ATHLETE OF THE WEEK : Charge of Light Brigade Enlivens Home Run Duel

With his 7-1 record and an earned-run average of 1.67, Jeff Light of Montclair Prep is a fine pitching prospect. Especially considering that he’s been throwing for less than a year.

But it was his hitting in last Friday’s 18-3 rout of Aquinas in the first round of the Southern Section playoffs that earned him Athlete of the Week honors.

Light was 3 for 5 with two home runs, a double and four runs batted in as No. 1-ranked Montclair Prep (21-4) cleared the first hurdle in its race toward the Small Schools Large Division title.

Light’s two home runs gave him nine this season, which ties him for the team lead with Frank Charles. Light leads Charles in career home runs, 17 to 16.

But that lead might not last.

“Jeff and Frank are very competitive with each other,” Montclair Prep Coach Jeff Pressman said. “They’ve been battling for the home run lead all year. Sometimes a situation like this can be detrimental to a team, but it’s helped us.”

Said Light: “It’s a friendly rivalry. We both know how many home runs we’ve hit.

“It seems like whenever I hit one Frank will hit one, too. On Friday I had two but Frank also had one. But it’s made both of us better players. We always try to outdo each other.”

Light likes hitting, but he also gets a lot of satisfaction from pitching.

“I like being in control of the game. When you’re on the mound you determine what happens. You control the pace of the game.”