Montclair Prep Players Pained by Suspension

Montclair Prep baseball Coach Walt Steele has praised the play of his underclassmen all season, but that youthful exuberance might have cost the Mounties last week when freshman Brent Polacheck, sophomores Keyaan Cook and Kevin Grant, and junior Craig Handschu violated school rules by leaving the campus without permission. The four were suspended for Friday’s first-round Southern Section 1-A Division playoff game, a 5-0 loss to Bel-Air Prep.

All four are starters, including Grant, who was the scheduled starting pitcher.

“Friday was the school prom, so those guys decided to leave school early,” Steele said. “It was just a stupid decision on their part. It was just a rookie mistake that they all feel really bad about.”

Polacheck spent a painful weekend, regretting his actions. “This weekend was one of the hardest I’ve ever had, trying to explain to my parents why I did what I did,” he said.

His return to school Tuesday was not any easier. “A lot of the guys on the team haven’t forgiven them,” Steele said. “But I think they’ve learned from their mistake, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”