PULLING IT OFF: Princeton University women’s lightweight rower Christina Warren competes in a race this spring during her senior season. Co-captain Warren ended her college career on a high note, helping the Princeton varsity 8 to a bronze medal at the IRA (Intercollegiate Rowing Association) national championship regatta earlier this month. Last week, Warren and fellow co-captain Juliette Hackett were named to the 2017 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-America team. (Photo Courtesy of Princeton’s Office of Athletic Communications)

As a young girl growing up in Sarasota, Fla., Christina Warren dreamed of being a college athlete.

Initially, Warren viewed tennis as her route to the next level, winning multiple USTA (United State Tennis Association) titles in youth competition.

But after suffering a back injury as a 15-year-old, Warren switched to rowing, joining the Sarasota Crew club program.

Warren enjoyed being part of a crew right from the start. “I think the biggest thing for me was that I was used to being on my own as an individual with tennis and when I switched to rowing it is totally the opposite,” said Warren. “It is probably the most team-oriented sport, and doing that was huge for me.”

Helping the Sarasota Crew varsity 8 to regional crowns and a seventh place finish at the USRowing youth nationals, Warren realized her dream of competing at the next level, committing to Princeton University and joining its women’s lightweight rowing program.

Over the next four years, Warren enjoyed a superb career as a college athlete, rowing for the varsity 8 all four seasons, serving as a two-time team captain, and helping the Princeton top boat take third at the IRA (Intercollegiate Rowing Association) national championship earlier this month, the first medal for the boat at the IRA since 2011. Warren and fellow co-captain Juliette Hackett were named to the 2017 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-America team.

Upon joining the Princeton program, Warren made an immediate impact.

“I was on the faster end for lightweight rowers,” said Warren, noting that she and Hackett were both in the top boat from the beginning.

“My coach [Paul Rassam] liked the way that we rowed and the way we rowed together so we stuck together through the boat progression for four years.”

In reflecting on her Princeton career, Warren acknowledges it was an uneven progression with plenty of ups and downs.

“Some of it was really, really fun and some of it was really trying,” said Warren.

“My junior year was definitely our worst year, we ended up losing six girls from the varsity 8 so that was a big hit. We learned a lot about ourselves, and I know I am going to get lapped but I better kick my own butt during this workout anyway. You learn a lot about your limits and your motivation.”

Coming into her senior year, Warren quickly got the sense that it was going to be a fun season.

“Our first row in the varsity 8 in the fall in the lineup felt 10 times better than our IRAs training lineup from the year before,” said Warren.

“I was alright, now we have something to work with. I think everybody kind of felt that and that really motivated and excited everyone to make this year as good as possible. We had a lot of younger girls come in who were motivated and they immediately took leadership positions on the team in their own little ways so it was awesome.”

Being a two-time captain gave Warren the chance to hone her leadership skills.

“Juliette and I are best friends; we work together really well,” noted Warren.

“I am a little more energetic, passionate, outgoing, and maybe a little louder. She is quieter, softer, and is more logistical. We complement each other really well. I really enjoyed it. It was a great learning experience for me, having to be a good example.”

The Tigers started the season well by taking third in the Knecht Cup, a race that draws the top women’s lightweight crews in the nation. In mid-May, Princeton placed third at the Eastern Sprints, finishing about 0.1 of a second behind second-place Wisconsin.

The photo finish at Sprints gave Princeton extra motivation as it trained for the IRA national championship regatta.

“We had a big break between sprints and IRAs,” said Warren. “Our coach printed out the picture of the finish line between us and Wisconsin and taped it on our whiteboard. This is your motivation so we were OK. We showed up every day to practice with a chip on our shoulder, a little angry and ready to go.”

Over that three-week period, the Tigers got the most of their practices as they primed for the competition which was held on Lake Natoma in Sacramento, Calif. from June 2-4.

“We worked really hard, we got a ton of miles in and a ton of really good pieces and training,” said Warren.

“We really focused and fine-tuned every part of our stroke. I think that made a huge difference going into the IRAs. We were definitely the fastest we had been all year when we got to IRAs.”

Princeton showed its speed at the IRA regatta, producing its finest performance of the spring in the grand final. The Tigers took third in a time of 6:32.890 over the 2,000-meter course with Stanford posting a winning time of 6:25.396 and Boston University taking second in 6:30.608. Nemesis Wisconsin came in fourth in 6:36.444.

“In order for us to get a medal we had to have a blazing start and not let off the gas at all,” said Warren, reflecting on the medal-winning effort.

“We were like all or nothing here, we were going all out for sure. It was the most special thing; it was definitely our fastest and best race that we had all year. It was probably the best race that I ever had as a rower so it was really special for me to end on that.”

For Warren, giving her best on the water is a lesson that will serve her well as she enters the real world.

“Our coach said you have taught us, the seniors especially, that it is so important to never give up,” said Warren, who will be starting work this summer for a marketing software company in New York City.

“We could have very easily thrown in the towel after my junior year. and we could have packed it in and said that’s it for us but we kept pushing through that. What you get out of rowing equals what you put into it. I think that is a really important life lesson as well, if you put your head down and work hard, you will get good. That was my main takeaway.”

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Hitting a golf ball with distance and accuracy is hard enough when you’re in good health, let alone when you’re in pain or recovering from an injury or surgery.

To help golfers reclaim their best game, University Medical Center of Princeton (UMCP) Outpatient Rehabilitation Network is now offering golf rehabilitation. The program helps golfers regain their strength, range of motion and correct swing mechanics to improve their game and prevent further injury, says Barbara Kutch, PT, DPT, CSCS, a Physical Therapist with the Outpatient Rehabilitation Network.

“If somebody’s coming in with pain or an injury, we do a full physical therapy evaluation to determine their limitations,” says Kutch, who is Titleist Performance Institute Certified. “We assess how those limitations cause flaws in their golf swing and work on rehabilitating that area to allow a more fluid swing.”

Golfers of All Ages

Individuals in UMCP’s golf rehab program range from high school golfers to older adults who don’t want to give up their favorite sport.

Janice Grover of West Windsor, who was a golfer in college and picked the clubs back up again a decade ago, turned to UMCP’s golf rehab program after experiencing a pinched nerve and some foot-related problems. Now, thanks to four golf rehab sessions with Kutch, Grover is back on the course and playing pain-free.

Physical therapy addresses all areas that may impact a golfer’s game — from problems with shoulders and hips to lower back pain.

“We work on exercises that relieve pain, while also working on a golf swing that is comfortable within their limitations,” Kutch says. “With back pain, for example, you might not be able to go as far into your back swing as a PGA pro, but you can still have a successful game.”

