FINAL CUT: John Reid connects during recent action for the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team. Former Princeton High standout Reid helped Post 218 enjoy a big weekend as it posted an 11-0 win over South Brunswick Post 401 on Saturday and then edged North Hamilton 5-4 a day later. Post 218, which improved to 4-19 with the victories, was slated to wrap up its season by playing at Hamilton Post 31 on July 14. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Chris Maselli scuffled a bit in the first inning as he started on the mound for the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team against visiting South Brunswick at Smoyer Park.

Wiry right-hander Maselli gave up a single and walked another batter but got out of the frame unscathed with some help from his teammates.

“My catcher (Gideon Friedberg) really picked me up in the first inning,” said Maselli, a former Pennington School standout who just finished his freshman year at Methodist University in North Carolina.

“He threw the kid out at first and then the kid out at third. It really just helps when you make mistakes as a pitcher and your infield can pick you up and get you out of situations like that.”

Post 218 picked it up at the bat in the bottom of the first, pushing across five runs as Steve Majeski, Chris Sumners, and Nick Perez each contributed RBI singles.

“When you come up as the home team and score five, that gives you confidence,” said Maselli.

“We have been struggling this year; we haven’t been able to do as much as we would like. To come out and be leading 5-0 after one, it gives the pitcher all the confidence in the world.”

Over the next four innings, Maselli did what he liked on the mound, retiring all 12 batters he faced as Post 218 pulled away to 11-0 in a game shortened to five innings due to the 10-run rule.

“I was throwing my curve ball pretty well,” said Maselli. “I was starting off a lot of kids with the fast ball on the first pitch and then I would come right back with the curve ball. I felt like I got to a lot of 0-2 counts where I then just took over.”

It felt good for Post 218 to get the victory as it was mired in an eight-game losing streak, having not won since it topped Trenton Post 93/182 3-0 in the second game of a doubleheader on June 20.

“It means a lot, especially as an older guy,” said Maselli. “I can see the perspective; going to play in college is all kinds of fun but we have got a lot of young guys on this team that are going to be playing and representing Princeton for the years to come and we need to show them that we are a team that can compete.”

Post 218 manager Tommy Parker liked the competitive spirit his team displayed against South Brunswick as it bounced back from a 20-0 loss to Allentown on Friday evening.

“These guys could have come in here with their heads hanging down and buried already but they kept their focus which is a great thing,” said Parker.

“They had a smart game at the plate, they scored a lot of runs and took advantage of opportunities. It was also solid defense. I don’t think we made an error in the game so that was great. John Reid made a great play in left field, Alex Deutsch made two great catches in center field. They played like we have been telling them all year that they are capable of.”

Maselli has showed good focus on the mound all summer for Post 218.

“Chris was excellent; he has been that iron man for us all year,” said Parker. “He is our go-to guy in pitching and in attitude. He doesn’t get ruffled. The last time we played these guys, he pitched against them and pitched a decent game. We fell apart behind him. We didn’t hit and he wanted the ball back so I wanted to oblige that and it was a good outing. He was hitting with his breaking ball, he took control and did a great job.”

The Princeton offense did a great job as Sumners went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and Majeski ended up 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.

“Sumners has come alive in this part of the season,” said Parker. “Stevie is hitting again, which is good to see. Matt Lambert is hitting the ball hard. He has been a spark, he is doing a good job. It was a total team effort, these guys have been hitting it lately.”

Parker is happy to see his team ending the season on a high note. “I want them to battle to the end, that is the whole thing,” said Parker, whose team edged North Hamilton 5-4 on Sunday to improve to 4-19 and was slated to wrap up its season by playing at Hamilton Post 31 on July 14.

“They need to play like they are capable of playing. Even against the best in the league, these guys have been in these games. They keep bouncing back. I have to give all the credit to the guys who keep showing up.”

Maselli, for his part, believes that playing hard to the end this summer will help the players who come back for the 2016 campaign.

“We are a team that can win, so to come out here and win nice like this gives them confidence going into next year,” said Maselli.