Baseball Picks Up Two Wins Verse Deerfield
Big Red baseball won both games of its doubleheader against Deerfield Academy last Saturday. With scores of 5-2 and 16-5, the boys added two wins to their season record, which currently stands at eight wins and one loss.
In the first game, Exeter got on the scoreboard first in the fourth inning. Senior and co-captain Harrison Money hit a single, stole second second base and advanced to third base on a wild throw, finally scoring on a sacrifice fly from post-graduate Nick Hall. Lower Alex Swett scored the second run of the fourth inning.
The first game was a thrilling, head-to-head match, the score remaining at a narrow 2-1 for the fifth and sixth inning. However, Exeter edged out its opponents, scoring three more runs in the seventh inning, with the help of strong hits by prep Cade Thompson and seniors Nick Moore and co-captain Collin Shapiro, to extend the team’s lead to 5-2.
Deerfield scored the first run of the second game, but Big Red players were quick to respond, and the boys scored sixteen runs over the successive innings. “The big inning was the fourth inning,” said Assistant Coach Tim Mitropolous, remembering Exeter’s seven runs off of only five hits. Head Coach Dana Barbin agreed, calling the second game an “offensive explosion.”
Exeter’s pitching was unparalleled by their opponent. Senior Nick Moore continued to be a force on the mound. “Moore pulled through with his pitches,” said lower Ethan Tanguay.
Furthermore, postgraduate pitcher Henri Pratt recovered from his month-long arm injury and returned to the sport last weekend with immediate potency on the baseball field. “This was Henri’s first game back from his injury,” said upper Hans Fotta. “He did very well and he was a key player that got us off on a really good start to our second game.”
In addition to strong throwing, Exeter had impressive hits and plays in the field. The team’s top batters for the day were Swett, upper Sam Stone, seniors Hall, Money, Moore and Greg Shapiro.
Fotta credited the boys’ success on the field to their unwavering vigor and support for one another. “Team spirit is always good and energy levels are high when we’re hitting well. We had a lot of fun in the dugout,” he said. “Practices have been going well and we’re getting ready for our next game.”
After its game this Wednesday, May 3., the team has another double header against Andover. This will be the first of two matchups against Andover this month, so the Exeter players are hoping to play well in both games this Saturday and win E/a three weeks later. Andover’s team is also skilled. Its baseball program is ten-time Central New England Prep champions, and has only lost two games this season, so the upcoming game is sure to be a thrilling match.