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Numbers don’t lie

Falconer's Stenstrom stands out en route to POY honor

Falconer's Erik Stenstrom collected 37 hits in 66 at-bats (.561 average), including 13 doubles, three triples and three home runs; drove in 28 runs; scored 26 runs; stole 15 bases in 17 attempts; and struck out just four times this spring. Photo courtesy of Steve Garvey

On an early evening in late May, with the Section VI Class C semifinal victory secured, Falconer varsity baseball coach Fred Carder turned his attention to the future, but not immediately to the Golden Falcons’ next game, which was scheduled for 48 hours later against rival Gowanda.

Instead, he spoke about food.

More specifically, Carder talked about the need to provide a special repast for junior Erik Stenstrom, the team’s figurative “meal ticket” all season, who had just turned in a four-hit, 12-strikeout pitching gem in the Golden Falcons’ 2-1 win over Randolph.

“I told the boys that we owe him a steak dinner,” Carder said.

Based on Stenstrom’s performance on the diamond this spring, he could have eaten quite well after all 23 of Falconer’s games.

When Erik Stenstrom wasn't catching any of his 90 innings behind the plate for Falconer, he appeared in eight games on the mound, including six starts, and posted a 4-0 record. In 34 innings pitched, he struck out 68 and walked 16; surrendered nine earned runs; pitched to a 1.82 earned-run average; and gave up just 16 hits. Photo courtesy of Steve Garvey

Whether he was on the mound, in the batter’s box or behind the plate, the do-everything junior stood out in the crowd, helping the Golden Falcons secure a 15-8 record for their best season in years.

Selected by coaches as the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 3 Player of the Year, Stenstrom can now add Post-Journal/OBSERVER POY honors to his resume thanks to the gaudy numbers he produced wherever Carder put him in the lineup.

Offensively, he collected 37 hits in 66 at-bats (.561 average), including 13 doubles, three triples and three home runs; drove in 28 runs; scored 26 runs; stole 15 bases in 17 attempts; and struck out just four times. In addition, he sported a .648 on-base percentage; a 1.633 on-base-plus-slugging percentage; and a .985 slugging percentage.

On the mound, he appeared in eight games, including six starts, and posted a 4-0 record. In 34 innings pitched, he struck out 68 and walked 16; surrendered nine earned runs; pitched to a 1.82 earned-run average; and gave up just 16 hits. To top it off, when he was not pitching, Stenstrom was a stalwart behind the plate.

The numbers don’t lie.

The talent doesn’t either.

The scary part is that Stenstrom has another year of high school baseball yet to play.

Starting at $4.00/week.

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