The Patriots won the opener Tuesday night 6-5 with former New York Yankee Bret Prinz earning his At-lantic League leading eleventh save. Today, Prinz again came on in the ninth to earn his twelfth save and tighten his hold on the league save lead. Patriot center fielder Elliot Ayala had a big game going 2-4 with the game winning hit and a run scored.

“I’m starting to feel it coming,” said Ayala after the win. “My legs feel great and I’m starting to swing the bat much better. It’s just a matter of getting the at-bats for me. I got off to a fast start last year, but it’s been a little slower so far this year. I don’t think it’s the weather though. As I get more at-bats, I feel like my hitting will pick up. I’m just trying to play good defensive baseball this year. We’ve got a nice little winning streak going and it feels good. When we get Prinzy (reliever Bret Prinz) in the game, I know it’s ‘lights out.’ Like today.”

The Patriots scored first in the bottom of the first when Ayala reached on a fielding error by Camden shortstop Gary Cates. The next batter, Gera Alvarez, laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt which hugged the first base line moving Ayala to second. Left fielder Mike Ryan singled advancing Ayala to third. With one out, Patriot third baseman Brandon Larson flied out to center field scoring Ayala. Josh Pressely singled next, scoring Ryan, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.

The game remained at 2-0 in favor of Somerset through five innings which saw good defensive baseball from both teams and solid pitching from Camden starter Chris Young and Patriot pitcher Josh Brey. A total of four double plays prevented either team from getting anything going in the middle frames.

Things started to unravel for Somerset, however briefly, when Rivershark shortstop Gary Cates led off the top of the sixth inning with an infield single. Then right fielder L.J. Birnbaum drew a walk off Brey. Left fielder Josh Rabe followed that up with a single. With the bases loaded, third baseman Richard Lewis hit a broken bat single, scoring Cates and Birnbaum. Catcher, Randy McGarvey singled for the fourth hit of the inning and Rabe came home. Finally, Lewis crossed home plate after Patriot catcher Travis Anderson threw wide of first base in an attempt to pick off McGarvey. After five innings of calm, the wheels came had come off for the Patriots as their lead quickly became a 4-2 deficit.

The Pats came right back in their half of the sixth when Mike Ryan hit a long solo home run over the center field wall drawing them to within one.

Still, Camden starter Chris Young entered the seventh inning holding a 4-3 lead. The first Patriot hitter, DH Vito Chiaravalloti, walked. Matt Hagen then sacrificed him to second. With one out, Young threw a wild pitch moving Chiaravalloti to third. Travis Anderson was issued another walk and the next batter, second baseman, David Housel sacrificed the runner in from third to tie the game. With two out and one on, Ayaya hit a double in the left center gap scoring Anderson and the Patriots had a 5-4 win which they would not relinquish. Ayala, an Atlantic League All-Star last year, finished the game 2 for 4 with a run scored.

The Patriots added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Larson hit one out off of Camden reliever Mike Flannery.

Then it was Prinz’s turn to do what’s becoming a familiar and sore sight for Atlantic League foes; shutting the door on any comeback bids.

Atlantic League Independent : What differences do you see between professional baseball on this level versus other “minor” leagues?

Brett Prinz: There’s not much difference between Independent League baseball and Triple-A. You don’t have as many prospects just coming through the ranks up here; you know, guys who’ll just swing away. There are a lot of guys playing here who have experience, especially major league experience. So in that way, it’s sort of more chal-lenging here.

ALI: What’s it like playing for Sparky Lyle?

BP: It’s great. I mean he’s a legend. The stories you get to hear are great. He talks a lot about what it was like to play during his time and how the game has changed and stayed the same. He pretty much deals more with the position players than the pitchers. He lets Brett (Brett Jodie- pitching coach and director of baseball operations who signs all Patriot players) handle the pitchers. Sometimes we’ll talk about what pitch I should have thrown in a particular situation or what pitches I should use in certain situations. But he mostly lets me do my own thing.

ALI: What are you best pitches?

BP: My fastball and slider.

ALI: What are you doing here?

BP: [Laughing] Good question, I don’t know. Actually, I played last year in the Pirate organization and ended up getting released.

ALI: So what happens after that? Do you have an agent who tries to find you a team?

BP: Well no, but once you’re released, your name gets circulated around the Indepen-dent League teams and Brett (Jodie) gave me a call and asked me if I wanted to pitch for the Patriots. So I said yes and here I am.

ALI: What are your professional goals?

BP: I’d love to get back to the major leagues. I mean that’s everybody’s goal. It would be great to get out of here, but I’m o.k. if I don’t. I’ve accomplished a lot in my baseball career. I have had the chance to play baseball on the major league level for the team I grew up rooting for (NY Yankees), I have a World Series ring, played for some other great professional organizations, and now I’m playing for Sparky Lyle. So it’s been great. I’m happy with what I’ve done.

ALI: What are your plans after baseball?

BP: I want to teach and coach baseball.

ALI: What do you want to teach?

BP: I want to teach high school history and coach baseball back in Arizona where I live. My mom was a teacher and I think I can help kids in the classroom and on the playing field.

ALI: Thanks so much, Bret. Do you think you’ll pitch today? (He earned his league leading 11th save last night vs. Camden).

BP: No problem. If we have the lead in the ninth I’ll probably get the chance.