6-foot-5-inch Brian Jacobs is in his fourth year pitching for Post 339. (Photo by Mark Wetherbee, Jr.)
Pitcher Tim Schorr is one of the keys to the American Legion baseball season for Post 339 Hopewell Valley. (Photo by Mark Wetherbee, Jr.)
By Kyle Kondor
In 2012, the Hopewell Post 339 baseball team won the second Mercer County American Legion League title in team history.
The Post 339 coaching staff has their team aiming for a repeat, but after losing 10 players due to age eligibility rules, they’re doing so with a brand new look.
Just six members of last year’s team have returned, including the top two pitchers: Brian Jacobs and Tim Schorr.
Jacobs—Hopewell’s 6-foot-5 ace—was a big part of the title run last year, finishing top 5 in the MCALL in ERA. This is his 4th season pitching for the team, and he admits that youth and player turnover have been a concern.
“We’re young, so we work a lot on the fundamentals, building team chemistry, and just knowing what’s going on at all times,” Jacobs said.
Post 339 manager Jim McNamara repeatedly noted that defense and pitching are the strengths of this year’s team, and that it will need timely hitting in order to win another title. But the skipper refuses to single out players the team will depend on, saying anyone could fill a leadership role at any point.
“All guys, 1 through 18 have a role to play, and a team is just that,” the third-year manager said. “We all have to pull together and accomplish our goal of winning games. As the season progresses you never know who’s going to step up and take on a larger role.”
Aside from Jacobs and Schorr—who finished right behind Jacobs at 7th in the MCALL in ERA last season—catcher John DeDufour, left fielder Harry Giordano, third basemen Joey Gambino, and shortstop Brodie Catherina are the returning players for Post 339.
That group helped Post 339 defeat 2011 champs Bordentown Post 26 to win the league title last year and advance to the District 3 Tournament.
In the district tournament, Hopewell was unable to win a game, losing two close battles to Mt. Laurel and Wharton Post 91.
Since Hopewell won its first MCALL title in 1994, only three other teams have won the league: Hamilton Post 31 (13 titles), Bordentown Post 26 (3 titles) and Trenton Post 93 (1 title).
“Both Hamilton and Bordentown are well coached by staffs that have been around for awhile, so it’s an honor to have won the league,” McNamara said.
McNamara expressed his desire for success this year, but pointed out the difficultly to repeat as champion. But he isn’t ruling anything out.
“We just have to go out and play our game, and at the end of the day, if we play our brand of baseball, I think we’ll be successful,” McNamara said.
Weather and other issues practically washed out the first week of the season, but Hopewell’s style was apparent in its second contest of the season, June 8 against league powerhouse Hamilton Post 31. Hopewell scratched out three runs on just three hits, which was enough to send the game into extras.
Hamilton Post 31’s Anthony Peroni scorched a walk-off double to deep left field that concluded a 4-3 Hamilton victory. Still, small ball was efficient for Hopewell, as its players reached base seven times by way of walk or hit by pitch and also had three sacrifice bunts. It likely would’ve been enough for a victory had Hopewell not allowed three Post 31 runs off wild pitches by Schorr and Jacobs, who each pitched four innings.
As of press time, Hopewell was 1-5, but there was still a long way to go in the MCALL season. McNamara was counting on his young team to pull together as the year progressed.
This year, the MCALL title will go to the team that finishes the regular season with the best record. The top five teams will advance to the district tournament, which will also follow a brand new format.
Hopewell Post 339 is scheduled to wrap up its regular season July 17 vs. Lawrence, with its players hoping they’ll finish in the top five and have a shot at some district tournament revenge.
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