Medicare and most private insurance plans cover physical therapy with a doctor’s referral.

For more information about the Outpatient Rehabilitation Network, call 609.853.7830, or visit www.princetonhcs.org.

Pictured above: Janice Grover from West Windsor, NJ

ADOPTING AN ASH: Jason Bond, plant health care specialist at Bartlett Tree Experts, injects the white ash behind the War Memorial bench at Nassau and Mercer Streets with pesticides to attack the emerald ash borer. It is Princeton’s first street tree to be injected in the selective chemical resistance effort funded by Princeton’s ongoing Adopt-an-Ash program. (Photo Courtesy of Patricia Frawley and Alexandra Radbil)

A 50-year-old white ash behind the War Memorial bench at Nassau and Mercer Streets last Wednesday became Princeton’s first street tree to receive the chemical resistance necessary to attack the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB).

Thanks to its recent “life-of-the-tree” adoption by Bartlett Tree Experts, the healthy ash was injected with the protective insecticide, emamectin benzoate, a treatment that has been effective in the Midwest.

The Princeton Shade Tree Commission (STC), as part of its ongoing Adopt-an-Ash program, is seeking contributions from organizations, residents, and student groups; with contribution checks made out to STC Tree Fund and mailed to One Monument Drive, Princeton, NJ, 08540.

According to Princeton Arborist Lorraine Konopka, if approvals are received from Princeton Council, additional candidate trees in the public right of way and possibly some park areas will be injected with amamectin benzoate. The material is injected and therefore contained inside the tree, minimizing any exposure to the technician doing the work or the general public.

First sighted in Princeton in August 2015, the EAB is expected, within five to ten years, to kill all of Princeton’s approximately 2,000 ash trees if untreated — 11 percent of the town’s tree population.

“The public is only gradually becoming aware of the magnitude of the EAB problem,” warned Pat Hyatt of the STC. “The distressed treetops you see as you drive around Princeton and look up may well be ash trees with branches likely to crash downward on the unsuspecting. Citizens are invited, make that urged, to adopt an ash to assist in saving the still-healthy trees we hope can be preserved.”

Last Wednesday Ms. Konopka, Patricia Frawley and Alexandra Radbil of the STC, and Scott Tapp, local manager of Bartlett Tree Experts, all observed as Bartlett plant health care specialist Jason Bond began treatment of the War Memorial ash. He drilled 12 entry points along the base of the tree, inserted small metal tubes, and pumped insecticide into the tree.

The procedure lasted 15 minutes, with the injections as close as possible to the soil line so that moisture absorbed by the roots would distribute the chemical evenly up the trunk to the tree canopy, where the EAB feeds.

Absorbed insecticide reaches the uppermost foliage and twigs, which are the primary food source for the destructive beetles. Without treatment, the EAB would feed on the leaves, lay the eggs that become the larvae that live under the bark, and feed on the plant tissue, killing the tree.

By the time signs of EAB presence are more easily visible, treatment would be too late, as the larvae infestation would have moved further and further down the trunk. The easier it is to detect EAB damage, the harder it is to treat because the infestation will have spread throughout the tree.

Not every ash is a good candidate for rescue. Ms. Konopka examined the War Memorial ash tree and determined that it was healthy, with no signs of EAB infestation. The next treatment for the ash is scheduled for spring 2019, and, in the meantime, Bartlett will inspect, prune, and perform soil tests to determine what kind of fertilization is needed to maintain the tree’s health.

If a tree is already infested, removal may be the best option. “If removal is the best option,” Ms. Konopka said, “it’s safer to remove now rather than later. The removal is more complicated and dangerous if the tree is dead.”

Treatments could cost hundreds of dollars, depending on the size of the tree (between $10 and $15 per diameter inch), and must be administered every two to three years.

Property owners should be sure the tree company they are working with has a current and valid NJDEP Commercial Pesticide Applicators License, and the business should be registered with Princeton to work in town. Further information on treating ash trees on private property can be found at the Shade Tree Commission website, www.princetonshadetree.org.

SHAKESPEARE ’70 TAKES ON BIG MORAL QUESTIONS IN DARK COMEDY: Shakespeare ’70’s “Measure for Measure” will run at MCCC’s Kelsey Theatre, June 23 to July 2. In rehearsal for “Measure for Measure” are, from left, Timothy Kirk of Delran as Pompey, Russ Walsh of Morrisville, Pa., as Elbow/Abhorson, and Ernie Albanesius of Chesterfield as Froth/Barnardine. Tickets are available at www.kelseytheatre.net or by calling (609) 570-3333.

“Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall,” proclaims Shakespeare in “Measure for Measure,” coming to Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC’s) Kelsey Theatre. Dates and show times for this dark comedy are: Friday, June 23 and 30, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 24 and July 1 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, June 25 and July 2 at 2 p.m. 

Kelsey Theatre is located on the college’s West Windsor Campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew will follow the opening performance on June 23.

Set in Vienna, “Measure for Measure” explores some of society’s big moral questions — the abuse of power and merciful justice, hypocrisy and virtue, and forgiveness and repentance. Mistaken identities abound, as Shakespeare tells this morality tale with a cast of colorful characters including murderers, pimps, politicians, whores, nuns, and nobles.

The cast features John Bergeron of Pennington as Duke Vincentio; Ray Fallon of Collingswood as Angelo; Christopher C. Gibbs of Fanwood as Escalus; John Fischer of Hamilton and Michael Krahel of Hillsborough sharing the role of Claudio; Andrew Timmes of Princeton as Lucio; Scott Karlin of West Windsor as Provost; Todd Gregoire of Levittown, Pa., as Friar Peter; Timothy Kirk of Delran as Pompey; Russ Walsh of Morrisville, Pa., as Elbow/Abhorson; Ernie Albanesius of Chesterfield as Froth/Barnardine; Morgan Petronis of Ewing as Isabella; Amanda McCarther of Princeton as Mariana; Kyla Mostello Donnelly of Levittown, Pa., as Mistress Overdone; Kelly Colleran of Wayne as Juliet; Erin Leder of Bordentown as Sister Francisca; and Jenna Burke of Ringwood as Kate Keepdown.

United by a common love for classic theater, Shakespeare ’70 has produced 40 years of Shakespeare classics, spanning three generations of actors, directors, and technical crew. For many years, the company has closed out the Kelsey Theatre season with one of the Bard’s great works.

