BORDENTOWN — Going undefeated through the Mercer County American Legion League season is no simple feat, and one team that knows it well is the Bordentown Post 26 baseball team.
After accomplishing that last season, manager Ryan Podlesny’s team, currently tied for second place in this year’s standings, finds itself trying to keep first-place Allentown from getting through without a loss this summer.
Bordentown had manager Sahil Thakur’s team on the ropes Sunday at Gilder Field (with A’town serving as the home team).
But Allentown came up with runs in the bottom of the sixth and 10th innings to survive the three-hour-and-20-minute marathon with a 2-1 win.
The victory boosts A’town’s league record to 16-0. Another win Monday night at Lawrence Post 414 would lock up sole possession of first place and an automatic trip to the State Final 8 under this season’s format.
MCALL squads would need to defeat Allentown in all four of its remaining games this week to force a one-game playoff for the top spot. That seems unlikely, especially after Sunday’s survival.
“We went undefeated last season and now they’re trying to do what we did,” said Post 26 veteran outfielder Kevin Stewart, who will be a sophom*ore at Rowan University in the fall. “When we play them, we’ve got to want it more. We’ve got to find a way to make it mean more to us.”
B’town (11-4) had a chance to move into sole possession of second place in the standings with a victory. Instead, it finds itself 4½ games back with Post 414 (12-5).
Things looked good in the first inning when Post 26 took the lead after Stewart reached on a one-out infield single, pitcher Elijah Tradigo reached on an error, then Chase Muchowski singled in Stewart with two outs.
Tradigo made that stand up by striking out nine in the first five innings and scattering four hits. His A’town counterpart, Brady Lesiak, was equal to the task by stranding four runners in scoring position over the first five.
In the top of the fifth, Bordentown should have scored again when Stewart reached on a fielder’s choice and Tradigo walked with two outs. Once again, Muchowski singled, but this time as Stewart came flying around third base, he slipped and fell twice on his way to the plate, allowing catcher Gabe Tomei to tag him out after a strong throw from right fielder Anthony Crudo.
Following that inning, Nick Garbooshian moved from first base to the mound and limited Post 26 to three hits over the next five innings, while stranding another four runners in scoring position.
Meanwhile, Garbooshian, a 2024 Brick Memorial grad who is headed to Drew University, stayed in his No. 6 spot in the batting order, which became crucial in the 10th inning. That frame, Crudo drew a leadoff walk from reliever Tony Kownacki and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tomei. Garbooshian then singled to right field to chase around the winning run.
“I love hitting. Actually, I love it all (referring to the time he spends on the mound and in the field),” said Garbooshian, whose team defeated North Hamilton, 11-5, Saturday night before heading to Bordentown for a 10 a.m. start Sunday. “We were all prepared for this weekend. It was hot, but it was fun. We fought through it.”
In doing so, Allentown remained undefeated heading into the final week with games ahead at Lawrence, at Broad Street Park Post 313 (Wednesday), back at Post 26 (Thursday) and at Millstone Park to host Trenton Posts 93/182 (Friday night).
Bordentown(11-4) 100 000 000 0 — 1 8 2
Allentown (16-0) 000 001 000 1 — 2 10 2
RBIs: Muchowski (B), Garbooshian, Harrill (A).
WP — Garbooshian (4-0); LP — Kownacki (3-2).
NORTH HAMILTON 3, SOUTH BRUNSWICK 1
HAMILTON — Matt Juliano went 3-for-3 and knocked in a run, Chris Babkowski doubled and drove in a run, plus Aidan Lipman singled in a run as the Hibos slipped by Post 401 at Nottingham High.
Mike Septak threw a complete game for the win. Danny Kirk had two hits and scored South Brunswick’s run in the top of the first inning.
South Brunswick (6-9) 100 000 0 — 1 7 0
North Hamilton (11-7) 102 000 x — 3 9 4
2B: CBabkowski (NH); RBIs: Perna (SB), CBabkowski, MaJuliano, Lipman (NH).
WP — MSeptak (3-1); LP — Haman (1-2).
HAMILTON 9, PRINCETON 1
PRINCETON — Alex Wolak had two hits and two runs batted in to help Post 31 defeat Post 218 in Barbara Smoyer Park on the field recently dedicated to Tom Parker.
Jack Ivens added two hits and two runs scored, while Dan Graziano supplied two hits, a run and an RBI. Joey Ditta also knocked in two runs for Hamilton.
Ray Nault, Nano Sarceno and Brett Pogoda each had two hits apiece for Princeton.
Hamilton (9-8) 072 000 0 — 9 11 1
Princeton (2-15) 100 000 0 — 1 6 2
2B: Porcella (H), Pogoda, Sarceno (P); RBIs: JDitta 2, Perelli, AlWolak 2, Graziano, Porcella, VCondurso (H), Prete (P).
WP — Simonka (2-2); LP — Casey (0-4).
MCALL STANDINGS
Team W L GB
Allentown 16 0 —
Bordentown 26 11 4 4.5
Lawrence 414 12 5 4.5
North Hamilton 11 7 6.0
Hamilton 31 9 8 7.5
South Brunswick 401 6 9 9.5
Trenton 93/182 4 12 12.0
Broad St. Park 313 3 14 13.5
Princeton 218 2 15 14.5
