(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: DEUTSCHLAND: Princeton Day School senior baseball player Robbie Deutsch connects with the ball in a game this spring. Last Thursday, Deutsch had 3 RBIs to help PDS top Gill St. Bernard’s 6-2 in its season finale. The victory gave the Panthers a final mark of 9-10.

Senior Deustch Fills Variety of Roles, Helping PDS Baseball to Solid Season

Bill Alden

Robby Deutsch didn’t connect for any line drives last Thursday as he played in his final game for the Princeton Day School baseball team.

The senior third baseman could only manage three grounders as the Panthers hosted Gill St. Bernard’s.

But with two of the grounders getting mishandled and another one taking a bad bounce over the second baseman’s head, Deutsch ended up with three RBIs to help PDS to a 6-2 win.

Afterward, a smiling Deutsch was more than content with his offensive output even if it didn’t rate too high when it comes to style points.

“It feels good,” said Deutsch, who was credited with two hits on the day. “I wanted to contribute as much as I can and get some hits when we need them. I think I had three RBIs out of our six so that was good.”

For Deutsch, it also felt good to make a big contribution to the PDS pitching rotation this spring, emerging as one of the team’s key hurlers after a hiatus from the mound.

“I started pitching more this year,” said Deutsch, who helped the team as a starter and a reliever.

“I used to pitch a while ago but I had arm problems. This year I tried to create and get in there again. It went pretty well pitching wise.”

With PDS finishing the season with a 9-10 mark, Deutsch acknowledged that things didn’t always go well this spring for the Panthers.

“The weather was terrible at the beginning of the season; we couldn’t get a game in,” recalled Deutsch.

“We had some ups and downs; we have done better in the past. As a whole I thought it could have gone better. It was a hard season.”

PDS head coach Ray O’Brien appreciated Deutsch’s hard work on the mound this spring.

“Robbie was tremendous,” asserted O’Brien, who was in his first year as the program’s head coach after having previously served as an assistant coach.

“He didn’t throw much at all last year. But he came in and, right from the Carolina trip, looked like a kid that had been on the mound his whole life. He had poise; we put him in tough spots.”

Deutsch also proved to be a tough out for the Panthers. “He swung the bat real well; I think he hit about .350,” added O’Brien.

“He got some big hits and knocked in some big runs for us. He had a tremendous season; I am really happy for him.”

O’Brien was happy with the contribution he got from his other seniors.

“Anthony Farina has had arm trouble all four years and he pitched a complete game victory over Pennington; that was a big win for him,” said O’Brien.

“Matt Raborn was a co-captain and had a big hit today. Danny Savitsky can play first. In our playoff win over Mo-Beard, he went from first to third and then scored on a squeeze. All the seniors contributed one way or the other during the year and they are all good team guys.”

The void left by the graduation of last year’s seniors made this spring a season of transition for PDS.

“There was a big senior group that left last year so it took us a while to find ourselves this year,” said O’Brien.

“We lost five 1-run games; we lost two games in extra innings. We are learning how to play and win the close games. Hopefully today is an indication of that. Overall, I think it was a good season. If we can turn those 1-run losses into wins next year, we’ll be fine.”

Featuring such junior standouts as Jon Scott, Tim Barrett, Jim Fuhrman, Dennis Cannon, and Dylan Kelly, PDS figures to pick up a lot of wins next spring.

“We have a good group of juniors,” said O’Brien. “I am really looking forward to next year; I think we could really have a solid year. Next year there will be a little more expected from us.

Deutsch, for his part, enjoyed this year’s group as he wrapped up his high school baseball career.

“I won’t be able to do this any more, it was fun,” said Deutsch, who is heading to the University of Miami where he hopes to play club baseball.

“My teammates are a bunch of great guys. They are fun to play with, I will definitely remember all of them.”

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