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GREENWICH, Conn. Brian Schutzman has given many stellar performances on the mound for the Brunswick baseball team, but the Bruins ace saved his best for Wednesdays league semifinals. Schutzman allowed just one hit an infield single in the third inning as Brunswick shut out Rye Country Day, 3-0, and punched a ticket to the Fairchester Athletic Association championship game.
Schutzman dominated, striking out five and retiring the final eight batters in his complete-game effort for the Greenwich school. Rye had only one baserunner reach second.
Rye is one of our biggest rivals, and we came out with high energy, even for a playoff game, Schutzman said. Its a pretty sweet win for us. We havent been to the championship in a while.
Of the five Rye baserunners, catcher Brandon Muto gunned down four in attempted steals. Muto also drove in the Bruins third run, giving them more than enough cushion.
Sam Fraser scored the games first run on a wild pitch in the top of the first. It turned out to be all the offense Brunswick needed, but Jack Voigt ripped an RBI double in the third for good measure.
Rye had momentum swing its way briefly when a disputed base-running call sparked some heated discussion between the teams two managers and the umpires. But Muto quickly put to rest any thoughts of a Rye comeback, gunning down his fourth victim on the base paths.
The baserunning controversy may have stemmed from back-to-back plays at second base where Rye players collided with shortstop Voigt, who hung on to the ball for outs on both plays.
Brunswick will travel to New Haven on Friday for a 4:15 p.m. game to take on top-seeded Hopkins for the Fairchester Athletic Association title.
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