En Garde, Edgard!

pitcher Edgard Santiago is hanging out with a bunch of zeroes in low places.

Don't worry. There is no need for an intervention with the senior left-hander. In fact, opposing batters are the ones who need help as far as Santiago is concerned.

The senior left-hander ranks as one of the national scholastic baseball leaders in earned run average (ERA) with a figure of 0.23, the best in Connecticut for starting pitchers. A perfect ERA is 0.00, meaning a pitcher has not allowed an earned run. The lower the number, the more dominant the pitcher.

Some on the ERA leader national list have only logged 20 innings or so. Santiago is New London's workhorse, starting nine games to date, making the micro ERA all the more impressive. And he has the total package of stats to make him the likely choice for Player of the Year in southeastern Connecticut.

Heading into New London's state tournament opener against Brookfield today, Santiago is 8-1 with 67 strikeouts in 58 innings, 31 hits allowed, five shutouts and three 1-0 victories. Santiago has been invaluable for the Whalers (15-7 overall, ECC Medium champs). NL features two .400 hitters in Matt Greene and Juan Cruz, but Santiago, who hit .318, is the main man. They were simply a .500 team without him pitching.

"He's been phenomenal this year," New London coach Mike Wheeler said. "When he's pitching, he always gives us a shot. He throws hard, his ball moves a lot and he's a battler."

Wheeler projected Santiago as one of the ECC's best pitchers this season after he burst on the scene as a starter during his junior season, which included a no-hitter against Stonington.

"I always saw myself being an ace of a staff because that was my track record in Little League and Babe Ruth," Santiago said. "Having an ERA like this? I never saw that coming, because it's not always under your control. I'm trying to win games and win a state title."

Santiago started in right field for NL's Class M state championship team two years ago as a sophomore. The Whalers featured seasoned starters in Luis Sanchez, the area player of the year, A.J. Turnier, now pitching in the Division II College World Series for Southern Connecticut, and Yohendy Gonzalez.

"Edgard was behind three really good pitchers," Wheeler said. "We used him sparingly to strengthen his arm, but he came on last year when I inserted him as a starter. This year, he's been dealing. Maybe it worked out for the best that he didn't throw a lot of innings as a young pitcher here  because sometimes there is a burnout factor."

Santiago iced his arm after New London's ECC Semifinal loss to Saint Bernard Thursday. He tweaked his arm after uncorking a throw from right field the day after hurling 122 pitches in a 1-0, 8-inning win over Bacon Academy in the quarterfinals. He expected to be ready for today's state opener.

"What's great about Edgard is even if he's not at his best, he finds a way to get it done," Wheeler said. "He didn't have his fastball against Bacon but he used his changeup and curve. He usually throws hard, his ball moves a lot and he's a battler."

Santiago prides himself on "pitching backwards," meaning he throws off-speed stuff for strikes when behind in counts and fires fastballs when hitters are looking for slower tosses. He's not an imposing figure, standing about 5-f00t-9. Perhaps the Major Leaguer his electric stuff most resembles is the Mets' Johan Santana, a former Cy Young winner whose changeup is his best pitch.

"I try to keep hitters off balance," Santiago said. "My fastball is even better when I have my changeup and curve working."

The way Santiago's season started, you would have doubted anything special to follow. He was the losing pitcher in the Whalers' opening 6-4 loss to NFA. Santiago was the victim of poor fielding, which became a blessing in disguise, ERA-wise as every run was unearned.

He followed with three wins, two shutouts including a one-hitter over Fitch, before allowing a run apiece in wins over Bacon and Montville to break a 25-inning unearned run string to open 2011.

"My ERA became crucial after I gave up those runs," Santiago said. "I'm constantly on Max Preps to see if I'm still on the list. Thankfully those are the only two earned runs I's given up. I'm just trying to give my team the best chance to win every time I'm pitching."

And in some cases, allowing goose eggs were necessary. He fired a one-hitter and struck out 12, out-dueling Stonington ace Luke Foster in a 1-0 triumph earlier this month. He struck out 13 in a 3-0 win over Ledyard. He blanked Bacon for eight innings before Juan Cruz singled home Pete Kydd for the 1-0 ECC tourney win.

Santiago will craft his pitching skills next year at UConn-Avery Point, which is playing in the Junior College Division II Nationals now.

"I hope to consistently be hitting 88 miles an hour with my fastball and develop a better curveball and work on my changeup," Santiago said. "I want to add another pitch, too."

If  Santiago adds another weapon to his already deadly three-pitch repertoire that has kept his ERA low, hitters may ask for an intervention.