The Deerfield Baseball team gave a good account of itself in the 2017 Walker Tournament, taking second place. On Friday, May 19th, Deerfield traveled to NMH for a late afternoon game. Freshman Henry Gustavson came through with a spectacular complete game, shutout, to lead the team to a 1-0 victory and a berth in the championship game vs. the winner of the Choate/Cushing game. Deerfield scratched out its only run in the 5th inning when Jake Presnal ’18 reached on an error and freshman Jack O’Neil executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Presnal to second. Cameron Snow ’18 reached on a fielder’s choice that advanced Presnal to third. Jared Pantalony ’18 drove in Presnal with a ground ball to the right side for a 1-0 lead. Gustavson made the slim margin stand up with his 76 pitch effort. He struck out 4 and walked none while scattering 7 hits.
On Saturday, May 20th, Deerfield took on Choate in the championship game. Jared Pantalony ’18 pitched well, giving Deerfield a chance to win the game. It was a tight contest throughout. Deerfield threatened to score several times in the first three innings. With Choate up 2-0, Senior captain John Esposito led off the 4th with a single and eventually scored to make it 2-1. Choate scratched out another run in the bottom of the 4th to make it 3-1, which is where it stood after 5 innings. Unfortunately the opponents hit the bullpen for 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th. Deerfield never quit in the 7th, as Esposito reached on his second hit of the game and Javier Irizarry had a 2 RBI triple. The Big Green showed a lot of enthusiasm, resolve, and spunk right to the end of the season. They played their best baseball down the stretch.