DUNK YOU VERY MUCH: Pat Higgins of YSU (Young Sports Unlimited) dunks the ball in recent action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Monday, Higgins tallied 13 points to help second-seeded YSU defeat seventh-seeded SpeedPro 78-52 in a quarterfinal contest. YSU will face third-seeded Princeton Supply, who topped PATH Academy 53-41 in the other quarterfinal on Monday, in the league semis. The other quarterfinals are slated for Wednesday night and pit top-seeded LoyalTees against eighth-seeded Jefferson Plumbing and fourth-seeded and defending champion Majeski Foundation against fifth-seeded AEI. The semifinals are slated for July 28 at the Community Park Courts with the best-of-three championship series starting on July 31 at CP. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Pat Higgins and his teammates on the YSU (Young Sports Unlimited) squad brought a business-like attitude as they faced SpeedPro last Monday night in the quarterfinals of the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League.

“We have got a really unselfish group, we have jelled really well all season,” said Higgins. “There wasn’t really any change — just treat it like we have been playing all year, like any other game.”

Second-seeded YSU got a good game from seventh-seeded SpeedPro in the early stages of the contest as it led by 24-18. But wearing down a shorthanded SpeedPro team which had only six players on hand, YSU built a 37-24 halftime lead and then pulled away to a 78-52 victory.

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MAKING IRISH HISTORY: Chris Fake brings the ball upfield in a game this spring for the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team. Fake, a former Hun School standout, joined Notre Dame as a grad student this year and made the most out of his final college season, solidifying the back line and helping the Fighting Irish win their first-ever national title. In 2018, he helped the Yale University men’s lacrosse team win its first NCAA title in his freshman campaign. Moving up to the professional ranks, Fake is currently playing for the Waterdogs in the Premier Lacrosse League. (Photo provided courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics)

By Bill Alden

In 2018, Chris Fake produced a stellar debut campaign for the Yale University men’s lacrosse team, emerging as All-American defender for the Bulldogs who went on to win the program’s first NCAA title.

This past spring, Fake, a former Hun School standout, joined the Notre Dame men’s lax program as a grad student and made the most out of his final college season, solidifying the back line and helping the Fighting Irish win their first-ever national title.

For Fake, helping a second program win its first national title was a great way to culminate his college career. more

LION-HEARTED: Ali Surace marks a foe this spring in her debut season for the Columbia University women’s lacrosse team. Surace, a former Princeton Day School soccer and lax standout, emerged as a key defender for Columbia. Playing in all 15 games for the Lions, starting nine, Surace picked up seven ground balls and had six caused turnovers. (Photo provided courtesy of Columbia Athletics)

By Bill Alden

Ali Surace knows Princeton University like the back of her hand, but when it came time to choose a college last year, she knew it was time to go elsewhere. more

KEEPING UP WITH JONES: Troy Jones heads to the basket during his career for the East Stroudsburg University men’s basketball program. Last Wednesday, Jones tallied 15 points to help Princeton Supply defeat Planet Fitness 65-47 in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Two days later, Princeton Supply topped AEI 86-66 as improved to 6-1. (Photo provided courtesy of East Stroudsburg University Athletics)

By Bill Alden

After starring for the Notre Dame High and East Stroudsburg University basketball programs, Troy Jones has taken his hoops talents thousands of miles away. more

ROCK AND ROLL: Princeton High boys’ track star Zach Della Rocca displays his form in a 2022 race. Senior and Princeton University-bound Della Rocca enjoyed a big spring. He finished first in the 100 meters and second in the 200 at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSI AA) Group 4 state championship meet on June 10. A week earlier, Della Rocca took first in the both the 100 and 200 at the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional. At the Mercer County championship meet in late May, Della Rocca won the 200 and took second in the 100. (Photo provided by Ben Samara)

Zach Della Rocca couldn’t do any sprint training for more than six months over the fall and winter due to a leg injury, but made the most of his last two months with the Princeton High boys’ track team when he could finally run this spring.

While senior star Della Rocca was limited to upper body weight lifting during his hiatus from the track, he made a strong statement when he got back in action.

Competing in the 100 and 200 meters rather than in the 400, his main event in the 2022 spring campaign, Della Rocca proved to be dominant.

In the Mercer County Championships in late May, he took first in the 200 and second in the 100, helping PHS win the boys’ team title.

