On most teams Reannon Trogdon would be a number one starting pitcher. However, playing for a Bordentown 12-year-old Little League All-Star softball squad with perhaps the best two starting pitchers in New Jersey, Melissa Mehrer and Hillary Allen, Trogdon’s starts, have been limited.
By:Sean Moylan
Nonetheless, she was able to showcase her outstanding pitching talents in Bordentown’s 12-2 decision over a hard-hitting Wallington club in Final Four action on July 25.
With Bordentown already assured a spot in the finals versus Pequannock, the team was able to play loose and with extreme confidence. Consequently, Trogdon used her slick-fielding infield to get out of a second and third no out jam in the first. And with the bases full and no outs in the third, Trogdon worked her magic again, and escaped the inning with only one run scoring.
"I didn’t know I was pitching until 15 minutes before the game," said Trogdon, who hurled a 2-hitter by using her fantastic fastball and her devastating drop.
Meanwhile from the top of the first inning Bordentown was ripping the ball at the plate. In fact, with one out, Meghan McDonald, Melissa Mehrer and Meagan Walton all cracked consecutive singles with Walton’s shot driving in a run.
Mehrer and Walton then pulled off a double steal and Kristin Garganio was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kiley Moore then reached on an error but earned an RBI on the play when Mehrer scored. Then, with two outs, Reannon Trogdon (a walk), Sammy Gargofalo (a single) and Kara Lynch (a single) each drove in a run, before Meghan McDonald blasted a bases-clearing 3-run triple to right field to give Bordentown 8 first-inning runs.
"I went to Mr. (Mike) Tunney from last year. (Tunney was a coach on last year’s championship squad) and I hit off the tee and he was telling me to keep my hands back and to hit the ball out in front. He was just teaching me how to hit again," said McDonald. "That helps a lot because I held my hands back, I hit out in front and I hit it."
That (McDonald’s triple) was an incredible shot," added Allen. Melissa Mehrer ended the game prematurely (10 run-rule) and in the bottom of the fourth with a double that drove in Sammy Garfalo, who had walked, and Kara Lynch, who had singled. Mehrer’s shot made the final score 12-2.
Bordentown had 10 hits including Hillary Allen’s RBI with a walk and Sammy Garofalo was 2-for-2 with a free pair.
