LOCKED IN: Princeton Little League (PLL) player Matthew Brophy shows his focus as he waits for a pitch in the 2022 District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament. Brophy starred as PLL went on to win the tourney. Brophy’s hitting and pitching has helped the PLL squad reach the championship round of this year’s District 12 tournament. Brophy was the winning pitcher as Princeton topped HTRBA 9-3 last Thursday to start play in the tourney. On Sunday, Brophy starred on the mound and contributed a single as Princeton defeated Ewing 7-3 to reach the championship round of the double-elimination competition. PLL will face the victor of the elimination game between Ewing and Millstone-Roosevelt in the final round needing one win in two games to advance to the Section 3 Tournament at the Middletown. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Princeton Little League (PLL) team got ready to bat in the bottom of the second inning against Ewing last Sunday in a winner’s bracket game in the District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament, the Rolling Stones’ hit “Start Me Up” blared over the loudspeaker at the Farmview Fields.

With the foes locked in a 0-0 tie, PLL lived up to the lyrics of the Rolling Stones’ classic, scoring three runs in the frame to go up 3-0. The Princeton squad tacked on two more runs in the third and a pair in the fourth on the way to a 7-3 victory and spot in the championship round of the double-elimination competition.

Princeton manager Rick Babich liked the way players throughout the batting order jump-started things.

“What I love about our lineup is that I have confidence in one through 11,” said Babich, whose team topped HTRBA 9-3 last Thursday to start play in the District 12 tourney. “Two games in a row, James Powers and Jack Maguire at the bottom of our lineup have come up with clutch RBI hits. You know some teams have to worry when you say the bottom of the lineup; we don’t worry about it. We play small ball; what we are trying to do is play it smartly and really make good decisions. The maturity showed through, the focus showed through. I am really proud of them.”

On the mound, star pitcher Matthew Brophy has displayed his maturity, striking out six and giving up one run on the win over HTRBA and then striking out 10 in six innings against Ewing.

“His preparation for the game, his focus is really second to none on our team,” said Babich of Brophy. “I think that comes from being the more mature player on our team and having been here before on this stage and the workhorse that he has been. He came through for us today. He knows how to place his pitches, he knows how to mix his pitches. He brings confidence to the mound every time. It doesn’t matter if he starts 3-0 on a batter, he is not afraid to throw a breaking pitch. With Matthew on the mound, we know we are in the game to the very end. That is the leadership and the confidence he brings to everybody.”

The pitching of Noah Prete out of the bullpen is also a confidence builder for PLL as he struck out the side in the seventh inning to seal the deal in the win over Ewing.

“That is some of the best stuff he has had,” said Babich. “As you get to a higher level, the velocity only takes you so far. What Noah has learned to do in the last year is mix in off-speed and breaking pitches and it has served him so well. You could see the kids don’t know whether to load or sit back on it.”

After having won the tournament last year, the Princeton players are thrilled to make a return trip to the championship round.

“It means a lot, they are excited,” said Babich, whose squad will face the victor of the elimination game between Ewing and Millstone-Roosevelt in the final round needing one win in two games to advance to the Section 3 Tournament at the Middletown.

“These teams are gunning for us, they know we are a strong team. We know that we are the defending champions. We know that every team that plays us is going to strategize. We are ready, we don’t care who we play. We just know we have the right people on the team.”

In Babich’s view, the squad has the right mentality to earn a title repeat.

“They come here to play and they support each other,” said Babich. “They are selfless. When we are calling a steal and they have to take a pitch and it is a strike, they know it is for the team. A kid gets on and everyone wants to get a big hit, but if they score on an error or a pop up gets an RBI, they are still happy. To me, that selflessness is why they win together. I am confident with this group of guys. They are hardworking and it is just a good group of boys.”