STEPPING UP: Lawrenceville School shortstop Hawkins Sutter makes a throw in recent action. Junior star and St. Paul School alum Sutter has helped the Big Red enjoy a superb campaign this spring.  Lawrenceville defeated Blair Academy 11-1 last Monday in the first round of the state Prep A tournament to improve to 10-8, a vast improvement on the four wins posted by the program in the 2019 season. (Photo by Paloma Torres, provided courtesy of the Lawrenceville Communications Department)

By Bill Alden

Hawkins Sutter worked through some growing pains during his freshman season for the Lawrenceville School baseball team in the spring of 2019.

“The pitching was a lot harder; whenever I would strike out in the beginning of the season, it would get in my head,” said Sutter, who attended the St. Paul School in Princeton before heading to Lawrenceville.

“I definitely matured as the season went along. The captains on the team helped me through the whole process. I just had a really fun time.”

This spring, Sutter has matured into a star shortstop for Lawrenceville, batting .439 on the season with three home runs, seven doubles, two triples, and 31 RBIs through the team’s first 18 games.

While Sutter was disappointed to not get the chance to play last spring after the season was canceled due to the pandemic, he laid the groundwork for his big 2021 campaign.

“I did a lot of training on my own, especially with fielding during the spring; I really worked on my footwork,” said Sutter.

“I did have a travel season. I got a lot better and I definitely made a jump last year. I played in the Last Dance Tournament for Lawrenceville last summer and only got out one time.”

Having won just four games in 2019, the Lawrenceville squad was looking to make a jump collectively this spring.

“We were all fired up, we wanted to turn things around for the program,” said Sutter.

“We did have a big influx of talent with my class and the sophomore class. We are both really good classes and laid a really solid foundation for a good season. But more than that, it was a change of energy. We were ready to win some games.”

After starting the spring at 2-3, the Big Red won five of their next six games to get on the winning track.

“A lot of people have stepped up in big spots,” added Sutter.

“We are coached very well, we know how to manufacture runs. Our bats are going. It is a very good baseball environment.”

Leading the team in RBIs, switch-hitter Sutter has gotten a lot of big hits this spring.

“I try to be ultra-aggressive,” said Sutter, reflecting on his plate approach.

“I stay within myself, I am not trying to hit a home run every time. I don’t care who is pitching. We faced Carson Applegate with Hun and he is throwing 93 mph and I was going to go up there and swing at every strike I saw.”

Lawrenceville head coach Steve LaRochelle cites Sutter’s work ethic as a key factor in his batting prowess.

“Hawkins has been crucial to our offensive production this year and has come up big in many key situations,” said LaRochelle.

“With Lawrenceville remote all winter term, Hawkins spent tons of time in area batting cages working on his swing and approach from both sides of the plate, and it has shown.”

Sparked by that production, the Big Red have enjoyed a resurgence this spring.

“We went from last place in the league in 2019 to second (to Hun) in 2021,” said LaRochelle.

“Hawkins’ leadership, combined with an influx of new talent in our sophomore class and a challenging non-conference schedule, has been instrumental to our growth as we approach the Prep A tournament this week.”

Sutter got off to a big start in the Prep A tourney last Monday, going 3-for-4 with a homer, double, two runs and two RBIs as third-seeded Lawrenceville defeated sixth-seeded Blair Academy 11-1 in a first round contest in improving to 10-8.

“Being the underdog is sometimes a great place to be,” said Sutter.

“I don’t know if many people believe we can win this tournament. I know that everybody on our roster knows that we can. We have been competitive with Hun all year. We played a close game the last time we played. It shows how much we have improved, not only from the beginning of the season but from years past.”

No matter what happens this weekend as Lawrenceville plays in the final rounds of the state Prep A tourney at the Hun School, Sutter believes the program will keep improving.

“The senior class is impactful this year but it is really small, we only have three seniors and a PG,” said Sutter.

“We are going to retain a lot of our roster next year and I know we can do a lot of damage.”