Post 339Post 339 got the start to the regular season it was looking for on Tuesday.
By: Steve Feitl
Hopewell earned an impressive 9-7 win over Mitchell Davis Post 182 at Trenton High School. What pleased manager Bruce Nocar most was the performance he received from each and every player on the field.
"It was a total team effort right down the line," Nocar said. "There were contributions from everyone in the lineup."
Leading the way was pitcher and Hopewell Valley senior Dan DeStefano. He threw six solid innings for 339, in earning his first victory of the season.
Nocar admitted he kept DeStefano in a little longer than he normally would have since Hopewell had the lead at the time.
Post 339 got on the board in the first inning, but not to the extent the team might have liked.
With the base loaded and nobody out, outfielder Matt Boyle stepped to the plate and launched a sacrifice fly. It brought the first run home, but a base runner also got doubled out on his way to third. Despite the base-loaded situation, Mitchell Davis survived the inning with just the one run allowed.
Hopewell got the bats going again in the fourth, when the team scored four runs. Two more runs were scored in the fifth, when Mike Nocar launched a home run to give Hopewell the lead for good.
In the sixth, outfielder Phil Welsh entered the game and had a two-RBI single that ended up serving as the game-winner.
Other hot bats for Post 339 included Hopewell Valley senior Dan Apoldite, who had two hits and second baseman Steve Nocar, who went 3-for-4.
The win gave Post 339 its first win in the Mercer County American Legion League, and moved its record to 2-2 overall.
But there would be no easing into the season for Hopewell. On Wednesday, Post 339 were scheduled to face last year’s undefeated juggernaut Hamilton Post 31.
Hopewell, however, had the good fortune of facing Hamilton in its third game and thus facing its No. 3 pitcher. Mike Nocar was scheduled to take the mound for Post 339.
With a possible pitching advantage, the manager Nocar was more than happy to face the favored Hamilton squad.
"This can set the tone for our who season," he said. "It will undoubtedly show us what we’re made of."
After the Hamilton game, Hopewell once again takes to its home field at Hopewell Valley Central High School today (Thursday) to face Lawrence Post 414.
A playoff team a year ago, Lawrence is in the same situation as Hopewell, according to Nocar.
"Lawrence is a team just like us," he said. "The league is real even this year and any team can knock of any other team at any time.
"We’re at home and we’ve got (Peddie School senior Bryan) Lodigiani pitching. We have to feel good about that."