(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) RELIEF EFFORT: Princeton Little League 11-year-old all-star pitcher Joaquin Burt fires the ball last Saturday against Sunnybrae in the title contest in the District 12 tournament. Burt came on in relief and gave up just two runs over the last three innings. Despite Burt’s mound work, Princeton fell 9-5 to Sunnybrae.

Princeton Little League 11s Take Big Step; Making District 12 Championship Round

Bill Alden

Trailing powerful Sunnybrae 7-2 in the second inning last Saturday in the District 12 championship game, the Princeton 11-year-old all star team could have gotten discouraged.

Instead, Princeton battled back, scoring a run in the top of the third and then tacking on two more in the fourth on RBI hits by Aaron Lichtblau and Tim Frawley.

After yielding two runs in the bottom of the fifth to fall behind 9-5, Princeton was not about to go down meekly in its last at-bat. With Thomas Itkoff, Colin Taylor, and Frawley getting singles, Princeton loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth. The rally stalled, however, and Sunnybrae held on for a 9-5 triumph.

While Princeton manager Matt Frawley had hoped to see his team win a title, he had no qualms with his players’ competitive spirit.

“They don’t give up,” said Frawley, whose club fell 14-7 to Sunnybrae on Friday in the first game of the championship round to set up Saturday’s winner-take-all game in the double elimination tourney.

“Even last night when we were down 14-3, we scored four runs and made it a game. I knew today that we would believe in ourselves more. I am really proud of them.”

Frawley credited Sunnybrae with playing a solid game. “Today the difference was the plate discipline of Sunnybrae,” explained Frawley.

“They didn’t swing for the fences; they had a few hits to the leftfielder that were just good pop check swings. They didn’t try to overswing it and they got the bat on the ball. They let Joaquin [Princeton pitcher Joaquin Burt] supply the power and got good hits. I was impressed.”

Princeton’s tournament run was impressive as it became the first team from the town’s Little League program to make a District 12 final in recent memory, if ever.

“It was great, it was inspiring,” asserted Frawley. “The last thing I wanted for the team was for them to think that they had lost something here when they had achieved so much. They had made it into the district finals which was such an achievement. They are pretty upset right now which is understandable; it was right there for them. Overall, this is just magical.”

In Frawley’s view, his players will learn some valuable lessons from their near miss.

“It was a good experience; they realized that they need to be more disciplined,” added Frawley.

“They can’t let their emotions get to them. They were good. They started to crack a little bit on Monday and Tuesday nights but they got themselves back together and battled back.”

Frawley believes his players will do what it takes to get themselves even better.

“These guys are hungry; they want to work and we’ll keep working with them,” said Frawley. “We will get them in the batting cages and really get them to be a little more disciplined. With our defense and pitching, if we are a little better hitters, we are going to be a formidable club.”

The team’s tournament success over the last two summers should make it formidable when it competes in its final District 12 tournament next year.

“They have been here,” said Frawley. “I think last year was neat; making it to fourth was good. This year, it was we belong here. I think they look at these teams and think we can beat these teams. They are not going to walk in and say its Sunnybrae or Nottingham, it is over. They say if we play our game, we are going to be right in there and we have a chance to win. That is really nice for next year.”

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