Tickets for “Measure for Measure” are $18 for adults; $16 for seniors; and $14 for students and children. Tickets may be purchased online at www.kelseytheatre.net or by calling the Kelsey box office at (609) 570-3333.

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Reverend Johan Johnson

The parishioners at Trinity Episcopal Church on Crescent Avenue in Rocky Hill have just welcomed a new vicar. The Reverend Johan Johnson divides his time between Rocky Hill and Hightstown where he serves as chaplain at the Peddie School. He lives in Hightstown with his wife and their two children, ages 5 and 7 years old.

Father Johnson’s hope is that his ministry at Trinity will include outreach that improves the life of the community. For 16 years, he served a parish with a large, aging church building in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. “In that neighborhood at the 125th Street subway station there is a long staircase and an escalator. But the escalator had been out of service for years. We got together as a group of churches to lobby the MTA to get that escalator fixed. That’s the faith community getting together and using our spirituality to make the community where we live a better place.” 

So far, in Rocky Hill he’s just been getting to know the parish and the neighborhood. “I very much like that the church building is small. In my previous parish so much of the focus had to be on maintaining the building and fixing the boiler. Here the focus can be on the people and on what our ministry is,” said Father Johnson.

He’s been inspired by what he’s seen of the congregation already. “I’ve been impressed by the choir. They take their job very seriously and they bring a great dimension to the feel of the worship service.” He’s also been moved by the care that’s gone into the memorial garden that is next to the historic church. “I’d like to see it become a place where people can come and reflect,” said Father Johnson.

And, of course, he’s taking advantage of the other wonderful things that Rocky Hill has to offer. “My family and I just got our library cards at the Mary Jacobs Library. The kids were very excited,” said Father Johnson.

Sunday morning services are at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

More information about Trinity Church can be found at: www.trinityrockyhill.org.

See below for the June 26, 2017 Princeton Council Meeting.

Town Topics Newspaper will be posting videos of all future municipal meetings.

Peter D. Thropp III

Peter D. Thropp III of Princeton and Mantoloking, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2017, in Baltimore, due to complications from a fall two days earlier.

Born in Trenton, New Jersey on December 10, 1926, he attended Junior 3 in that city, graduated from The Lawrenceville School in 1945, and received a bachelor of science degree from Yale University in 1949. His military service was with the New Jersey National Guard after World War II.

He was a champion swimmer at both Lawrenceville and Yale, affectionately referred to by his teammates as “Shoulders.” Going to the gym three times a week was routine throughout his life, maintaining a 32” waist and a 44” chest until his 70s.

Peter’s career and passion for the stock market began in New York with the brokerage firm of A.C. Allen. Over 60 years later, in Princeton, he retired reluctantly from Oppenheimer and Co. at age 88.

His heart was at the Jersey Shore, spending summers at the family home in Mantoloking, where he and his wife, Patty, moved permanently in 2015. Over the years, the beach house was a gathering spot for family and friends where cherished memories were made. A long-time member of the Bay Head Yacht Club, Peter enjoyed dinner on the deck at sunset, relaxing on the beach, catching the waves, and riding his bike. In recent years, he was happy sitting on the porch and chatting with both “doggies” and dog walkers as they strolled by. His affection for animals was second only to his devotion to family.

Although in declining health for several years, Peter had rebounded from serious medical conditions and was called a miracle man. He was mentally sharp, determined to move around with his cane, and was still driving the day before the fall.

He was predeceased by his mother, Evelyn W. Henry; father, Peter D. Thropp, Jr.; step-father Edward A. Henry; and sister Susan C. Henry. Surviving are his beloved wife of 60 years, Patty (née Duvall); and his brother Clifford W. Henry (Michele) of Vero Beach, Fla. He also leaves behind his devoted sons, Brooks (Betsy); grandsons Peter and Davis, all of Monkton, Md; Christopher (Jill); grandchildren Kelsey, Christian, and Will of Mechanicsburg, Pa; and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, August 4 in Bay Head, N.J. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 500 Lake Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: SAVE — A Friend to Homeless Animals, 1010 Route 601, Skillman, NJ 08558.

To the Editor:

The American Health Care Act (AHCA), which was recently passed by the House and will be voted on soon by the Senate, will have painful and irreversible impacts on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who rely on the Medicaid program. Although many people know that Medicaid covers the cost of medical expenses for low-income individuals, they are less aware that it pays for the long-term supports and services that people with I/DD depend on. Medicaid provides more services than I can possibly list, but to name a few, it’s what allows people in New Jersey to live in group homes, attend day programs, and receive behavioral supports. The AHCA would lead to $834 billion in cuts over the next ten years and I can assure you that people with I/DD and their families living in New Jersey will feel the pain of those cuts. They will definitively see a reduced level of services, and in all likelihood, the elimination of other services entirely. Legislators in Washington need to understand that Medicaid’s home and community based services are “optional” for states and therefore are likely to be the first things that are cut. I urge New Jersey’s Congressional delegation to fight back against these proposals as the implementation of these cuts will decimate the services people with I/DD require throughout their lifetime.

Joanne Bergin

Incoming Board President for The Arc of New Jersey

To the Editor:

I am a proud alumna of Princeton High School, Class of 1983. I was saddened and concerned to hear of the suspension of an African American student at PHS on the basis of a work of art that appeared in the background of a photograph in the yearbook [“PHS Senior Suspended for One Day Over ’Offensive’ Yearbook Collage,” June 14, page 7]. Years ago, my own efforts to speak out about racial issues at PHS often earned me trips to the principal’s office, but no violation of my First Amendment rights. I am sorry to hear that PHS has chosen to punish rather than to support this courageous young woman. I hope that students of color at PHS will receive the support and education they deserve. Princeton can do better!

Ariela Gross

John B. & Alice Sharp Professor of Law & History

University of Southern California

To the Editor:

Given the recent exit of the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, it is up to all of us to continue direct action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our own community. This is why I have joined the Keep It Cool campaign to reduce energy waste in Princeton this summer.

Retailers that run the air conditioning during hot summer months and open their doors to attract customers drive up costs, waste energy, increase local pollution, and stress the power grid. Keep It Cool (from generation180.org) gives consumers an easy way to encourage retail stores around the country to close their doors and stop wasting energy.

According to utilities experts, the average store with a door open over the summer wastes about 4,200 kWh of electricity, releasing about 2.2 tons of carbon dioxide and other substances — the same amount of pollution emitted by a diesel semi-truck driving from New York to Miami. Some cities have already enacted laws requiring retailers to close their doors when the air conditioning is running. In 2015, New York City passed a law requiring closed doors as part of a sweeping sustainability plan geared towards reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Informed consumers want retailers to be good citizens. As a dedicated downtown shopper, I avoid stores that choose to prop their doors open while their AC is running, because I feel that their owners are showing lack of care for the climate. The Princeton community should support retail businesses, but also be dedicated to reducing waste and pollution. I encourage retailers to keep their doors closed to conserve energy, starting now.

