Horan, PHS baseball building confidence

Senior pitches Little Tigers past WW-P South

By: Justin Feil
   John Miranda has a lot of confidence every time Jake Horan takes the mound for the Princeton High baseball team.
   "Jake’s been our ace over the last two years, since I’ve been back," said the PHS coach. "I have a lot of confidence in him. I knew he was going to battle the other teams. Every time he goes out for us, I’m confident we’ll have a well-pitched game."
   Miranda got just what he was looking for as Horan allowed just four hits and a pair of first-inning runs in a 4-2 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro South on Tuesday. The win was the first by PHS over the Pirates in 10 years.
   "I knew this season we were going to be a much better team from last season," said Horan after PHS improved to 2-3, matching last year’s win total. "I was just hoping to win more games this year and go out on a good note. I wanted to just do a lot better."
   The Little Tigers aren’t blessed with 10 seniors, but the make-up of the team gives them confidence for this season and beyond. Horan is part of a small, but solid, senior class. He’s in his third year of varsity and that experience has shown on and off the field. On the field, he hasn’t shied from the ace label.
   "I’ve been comfortable," Horan said. "I’ve been pitching a lot for Legion. I’m used to the competition. I know Mercer County and the CVC is one of better leagues in state. I try to do the best I can."
   Off the field, Horan is part of a senior group that has become a leadership core. Miranda notes that one of the biggest differences this season is the work that was put in before the season began. The offseason, he said, was much better than in his first year back.
   "What made it better was the attitude of the players," Horan said. "The seniors were more into it. We did more training. We tried to get people in the weight room. We made it mandatory to play an additional sport in the winter or fall."
   That mandate had Horan out for winter track. He credits that commitment for keeping him in shape for the baseball season and the Little Tigers’ stronger start.
   "I have a core of seniors, some of them have been two and three-year starters," Miranda said. "They’ve done a real nice job of leading our younger kids. We have four captains — Robby Begin, Jake, Anthony Bernazard and John Lauri."
   PHS also has a few juniors contributing as well as several sophomores. R.J. Nicholas, a junior, tied the game with a triple in the third inning before Jamie Marino, a senior classmate of Horan’s, provided the game-winner on a sacrifice fly to drive in Nicholas. Miranda has already played seven sophomores this season as well.
   "Next year, we’ll be sound," Miranda said. "The sophomores have experience. Matt Welsh and R.J. Nicholas are juniors. It should be a nice mix. The future is starting to solidify a little bit."
   The future to this season is also on a little firmer ground thanks to PHS’ senior leadership. Their higher standards began with the offseason commitments and have carried into the regular season.
   "We set high expectations," Horan said. "Our goal for this season was to make states. Those are our goals. We don’t care what people say. All papers say it’s a surprise when we win. We’re just trying to win every game."
   Tuesday’s win was a big victory, not just because it brought the Little Tigers within a game of .500 again, but because of whom it came against. The Pirates had had PHS’ number for so long.
   "That was a big morale boost for us," said Horan, who is 1-1 this season. "They are an excellent program. I know we were not expected to win that game. It’s going to raise expectations of ourselves in upcoming games."
   It’s part of the positive changes that the Little Tigers are starting to feel this season. Goals are higher, and so is the level of play.
   "Confidence is a big part of it," Horan said. "We’re more confident than last year. Last year was Miranda’s first year back. We know him better as a coach now. We know what to expect."
   PHS expects good outings from all its pitchers. The biggest concern is bringing along the fielding and hitting. If the Little Tigers support their pitching a little more, they should have a shot at their states goal.
   "The key is, like I said in the beginning, our strength is our pitching," Miranda said. "We have some good quality pitchers. If we can do a decent job with the fielding and hitting, the pitching is going to put us over the hump."
   Horan has seen progress behind him when he’s pitching. It helped him shut down WW-P South over the final six innings.
   "The big key for us this season is we’ve cut down on errors," he said. "It is a lot easier to be confident."
   Wins like Tuesday’s over established programs like WW-P South give the Little Tigers hope that confidence will stay high as they battle for a spot in states. PHS automatically has a competitive schedule from a balanced Colonial Valley Conference. With solid pitching and emerging hitting and pitching, it’s feeling good about its chance to sustain a high level of play.
   "I think that going into this season everybody knew we were going to do a lot better than last season," Horan said. "Now we’re just trying to get out there and play our game. We’re still in rebuilding mode. But we’re trying to do the best we can this season."