Oh, brothers!

Kellys have helped WW-P baseball teams to succeed

By: Bob Nuse
   Scott Kelly had one prior opportunity to play baseball with his older brother, Pete.
   The two were teammates six years ago for the A-1 Limo Dodgers in the West Windsor Little League. They played for their father, Marty, and helped the team win a regular season title before falling in the playoff championship game.
   This year, the pair got another opportunity to play baseball together, first with the West Windsor-Plainsboro North varsity team, and now this summer with the West Windsor-Plainsboro American Legion team.
   "I really enjoyed playing on the same team and being able to play competitively at this level," said Pete, a three-year starter at third base for both teams. "I think having Scott play with us has helped the success of our teams. Our combined record with high school and Legion this year is 44-12. We’ve both been able to contribute and work well together. There are times when we play on the same side of the infield and that’s pretty cool."
   The opportunity to play together continued this weekend at the District 3 American Legion tournament. After opening with an 8-5 win over Colts Neck on Saturday, WW-P dropped a 16-9 decision to West Deptford on Sunday.
   WW-P was back in action on Monday against South Amboy, needing three straight wins to advance to the American Legion state tournament. With a win, the team would need to win twice today to advance to the Final 8 at Moody Park in Ewing this weekend.
   "It has been great playing with Pete and his friends," said Scott, who had one hit Saturday and three more on Sunday for WW-P. "When I was young I always used to go to his practices and that was basically how I got better as a player, just playing with them. They showed me a lot of the techniques and fundamentals of baseball and I just adapted to that.
   "That’s basically the reason I am at where I am now. Pete and his friends would give me a lot of advice and I would just take it all in."
   Pete can always be found in the same spot, manning third base for whichever team he is playing on. Scott, on the other hand, could be just about anywhere. During the high school season he played the outfield, shortstop, second base and even some catcher. This summer he’s added first base to his list of positions and he also pitched an inning on Sunday.
   "It wasn’t guaranteed, but I figured he would be on the team at some point in the season, Pete said. "We needed a guy like Scott who could play anywhere on the field."
   Added Scott: "I just go wherever (Legion manager Don Hutchinson) or (North coach Bob) Boyce needed me. When I’m playing short and he’s playing third we can talk to each other and pick each other up if we make an error. That’s what the whole team is about. It’s good to have my brother right there to look up to and know he can pick me up if I make an error."
   The brothers don’t seem to make many errors on the baseball field. Although both have played and do play other sports, baseball has always been their main focus. They helped WW-P finish second during the Mercer County American Legion League regular season, then win the playoff championship to advance to the district tournament. To do that, WW-P needed to win four one-run games.
   "That was the most unbelievable baseball I’ve ever played," said Pete, who will be attending the University of Richmond, where he may try to walk on to the baseball team. "Every moment was back and forth and intense and the thrill of Kevin (Maselli) getting the big hit (a three-run double in the final). It seems like it is always somebody different coming up with the big hit or the big pitching performance for us."
   Scott was glad to see WW-P come through and extend its season. He’s enjoying the days of getting to play with his older brother and would rather not see them end.
   "I remember going into those final games thinking this could be the last time I every get to play with my brother," he said of the MCALL playoffs. "That was kind of a motivation that I kept in the back of my head, along with the state championship ring that we all want.
   "Against Ewing in the championship game, our bats started to come alive and luckily we got one big swing from Kevin that put us in the district playoffs."
   Pete never worried about the affects of having his younger brother join a group of older players who have been together for a while. He knew Scott would help the team win, which is what everyone wanted the most.
   "There hasn’t been a problem this year," Pete said. "Both sophomores have been huge contributors to the team. Scott had an excellent year and Dave Bachner has been an excellent pitcher for us. We all get along on this team. It’s a lot of fun."
   Based on his age, Pete would be able to come back and play for the WW-P Legion team again next year. Scott would love for that to happen, but his older brother will wait and see how he feels a year from now.
   For the moment, Pete is focused on trying to help WW-P get through a tough field in West Deptford and on to a spot in the state finals.
   "Even though it’s summer and a lot of the guys are seniors getting ready for college, no one has packed it in," Pete said. "We’re all still real focused and I’m real happy about that. I think we’re all just having fun together. Our infield, with me and Charlie (Carluccio) and Matt (Fania), we’ve been playing together for three years and know all about each other."
   Probably not quite as well as Pete knows his own brother. But put them all together on the same team and it has made for a very special year.