Big Red clips Falcons; Hun’s DiMaggio throws no-hitter

HIGHTSTOWN » The Lawrenceville School varsity baseball team wants to be in the mix for the Mid-Atlantic Prep League and New Jersey Independent Schools Athletic Association Prep A Tournament this spring.

Head coach Steve LaRochelle’s players took part in the New Jersey Last Dance Tournament a year ago so that they did not have to go a full season without a chance at improving. Now the Big Red want to prove they are ready to move up in 2021.

Faced with quite the challenge from the Peddie School, the L’ville players had to dig deep when the Falcons rallied to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday at William M. Thompson Field.

Suddenly trailing by two runs, the Big Red responded by posting four runs in the top of the seventh to forge a 6-4 victory.

“We wanted that win,” Lawrenceville junior shortstop Hawkins Sutter said. “Everybody did a great job of stepping up when we needed them. We’ve improved a lot as a team.”

This season is about improvement for all players, which could be seen on both sides as the nail-biting game progressed.

The visitors used an unearned run in the top of the first to take the lead, but the home side rallied in the fourth inning when Luke Treese (3-for-4) singled and stole a base, then was brought in on Alex Stillwell’s one-out single to tie the score.

Back-to-back doubles by Ryan Visich and Miles Brodey gave the Big Red a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth before Peddie got to Visich, who had been in control for five-plus innings behind six strikeouts and two double plays.

But when Jimmy Famularo tripled with one out in the bottom of the sixth, it gave the home team the juice it needed to start another rally.

Stillwell walked and stole second base, then Zach Naddelman doubled in a run before Andrew Stizza beat out an infield single to plate the Falcons’ third run. Stizza stole second base before Nick Shah pushed across another run with a ground out.

Just like that Peddie had a 4-2 advantage.

“The difference in the sixth inning was swinging the bat,” said Stizza, who had struck out in his first two atbats against Visich. “In my first two at-bats, I let the ball get by me. That time I made sure I put the ball in play.”

Sutter had struggled against Peddie starting pitcher Jack Hughes, striking out twice. But with the game on the line in the seventh, Sutter came through with a two-run single to tie the game at 4-4 after Jack Moses had led off the frame with a walk against reliever Shah and Charlie Rossman had reached on an error, putting two runners in scoring position.

“I thought I was trying to do too much in my earlier at-bats,” Sutter said. “So I simplified my approach. I focused on hitting the ball hard on a line.”

When Stizza replaced Shah on the hill, the Big Red kept attacking. Shaun McMillan beat out an infield hit and another error moved up Sutter.

Visich, who had moved to third base when sophomore southpaw Hugh Devine came on to pitch in the bottom of the sixth, beat out a nubber to load the bases before Sutter crossed the plate on the Falcons’ third miscue of the inning. A sacrifice fly by John Weaver capped the scoring.

“We’ve got to minimize our errors and throw strikes,” junior righthander Stizza said.

Adding to the Peddie players’ frustration as they get closer to their first win, Devine struck out the side in the seventh around Treese’s third hit and second stolen base.

Lawrenceville(2-2) 100 001 4 — 6 6 1

Peddie (0-4) 000 103 0 — 4 8 4

2B: Visich, Brodey (L), Naddelman (P); 3B: Famularo (P); RBIs: Sutter 2, Brodey, Weaver (L), Stillwell, Naddelman, Stizza, Shah (P).

WP — Devine (1-0); LP — Shah (0-1).

HUN 12, PDS 0

PRINCETON » Ryan DiMaggio tossed a no-hitter and struck out 10 as the Raiders improved to 3-1.

Jackson Kraemer, Ricky Erbeck and Ben Romano each had two hits and drove in three runs to direct Hun’s offense. Kraemer and Erbeck homered on the day, while Romano had a triple. Hun (3-1) 353 10 — 12 11 0

PDS (0-1) 000 00 — 0 0 1

2B: Applegate, BPetrone (H); 3B: Romano (H); HR: Kraemer, Erbeck (H); RBIs: BPetrone, Kraemer 3, Erbeck 3, Romano 3 (H).

WP — DiMaggio (1-0); LP — Carroll (0-1).