Caroline Hancock

Laurel Road

To the Editor:

Having just completed ArtJam 2017, I would like to take a moment to recognize the generous support of the entire Princeton community for helping us to make this year, our seventh, a tremendous success. The proceeds from our pop-up Art Gallery, which featured unique creations by over 130 artists, allows us to continue to maintain and expand the Therapeutic Arts program offered at HomeFront, empowering our clients to break the cycle of poverty.

We are deeply indebted to Palmer Square for once again graciously donating the space at 19 Hulfish to host our gallery. A special thanks to all the participating artists and donors who generously gave of their time, creativity, and support enabling us to create a truly outstanding visual and tactile display of unique creations. And we are grateful for the many volunteers whose immeasurable hours of effort made the event possible.

I would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the entire Princeton community and Princeton University alumnae for visiting and supporting ArtJam.

It is only through the continued support of our philanthropic community that we are able to achieve our goals and continue our mission. I look forward to welcoming you once again at ArtJam 2018.

Ruthann Traylor

Director, ArtSpace, HomeFront

ACTION JAXON: Princeton Little League (PLL) player Jaxon Petrone takes a rip in the opening round of the District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament last Sunday. Petrone went 2-for-4 with a double, a run, and three RBIs to help PLL defeat West End 18-6. Princeton will face West End in the championship round of the tourney, needing one win to clinch the crown in the double-elimination competition. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

There was nothing complicated about the game plan for the Princeton Little League (PLL) as it faced West End in the opening round of the District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament last Sunday.

“We had been challenging our guys saying look, these guys haven’t had a tough game all spring because they hadn’t been playing that high a level of competition in Little League during the regular season,” said PLL manager Jon Durbin.

“We said if we can get out there and get off to a good start, I guarantee you they are going to crack.”

Executing those instructions with aplomb, PLL started cracking the ball all over the diamond at Farmview Field from the start as Andy Lambert led off the game with a double on the first pitch. Two batters later, Palmer Mauer launched a blast over the left field fence for a three-run homer to give PLL a 3-0 lead. In the second inning, Jaxon Petrone pounded a two-run double off the fence to extend the cushion to 7-0.

“You could see their body language just when they were down 4-0, 5-0 right out of the gate,” recalled Durbin, noting that Princeton starting pitcher Bobby Kuczynski was sharp.

“Their heads dropped, their shoulders were down. You get the Andy Lambert double right out of the gate, Palmer cranks the three-run homer and then Bobby goes out there and pitched literally three terrific innings. He had the hitters on the other team baffled at that point. I give those guys a lot of credit for really setting the tone from the offensive front to the pitching front. It really set us up nicely for the rest of the game.”

The game did get dicey as West End rallied for six runs in the fourth inning to narrow the PLL lead to 10-6. Princeton, though, responded with three runs in the top of the fifth and went on to an 18-6 triumph, qualifying for the championship round of the double-elimination tournament.

“I thought the other big turning point was after we gave up the six runs, we came right back out there and got three,” said Durbin.

“You could see it again, their heads dropped again and they thought this is really it, we are going to lose this thing.”

Noting that the squad has eight 13-year-olds this year, Durbin believes that maturity made a difference against West End.

“Last year if something like that had happened, I think our team would have probably cracked and the other team would have brought the hammer down on us,” said Durbin, crediting Jaxon Petrone with battling on the mound in the fourth inning  and Dillon Choudhri for closing the door on West End with 1 2/3 scoreless innings down the stretch.

“Having that many more 13-year-olds on the team, most of whom were on the team last year, you see how much they have progressed skill-wise and maturity-wise. You could see that whole game.”

Having finished second in the District 12 tourney last year to Millstone-Roosevelt after winning the title in 2014 and 2015, PLL is hungry to regain the crown.

“I know for a fact that those guys felt like last year that they let one get away from them,” said Durbin.

“The guys who were 12-year-olds last year felt they really let last year’s title get away from them. I think they definitely feel like they have something to prove this year.”

Facing once-beaten West End in the championship round with two chances to get the clinching win, Durbin is confident his team will get the job done.

“They are definitely fired up,” said Durbin, whose team was slated to host West End on June 27 with an if-necessary game to be played the next day.

“The challenges the coaches gave them after the game were to just show up with the same kind of mindset that they had going into this one, which is put the pressure on the other team right out of the gate in the first inning or two. The other big challenge is don’t show up overconfident and think that somehow the other team is just going to lay down.”

SOLO PERFORMANCE: Alex Solopenkov heads up the field during his career with the Princeton High football team. Recently graduated Solopenkov will wrap up his high school football career as he plays for the West team in the 21st annual Sunshine Football Classic at The College of New Jersey on June 29. He will be joined on the squad by PHS teammates Ethan Guerra and Matt Hawes. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Transferring to Princeton High from North Brunswick midway through his sophomore year, Alex Solopenkov was an unknown quantity when he hit the football field for the Little Tigers in the fall of 2015.

“Everyone didn’t really know who I was or what I was about,” said Solopenkov.

Seeing time at running back and receiver on offense and in the secondary on defense, Solopenkov showed everyone that he was a versatile performer as the Little Tigers went 4-6.

“I like playing both ways, obviously it would be nice to be on one side where you can get a rest and just go on,” said Solopenkov. “It is fun. It is a good experience, you can see what you are more into.”

Last fall, Solopenkov had a valuable experience, serving as one of the captains for PHS, striving to help hold the squad together as it battled its way through a tough 1-9 campaign.

“I felt more comfortable with the team,” said Solopenkov. “My junior year, I came in, not knowing a lot of the people. As a captain, I had to talk for everyone. When something wasn’t going well, I had to say things. It was nice having all the younger kids looking up to you.”

Solopenkov set a good example for his younger teammates, getting chosen to play for the West squad in the 21st annual Sunshine Football Classic at The College of New Jersey on June 29.

Solopenkov’s prowess at safety this past fall helped pave the way for his selection to the Sunshine game.

“In my junior year, I wanted to be more of a receiver and I kind of changed,” said Solopenkov.

“I ended loving up defense so my senior year I just focused on that. I went from being a corner to playing safety. My freshman year at North Brunswick,
I played corner and then I played safety. I like safety more than corner.”

