Young Tigers gain confidence with wins over Penn
By: Justin Feil
If the Princeton University baseball team goes on to third straight Ivy League title, a lot of the credit is going to come back to Friday’s comeback 5-4 win over Pennsylvania in the first Ivy contest of the season.
Good Friday became Great Friday followed by Super Saturday as the Tigers swept four games from the Quakers, all the more important because for the first season ever, the overall Ivy record will be used to determine home-field advantage for the Ivy League Championships.
"It’s huge," said PU sophomore Ryan Reich. "Since we’re a young team, the confidence from this is going to be huge. It was our first come-from-behind victory this year. It’s the first time we put a rally together in the last inning."
Princeton entered the seventh inning of the first game of Friday’s doubleheader trailing, 4-1, and had just five hits through the first six innings against Penn’s Andrew McCreery. But after Eric Voelker drew a one-out walk, Princeton put together four straight hits to win the game. Tim Lahey finished a 3-for-3 day with a triple to score Tyler Hassen, who pinch ran for Voelker. Reich then singled up the middle to score Lahey. Steve Young drilled a pinch-hit triple to score Reich and tie the game, 4-4, and PU captain Pat Boran singled in Young for the game-winner.
"You try to take the same approach in that situation," Reich said. "Our spring trip definitely prepared us for that. I got in a lot of situations already where guys are on base. It definitely helped."
Princeton rode the momentum of its first comeback win to open the second game of the doubleheader with a three-run first inning in a 4-1 win. Reich effectively finished off any Penn thoughts of a similar rally when he caught Jim Mullen’s line drive and threw to first to double off Alex Blagojevich with no outs in the ninth inning. Princeton won both games Saturday, 7-4 in the first contest and 8-4 in the second game to complete the sweep. The Tigers are 4-0 in the Ivy League, 8-11 overall going into Wednesday’s 3 p.m. start at Rider.
"The first game, it’s amazing how it goes," said PU head coach Scott Bradley. "All of a sudden, out of nowhere, we win it. McCreery has always been tough on us. You’re not going to come back and have a win like that often."
Princeton picked a perfect opportunity, particularly for players like Reich who didn’t play much last season, but are being counted on to deliver for the Tigers this season. It plays right into his confidence.
"Last year, we kind of knew our role, we knew going into the season that none of us expected to play a lot," said Reich who started in seven of 13 total games played. "We knew last year we’d be playing every game this year. It’s not a surprise. But it’s nice to know we’re going to play."
The difference is easy to see. Reich has started 16 of 17 games played this season, and has started off batting at a .323 clip, best among everyday players. He is among the team leaders in hits, runs and runs batted in.
"I came from a pretty small high school and I wasn’t used to seeing even decent pitching," the Ocean City resident said. "It took a while to get used to guys that can throw in the 80s and 90s. It was a big adjustment. I got to work on a lot of technical parts of my game.
"I knew I could play. I knew I had the ability. It was tough last year. I’d get one pinch hit a week. You can’t get used to it that way. I knew I’d get a lot of at bats this year. I used the spring and fall at bats against our pitching. It’s been coming along nicely."
Reich’s fielding has been coming along as well. Originally recruited as a third baseman, Reich has found a home in the outfield. His assist on the ninth-inning double play was his fourth, tied for best among Princeton outfielders.
"I don’t think I’ll play any third base this year," he said. "I’ll be outfield for this year. I played out there all summer. I basically filled in where I was needed. I knew he wanted to get my bat in the lineup and he had me all over the place.
"We had been shading (Penn) away and Thomas (Pauly) throws the ball hard," he explained of the double play. "The guy hit a line drive right to me. It was just bad base-running."
There hasn’t been much bad with Princeton’s Ivy start. The Tigers will look to continue their march toward the Ivy title after they face Rider. The Tigers host Harvard Saturday and Dartmouth Sunday at Clarke Field. Princeton defeated the Big Green, 2-1, for the Ivy League Championship and the automatic NCAA bid last year.
Eight seniors graduated from last year’s team that had been to two straight NCAA tournaments. That left players like Ryan Reich waiting for their opportunity to play every day, and so far, they’ve taken advantage.
"I kind of like the young kids," Bradley said. "I just don’t know how quickly they get mentally tough, like that group we had last year was. A game like (Friday’s) game goes a long way in getting them some confidence though. Hopefully they’ll build on that."
And, he hopes, Princeton will still be talking about its importance after the regular season as the Tigers head to a third straight NCAA tournament.