PICKING IT UP: Princeton Post 218 shortstop Beau Horan picks up a grounder in recent action. Horan’s production and leadership helped Post 218 go on a late surge that saw the club win three of its last five games to end the summer with a 7-15 record. The seven wins represented marked progress for a program that went a combined 5-43 over the previous two summers.
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

In the summer of 2009, Beau Horan was a wet-behind-the-ears shortstop, trying to hold his own in his rookie season with the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team.

Since that debut campaign, Horan has matured into one of the top shortstops in the Mercer County American Legion League (MCALL). Coming off an outstanding senior season for the Princeton Day School baseball team this past spring, Horan is headed to Williams College as a top recruit for the baseball program at the highly regarded Division III school.

This summer, Horan has assumed the role of veteran leader for Post 218, taking the players on the youthful squad under his wing and giving them the benefit of the experience he has gained over the years.

“These guys are getting a lot better,” said Horan, noting that he has been with the Post 218 for six years, counting his play with the program’s Junior Legion squad.

“It is nice to see them grow and get used to winning and playing some close games.”

Post 218 displayed its growth last week as it rallied from a 4-1 deficit to edge North Hamilton 6-5 at Smoyer Park.

“It has been the character of this team all year; we have had a lot of adversity,” said Horan reflecting on the win which saw Post 218 take a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning on a grand slam by Jon Hayden and then tally the winning run on a bases-loaded walk by Jacob Eisenberg in the bottom of the seventh.

“Most of the time we have had around nine guys and we forfeited a game the other day. But when we show up and we have Jacob on the mound we always have a chance to win.”

Leadoff hitter Horan knows that he has to get on base to give Post 218 a better chance to win. Horan had a total of seven hits in two wins over Ewing Post 314 and Trenton Posts 93/182 last week and reached base two times and scored twice in the victory over North Hamilton.

“I made a small adjustment; I am keeping my hands higher and seeing more pitches so I can time it a little better,” said Horan.

“I am feeling a little bit better and getting on base in the leadoff spot and letting the big boys bring me in.”

Post 218 manager Tommy Parker likes the way his players have come up big over the last few weeks of the season.

“I call them the notorious nine; they have really hung in there,” said a grinning Parker, whose club won three of four games before falling 6-4 to Ewing Post 314 last Thursday to end the summer at 7-15.

“They have really hung in there tough all season, but it has really culminated itself in the last few games. I am really proud of them.”

Parker was proud of the contributions he got throughout the lineup in the win over North Hamilton.

“This was a total team effort; we got a big hit by Jon Hayden; that was beautiful,” said Parker.

“Jacob Eisenberg threw a nice game. Beau did a good job at shortstop and got two runs. Zach Tesone made some nice picks at first and had a great double. It was a great effort.”

In Parker’s view, Horan has provided Post 218 with some great leadership.

“Beau has definitely helped keep us focused, especially with the young guys,” said Parker.

“They can be in the ball game and then for a split second be distracted by something else. Baseball guys like Beau keep them focused and keep their energy up. He always has some kind of positive reinforcement if a kid comes in and is hanging his head.”

With Post 218 having picked up seven wins this summer after going a total of 5-43 the last seasons, the team is headed in a positive direction.

“It is absolutely making progress,” asserted Parker. “We have had a couple of injuries where we lost guys for the season. If we could ever get everybody here at the same time, we could be better than seven wins. I am certain of that.”

In Parker’s view, there should be a lot more wins in this group’s future. “They are all young guys, the whole team with the exception of Marcus [Henderson] is going to be back,” said Parker.

“Finishing strong can pick the momentum up. We might do a fall ball program so that the young guys who are still around can play. They asked me the other day what is the most wins I remember and I told them that we had a team that won 14 games and was just one game off the playoffs. I think this team could be as good as that team.”

Horan, for his part, is ready to get going with his new team at Williams. “I received the summer conditioning program about a week or two ago; I am itching to get that started,” said Horan.

“I start there on August 28. I really want to get started with that team and get another four years going.”

And if Horan can make as much progress over the next four years as he has with Post 218, he should have quite a career at Williams.