Brody Bolyn slides into home after turning a long fly ball into an inside-the-park home run Saturday at Grand Park in Westfield. Awaiting the throw from the cutoff is Jennings County’s Luke Owenby. (Photos by Glen Werling)

The Norwell Knights got off to a rocky start this baseball season, losing its opening matchups to Lafayette Harrison 9-0 and Jennings County 17-11 Saturday at Grand Park.

Norwell center fielder Luke Graft shags a long fly ball to right center field against Jennings County Saturday at Grand Park.

Harrison scored one run in the second and four each in the third and fourth innings to seal the deal. The pitching trio of Jake Gothrup, Gavon Owsley, and Corbin Payne combined to allow just two hits and struck out 11 Knights. 

Against Jennings County, the Knights were able to get their bats going and led 6-5 through four innings. 

Then Jennings County exploded for six runs in the fifth inning, while Norwell managed three. Jennings County added another run in the sixth to move ahead 12-9. 

Norwell third baseman Brody Bolyn tags out Lafayette Harrison’s Hayden Slate Saturday at Grand Park in Westfield.

The Panthers added five more insurance runs in the seventh. The Knights – needing at least eight runs to force extra innings – managed just two. 

The Knights will get another crack at things on Tuesday when they travel to South Adams.