Solopenkov, who is heading to the University of Pittsburgh, is focused on joining the school’s football program as a walk-on.

“I have been training for almost four months, I have gained 20 pounds but I have gotten faster,” said the 5’11 Solopenkov, who now weighs 180 pounds after playing at 160 last fall.

In Solopenkov’s view, competing in the Sunshine game will be memorable no matter what happens at Pitt.

“I was very happy, a few guys got to go last year and it was neat,” said Solopenkov, who will be joined on the West squad by PHS teammates Ethan Guerra and Matt Hawes.

“I am not sure what is going to happen in the future so being able to get another game in high school will be fun.”

HANDS ON: Princeton High football player Ethan Guerra, left, battles in the trenches during a game last fall. Recently graduated star lineman Guerra will play the final game of his football career as he competes for the West team in the 21st annual Sunshine Football Classic at The College of New Jersey on June 29. He will be joined on the squad by PHS teammates Alex Solopenkov and Matt Hawes. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Ethan Guerra experienced plenty of ups and downs during his career with the Princeton High football team.

PHS went 0-10 during Guerra’s freshman year in 2013 and then produced a remarkable reversal of fortune the next fall as the Little Tigers posted an 8-2 record. Over the next two seasons, PHS struggled, going 4-6 in 2015 and 1-9 last fall.

For Guerra, the love of the game was more important than the numbers on the scoreboard.

“Regardless of whatever the score was or what our record was, I just played to enjoy the game, that is really what it was about,” said the 5’9, 215-pound Guerra, a star lineman for PHS on both sides of the ball.

This week, Guerra is getting the chance to play one more game as he will play for the West squad in the 21st annual Sunshine Football Classic at The College of New Jersey on June 29.

“It was an honor; I know there have been some really great football players who have been selected to play and to be part of that is great,” said Guerra.

“I am very excited about it, I think it is going to be a great experience. It is going to be a lot of fun.”

After enduring the winless campaign as freshman, Guerra had a lot of fun becoming a starter on both the offensive and defensive lines as PHS enjoyed its bounce back campaign in 2014.

“We just had great teamwork, the vibe on the team was great,” said Guerra.

“We all took the 0-10 season to heart and had that chip on our shoulder going into the next season. We used that as a driving force, a motivation to work harder and play every down as hard as you can. I just remember that teamwork and that drive to redeem ourselves and show what we are about.”

While the Little Tigers experienced some hard luck in going 4-6 the next season, Guerra was driven to make a greater impact in the trenches.

“I definitely became a lot more aggressive as a player, I think technique-wise I improved; I took what I learned my sophomore year and really just grew on that,” said Guerra.

“I gained muscle and took that winning mentality form going 8-2 that season and applied that to my style of play. I am very quick off the line, aggressive with hands on the other guy. As a lineman, it is all about the contact.”

As a star wrestler in the winter, Guerra found that the two sports complemented each other.

“I think football and wrestling go hand in hand, especially with my position on the line,” noted Guerra.

“It is very contact-based, having the kinesthetic awareness that is what coach [Rashone] Johnson always says. It is having that awareness of where your body is and your opponent’s body is and knowing how to manipulate that in a way that is advantageous for you. Going from football to wrestling, it helped having that aggressive attitude and knowing to push the other guy in the throat until you get your way.”

Although things didn’t go well this past fall for PHS, that didn’t dim Guerra’s enthusiasm.

“It was just enjoying the sport,” asserted Guerra. “We didn’t have the record that we wanted. No one wants to be like that but you play because you love the sport. All four years that I played, I loved it. Winning or losing, I went through both experiences. We went from winning almost all of our games to winning almost none of them.”

Guerra is hoping to leave a legacy for the players that follow him next year.

“I want to make sure that they know how to keep that chip on their shoulder,” said Guerra, who is headed to Penn State where he plans to study chemical engineering and is considering playing club sports.

“They need to take that negative, the bad emotion about it and use it as positive energy.”

Looking ahead to the Sunshine Classic, Guerra is excited for a positive final experience on the football field.

“It is really exciting to see guys I have faced before, either on the mat or in the field, and play with guys I have played with for four years,” said Guerra.

“It is one more time to put on the pads and play some. It is not about a win or a loss, it is going out and everyone having love for the game and enjoying it. It is not a bad way to end a football career.”

PLAYING IT SMART: Princeton University women’s lacrosse star Olivia Hompe, right, heads up the field in game this past spring during her senior season. Last week, Hompe was named as the 2017 Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Recently graduated Princeton University women’s lacrosse star Olivia Hompe ’17 has been named the 2017 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) announced last week.

Hompe, a native of New Canaan, Conn., carried a cumulative GPA of more than 3.5. in earning recognition as the top student-athlete in NCAA Division I women’s lax.

“Olivia personifies the ideal of the scholar-athlete,” said Princeton head coach Chris Sailer.

“She loves to learn, invests herself fully in both her education and her team, and embraces challenge of all sorts. She’s been a wonderful role model to her teammates and a shining example of achievement through passionate work. We are so proud of who Olivia is and all that she’s accomplished at Princeton and we’re grateful that she’ll be pursuing a career in the service of our nation.”

Earlier this month, Hompe
graduated summa cum laude from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs with a certificate in Near Eastern Studies. In February, she was chosen as one of four Princeton seniors for the Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative (SINSI), a graduate program where she will spend two years pursuing a master’s degree in the Woodrow Wilson School and two more working in a fellowship with a federal agency.

Proficient in Arabic, Hompe spent the summer of 2016 working in the intelligence community in Washington, D.C., embedded in a unit that developed both her language and analytical abilities related to the intersection of intelligence and national security. Her thesis was on U.S. Presidential Peacemaking, examining four historical case studies of attempts by Presidents Nixon, Carter, and Clinton to intervene as a third-party mediators and looking at the implications of these successes and failures for President Trump.

A finalist for the 2017 Tewaaraton Trophy, Hompe was named both a first-team All-America and the Ivy League Attacker of the Year. A three-time academic all-Ivy League selection, Hompe is a three-time unanimous first-team all-league honoree and three-time all-tournament team pick.

In her senior campaign this past spring, Hompe led the nation in goals and was third in points per game, setting the Princeton single-season record for points with 110 and goals with 75. She graduates as Princeton’s all-time leading scorer and goal-scorer with 285 points on 198 goals and 87 assists. During her career she helped the Tigers win four Ivy League titles and reach the NCAA Tournament all four seasons.

In July, Hompe will be competing for England in the 2017 FIL Women’s Lacrosse World Cup at the Surrey Sports Park near London.

