HAMMERING IT OUT: Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball player Chase Hamerschlag makes contact last Monday as Princeton hosted South Brunswick Post 401 at Smoyer Park. Hamerschlag, a rising Princeton High senior, went 1 for 2 with a run in the game as Post 218 won 9-6. Princeton, who improved to 2-5 with the victory, plays at Bordentown Post 26 on June 26, plays at Hightstown Post 148 on June 27, hosts Broad Street Park Post 313 on June 28, hosts Trenton Post 83/192 on June 30, and then plays at Lawrence Post 414 on July 1. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Chase Hamerschlag is a busy guy this summer athletically as he heads into his senior year at Princeton High.
Hamerschlag competed recently for the Mercer County All-Stars in the prestigious Carpenter Cup Classic. He also plays for the PPH travel baseball program. In addition, he is will be on the PHS boys’ soccer team in a local 7-on-7 league.
Since early June, Hamerschlag has been starring for the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team, playing third base, hitting third in the batting order, and making an impact on the mound.
For Hamerschlag, carving out time to compete for Post 218, which has a number of PHS players on its roster, is good prep for his final campaign for the Tigers.
“I am looking to get a lot of reps, this is boning up going into our high school season,” said Hamerschlag, who stars in both soccer and baseball for PHS. “Next year I will be a senior and I hope to be a captain.”
As Post 218 hosted Hightstown Post 148 last Friday, Hamerschlag looked to get the team going as it trailed 5-0 in fourth inning. He lined a single to right field and then stole second base.
“My approach was just put it to the other side,” said Hamerschlag.
“I was pulling the ball and it wasn’t working. I just wanted to put it through first and second and just get in and then just try to make something happen on the base path.”
While the Tigers kept battling against Hightstown, scoring a run in the sixth and getting a base runner on in the seventh, it fell 8-1.
“It was tough, they had a great defensive game,” said Hamerschlag. “Anthony Benitez had a great game for them. We were putting the ball in play, nothing was sitting down. All of the boys are swinging the bat well.”
Getting the chance to play in the Carpenter Cup was a great experience for Hamerschlag.
“Being with all of those guys, everyone is clearly very talented,” said Hamerschlag, who went 1-for-2 as Mercer lost 4-3 to Chester County (Pa.) in the first round of the competition. “It is just awesome, one, being with the guys that were on that team and also being with all of the coaches. That was just amazing.”
Princeton Post 218 manager Peter Nielsen wanted to see more from his guys in the loss to Hightstown.
“It is trying to string them together,” said Nielsen. “It is being able to produce throughout the lineup, not just one guy or two guys. It has got to be one through nine who produces.”
Nielsen credited Hamerschlag with trying to give Post 218 a spark.
“He had that one hit and tried to make something going on the base path there with that stolen base,” added Nielson.
While Nielsen was happy with the way his players kept battling against Hightstown in the late innings, he wants them to get going earlier.
“It is wanting it more and being able to compete,” said Nielsen.
“Once you get down early in the game, it is being able to chip away as we go through the game. And also put it on them early, start the game earlier and attack it earlier.”
Nick Bell competed well on the mound for Post 218 in the loss.
“Nick pitched well for us, he did a very nice job giving us four solid innings to start for us,” said Nielsen.
Post 218 has been getting solid hitting all season as the top of order from Travis Petrone, Nate Nydick, and Hamerschlag.
“Travis has had some big games, he has been able to produce some stuff for us at the top of the order,” said Nielsen. “Chase has been able to produce for us. Nate has had a good start. Everyone just needs to string them together, that is all it is.”
With Post 218 playing at Bordentown Post 26 on June 26, playing at Hightstown Post 148 on June 27, hosting Broad Street Park Post 313 on June 28, hosting Trenton Post 83/192 on June 30, and then playing at Lawrence Post 414 on July 1, Nielsen is looking for his players to give their all.
“They are keeping their heads up, being able to stay in it,” said Nielsen, whose club defeated South Brunswick Post 401 9-6 on Monday in moving to 2-5. “Everyone is into it. It is a team game, there is not one guy who can be the producer and be the showstopper for everyone.”
Hamerschlag is confident that Post 218 will stay with things to the end of the season.
“We do battle as a team, from one through nine, we hit,” said Hamerschlag, who went 1 for 2 in the win over South Brunswick and is now batting .400 with six runs and two RBIs so far this summer. “Everyone wants be here and everyone is trying their hardest. Everyone has the same goal and that is to win.”