(Photo by Stephen Goldsmith) STEPPING UP: Steve Fuchs steps into a throw this spring for the Princeton High baseball team. The Princeton University-bound Fuchs has emerged as a leader this summer for the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team, providing strong play and experience to the youthful squad.

PU-Bound Fuchs Showing Leadership as Youthful Post 218 Takes Its Lumps

Bill Alden

Steve Fuchs knew that the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team would be fighting an uphill battle this summer as it went with a youth movement.

“We have at least three or four freshmen who are starting every game, the team is almost all underclassmen,” said former Princeton High standout Fuchs.

“They are doing a great job but playing against guys that are three or four years older, that makes a difference. I really don’t think you can ignore that factor. They are learning very quickly but they have to learn on the fly.”

As the team’s starting catcher and most experienced player, Fuchs has taken it upon himself to encourage the younger players while they take their lumps.

“You just want to tell them that we can win games,” said Fuchs, who will be going across town to Princeton University this fall.

“We can do a lot of things right, we have a lot of potential. We showed that when we beat Bordentown and when we had close games with North Trenton. We were up on Broad Street 9-0. We have played well against really good teams. We should be able to play well every day and we just can’t let our guard down.”

Last Saturday, Post 218 looked like it was on the way to a win as it jumped out to a 6-3 lead at Hopewell Post 339. But with starting pitcher Steve Etherton having to leave the game due to some arm weariness, Post 218 couldn’t hold the fort as it fell 9-6 to drop to 1-10 on the summer.

“We had the ball rolling; we were hitting the ball,” said Fuchs in reflecting on the loss which saw him go 1-for-4 with a run scored.

“They were getting some nice hops on their hits and we were hitting fly balls right at their centerfielder. We are doing a lot of things right, just not enough to win games.”

In Fuchs’ view, Post 218 is headed in the right direction. “Every time we walk on the field, I feel like we can win,” asserted Fuchs.

“I really don’t care who we are playing, how old they are or how many college players they have; I feel like we have a chance. I think we are progressing. These young kids will have a lot to take from the season, they will have really improved.”

Post 218 manager Tommy Parker took some positives from the loss to Hopewell.

“I think these guys made a pretty good effort,” said Parker, whose team fell 9-5 to Lawrence Post 414 last Monday to move to 1-11 on the season.

“What folks have to remember is that this is a real young team. We knew before the season that we were going to take our lumps. We have done a hell of a lot better than anybody expected. It has been the luck of Murphy’s Law since last night we are winning a game 9-0 and then a huge thunderstorm comes.”

Post 218, though, didn’t make its own luck in the loss to Hopewell. “I am not going to take anything away from HoVal but we may have let down a little bit towards the end there,” said Parker. “We have got to make plays.”

Parker certainly likes the play and leadership he is getting from Fuchs.

“Stevie’s been here; he knows it,” said a smiling Parker, whose team hosts Post 339 on July 6 and Broad Street Post 313 on July 7.

“I told him, ‘I am relying on you, you have to be the back bone.’ The traditional clichés apply, he’s all of them. He likes to work hard, he’s done a bang-up job.”

This fall, Fuchs will be fighting for a job on the Princeton University baseball team as he walks on to the program.

“I have talked to Scott Bradley (PU head coach) and he invited me to join the fall program,” said Fuchs.

“I’ll get to work out with the team in the fall. I am not guaranteed a spot or anything but hopefully if I keep improving this summer I can make an impression.”

Fuchs has certainly made a positive impression this summer on his Post 218 teammates.

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