Baseball: Prospect nips Fremd in Giusti family affair

Dads and their sons.

Baseball is built on that.

Prospect coach Ross Giusti, who is in his 22nd year as Knights head coach, understands that. So does Fremd coach Chris Piggott, who is in his 15th season as head coach for the Vikings.

So when the two teams had an open date on their schedule this season, the duo scheduled a game with each other Friday in Mt. Prospect. That despite the fact the two teams will play later this season in a Mid-Suburban League crossover game.

The main reason was not just to get another game to play, but for Ross Giusti to get an opportunity to watch his son Connor, who is a senior at Fremd, play in a game. Since both teams usually play at the same times Ross Giusti rarely gets to watch his son play.

No one understands that better than Piggott, whose son James is a junior and plays at Lake Zurich.

"I knew how important it was for both of them," said Chris Piggott, who will face his son's team later this season.

"We both needed games to play and it just made sense. I know how hard it is to try to watch your son play."

Ross Giusti got an upfront look on Friday both on the diamond and from the dugout. He liked what he saw from his son and from his team, which won the game 3-2.

"It worked out great," Ross Giusti said. "He will have something to say about the game I am sure. I am concerned about my guys here, but it was fun to watch my son as well."

Ross Giusti got a very good look when his team was at bat, since he coaches third base and Connor plays third. But despite the closeness between the two, nary a word was spoken throughout the game.

The younger Giusti let his bat speak for him.

After grounding out and striking out in his first two plate appearances, Connor Giusti delivered a huge blow for Fremd (1-5) when he doubled with two outs to deep left-center field in the sixth, scoring Tom Cermak to tie the game at 2-2.

"It felt great," said Connor Giusti, who will play at Wisconsin-Oshkosh next season.

"It is always fun playing my dad. We are both very competitive people. So this was a very big game in the Giusti household."

Amy Giusti, who goes to all of Connor's games and then to Ross' games when she can, said it is fun to watch her guys on the same field.

"Ross doesn't get to see many games so when they get to play each other it is fun," Amy Giusti said. "It is great to watch."

Ross Giusti then used a little coaching magic to help get his Knights (2-3) the win in the bottom of the sixth.

Matt McAleen walked with one out and went to second on a wild pitch. Wit two outs and two strikes on his batter, the Knights' coach put McAleen in motion. McAleen, leaving a bit early, caught Fremd a bit flat-footed. Despite being an easy out at third, the ball was thrown away, allowing McAleen to score the eventual winning run.

"We have this play where we try to freak out the pitcher," McAleen said. "I just started taking off and tried to make chaos happen."

Prospect took a 2-0 lead in the third on singles by Brad Kubitz, Ed Brancato, Ethan Burgh and Tyler Ciulla.

Fremd got on the board in the sixth when Nick Rattin walked, stole second and moved on to score on a pair of fielders choices. The Vikes then tied it on Connor Giusti's double.

The two teams and the Giustis will meet again in late May, this time at Fremd. It will also be senior day for Connor Giusti and Ross Giusti will also be there. In a Prospect uniform.

Dads and their sons and baseball.

Just the way it should be.