Post 414
By: Steve Feitl
With the Mercer County American Legion League season more than halfway through, the Lawrence Post 414 baseball team finds itself in the middle of the pack.
Lawrence saw its record fall to 7-7 this past week with three losses in its last four games. That leaves Post 414 in sixth place in the MCALL standings.
Ahead of the Lawrence boys are Hamilton Post 31 (12-1), Broad Street Park Post 313 (10-3), Bordentown Post 26 (12-3), North Trenton Post 458 (10-4) and West Windsor-Plainsboro (7-5).
Nipping at Lawrence’s heels at seventh, eighth and ninth places are Ewing Post 314 (6-8), Princeton Post 218 (6-9) and Hightstown Post 148 (6-6).
Lawrence had games against all three of those teams this past week with mixed results.
On June 27, Post 414 flexed its muscles against Princeton in a game shortened by the 10-run rule. Lawrence was victorious, 12-1, in six innings.
Dan Czepiga led the offensive onslaught, going 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs, two doubles and a stolen base. Charlie Park went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
Mike Guido contributed with a double and a sacrifice fly for two RBIs and a run scored. Nick Kosul went 1-for-4 and scored twice.
Vince Warren raised his personal record to 3-0 with the win. He pitched five innings of three-hit ball, allowing one run and four walks while striking out three Princeton batters.
Kyle Hammerschmidt came on in relief and allowed one hit and struck out one in his one inning of work.
After playing a shortened game against Princeton, Lawrence went to extra innings the next day against Hightstown. When the game ended in the eighth frame, however, it was Lawrence on the short end of a 10-7 decision.
Post 414 did make things interesting though.
Down 7-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Lawrence battled back with three runs in the inning to send the game past regulation.
Park started the rally by getting hit by a pitch and Andres Guadarrama followed with a single. When Hammerschmidt reached on an infield single, it loaded the bases with nobody out.
Mike Bruschini got the first run home with a sacrifice fly and Czepiga then walked to reload the bases. Zach Golden then strode to the plate and drove in two with a single. Golden was 4-for-4 in the losing effort as Lawrence gave up three more runs in the top of the eighth and were unable to answer this time.
Post 414 got back on track Sunday with a 9-1 win over Trenton Post 93. Harold Grant was dominant on the mound, hurling a complete game. He allowed seven hits and just one run, while walking two and striking out five Trenton batters.
Zack Melker drove in three runs, while Kosul and Park each scored twice. Park also had a triple in the game. Dave Waseleski, Mike Graziano, Golden and Guadarrama each had RBIs, while Czepiga, Kosul, Waseleski, Golden, Graziano, Melker and Park all had hits.
After cleaning up against Trenton, Lawrence faced two tougher foes on Monday and Tuesday.
Against Ewing on Monday, Lawrence jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second, but Post 314 nickel-and-dimed its way back into game with one in the second, one in the fourth, one in the fifth and finally, two in the seventh. Ewing ended up edging out Lawrence, 5-4.
Warren pitched the first six innings, giving up seven hits and four runs (two of which were earned). He also struck out six Ewing batters, while issuing just one walk.
Guadarrama hurled the seventh after Warren let the lead man on, giving up one hit and one unearned run.
Graziano had a triple, run scored and two RBIs, while Golden added a double. Guadarrama went 1-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and two RBIs. Guido and Bruschini also pitched in with hits, while Hammerschmidt picked up another RBI.
Lawrence then faced a strong pitcher in North Trenton’s Chris Jones. He pitched a complete game and got the 7-2 win over Post 414 on Tuesday.
Waseleski was the starter for Lawrence and went five innings, giving up 10 hits and seven runs. He walked three and struck out one. Park pitched the sixth and let up two hits.
North Trenton had a 6-0 lead by the end of the second and added one in the fifth. Lawrence could only answer with one in the fourth and one in the seventh. Czepiga and Graziano drove in Golden and Park, while Melker had two hits, along with Czepiga.
After Wednesday’s game against Hopewell Post 339 (3-10), Lawrence is now off through this coming Tuesday when the host Mitchell Davis Post 182 at 5:45 p.m. at Lawrence High School.
It is the first of four-straight home games for Post 414 next week. The Lawrence boys will then host Broad Street Park Post 313, West Windsor-Plainsboro, and Bordentown Post 26 from Wednesday July 10 through Friday July 12. All games are scheduled for 5:45 p.m. at LHS.