It’s been a great summer for baseball in West Windsor, as two of its Little League teams — 12-year-old and 10-year-old All Stars — as well as the WW-P Babe Ruth 13-year-olds, have claimed their respective district titles this season.
For the West Windsor 12s, the third time’s a charm. After having made it to the title game as both 10s and 11s, but coming up just short, this year, the team took home the championship against Nottingham on July 15. Even better, they are still alive in the Section 3 Tournament, despite a small hiccup.
The team first defeated Robbinsville in the winners bracket final on July 10 and subsequently defeated Nottingham in the title game on July 15. Against Robbinsville, C.J. Markisz, Michael Radey, and Patrick Tso were key for leading a two-run rally in the sixth inning.
The team advanced to the New Jersey Section 3 Tournament, but struggled against Sayre Woods, falling 7-1, on July 18 to be sent to the loser’s bracket. Once there, however, the team defeated Manasquan-Brielle, 7-1, to stay alive in the tournament..
In their rematch against Sayre Woods on July 21, the team avenged the loss, winning 8-1, and sending it to face Colts Neck in the tournament semi-final on Thursday, July 22. George Revock led the team by keeping runners off base until the third inning, when Patrick Tso came in for the relief. Drew Panson had a pair of doubles in the game.
The West Windsor 10-year-old baseball team has also claimed its respective District 12 title.
The team defeated Robbinsville on July 9, after coming back from a 6-5 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ryan Strype hit a sacrifice fly to bring a runner home to tie the game. Blake Brown, who was on base, ran to home plate when a throw was made to second base on an appeal play. Earlier in the game, Jared Panson hit a double, and Brian Murphy had a double that knocked two runners in. Brown also had a single that drove in a run.
The team advanced to the Section 3 Tournament, where it traveled to Sayreville to beat Sayre Woods, 8-1, on July 12. Following that game, the team fell to Marlboro, but made a comeback in the loser’s bracket by beating Sayre Woods again and then avenging its loss with a win over Marlboro, 12-5, on July 17.
Unfortunately, the team’s success was halted in the following game on July 18, missing its shot at the Section 3 Little League title when it fell to Toms River, 11-3.
Meanwhile, hope was over for the Cranbury-Plainsboro 12-year-olds in the loser’s bracket in its narrow loss, 3-2, to Nottingham on July 10, despite the batting efforts of Zach Crossey, Luke Apuzzi, Michael Hart, and Daniel Johnson-Cole, who each had hits in the game. Johnson-Cole had a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth that brought his team within a run.
Babe Ruth. The West Windsor-Plainsboro Babe Ruth 13-year-old All Stars have also been victorious this summer, claiming the District 1 Tournament title with their win over Hamilton on July 18, capping off an undefeated run.
The team has won four straight games, including the title game, and heads into hosting the tournament with its first District 1 title since 2004. The 13s were scheduled to face Brick American at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, after the News’ deadline, in the Southern New Jersey tournament at Ciufanni Field at Community Park.
The team is led by the pitching efforts of Sean O’Brien, Christian Waters, and Tucker Titsch, as well as the power at the plate from Austin Linder, Adam Gostomski, and Sid Kumar, as well as Danny Borup, Vishnu Kaimal, Zach Bacall, Garrett Erickson, John Lappetito, and Rob Armus.
Meanwhile, the West Windsor-Plainsboro 15s will begin on Friday, July 23 at 5:45 p.m. at DeMeo with Pennsville.
