Prospect hits it big for Pohlman
Prospect figured it was only a matter of time before it got on the scoreboard which now signifies its baseball home as Larry Pohlman Field.
That time came in the third inning Thursday as the Knights had the dedication ceremony to name the field after Pohlman before their showdown with defending Mid-Suburban East champion Hersey.
Winning pitcher Ben Menich’s tiebreaking, bases-clearing double keyed a 7-run outburst as Prospect (11-2, 3-0) went on to a 9-4 victory.
“We knew we’d be ready to play and we wanted to beat this team badly since they got us twice last year,” said Prospect junior third baseman Jack Landwehr, who was 2-for-4 with a triple and capped a strong defensive day by starting a game-ending double play. “And we wanted to win for Larry.”
A large contingent of former players, family members, friends and colleagues came out for what Pohlman called “a baseball reunion.” Prospect’s head coach for 29 years (1968-96) threw out the ceremonial first pitch to one of his prized pupils, former three-sport star and current Cubs manager Mike Quade.
Hersey (7-5, 2-1) tried to spoil the fun with 2 runs off Menich in a 34-pitch first inning and a long home run to left-center in the third by Joe Perricone (3-for-3, 3 RBI).
“You could tell the kids had a little jitters because it was almost like a playoff atmosphere,” said Prospect coach Ross Giusti, who played for and assisted Pohlman before continuing his legacy. “I was happy with the way the kids made adjustments and bounced back offensively.”
Luke Bergman’s one-out walk off Trevor Haas (2-2) and singles by Matt Molini and Peter Bonahoom (3-for-4) set up Landwehr’s 2-run single to right. Brian Bauer (2-for-4) lined another single to right to re-load the bases.
Haas got Seve Dazzo on a popout but a potential inning-ending foul pop was dropped and led to a tying walk by Shane Joyce (2-for-2). Menich, who asked Giusti on Wednesday for the chance to hit for the first time when he pitched, lined the first pitch into right-center for a 6-3 lead.
“I knew a fastball was coming because he throws a lot of first-pitch fastballs,” Menich said. “I said to myself to hit a double. (Right-center) is where my power is.”
Menich (4-0) settled down to go the distance and allow 6 hits with 4 strikeouts and 5 walks. The senior right-hander threw 68 of his 116 pitches for strikes.
“One thing Ben has tried to do is step up in big games,” Giusti said.
“Maybe if I was a junior, but not as a senior,” Menich said of not being bothered by the hoopla of the Pohlman ceremony. “When I go out there I’ve got nothing to lose.”
And it turned out to be a day that was a big winner for Prospect baseball.