Hompe is Princeton’s first IWLCA Scholar-Athlete of the Year since 2009 when it was awarded to Kristin Schwab ’09. The IWLCA began its academic awards in 2001.

Jessica (Scarlett Johansson) and Peter (Paul W. Downs) are about to get married. However, before the ceremony, they’ve agreed to simultaneously throw themselves bachelor’s and bachelorette’s parties. Jessica flies down to Miami for a wild party with four of her closest college classmates, while Peter plans a modest evening of wine tasting with a few of his buddies.

It turns out that Jessica is in the middle of a campaign for the state senate, so she doesn’t want their party to get out of control and generate negative publicity that would hurt her candidacy. However, she’s unaware that decorum is the last thing on the mind of Alice (Jillian Bell), the girlfriend whom Jessica asked to plan their get together.

Alice sees the reunion as an opportunity for the foursome to indulge one last time in the sort of parties they had on campus ten years ago, when they would get drunk while playing beer pong on a weekend night. So, she’s planned a wild weekend that includes everything from cocaine to a male stripper.

The other three members of the party are Pippa (Kate McKinnon), a clown who is up for anything, as is Blair (Zoe Kravitz), who is recovering from an ugly custody battle. However, Frankie (Ilana Glazer), who is a lesbian, has a history of run-ins with the law and is afraid about violating the “Three Strikes” law that would automatically give her a life sentence in jail.

The party starts in the airport terminal when Alice uncorks a bottle of champagne that unwittingly triggers a stampede by passengers who mistake the pop of the cork for a gunshot. Next, when they arrive at their beachfront rental house, they are invited by the next-door couple Lea (Demi Moore) and Pietro (Ty Burrell) to participate in an orgy.

Things quickly go from bad to worse when the exotic dancer, whom Alice hired, arrives. During his striptease act, he accidentally hits his head and kills himself. Jessica and her friends decide to dump the body in the ocean rather than call the cops and what ensues is a hilariously escalating comedy of errors.

Rough Night is reminiscent of The Hangover (2009), although it also has moments that recall scenes from Bridesmaids (2011) and Weekend at Bernie’s (1989). The movie is the directorial debut of Lucia Aniello, the first woman to direct an R-rated comedy since Tamra Davis made Half Baked in 1998.

Excellent (****). Rated R for crude sexuality, drug use, coarse humor, brief bloody images, and profanity. Running time: 101 minutes. Distributor: Columbia Pictures.

END OF AN ERA: Original Main Street owners Sue Simpkins and her son John Marshall outside the Coffeehouse and Bakery in Kingston in the 1980s. The Main Street Bistro in the Princeton Shopping Center will be closing this fall. (Photo Courtesy of John Marshall)

When Main Street Bistro in the Princeton Shopping Center closes its doors some time this fall, it will leave many fond memories for its owners, employees, and thousands of patrons over the past 25 years.

“I think we left a mark in Princeton,” said original owner Sue Simpkins. “And we had a good time doing it. We had a great Main Street family that stayed with us for many years.”

Main Street started in Kingston in 1984 with a catering business, quickly expanded to take-out, then a coffee house, bakery, and lunch restaurant. “It was her brain child,” said Ms. Simpkins’ son John Marshall, who came on board in 1986.

They opened Main Street Commissary in Rocky Hill in 1989 to house the catering division, and then looked forward to opening a restaurant in Palmer Square.

But a Palmer Square lease agreement fell through and they had to look elsewhere. Mr. Marshall said he got the news on the July 4 weekend in 1991 that Great Tastes, a restaurant which had been in the shopping center, had suddenly packed up and left.

In October 1991 Main Street opened the section where the bar is, then, in February 1992, they opened the bistro side.

The next major development, delayed by the 2008 recession, was the Clocktower Cabana, which opened in 2010. “That space always looked like a bar to me,” Mr. Marshall commented. “Opening night was August 1 and it was 98 degrees, and my wife and I were the only people there,“ Mr. Marshall recalled.

In April of 2016 Fenwick Hospitality Group (FHG) purchased the Main Street Restaurant Group, and last week Jim Nawn, owner of FHG announced that Main Street Bistro will close, probably this fall.

“I was a customer and a fan of the bistro long before we purchased it,” Mr. Nawn said. “However, despite attempts to upgrade many aspects of the experience there С the menu, the energy, the well-worn space С we did not see an impact on guest counts and became less optimistic that it would attract new customers. As we approach the end of the lease, we have opted not to renew. Sadly, we have decided to close.”

There is a plan to retain staff by placing them in the group’s other restaurants, and, according to a press release, FHG remains committed to Main Street Catering and Events, which continues to be a thriving business.

FHG also announced that it has signed a lease at 277 Witherspoon Street to create a new 5,000-square-foot restaurant called Two Sevens in the rebuilt former medical professional building next to the Avalon apartment complex. FHG will also be opening the Cargot brasserie later this month next to the Dinky Bar and Kitchen in the new Arts and Transit neighborhood.

As Mr. Marshall reflected back on his ownership of the Main Street Bistro, he noted, “We had something for everyone. We always felt we were delivering food for food’s sake. We didn’t want to be just a special occasion place. We did an excellent job of doing what we intended to do.”

But he added that it was time to pass the baton. “Main Street was too big to be a small business but too small to be a big business,” he said. “The opportunities are still there, but it was time to move ahead.”

Ms. Simpkins, who has retired and now lives in Point Pleasant, concluded, “We miss it. We made good friends through the business, and I don’t regret a minute of it.”

ALL-SEASON TRACTORS: Belle Mead Garage owners Christopher “Kip” Higgins (right) and Roy “Murph” Higgins (seated), and new partner Chris Carnevale are proud of their new selection of Massey Ferguson tractors. They are shown with their popular and versatile Model 1739E, which offers a front loader for digging and features on the rear for a mower, rake, scraper, rotary tiller, post hole digger, and so on.

Summer is here for sure, and what better time to zip down the open road in a new convertible, mini van, SUV, or special sedan? Whether it’s a brand new model just off the assembly line or a carefully-tended, pre-owned choice, area dealers have a full range of vehicles in all styles, sizes, colors, and price ranges.

Perhaps a Mercedes-Benz is in your future. Have you always wished to have one of these high-end expertly designed and manufactured automobiles in your driveway? Now you can!

Mercedes-Benz of Princeton offers a complete selection of new and previously-owned choices. Located on Route One in Lawrenceville, this family-owned and operated exclusive Mercedes dealership opened in 1982. Providing clients with quality customer service in all areas, including sales, service, and customer relations, has been a priority from the beginning, notes Owner and President Bob Greces.

