BASEBALL: Falcon senior Matt Pustay was outdueled by Hun freshman Steve Garrison in the state Prep A title game Wednesday at Lawrenceville.
By: Neil Hay
The changing of the guard took place Wednesday afternoon at Lawrenceville.
Hun won the "A" title with a 2-0 decision over Peddie as freshman Steve Garrison outpitched senior Matt Pustay. The loss was the second of the tournament for the defending champions. Hun reached the top without a loss in the double-elimination tourney.
It was a classic pitcher’s duel, one that ended so quickly (in 70 minutes) that Peddie coach Frank Schermerhorn had to look twice at his watch. Garrison allowed only one hit, a two-out single by John Johnston in the sixth. Johnston then stole second, but was stranded when the next batter struck out to end the inning.
Hun scored its first run of the day on a solo home run in the bottom of the second, a ball that cleared the friendly outfield fence at Hun but might have been a double – or an out – at another field. Garrison nursed the lead into the sixth, when Hun added another run on back-to-back-doubles. Not that Garrison needed the extra run.
Using three pitches that he threw for strikes, a straight change, curve, and fastball with movement and some velocity, Garrison was "absolute dynamite" as he improved his record to 7-1.
"Garrison reminds me so much of Pustay as a freshman. No one at all has hit him this year," said Schermerhorn. "I am willing to give all the credit to him." Indeed, no Peddie batter hit the ball hard, to the outfield or infield. The Hun infielders had to make some nice plays, but every play they made.
Pustay, in the final game of his career at Peddie, allowed 3 hits with no walks and 7 strikeouts. With a little bit of offense, who knows? But Garrison was his match, and more.
"If you tell me Pustay is going to pitch a three-hitter and give up two runs, I’ll take it in a heartbeat. Matt hadn’t lost to a prep team in a couple of years" and compiled a dazzling 17-4 record over the last two years. Peddie finishes this year with a 15-7 mark.
"The program is about being consistent over time. That is what defines a winner. We are trying to build a tradition here. There’s still positives here, even if we didn’t win it.
"Hun paid us a big compliment afterwards when they said they went through Peddie and Pustay to win. They beat the best.
Wednesday was not the first time the Falcons faced a win-or-go-home situation in the prep tournament. That is the same scenario Peddie stared down Sunday. The Falcons, having already lost to Hun 7-4 earlier in the day, kept their hopes alive by defeating host Lawrenceville 6-1.
Peddie also defeated Lawrenceville in the tournament opener, 11-1.
Freshmen left-hander Kyle Damm got the start for the Falcons on Sunday and he delivered a solid performance to collect his second win of the spring. Damm went four and one-third innings, allowing six hits, one (earned) run, one walk, and two strikeouts.
"Kyle did an outstanding job for us in an elimination game," said Schermerhorn. "He was unnerved. He threw strikes. He kept our guys on their toes."
With the locals holding a 6-1 lead, Damm was replaced by Ed Woodrow, who gave up and hit and walk in two-thirds of an inning. Pustay pitched the final 2 innings.
With the Falcons ahead 2-1, Peddie scored four times in the sixth to settle matters. Erik Lohrmann had a home run, Johnston singled home a run, and Pustay plated two more with another base hit. In all, Peddie had 11 hits, three by Johnston (two singles, double, three runs batted in), two each by Pustay, Lohrmann, and Gavin Vetrano.
In the Falcons’ 7-4 loss to number one seed Hun, the locals had eight hits including two by Vetrano and Lohrmann. Bob Prunetti added a triple.
In the tourney opener against Lawrenceville, Wysocki had 2 hits and 3 runs batted in out of the three spot, and Lohrmann, Mike Brown, and David Kupstow two each at the bottom of the order. The game ended early when the Falcons scored 7 times in the top of the fifth.
Pustay had to work just five innings to improve to 7-1. At one point he retired 12 straight batters. Overall, Pustay gave up one (earned) run on four hits with no walks, and three strikeouts.