June 24, 2015

Post 218 Baseball Battles Hard in Loss to Hamilton, But Shows Uneven Play That Has Led to 2-12 Record

ON THE FLY: Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball second baseman Matt Lambert gathers in a fly in recent action. Last Monday, Lambert, a Princeton High standout, contributed two hits and three RBIs in a losing cause as Post 218 fell 10-5 to Hamilton Post 31 to drop to 2-12. In upcoming action, Post 218 faces Hightstown Post 148 on June 27 at Mercer County Park, hosts Ewing Post 314 on June 29, and plays at Hopewell Post 339 on June 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

ON THE FLY: Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball second baseman Matt Lambert gathers in a fly in recent action. Last Monday, Lambert, a Princeton High standout, contributed two hits and three RBIs in a losing cause as Post 218 fell 10-5 to Hamilton Post 31 to drop to 2-12. In upcoming action, Post 218 faces Hightstown Post 148 on June 27 at Mercer County Park, hosts Ewing Post 314 on June 29, and plays at Hopewell Post 339 on June 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Over the final four and a half innings last Monday evening, the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team battled powerful Hamilton Post 31 to a 5-5 standstill.

But having dug an early 5-0 hole, Princeton’s late heroics went for naught as visiting Hamilton left Smoyer Park with a 10-5 victory.

While Princeton manager Tommy Parker liked the spirit his team displayed, he acknowledged that it can’t afford lapses.

“That’s what I just told them out there, once we settled down, we did battle back,” said Parker, who got two hits and three RBIs from second baseman Matt Lambert in the defeat with catcher Steve Majeski and left fielder Ben Danis knocking in one run apiece.

“It has got to be that effort all the way. It is a game of inches, they hit it anywhere we weren’t and we hit it where they was. That’s really what it was.”

With his club having lost 10 of its last 11 games in moving to 2-12, Parker said it has been plagued by uneven play this summer.

“The issues are not hitting, that has been it more than anything,” said Parker. “We can’t make mistakes defensively, those little things, like throwing to the  wrong base, because even if you get away with it, it sets a tone. You have to think the game all the time and that has been my message, think the game and give 100 percent.”

Despite the rough stretch, Parker is seeing some good individual efforts. “It has been game to game, different guys have stepped up in different games, like Joe Studholme tonight,” said Parker.

“He has proven when he is available, that he has been hard to hi, that has been a bright spot. Tommy Pecora had an excellent game pitching against Trenton the other night and he has been getting his bat on the ball. This Paul Cooke is going to be remarkable. Chris Sumners has been playing first base and designated hitter and we discovered this kid can pitch. He had them baffled the other day in Trenton.”

With 10 games left in regular season play, Parker is looking for his players to bear down over the homestretch.

“The future is bright, I am always optimistic,” said Parker, whose team faces Hightstown Post 148 on June 27 at Mercer County Park, hosts Ewing Post 314 on June 29, and plays at Hopewell Post 339 on June 30.

“I just want to see us put our noses to the grindstone, give 100 percent and give our best effort. Let’s not give any games away. They need to stay focused, keep their heads in the game, and play baseball like they know they can.”

Parker, for his part, hopes that kind of effort will yield results that are more indicative of the team’s talent level.

“I feel for these guys, they are better than they appear,” maintained Parker.

“The fan that is not here will look at the score and say wow, these guys are bad. There are good ballplayers here, the numbers don’t necessarily say anything about the ability of this team. They are good enough to compete. They are playing against the best of the best. If you make a mistake they are going to take advantage of it, all the way up and down the line.”