Coming back from a five-run deficit and defeating Manalapan in post-season play, the West Windsor-Plainsboro American Legion team advanced in its quest for a state playoff berth in similar fashion to what it has been doing all season long — rebounding, and rebounding in big ways.##M:[more]##
Now with a 19-8 record, this year’s Legion team has far surpassed last year’s run, when it did not make the post-season. Not only did it clinch a spot in the district tournament this year, but the team came back to continue in the loser’s bracket after an opening-round loss in the post season. After defeating Park Ridge, 10-8, on July 22, the team was scheduled to battle in the second-place game for the district against Denville Post 390 on July 23, after the News’ deadline, where it will try to qualify for the Final Eight.
Similar to its post-season, WW-P opened its season with a loss to Hamilton Post 31, but bounced back to win the following two games, and had a 5-2 record by the end of June.
The team battled through a slew of postponements and tight schedules throughout July, eventually posting a 12-7 record, tied with Ewing for second place in the regular season. At one point the team won 11 of 16 games in a 17-day period.
Facing Ewing was the next challenge, as the teams were battling for an automatic district tournament berth. The boys defeated Ewing, 3-1, behind pitcher Kyle Reed, who went seven innings, only allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out six.
In that game Taylor Titsch, hit a one-out double in the bottom of the second inning, and reached third on a single by Mike Tartaro. A shallow hit from John Sullivan to right field brought in the go-ahead run. Following that, Evan Smith brought Tartaro home with a suicide squeeze bunt.
Riding a four-game winning streak after defeating Ewing, the team advanced to the District Three tournament, where a performance riddled with errors led to a hearty trouncing by Freehold Township, 19-9.
WW-P jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the second inning after RBI hits from Scott Kelly and Ralph Aurora. Those players combined for 5 of the team’s 11 hits.
With the loss, WW-P found itself in the same situation for the fourth time this season: having allowed 14 or more runs in one game.
WW-P fell into the losers bracket, where it would have to play its way back into contention for a state playoff berth. The team made yet another comeback to defeat Toms River, 11-1, on July 19.
The game showcased WW-P’s best attribute: its hitting. While the defense and pitching still looked a little rusty and shaky, the team’s bats were able to pull them through the game, forcing a 10-run rule ending to the game. Quinn Male and Titsch each had two hits, and Smith and Kelly each drove in a pair of runs.
The win brought the Legion team up against Manalapan on July 20. Down 12-6 early on, Titsch, Aurora, and Male proved to be the team’s leading hitters. The team scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh, and then took the lead in the eighth to hold on for the 13-12 win to keep their season alive.
The team also had great hitting against Park Ridge, starting out with a 6-1 lead, which lasted until the top of the fifth inning. The game was tied at 7 in the top of the ninth inning, but WW-P came back big for the 19-8 win.
