Thomas Nugent didn’t have to be dazzling.
He just needed to be expertly efficient — like he’s been all spring.
Pitching against the backdrop of the picturesque — and dazzling — Chicago Skyline at Kerry Wood Cubs Field, the New Trier right-hander came up with another quality start.
Nugent scattered five hits over five innings in NT’s 3-1 victory over Niles West in the title game of the Class 4A Lane Tech Regional on May 27.
New Trier head coach Mike Napoleon wasn’t looking for a Koufax or or a Drysdale performance from his starter on this particular day
He didn’t desire a Monet.
A Nugent was just fine.
It’s been a masterful season for the senior. Nugent, who has been battling illness, survived a tricky first inning to improve his overall record to 10-1.
He wound up exceeding Napoleon’s expectations.
“He’s been sick all week. He didn’t even come to our regional semifinal game [a 14-3 New Trier win over Lincoln Park],” said the NT head coach. “We planned a quick hook. We were only looking for four innings from him.
“We were going to mix and match the rest of the game with [Sean] Douaire, [Patrick] Jodloman and [Jack] Falk,” Napoleon added.
But Nugent got better as the game went on. In fact, he required only four pitches to get three outs in the fifth inning.
“Having quick innings is not all that uncommon for me,” said Nugent. “I just try to throw strikes and let my defense make plays. Pitching that way leads to some quick innings.”
Nugent was a good choice to go against the Wolves (16-14) in a big game. On May 9, in a Central Suburban League contest, he went the distance and beat Niles West 4-0 on a two-hitter.
“As you saw, the playoffs are totally different,” said Nugent, who saw very little action during his junior season.
A tough first inning — Niles West’s Diego Acosta drilled an opposite-field double to bring home Jack Lochner for the first run of the game — was to be expected, according to Nugent.
“I hadn’t been out there in seven days,” he said. “I had to get a feel for it. I had to settle in.”
The top-seeded Trevians (27-4) got a hit in each inning against Niles West right-hander Brandon Kaihara. They eventually broke through with a two-run third inning.
With no outs and runners on first and second, senior right-fielder Matt Kann faked a bunt and then pulled a single into right field to score Payton Burch.
NT’s next hitter, shortstop Kevin Donahue, followed that up with an RBI groundout, which scored Eric Nicholas from third base.
The Trevians added an insurance run in the sixth, when designated hitter Cam Redding doubled, went to third on a fly ball by Anthony Calarco and scored on a sacrifice fly by Douaire.
“We were a little quiet with the bats,” said Nugent. “But they will be swinging it next game.”
No. 3 hitter Donahue had three primo at-bats. He doubled in the first inning and singled in the fifth inning. Redding also went 2-for-3.
Douaire had a big say in the win. Besides going 1-for-2 and driving in a run, the senior pitched brilliantly in relief: 2 IP, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts, 0 walks.
His two-inning stint saved the bullpen a little, as the Trevians get set to play No. 4 Evanston in a sectional semifinal at Kerry Wood Cubs Field on May 31 at 4:30 p.m.