“The person we sold our very first Mercedes-Benz to is still a customer today,” said Mr. Greces. “The degree of repeat business has been tremendous. In some cases, we have sold to the children, even grand-children, of original customers, representing three generations of owners. I am very grateful for this loyalty.”

Exceptional Service

“We have earned a strong reputation for exceptional service, value, and competitive pricing, which has led to a very high level of customer loyalty,” continues Mr. Greces. “We are very proud of our relationship with our customers. It is very meaningful for me to have earned their trust.”

After three decades in business, Mercedes-Benz of Princeton has sold more than 30,000 new and pre-owned vehicles, and has received numerous awards from Mercedes-Benz.

In addition, reports Mercedes-Benz of Princeton Marketing Manager Joseph F. Hobbs, Jr., “We have again earned the Edmunds.com Five Star Dealer Award for meeting the needs and providing excellent service to today’s car shoppers. We are proud to have received this honor four years in a row. Also, the GLC, our hottest SUV model, won the Motor Trend SUV of the Year for 2017.”

Today’s drivers are interested in the latest technology, he adds, and Mercedes-Benz offers the most up-to-date high tech features, including safety options, whether in lane detection, rear view cameras, impending collision sensing, radar sensors,  etc. Mr. Hobbs notes that the Mercedes E-Class includes the most technological advances.

In another aspect of the business, Mercedes-Benz of Princeton is now a Mercedes-Benz commercial van dealer, says Mr. Hobbs. “We have a large inventory of Sprinter and Metris vans, and we also have the ability to build these vans to your specs.”

Pre-owned vehicles are a large part of the business, he adds. “Our pre-owned department is well-stocked with low-mileage, one-owner Mercedes-Benz certified vehicles. Most of them are lease returns from our own customers, and in most cases, we have sold these vehicles new and serviced them throughout their previous ownership.”

Tip-top Condition

The dealership’s service department is outstanding, continued Mr. Hobbs. With 25 bays and MBUSA-trained technicians, keeping customers’ cars in tip-top condition is a high priority.

Also, he notes, “We comprise one of the most competitive lease and purchase options available for customers.”

Mercedes-Benz of Princeton’s longevity is appropriate to Mercedes-Benz’s long history and tradition, points out Mr. Hobbs, referring to the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft’s Mercedes and Karl Benz’s 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, widely reported to be the first gasoline-powered automobile. Henry Ford’s famous Model T was not introduced until 1908!

Indeed, Mercedes-Benz of Princeton is proud of its history of growth and customer satisfaction, and Mr. Greces is grateful for the company’s success. He has worked hard to give back to the community, which has included contributing to charitable organizations, such as Birdies for the Brave, benefiting wounded veterans and families of deceased veterans; also Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, the American Cancer Society, and several nonprofits that provide help to those in need.

Another very successful dealership in the area is Honda of Princeton. Located at 987 State Road since 1981, it offers a complete selection of new Hondas and pre-owned vehicles.

Hondas have received numerous awards and honors over the years, reports Honda of Princeton General Manager Barry Magnus. “Honda Accord has been voted Car and Driver Magazine Ten Best for 30 years running, and the Accord has been one of Honda’s core models for more than 30 years. In addition, the newly redesigned Honda CRV continues to dominate in its class of the AWD (all wheel drive) SUV segment.

“Speaking of new,” continues Mr. Magnus, “the Honda Odyssey and Pilot are also redesigned, while the Civic maintains its dominance in its segment as well.”

All Areas

He points out that Honda takes pride in its ability to please customers in all areas of their driving needs, including providing vehicles of all sizes, styles, safety, performance, and technological features.

“Safety includes the new Honda sensing feature to help with blind spots and technology such as Apple Car Play, which enables the consumer to connect cell phones to the screen on the vehicle and operate hands-free to an extent,” reports Mr. Magnus. ”Wireless charging systems are also on the rise in most models.”

Another important aspect of Honda of Princeton’s service is its competitive pricing. “Honda Finance has offered rates as low as 0.9 percent on most of our new models,” he points out. “And Honda’s certified used vehicles business has been growing by the day for the most part due to strong
one-year, 12,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranties and seven-year, 100,000 mile power train (engine and transmission) with financing rates as low as 1.9 percent — one of, if not the most, impressive warranties in the pre-owned industry.”

Whatever style, size, or color (currently, Molton Lava and Basque Red are the Honda of Princeton “must haves”) suits your needs and desires, there is a Honda for you. As Mr. Magnus observes, “Honda of Princeton recognizes that we are in an extremely competitive market, and price is not the deciding fact in a consumer’s decision to purchase a vehicle. It’s experience.

“We must give the consumer a fun, transparent experience to differentiate ourselves from the competition, and then, in addition, provide a great service experience for many years to come.”

Faithful Clients

An unexpected new addition has materialized at Belle Mead Garage on Route 206 in Belle Mead. In addition to its inventory of pre-owned vehicles, rentals, as well as its service department, this long-standing automobile company, and former Chrysler dealership, now offers a complete selection of Massey Ferguson tractors.

A family-owned business since 1927, Belle Mead Garage has a long history of quality products and superb customer service.

“The folks at Belle Mead Garage are outstanding people,” says a longtime customer from Princeton. Their word is their bond, and their dealings are honorable throughout.”

It’s common to hear such remarks among the faithful clients of this 90-year-old family business. Father and son owners Roy (“Murph”) and Christopher (“Kip”) Higgins understand the bond between people and their automobiles. And now, a new partner, Chris Carnevale, has joined the team, coming on board in January.

Originally from New Jersey, Mr. Carnevale had been working in the automobile industry in the midwest. He also has experience in the tractor business, and sees its potential sales possibilities in New Jersey.

A longtime friend of the Higgins, he contacted them when he returned to his home state, and suggested adding tractors to the Belle Mead Garage as a supplement to the car business.

“More tractors are sold today in New Jersey than were sold in the state 30 years ago,” he explains. “Our forecast was to sell 25 tractors the first year. As it turned out, we sold 45 in the first five months! If this continues to progress, it will be a very big part of the business. Also, often, a lot of people come in for a tractor, and then get a car and vice versa.”

Tractors are being sold to a variety of customers, he adds. Homeowners with large properties, those with horse farms, and small farmers can all use tractors. They are available in so many styles and sizes, there can be one for almost any need and for any season. Multi-taskers, they can be utilized for landscaping, reshaping driveways, tending pastures, shredding, rotary tilling, clearing snow, and more.

