Legion teams hope for better days ahead
By: Bob Nuse
The Princeton Post 218 and West Windsor-Plainsboro American Legion baseball teams came into the weekend figuring they needed to win out to qualify to a Mercer County American Legion League playoff berth.
While Princeton stumbled a couple of times along the way, WW-P did close out the season with nothing but wins. In fact, WW-P won its final six games to go 13-9 and finish tied for fifth in the MCALL.
The strong finish should have qualified WW-P for a one-game playoff with Bordentown and a shot at the league’s fifth and final state tournament berth. Instead, the six straight wins led to some final frustration as WW-P was denied a playoff spot due to a snafu over when the team renewed its insurance coverage.
"We found out about a week and half ago that there was a chance because we didn’t have year-round insurance we would not qualify for the playoffs," said WW-P manager Bill Bethea, whose team won 10 of its final 13 games. "We went through an appeals process and apparently the state requires year-round insurance and we have insurance for the season, which started on June 5. So, even though we qualified for a one-game playoff, they say we can’t participate."
It was a frustrating end to what had been a great finish for WW-P. After starting the season 3-6, the team came together and closed out on a solid note.
"I am so proud of this team and the way they battled the whole year," said Bethea, who was in his first season as WW-P manager. "We were 3-6 after our first nine games. We lost some tough games in the beginning of the season, so to come back and finish 13-9, that’s a good year for the way these kids came around.
"And it gives us something good to build on for next year. I’ll try to retain most of this team. We could have some kids back as college freshmen and we have some young kids coming up. So we’re looking to build a program for a few years."
WW-P ended the season with a pair of wins on Saturday. In the morning, it topped North Trenton, 6-2, behind a complete game pitching performance from Steve Odachowski. In the afternoon, Brian Sigle tossed a four-hit shutout as WW-P topped Princeton, 6-0.
Kevin Maselli drove in three runs in the win over North Trenton, while Grayson Van Dyke had three hits and drove in three runs in the win over Princeton.
"The kids stayed loose and I think that was a key for us," Bethea said. "I think that has a lot to do with the way they all get along. I think in the beginning of the year with me and Ted (King) coming on, there was a feel-out process. They had to see what our intentions were. By the second half of the year they were able to see what we were about and everyone was real loose the whole second half of the year."
That looseness led to a season-ending six game win streak and something to build on for the future.
Princeton also feels like it has something to build out for the future. Despite losing its final two games of the season, Post 218 finished 11-11 for the second straight year and hopes to take another step forward next year.
"We have to take the next step," said Princeton manager Tommy Parker, whose team lost to Ewing, 5-2, Sunday in its final game of the season. "What I am really happy about is that this is a young team. We lose four guys off the roster. We’re real young. Hindsight is always 20-20 and you look back and say if or would have or could have. There are some games we’ll look back at and wonder if we had done something differently if the outcome would have been different. But it is what it is."
Princeton topped Mitchell Davis, 11-1, Saturday morning to keep its slim playoff hopes alive as Sean Pucciarelli tossed a three-hitter. Danny Etherton had three hits and drove in three runs, while Clint O’Brien had two hits and drove in two runs.
"These guys who are the nucleus of this team will be around for a while," Parker said. "They’ve got another two years. So it can only get better. We were in it until the last weekend."
That was true for both Princeton and WW-P, two teams that hope even better days are ahead.