Baseball
By: John E. Powers
The Hopewell Valley Central High School baseball team will complete its season in the next few days with three games. Though Bulldogs coach Jim Reed acknowledges the importance of winning the games, his focus will be on other things as well.
"We want to get an attitude of desire," Reed said.
The lone remaining tangible goal for the Bulldogs is a .500 season. They are 10-10 after a 5-1 loss to Nottingham in the Central Jersey Group III tournament last week and a disappointing 13-3 loss to Ewing on Monday.
"The state game was closer than the score," Reed said. "Nottingham got a couple of breaks, and they hit the ball as usual. They are a good team. They beat us three times this year."
Sophomore right-hander Tim Parker pitched five innings for the Bulldogs, while senior Gus Davidson finished the game with two innings.
Northstars senior right-handed pitcher Billy Crawford limited the Bulldogs to five hits and no runs in his five innings of work, while not walking a batter and striking out six.
The Bulldogs will play Skyland Conference Raritan Division champ Montgomery on Friday, Central Jersey Group IV finalist Steinert on Saturday and West Windsor-Plainsboro North in the finale Tuesday.
"I’m more concerned right now with an attitude and willingness to compete and complete the season on a high note," Reed said. "We have two seniors and a bunch of sophomores and some freshmen, so I’m looking to get some kids some playing time and preparing for next year as well. At this point, we don’t care about the record. We want to play well, play with a good attitude and get some kids some playing time."
Reed said he was disappointed with the effort the team put out in the loss to Ewing, a team the Bulldogs beat earlier in the year.
"We were very flat, and we got crushed," Reed said. "Ewing is a team on the rise. They had a rough start, but they’re playing well."