By: Justin Feil
Their last-minute preparations complete, the West Windsor-Plainsboro and the Montgomery Babe Ruth 15-year-old all-star baseball teams are ready for District 1 action to begin Saturday.
"They’re rounding into shape," said WW-P manager Rich Gawlak. "We wanted to get these guys together and play a few tournaments and then hopefully peak when we want to peak. We’re kind of accomplishing what we wanted to."
WW-P, which opens at 3 p.m. against the winner of Lawrence and Nottingham at Lawrence, won the Montgomery tournament Sunday, defeating the host team, 11-1, behind a five-inning complete game from Doug Caracappa.
The two teams had met in the opening round of the tournament and played a classic. It went 12 innings before WW-P squeaked out an 8-7 win. Gawlak’s son, Rich, was 3-for-5 and Tim Woodhull blasted a solo home run for the winners.
WW-P finished up the tournament with a 3-1 record by also defeating Hillsborough, 8-1, and with its only loss coming against Hightstown. Montgomery finished the tournament 2-2 overall.
"Our team played very well in the Montgomery tournament," said Montgomery manager Jule Szalay. "Both of our losses were to West Windsor, one of the most highly touted teams. I felt pretty good about the tournament both offensively and defensively.
"I think the pitching has been real solid. Several kids can throw. We have Dave Andrew, Matt Crane, Mike Mohns, Brian Leslie, Kevin Faust and Chris Szalay. I have more that can depending on the situation. I feel I can bring in any one of them and get a solid outing."
Montgomery opens noon Saturday at Lawrence against Trenton. If its wins, it could face WW-P again. But first WW-P, which went 4-2 to finish third in the East Brunswick tournament that ended for it Wednesday with a 4-3 loss, would have to get past its Saturday opponent, probably Nottingham, figured Gawlak.
"We went to the District finals as 13-year-olds and lost to Hamilton," he said. "We lost in the District final last year to Nottingham.
"We’re kind of looking forward to that. I love playing the good teams in the beginning. You have to play them sometime and you might as well play them then and see how you are. It should be a real good game to start off with."
And just like Szalay, Gawlak feels his pitching and defense will determine how successful this year’s Babe Ruth team will be.
"I’m a firm believer that pitching and defense will win tournaments," said Gawlak, whose team may have saved some pitching by being eliminated in the East Brunswick tournament Wednesday. "I think pitching will be one of our strong points. Defensively, we’re solid, in the infield and outfield. And we have a real good hitting lineup from top to bottom."
Besides a solid rotation, Montgomery also boasts a potent lineup.
"In the Montgomery tournament, the top of our order hit very well against some top pitchers," Szalay said. "John Brady had a better-than-.600 on-base percentage so he’s an excellent lead-off. Szalay, Mike Mohns and Peter McLaughlin all batted .500. Andrew and Faust are good hitters and the rest of the order is also solid."

