The 1983 Baseball Team

According to the 1983 Old Blue and Gold Yearbook Supplement, “Prospects for the 1983 Peddie baseball team were not bright when preseason workouts commenced in March. Only three regulars were returning and the rest of the squad was inexperienced and not overly impressive looking.” By season’s end, however, the team went on to produce one of the best baseball team records in school history at 12-2-1 and a New Jersey Prep School State Championship.

As many baseball experts will attest, the key elements of most great teams in the sport are pitching and defense, and the Peddie team displayed these qualities in excellent fashion. With an 8-0 season record and a .38 earned run average, pitching ace and Co-captain Erik B. Hanson dominated on the mound for the Falcons. In key wins over Hill (1-0), Blair (2-0), and Hun in the State Championship game (1-0), the team played flawless defense to back up the impressive pitching performances. Another trait that is characteristic of many great baseball teams is what is referred to as being “good up the middle.” Again, Peddie displayed their depth of talent with the play of Co-captain Larry Muncy at catcher, and the infield play of Steve Fox and PJ Horgan at shortstop and second base. Their consistent and determined play kept runners off the base paths and from crossing home plate.

After starting off the season with a 1-2 record, the team played out their last 12 games of the season without a loss, with the lone blemish being an 8-8 tie against Lawrenceville. In the Championship game, the Peddie squad broke a 0-0 tie with a perfect two base sacrifice bunt by Jeff Enslin. With Steve Fox standing on third base, PJ Horgan hit home the decisive run with a single up the middle against the drawn-in infield. Head Coach Lou Watts wrote, “The 1983 baseball team performed as true champions in a truly championship contest.” And so, we recognize the 1983 baseball team on the 25th anniversary of their remarkable season with their induction into the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame. Champions still…