Offensive onslaught carries West Windsor over Ewing/Hopewell

HAMILTON » Austin Hodges got things started with the bat and he finished the game off with his arm, but in between was a brilliant pitching performance from Luke Potts.

The two were just a part of a very impressive showing by West Windsor-Plainsboro.

The Green and Gold banged out 13 hits and took care of Ewing/Hopewell Valley, 12-2, in six innings on Tuesday night in the Babe Ruth League District One 15-year old tournament being held at Hamilton’s Switlik Park.

WW-P will now face Nottingham, which has won the District One tournament as 13s and 14s on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Ewing/Hopewell Valley falls to the elimination bracket where it will meet Lawrence at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

“This was a good start for us,” said WW-P manager Sean Bluni. “We didn’t do quite what we needed to do early on, but we came around and you have to give the other team credit. I’m happy with the way we pitched and played defense and the bats finally got going.”

The winners stroked 13 hits, including three from Hodges in the leadoff spot, Jack Dileo also had three hits and Teddy Durbin and Will Raeter had a pair of safeties.

Durbin and Dileo each had a pair of RBI.

Hodges and Potts started the game with doubles and both were able to come around to score for a quick 2-0 lead.

“I like hitting leadoff,” said Hodges. “Usually I get a first pitch fastball. It’s an enjoyable position for me because if I can get on first it puts the team in a good position to score. I felt very comfortable today. I’m still working on my swing, but to be able to hit to different part of the field is good.”

Potts pitched the first five innings, before giving way to Hodges to finish up, and he allowed just four hits, struck out six and walked no one.

“In the first inning, I found the zone on the outside corner and that is where I lived the whole game,” said Potts. “It helped me when we got the lead. I don’t have to force myself to throw strikes and let the team put it in play and my guys will make the plays.”

WW-P made the plays and it was Ewing/Hopewell Valley that struggled in the field with six miscues.

The big play for E/HV came in the third when Rickey Eng sent a ball over the 310 sign in dead center to tie the game at two.

“It told me I needed to bear down,” said Potts, of the blast. “We did score in the next inning so it was good.”

One of the most important plays came in the fifth when Drew SantaMaria laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt with WW-P holding a slim 3-2 lead. When the throw went into right field two runs scored and it ignited a five-run inning to make it 8-2.

“We have really good chemistry and we have bonded really well,” said Hodges.