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YOUNG AND STRONG: Freddie Young Jr. looks to unload the ball for the YSU (Young Sports Unlimited)squad last week in Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League action. Last Wednesday, former Princeton Day School/Trenton Catholic standout and current Lincoln University player Young scored 15 points to help YSU defeat Majeski Foundation 62-42. On Monday night, YSU fell 48-41 to LoyalTees as it dropped to 5-2. In other action on Monday, SpeedPro topped Jefferson Plumbing 56-51 and PATH Academy defeated Planet Fitness 51-45. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

It was sweltering last Wednesday evening with the temperature hovering in the high 80s and the air thick with humidity and Freddie Young Jr. had to push through some fatigue as well as the heat when he hit the Community Park courts for YSU (Young Sports Unlimited) in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League.

Having gone through a series of workouts earlier in the day in preparing for his second season with the Lincoln University hoops program, former Princeton Day School/Trenton Catholic Academy standout Young grinded his way to 11 points as YSU jumped out to a 30-17 halftime lead over Majeski Foundation, a squad comprised of players from The College of New Jersey men’s hoops team.

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OUT AT HOME: Princeton Post 218 American Legion catcher Peter Hare tags out a Lawrence Post 414 runner in action last Saturday. Despite Hare’s heroics, Princeton ended up losing 13-2 to Lawrence. Post 218, which moved to 3-17 with an 18-1 loss to Hamilton Post 31 on Sunday, was slated to wrap up its season by hosting Allentown on July 11 and hosting North Hamilton a day later to finish a game that was suspended on Sunday due to rain that hit the area late in the afternoon. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Peter Nielsen has emphasized two character traits in taking the helm of the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team this summer.

“What I have said to the team is that my two things are attitude and effort, that is all I ask for,” said Nielsen. “It is keeping your heads up when things don’t go right.”

Last Saturday, Post 218 demonstrated those traits as it hosted Lawrence Post 414. Princeton was trailing 5-0 heading into the bottom of the second inning and was able to draw three straight walks and then scratch out two runs on groundouts by Roman Howe and Anders Hedin.

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FOLLOWING THROUGH: Princeton High softball player Ellie van der Schaar grits her teeth as she takes a swing in a game this spring. Junior standout van der Schaar helped PHS show progress down the street as it went 5-6 in its last 11 games to go 6-14 and made an appearance in the state tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

When the Princeton High softball team started this spring by losing eight of its first nine games, getting outscored 98-25 in the process, it looked like the squad was headed to a dismal season.

But with its core of young players learning from the setbacks and developing confidence, PHS went 5-6 in its last 11 games, earning a spot in the state tournament. more

LEVEL BEST: Princeton Day School softball player Adriana Salzano displays her level swing in a game this spring. Junior star Salzano batted .703 with 15 runs and 15 RBIs to help PDS go 3-8 this spring. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While the Princeton Day School softball team went through an up-and-down spring as it dealt with numbers issues, it ended the spring on a high note.

Trailing Trenton High 15-8 heading into the bottom of the last inning of its final game, PDS exploded for eight runs in the frame to pull out a dramatic 16-15 victory.

“That was good because, we were losing for the first five innings, we came back in the seventh,” said PDS head coach Angela Adams, who guided the Panthers to a 3-8 record. “It was an exciting way to end the season for sure.” more

X-FACTOR: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Emily Ix displays her focus on the defensive end in a game this spring. Senior star Ix’s excellence at both ends of the field sparked Stuart as it posted a final record of 5-10 in 2023. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For the Stuart Country Day School lacrosse team, its two games against Steinert this spring reflected the growth of the squad.

On April 26, Stuart fought hard against the Spartans but fell 11-8. Ten days later, the Tartans turned the tables on Steinert, rolling to an 18-7 win. more

BANNER DAY: Members of the Princeton Little League squad are all smiles after they defeated Ewing 10-9 last Friday evening to win the District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament. Princeton will now compete in the Section 3 tournament in Middletown with its first game slated for July 5.

By Bill Alden

With the championship round of the District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament delayed by two days due to rainouts, the Princeton Little League squad was out of sync as it took the Farmview Fields last Thursday evening against Ewing.

