WW-P South pumped for 15s World Series

One thing the West Windsor-Plainsboro Babe Ruth 15-year-old team never worries about is the scoreboard.

Through the district, state and the regional tournaments the ability to come from behind has them headed to Lawrenceburg, Tennessee and the Babe Ruth League World Series.

“This group is willing to give 100% all the time to win games,” said manager Sean Bluni. “They never quit. We trailed in four of our five games in the state and regionals and came back to win every one.”

Joining West Windsor-Plainsboro in the National Division will be Sarasota (Fla.), TriValley (Calif.), Marshall County (Tenn.) and Newtown (Conn.).

The American Division has Janesville (Wisc.), Meridan (Miss.), Bismarc (N.D.), Camas-Washougal (Wash.) and the host Lawrenceburg.

West Windsor opens on Friday with Sarasota and will probably see their ace, Alec BootHanford. The first pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.

“We are really excited to be going to the World Series,” said Bluni. “None of us expected get this far, but we realize this is a once in a lifetime opportunity so we are looking forward to it.’

Since a runner-up finish in the District One tournament the Green and Gold have gone 10-0 through the Southern New Jersey State Tournament and the Middle Atlantic Regional.

“We have been focused on a team approach since we began practicing,” said Bluni. “It has been one of the most important keys to our accomplishments. At some point during the state and regional tournaments every player did something to contribute.”

WW-P will face all the teams in its division and the top three advance to the final round with the first place team earning a firstround bye. The championship game will be held on August 17.

If there’s a game to mark on the calendar it Saturday when WW-P faces Tri-Valley. The West Coast team, which is a perennial contender, won the World Series as 13s and 14s the last two years.

Tri-Valley is also the league that denied Jim Maher’s Nottingham team a 13-yearold World Series title in 2006 at Switlik Park.

“We understand that our best chance for success at the World Series is to get every player involved,” Bluni said. “The boys are pumped and ready to go.”