Deerfield Academy Overcomes the Elements and Phillips Andover

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

DEERFIELD - You didn't need a degree from MIT to tell you about the averse conditions leading into Sunday's Central New England League confrontation between Phillips Academy-Andover and Deerfield Academy.

Playing in a pelting rainstorm, the conditions at Jim Smith Field continued to worsened as the game progressed. By the time this one was over, plush, natural green grass transcended into a muddy mosh pit.

As expected, playing in such conditions will hamper your offense. In the case of the Big Blue and Big Green, it most-certainly did.

Horrendous footing on both sides, along with a slippery ball, turned this tilt into a battle of resiliency. Yet somehow, someway, Deerfield was able to engineer a formidable drive late in the second quarter resulting in a touchdown. As it stood, that was the only points put forth on this miserable afternoon as the Big Green triumphed 7-0.

Pat Moriarty Prepares to Take Over Deerfield Academy Baseball

Coach Pat Moriarty with his family last season.  Photo by Dave Bloniarz.

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

SPRINGFIELD - When the opportunity presented itself, Pat Moriarty simply could not let it pass by.

Having spent nearly half of his life at one place, Moriarty, and his family, began to generate some discussion regarding life down the road and what lied beyond the hedges.

As if it were fate, a lifestyle altering opportunity did arise. Albeit much quicker than expected.

Last month, Moriarty, the longtime head baseball coach at former Cathedral High School, now Pope Francis High School in Springfield, was offered and accepted the same position at prestigious Deerfield Academy. A chance to coach at such a highly-reputable academic institution like Deerfield does not come about too often. So, once Moriarty discovered the head coaching position had become vacant, he immediately spun into action.