With four freshmen in the starting lineup, including freshman pitcher Henry Gustavson, the Deerfield baseball team traveled to Cushing Academy on Wednesday, May 3. The squad came away with its finest performance of the season, a stirring 6-4 victory that demonstrated all that these young men are capable of accomplishing. Without leading hitter, senior Dylan Presnal (injured), at the top of the order, Deerfield managed to scratch out a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Gustavson shut down Cushing in the bottom of the frame. In the second inning Cushing tied the score on an unearned run, and in the third inning the opponents cobbled together three more runs to take a 4-1 lead. Gustavson remained composed, pitched courageously and well, and kept grinding through the 4th. In the top of the 5th Deerfield put together their most stirring rally of the season. Chris Camelio ’18 led off with an infield single, freshman catcher Eamon McNamara lined a single up the middle, and freshman “call-up” Jack O’Neil reached on a sacrifice bunt, fielder’s choice, to load the bases. The top of the order took it from there. Jared Pantalony ’18 drove in a run, reaching on a fielder’s choice. Owen MacPhee ’18 pushed across the second run with a productive out, and Javier Irizarry ’19 contributed an RBI with a ground ball to the right side. By the time the inning was over, Deerfield had erased the 4-1 deficit and stood tall with a 5-4 lead. Gustavson took it from there. The determined freshman shut down Cushing with the help of solid and spirited defensive play, including two outstanding plays by David Thomas ’20 in the final frame. When a soft line drive settled into Jack O’Neil’s glove for the final out, Deerfield enjoyed the satisfaction of a hard-earned victory. Gustavson’s complete game performance featured 91 pitches… 68 of them for strikes.