Among that small batch of kids were Andrew Pratt —  a sophomore at the time —  and his younger brother Ryan —  an eighth-grader. 

Four years later, Franklin County (10-4) has gone from a sub-.500 ball club with nine athletes on the roster to a legitimate Zone 2 contender with a lineup loaded with talent. The Pratt brothers have played a major role in Franklin County’s rise.

“They’re just fun,” Gunzinger said. “They’re steady, steady kids. They do everything the right way. They’re well raised. They’re a great family. The mother (Cyndi) is the field hockey coach at UMF and Scott (an assistant coach for Franklin County) is the father. Just a good set of kids. Couldn’t buy any better ones.” 

Andrew recently completed his freshman season of college baseball at Colby-Sawyer. He saw limited playing time behind the plate with senior catchers TJ O’Connor and Rob Wallace on the roster. With O’Connor and Wallace lost to graduation, Pratt expects to step up into the starting lineup this season. 

Andrew, who’s majoring in sports management, started four games behind the plate for the Chargers, compiling three hits and three RBIs in 28 at-bats. While he didn’t play much, he learned plenty from observing the game at the college level. 

“Playing college baseball you really learn whether you like it or you love it and I love baseball,” Andrew said. “You have to really put in the time, put in the effort, work really hard year-round. When you’re not playing baseball you have to be in the weight room. You have to have a good work ethic.” 

After completing his first year at Colby-Sawyer, Andrew returned home to play baseball with his younger brother, who will be a senior at Mt. Blue in the fall. The two have played together on the same team since their days in Little League with the New Sharon Yankees.

Ryan  said he’s looking to continue playing baseball in college. This would be the final year the Pratt brothers played on the same team unless Ryan opts to play at Colby-Sawyer. 

Neither Ryan nor Andrew are focusing on that. Instead, they’re focusing on the game they’ve played together since playing catch in the backyard when they were little.

They still play catch, only now it comes with a batter in the batter’s box, Ryan on the mound and Andrew behind the plate. In two instances this year, Ryan has been called on to pitch with Andrew serving as his catcher. Ryan is 1-0 this year with a 2.10 ERA, allowing six runs —  three earned —  on eight hits, striking out 10 and walking four in 10 innings of work. 

“It’s a lot of fun to play baseball, especially when I get to catch him like the other day at Mt. Ararat,” Andrew said. “When you grow up and you’re little you just play pass, but then you play in a high school or Legion baseball game and it’s just like playing pass. It’s something we’ve always done and it’s been fun.” 

Gunzinger said he allows Andrew to call his own game behind the plate. Having played together for so long, the chemistry between the two brothers is second nature. 

“We’re on the same page most of the time,” Ryan said. “He knows what I want to throw and different spots. I’ve pitched to him since little league.” 

Gunzinger said he hasn’t used Ryan on the mound as much as he could because of how solid he’s been at shortstop this season. Ryan has committed just two errors in 60 chances at shortstop.

As brothers, Ryan and Andrew push each other to be better. They show up early to games and practices —  earlier than even Gunzinger —  to work on hitting and fielding drills. 

“He’s always pushed me to be better,” Ryan said. “He’s taught me a lot about how to work hard.” 

Said Andrew: “I’d say we push each other during practice. I’d say we push each other to get extra reps. We’re always helping each other out. He’ll help me with catching drills and I’ll help him with infield drills.” 

They’re solid fielders (four errors in 156 chances) and tough outs at the plate. The Pratt brothers are the first two batters opposing pitchers face with Ryan batting lead-off and Andrew right behind him. 

Ryan is batting .349 with two extra-base hits, four RBIs and 14 runs scored. Andrew’s numbers are similar, hitting .333 with two extra-base hits, nine RBIs and six runs scored. The two have struck out just four times combined. Ryan has had six multi-hit games to Andrew’s four. Andrew has at last one hit in all but one game this season. 

In Ryan’s case, being the younger of the two has paid dividends. Gunzinger believes being forced to contribute at such a young age as well as being surrounded by those much older than him made him develop faster. 

“Ryan has pretty much been a Day 1 starter for us as an eighth-grader out of necessity because we only had nine kids,” Gunzinger said. “Initially it made Ryan play up to Andrew’s level because he was young. With Ryan that’s helped a lot keeping up with Andrew and all his friends. He’s playing with kids three or four years older.” 

Ryan no longer resembles that nervous eighth-grader playing in right field during his first year with Franklin County. 

While Gunzinger can look forward to having Ryan on the roster for two more years, this season is the last time he’ll coach Andrew. He said he’s biased when it comes to catchers as he was a catcher during his playing days. While Gunzinger may not have the same level of chemistry with Andrew that Ryan has, they are on the same page more times than not. 

“Andrew calls a great game,” Gunzinger said. “Most of the time I’m thinking what I would throw and he’s doing the same thing. This is the end of three or four years of a relationship and at that point you kind of get on the same page mentally.” 

They’d like to postpone their goodbyes for as long as possible. Franklin County currently occupies the No. 2 seed in Zone 2, a half-game up on both Augusta and Pastime. The top eight teams advance to the zone tournament in Augusta. The first round is a single-elimination format followed by double-elimination in the semifinals. The top two teams advance to the state tournament.