Norwich — Norwich Free Academy junior Andy Grant pitched the bulk of his team’s no-hitter Wednesday, yet showed about the same level of emotion one would show taking a mid-term.

“It was a team no-hitter,” Grant said.

Okay, but the rest of the Wildcats didn’t celebrate either after Grant and Evan LaChance combined on the no-hitter.

“It’s a little cold,” NFA senior Tanner Fontaine said.

Grant struck out five over six innings as the Wildcats beat New London 7-0 on opening day at Dodd Stadium.

“I’ve known Andy since Little League,” Fontaine said. “He’s always pitched like that. … It’s great for him.”

It was the first time that Grant had been part of a no-hitter at this level. He would’ve had a chance to close it out had his pitch count not been so high.

“When Evan came in, Andy was complaining, ‘Coach, I have a no-hitter,’” Wildcats coach Luke Gabordi said. “(It’s) early in the year, and as cold as it was, we didn’t want to (overwork him). He was around 90 (pitches) and it’s 40 degrees. It feels like it’s 15.

“He’s going to have a long season and we’re confident in all the pitchers on our staff. In some ways, it’s kind of cool to have a combined no-hitter.”

NFA had just five hits, but took full advantage of five Whalers errors. None of its runs were earned.

Defense was one of the primary concerns for New London coach Mike Wheeler. The Whalers have new full-time starters at seven positions.

“Honestly, I don’t think it was a true reflection of our potential,” Wheeler said. “We had a couple of scrimmages, but we haven’t had a legit baseball practice (outside) all season long. But everyone is in the same boat. I don’t think that’s the difference.

“I guess you can’t practice fly balls all that well in the gym, and that’s’ kind of where we struggled a little bit.”

Brandon Russo (two runs) walked to lead off the NFA first and went to second when Caleb Bierman followed with a bloop single between second base and the pitcher’s mound that no one fielded.

Both runners advanced on a passed ball, and Russo scored on Brandon Drabinski’s sacrifice fly. Fontaine then struck out, but reached safely on an error that scored Bierman.

Griffen Gooden (two runs) tripled to start the Wildcats’ fourth inning. Russo followed by reaching safely on an error behind third base.

Fontaine had a two-run single with two outs top push NFA’s edge to 4-0.

“They had some things go right for them offensively,” Wheeler said, “and we didn’t have much go right for us defensively.

“Andy Grant did a great job hitting his spots; kept the ball down. I thought he pitched really well. He didn’t overpower us. We put the ball in play a lot, but their defense played really well. They played great today, so, give them a lot of credit.”

n.griffen@theday.com

Twitter: @MetalNED

Twitter: @MetalNED