The Falcons beat Hill 15-14.
By: Neil Hay
At the end of this 2003 Peddie baseball season they will tally up the wins and losses. And right there, next to the date, April 21, will be a "W", representing a win over visiting Hill. While the final score, 15-14, might raise some eyebrows, what could be most significant is that was the day, and that was the game, that the Falcons finally got their bats going.
After his team rapped out 17 hits, including a three-run home run by Ed Woodrow and doubles by Erik Lohrmann (two), David Wysocki, Woodrow, and Rob Prunetti, Coach Erik Treese could relax a bit. At least for one game.
"We hit the ball all over the place. Will it jumpstart our offense? I certainly hope so. I hope it will get our hitting going."
Despite the awakening of the offense, which featured four hits and five runs batted in by Woodrow; three hits, one RBI, and three runs scored by Lohrmann; and two hits and two ribbies by Ryan Bowes, Peddie had to battle back twice including four runs in the bottom of the seventh to win. It was not easy, it was not pretty. But, what the heck. When your team is 1-4 at the time, you will take the win any way you can get it.
Down 7-4 after three innings, Hill scored five runs in the top of the fourth and five more two innings later for a 14-11 lead going into the last of the seventh. Peddie rallied in its last at-bat for four runs which included a single by Wysocki, doubles by Lohrmann and Woodrow, Gavin Vetrano’s run-scoring grounder, three walks (two intentional), Bowes’ game-winning infield hit that plated the final run of the game, and some misplays by the Hill defense.
"That was an incredible last inning. It was a nice comeback for us. We had two comebacks, we swung the bats real well, and the kids played hard all game. They never quit. We battled back. It was a good win."
The hitting showed signs of a revival, but the pitching was spotty. Kyle Damm started and lasted just three and one-third innings. He allowed nine runs on four hits with seven walks and three strikeouts.
Eric Bowes came in for Damm and pitched out of a jam. With one out, runners on second and third, and an inherited 3-0 count, he completed the walk to load the bases, then got the next two outs on a run-scoring sacrifice fly and a fly out. Next inning Hill went down one-two-three against Bowes, who finished with no runs, no hits, no walks and one strikeout in one and two-thirds innings.
"Bowes pitched well again," said Treese, who explained that, because Bowes was scheduled to start yesterday against Steinert, he lifted him after the fifth inning.
"Eric has pitched great every game. It is almost unfair. I bring him in the tough situations and he is unflappable. He gets people out."
Billy Golden worked the sixth and was touched for five runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout. Lohrmann worked the seventh, allowing one hit and one walk. He picked up the win when the Falcons made their late charge.
"Lohrmann pitched well. He threw the ball pretty well. The others (Golden and Damm) didn’t have their best days. I have faith in Kyle."
Asked if he was worried about his pitching after allowing 14 runs on nine hits with 11 walks (there were also three Peddie errors), Treese answered, "Yeah. Anytime you give up 14 runs, you have reason to worry. I am more concerned that we have eight games in the next eleven days. We have to keep the pitchers fresh. That’s a lot of innings we have to cover."
Two positives came out of Wednesday’s home game with Blair. Three, when you include the 11-5 win over the Bucs, which raised Peddie’s record to 3-4. First is Woodrow’s complete game victory, which gave the Peddie pitching staff a much-needed rest, especially with so many games upcoming in the next several days. Second is the continued new life displayed by the Peddie hitters, who collected 16 hits against Blair pitching.
Woodrow survived a rough two-run first inning, then cruised through the next five, to set down the Bucs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and three walks. Three of the runs Woodrow yielded were unearned as Peddie committed three errors.
"Woodrow looked good. That was a big performance. With all the games coming up it is good to have someone go long, not to mention all seven innings," said a grateful Treese.
Then there were those all-of-a-sudden-hot bats. Vetrano (double, three runs batted in) and Jamie Muni (double, two RBI) both had four hits. Wysocki and Woodrow each had a pair of singles, and Lohrmann added a double.
"We’ve hit the ball very well the last two games. That’s a good trend. The guys are looking more confident, more aggressive. Every game is like restarting the season. That’s two good wins in a row over MAPL teams. We definitely needed them."

