Things started quietly for the Princeton Little League (PLL) squad as it started the defense of its District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament title against Millstone-Roosevelt last Sunday afternoon.

PLL trailed 1-0 after two innings and it appeared that the game was going to be a nail-biter in the competition, which utilizes a modified baseball field using a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths and is open to players ages 11-13.

But Ben Amon led off the third inning for PLL with a bang, lining a homer over the right field fence at the Farmview Fields. Later in the frame, Teddy Durbin added a long single to drive in two runs to give PLL a 3-1 lead.

PLL never looked back from that point, coasting to 13-1 win a game that ended after the fifth inning due to the 10-run rule. The team’s outburst included a three-run double by Jackson Rho, a towering three-run homer over the left field fence from Jake Renda, and a run-scoring double from Durbin. Jackson Rho started on the mound and went four innings to get the win while Ben Kioko came on in relief in the fifth and struck out the side.

In reflecting on the victory, PLL manager Jon Durbin said that the third inning was the turning point of the contest.

“I think when we came out in the first inning we were a little on the tight side, even though we hit the ball,” said Durbin.

“Once Ben Amon hit his home run, everything settled down. We got a run back and it was OK, we are on the board now. I think you saw our bats come out. We were starting to smoke the ball and everyone was hitting. We had eight hits that generated the 13 runs. Jackson Rho, Teddy and then Jake Renda all had big hits with multiple runners on base and that is going to generate a lot of runs fast.”

In Durbin’s view, the team drew confidence from having won the District 12 title in 2014.

“This year we are the defending champs and a lot of the guys are back from last year’s team,” said Durbin.

“Our team has nine 13-year-olds and three 12-year-olds so this is the most senior, experienced team that we have field in the three years the 50/70 districts have been going on.”

That experience was reflected in PLL’s fundamentally sound play in all phases of the game.

“I think our defense was actually stellar today,” asserted Durbin. “The double play that Ben Petrone, Nick Trenholm and Teddy turned was fabulous. It is hard on this size field to turn one that quick and have it come off like that.  Then  there was Judd Petrone’s catch in centerfield against the fence, he basically took a home run away from the other team. Coach (Chris) Trenholm was making the point that it is fantastic that we are hitting the ball and that Jackson Rho pitched so well but when your defense is good, it really makes it tough on the other team, even if they are a good hitting team.”

The victory advanced Princeton to the final round of the District 12 against the winner of the elimination game between Millstone-Roosevelt and East Windsor. The finals start on June 25 at Farmview with Princeton needing just one win in the double-elimination format to to clinch the crown.

“The big challenge this year for us this year is making sure that we stay focused in districts,” said Durbin.

“We are using districts this year as a way to bring the team together and really to get ready for the sectionals tournament. We are saying don’t take  anything for granted, don’t get overconfident just because we won big today. You want to come out here and play the game the way you are supposed to be very fundamentally sound.”

With Princeton hosting the sectional tourney, which starts on July 3, Durbin is confident his team can give the home fans plenty to cheer about.

“I think the message has been pretty consistent, get the whole team working together during districts and then, knock on wood, if we win districts, we’ll be ready to go for sectionals,” said Durbin.

“The level of competition at the sectionals goes up several notches. We are in the Central Jersey section and it has all the shore towns so you are going to see teams like Middletown and Lacey.”