Needing one win in the double-elimination competition to earn its second straight District 12 title, PLL couldn’t get its bats going as it fell 6-2 to Ewing to face a winner-take-all finale on Friday. more

BOUNCING BACK: Sean Kelly of AEI, right, dribbles the ball in recent action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Wednesday, Kelly tallied a game-high 13 points to help AEI defeat previously undefeated YSU 49-41 and improve to 2-1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Sean Kelly and his teammates on the AEI squad are bringing some extra motivation to the court as they compete this season in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League.  more

PUTTING ON A SHOW: Shoshi Henderson heads upfield this spring in her sophomore season for the Pomona-Pitzer College women’s lacrosse team. Former Princeton High star Henderson tallied 21 goals and 78 assists to help Pomona produce the best season in program history as it went 21-2 and advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. (Photo provided courtesy of Pomona-Pitzer Athletics)

By Bill Alden

In 2022, Shoshi Henderson produced a record-breaking freshman season for the Pomona-Pitzer College women’s lacrosse team.

Former Princeton High star Henderson piled up 132 points on 42 goals and 90 assists, setting program single-season marks in points and assists.

Coming into her sophomore campaign this spring, Henderson realized it would be hard to match the statistics she generated in her debut campaign and turned her focus to other goals. more

STICKING WITH IT: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse player Archer Ayers heads upfield in action this spring. Senior star midfielder Ayers tallied 11 goals and eight assists this season to help PHS go 9-8.  (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Trailing Northern Highlands 11-5 at halftime in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA North Jersey Group 3 tournament, the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team could have thrown in the towel. more

RIDING HIGH: Zahrion Blue goes to the hoop this past winter for the Rider University men’s basketball team. Former Princeton High boys’ hoops star and Lincoln University standout Blue averaged 2.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 30 games for the Broncs as a grad student. This summer Blue has returned for another campaign with the LoyalTees squad in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Wednesday, Blue tallied 28 points to help LoyalTees top Jefferson Plumbing 85-73. On Monday, Blue scored 28 points again as LoyalTees defeated Speed Pro 85-70 to improve to 3-1. (Photo provided courtesy of Rider University Sports Communications)

By Bill Alden

After having starred for the Princeton High boys’ basketball team and Lincoln University, Zahrion Blue earned a shot to play at the Division I level this past winter as he joined the Rider University hoops program as a grad student.

For Blue, getting the chance to play for the Broncs was special. more

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. more

RETURN ENGAGEMENT: Princeton High boys’ tennis player Jonathan Gu smacks a forehand last Thursday as he battled Liam Kilmer of Mendham in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) boys’ state singles final at the Mercer County Park tennis complex. Senior star Gu, who won the title in 2022, battled valiantly but Kilmer ended up prevailing 7-5, 6-1. Gu, who went 19-2 in his final PHS campaign, is headed to Carnegie Mellon where he will be playing for its men’s tennis program. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Jonathan Gu was running late for his Princeton High graduation ceremony last Thursday, but he had a pretty good excuse.

PHS boys’ tennis star Gu had some important business to take care of in the afternoon before he could meet up with his classmates as he was competing in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) boys’ state singles final at the Mercer County Park tennis complex.

Gu, who won the competition last year, was a bit surprised to be playing for the title for a second straight year. more

FAB FOUR: Members of the Wilberforce School girls’ track4x800-meter relay enjoy the moment after the placed first in the event at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Meet of Champions last Thursday at Franklin High. Pictured, from left, are Laura Sallade, Sophia Park, Adeline Edwards, and Gwen Mersereau. Earlier this month, the quartet helped the Wilberforce girls’ squad place first in the team standings at the NJSIAA Non-Public B championship meet for the first time in program history. (Photo provided by Lois Szeliga)

By Bill Alden

Although the Wilberforce School girls’ track team is small in numbers, it had some big expectations heading into the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public B championship meet early this month.

“You can see the rankings and where you can score points,” said Wilberforce head coach Lois Szeliga. “I knew that we had a chance to win and the girls all knew that.” more

COMING IN CONTACT: Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball player Nate Nydick makes contact in recent action. Last Saturday, Princeton High rising junior Nydick had a double, two walks, and one RBI as Princeton defeated Trenton Post 93/182 10-7. Post 218, which fell 8-4 to Hightstown Post 148 last Monday to move to 2-6, plays Allentown on June 21 at Mercer County Park, plays at Lawrence Post 414 on June 22, and hosts Hamilton Post 31 on June 23, Lawrence on June 24, and North Hamilton on June 27. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team clinging to a 2-1 lead over Trenton Post 93/182 in the fourth inning last Sunday at Smoyer Park, Nate Nydick lofted a fly ball to center field that appeared to be catchable.

But the Trenton outfielder slipped and the ball sailed over his head for a double that ignited a two-run rally for Post 218 as it went ahead 4-1. more