Swiss Army Knife

“Our best seller is the GC 1710,” says Mr. Carnevale. “It’s like a Swiss Army knife, it can do so much. It’s just so versatile, and it can easily get into small spaces.”

Customers, including women, are all ages and backgrounds, he adds, and a new customer recently came by to trade in a motorcycle for a tractor.

The tractors typically last 20 years, and cover a wide price range, from $7,500 to $140,000. Belle Mead generally sells many in the $15,000 range, and it is the only Massey Ferguson dealer in New Jersey. Many customers
are pleased to find that the tractors come in only one color — red!

If a tractor is not in your current plans, however, Belle Mead can supply you with a variety of automobiles — from convertibles to vans to SUVs, Jeeps, and trucks. The selection of pre-owned vehicles includes all makes and models, with Hondas, Jeeps, and SUVs especially in demand right now, reports Kip Higgins.

“We tend to have cars with higher mileage, and they are popular, he adds. “We also have some with lower mileage, and then, customers like to have the latest technology. The more high tech, the better! They especially like plug-ins for their phones and other apps. The newer cars also have safety features like lane detectors and back-up cameras.”

Belle Mead’s pre-owned vehicles are carefully tested, he adds. “We do a full test on the car. If it’s almost new, there can still be a factory warranty left on it.”

Belle Mead also has a complete service department (everything except body work) which services all cars, whether or not they have been purchased at Belle Mead. The rental business includes mini vans, SUVs, and sedans.

“Service is our specialty,” notes Mr. Higgins. “We have different generation customers from the same family who appreciate our personal attention, which includes service reminders and free loaner cars, when needed. We have stayed small so that we can do everything ourselves, and our customers know they can depend on us.”

BANNER DAY: Members of the Princeton Little League (PLL) team enjoy the moment after they defeated West End 10-3 last Wednesday at Farmview Fields to win the District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament. Over the weekend, PLL went 2-1 at the Section 3 tournament to earn a spot in the final round against Freehold. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Jonathan Tao, Jack Durbin, Eli Sofer, Jensen Bergman, Theo Steiger, Jake Zuckerman, James Petrone, and Bobby Kuczynski. In the back row, from left, are coach Gary Zuckerman, coach Jeff Bergman, Carl Birge, Dhillon Choudhri, Andrew Lambert, Jaxon Petrone, Palmer Maurer, and manager Jon Durbin.

One of the traditional spoils of victory when a Little League team wins a district title involves the players brandishing the championship banner collectively in the post-game celebration.

For the Princeton Little League squad, that image provided motivation as it faced West End last Wednesday at Farmview Fields in a winner-take-all game in the double-elimination District 12 Intermediate 50/70 tournament.

“A couple of minutes before the game started, we said ‘Close your eyes and imagine you are standing up in front of home plate two hours from now, and see yourselves holding the traditional Little League banner,’” said Princeton manager Jon Durbin, whose team had lost 11-2 to West End a day earlier when it had a chance to wrap up the title.

“We said, just envision that; you have got to want it more than West End. If you want that more than they want it, then we are going to be out there holding the banner. So every half inning in the dugout, I would just yell out to them, see the banner.”

Princeton didn’t waste any time showing how much it wanted it, jumping out to a 5-0 lead over West End.

“We came out smoking, we put five runs on the board in the top of the first inning,” said Durbin.

“It was two-out rally for the most part. We had the bases loaded with two outs and the bottom half of our order up. The guys came up and hit three singles in a row and plated five runs. Scoring the five runs in the first inning set the tone.”

With PLL extending the lead to 7-2, it put the game out of reach with a three-run outburst in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a two-run homer by Dhillon Choudhri to win 10-3.

While the Princeton offensive fireworks were impressive, Durbin tipped his hat to the mound effort of starting pitcher Jaxon Petrone.

“Jaxon pitched six innings and threw 94 pitches; it was his longest outing of the whole spring/summer by far,” said Durbin.

“I can tell you from watching a ton of PLL district games over the last decade that his performance was one of the all-time great performances. He just had them baffled the entire game. They just couldn’t figure him out so he got the game ball. He had a great offensive performance throughout the tournament but that pitching effort was key.”

Having finished second in the District 12 tourney after winning the title in 2014 and 2015, PLL was thrilled to be holding the championship banner again.

“For the 11 returning players on the team, they felt like it was vindication for them,” said Durbin.

“They really came through and nailed it. They felt like they had let one get away last year. For them, the big thing was to come back and really get it done this time.”

In coming through, PLL focused on being gritty. “A huge point that we have made to them is that when you get to this level, most of the teams are pretty good,” said Durbin.

“So if everyone has a lot of baseball ability, the team that is usually going to come out and win it is almost always the team that wants it the most. It is the team that is willing to play the hardest, get the little things right all of the time, and work really well together.”

On Friday evening, PLL applied that lesson in Section 3 play as it overcame a 9-7 sixth inning deficit to edge Sayerwood South 11-9 in Middletown.

“It looked like it was slipping away from us at that point,” recalled Durbin, who got another big game from Choudhri in the win as he went 2-for-3 with a homer, two runs, and three RBIs.

“I laid it on the line. I said, ‘If you want to be sectional champs, you have got pull it together now and bring the hammer down on these guys.’ We put four runs on the board and we got them 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh.”

After suffering a 20-0 loss to a powerful Freehold team on Saturday in a winner’s bracket contest, Princeton bounced back with a 6-4 win over Barnegat in an elimination game a day later.

“Coming into today, that 20-0 game could have really devastated them but they got back up today and they came at them,” said Durbin, who got two homers from Andrew Lambert in the win, including one to lead off the game.

“They got after this team. They stayed in front, they played really good defense, and the pitching was tremendous.”

In defeating Barnegat and advancing to the final round of the sectional against Freehold, PLL got a tremendous effort from starting pitcher Bobby Kuczynski.

“Bobby pitched today 5 2/3 innings today with 65 pitches.” said Durbin. “He is more of a classic pitcher. He can put zip on the ball, he changes speeds, and he elevates the ball. He is a complete pitcher with a package of pitches.”

With Princeton playing Freehold on July 5 needing a win to force winner-take-all finale the next day, Durbin believes his players will rise to the occasion.

“We told them after the game that you guys are extraordinary, you are only the second team in the history of PLL to reach a sectional championship round,” said Durbin, noting that the 2015 PLL team had made it to the sectional final round.

“We said that if you are willing to go one step farther and not just settle for making the championship round and do all the things we have been talking about to win it, you are going to have a chance to win.”