a little bit, but they’re a top team in the state,” Giarrante said of Joliet Catholic. “They’re not going to go away. They’re not afraid of the scoreboard.
“We just have to learn from it and we have to get better on the mound.”
Norwood has been a big part of Oswego’s high-powered offense to start the season. The Panthers have scored 74 runs in seven games so far.
“He’s a gap-to-gap guy,” Giarrante said of Norwood. “He does a lot of good things up there at the top of the order. You saw that again (Monday) and with what he’s gone in the past few games.”
Norwood knows the Panthers are going to score runs. Now, it’s just tightening up other aspects.
“Our offense always shows up,” he said. “I think we’re good at situational hitting. That pays off for us a little bit out there.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
