IN CONTROL: Princeton High junior star Teddy Durbin delivers the ball last Saturday as PHS defeated Hamilton 8-4 in its season opener. Durbin struck out four and gave up three runs on three hits in 4 and 2/3 innings to earn the win. He also went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI to contribute to a PHS batting attack that pounded out 12 hits and scored three runs in both the first and sixth innings. The Little Tigers are slated to host WW/P-North on April 4 before playing at Notre Dame on April 6, at Lawrenceville on April 9 and at Trenton on April 10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Dave Roberts doesn’t mince words in describing what he expects from his Princeton High baseball team this spring.

“Last year, you could call it rebuilding,” said PHS head coach Roberts, whose team posted a 6-17-1 record in 2017. “This year we are old and we have no excuses. We have eight seniors, four juniors, a freshman and a sophomore.”

The Little Tigers have built a solid pitching rotation in junior Teddy Durbin, junior Ben Amon, senior Paul Cooke, and senior Mike Ramirez.

“Teddy has improved and gotten better from last year. We expect the same consistency this spring,” said Roberts of the lefty who struck out four and gave up three runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings to get the win as PHS defeated Hamilton 8-4 in its season opener last Saturday.

“He just goes out on the mound and competes. That is what I expect from him. Ben has looked really good in the preseason; he worked really hard over the summer, fall, and winter, and his velocity is up. Either Cooke or Ramirez will be in the three spot, so we are experienced in the staff. From my perspective, we are set there with those four.”

The smooth-swinging Cooke provides consistency to the PHS batting order.

“Paul will be in the second spot, like that Kris Bryant/Aaron Judge move in the majors, guys who hit second because that is a huge RBI spot,” said Roberts. “Paul had 18 RBIs last year. His offensive capabilities are special.”

The Little Tigers boast other capable hitters at the top of the lineup including senior Jaedyn Paria, Durbin, senior Alec Silverman, junior Eli Okoye, and senior Zack Yoelson-Angeline. In the victory over Hamilton, Yoelson-Angeline led the way, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs with Tommy Reid going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and  Silverman picking up two RBIs.

In the field, battle-tested catcher senior Silverman, a three-year starter, will anchor things.

“Alec is our stalwart there, he is the backbone,” said Roberts, whose team will look to keep on the winning track as it hosts WW/P-North on April 4 before playing at Notre Dame on April 6, at the Lawrenceville School on April 9, and at Trenton on April 10. 

“We are giving him a lot of responsibility this year; I have had a ton of conversations with him. He had a great year last year. I expect to see that out of him if not better.”

Around the diamond, Durbin and junior Reid will play first base with senior David Valente at second, promising freshman Tommy Delany at shortstop, and Ramirez at third with Okoye, Paria, and Cooke in the outfield with the versatile Reid also seeing time there depending on who is pitching.

In the view of Roberts, being stuck indoors for much of the preseason due to the inclement weather that hit the area served to bring the team together.

“The time in the gym has jelled them; there is good cohesion and I am super happy with the leadership structure,” said Roberts, noting that Silverman and Ramirez are serving as team captains. “The key to success is just play consistent infield defense. I think that plagued us a little bit last year.”