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2020 CT Spring Team Preview - New Fairfield

NEW FAIRFIELD, Ct. - There may not be a better battery in the New England area than at New Fairfield High School.

University of Connecticut junior commits Matt Garbowski and Braden Quinn return to lead  the Rebels and head Joe Garbowski.

“They’re two key components to the offensive and defensive side that are back which builds confidence among the other players,” Garbowski said of his son along with the pitching ace of the New Fairfield staff.

A catcher ranked second in the 2021 New England class, Garbowski is back for his third year as a starter after leading last year’s New Fairfield squad in nearly every offensive category. A left-handed hitter rated 14th in the country among junior catchers, Garbowski batted .384 with a slugging percentage of .753 and OPS of 1.2 while topping the Rebels in hits (28), doubles (12), triples (3), home runs (3) and RBIs (28) in addition to throwing out 60 percent of potential base stealers.

The season highlight came against Class L rival New Milford when Garbowski stroked a pair of home runs while driving in six runs in one inning.

Quinn, the 36th rated 2021 LHP in the nation, struck out 65 in 45 innings of work in 2019 with a 1.40 ERA and a 4-2 record. The 6-3 185-pounder fanned 13 in a two-hit effort in last season’s 2-1 state second-round defeat to Foran.

“Having a big arm like Braden Quinn back will help with the confidence of the players,” Garbowski explained. “Matt back as an all-state player also helps team morale and confidence with the rest of the players.”

A gigantic junior class, featuring 17 in the program, brings more promise to a squad that lost eight players from a 14-9 team a year ago.

“We’re hoping the junior class steps up and fills in for the graduates, especially offensively,” said the New Fairfield head coach. “With so many juniors, it helps that they grew up together. There is a lot of camaraderie and cohesiveness. They love each other’s success which I think will translate to team success.”

Two-year starter Camden Lathrup, a middle infielder/pitcher who could play in the outfield, is back to headline the other juniors along with shortstop Brandon Parilla, 3B/2B Dillon King and RHP Chris Fidanza.

“We look forward to seeing him on the mound and helping us out,” Garbowski said of the 6-4 190-pound right-hander ranked 374th among New England juniors.

Left-handed pitcher John D’Urso, a UConn Avery  Point commit, returns for his senior campaign while sophomore Danny Gantert, the 152nd-ranked 2022 in New England, is back in left field after hitting clean-up for the Rebels as a freshman.

“We’re looking to find second, third and fourth pitchers after Braden Quinn,” Garbowski noted. “But we feel confident that guys can step up there.”

A pair of juniors from last season’s JV team are expected to make big contributions in Ryan Lorenzo and Rannie Davis. Lorenzo, a 1B/3B, and Gavis, a speedy MIF, combined to lead the junior varsity in every offensive category in 2019.

“Little things will be the key,” pointed out Garbowski, who will again be assisted by his father Mike, a volunteer at New Fairfield since 1992. “Losing 2-1 in a state game the way Braden Quinn pitched, you’re going to have games like that where little things are the difference. We lost that on a first-and-third play.

“For me personally, it’s going to take our team to make sure we work every day on the little things. We need to be able to capitalize on other team’s mistakes. That will make the difference.”