By: Sean Moylan
Up until Saturday, sophomore Kevin Malloy was quietly having a pretty good season for the Bordentown Regional High School boys’ varsity baseball team.
But on Saturday, Malloy’s year went from very good to great as he sparked the Scotties to a 5-3 win over host Clayton in the championship game of the Delaney Classic.
"He (Malloy) won MVP of the tournament. In six innings he allowed just two earned runs," said Bordentown head coach Joe Sprague.
Malloy mowed down eight batters in the contest. Meanwhile Sean Malloy and Brandon Fraser each drove in a pair of runs for the victors.
Bordentown had reached the championship game with a 7-2 win versus Paulsboro in its opener. Sasso threw a three-hitter while striking out 10 batters over seven innings in that one.
"Danny threw the ball very well," noted Sprague of Sasso.
K. Malloy aided Sasso’s cause with a double and two RBI.
"Those two (Sasso and Malloy) have been carrying us lately," said Sprague.
Joe Moore (two RBI), Fraser and Sasso also had an RBI in the game.
On Tuesday K. Malloy powered an 11-5 home win over Palmyra with two hits and two runs scored.
Bordentown was leading 6-2 in the fourth inning when starting and winning pitcher Brandon Fraser was hit with a line drive and had to leave the game. The Scotties can’t afford to lose him for any extended length of time because he’s their best hitter. Mike Medina, however, did hurl over three solid innings of relief. Sasso (2-for-3, three RBI) and Joe Moore (homer, four RBI) hit well too.
Bordentown suffered a 7-1 loss at Delran last Thursday. Moore and Medina both had doubles in the game.
Nonetheless, Bordentown’s turnaround this week keeps it in playoff contention.
"It was awesome (winning the Clayton Tournament). We started off the season 1-4 and now we’re 4-4," said Sprague whose team is playing great baseball.
Bordentown is scheduled at Maple Shade today (Thursday). It is scheduled to host Holy Cross on Friday and Maple Shade on Monday. Bordentown is scheduled at Medford Tech on Tuesday.
PATRIOTS
The Bordentown Patriots all banded together to win a 13-12 see-saw thriller over the Camden County Mudcats.
With Gilder Field unplayable, the Patriots played at Bordentown Regional High School on Sunday.
Tim Tyler had a key double in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Patriots to a victory.
Mark Hoppe got the win in relief. However, Jimmy Gummel hurled the first five innings and struck out six and left the game with a lead. Shortstop Ray Vetter went 4-for-5 at the plate with two RBI. Curt Appleby, one of the Patriots’ long time stars, missed his first game in years. But he’ll be back next week.
NBC
The Northern Burlington County Regional High School boys’ varsity baseball team’s record fell to 2-6 with a crushing 7-6 loss at Burlington Township on Tuesday.
NBC starter Andy Hoyer had several good moments, but he was hurt by one pitch.
"Andy (Hoyer) pitched well. But he gave up a grand slam in the sixth," noted NBC head coach Rick Doppler.
Despite a two-run double by Dustin Ghaul and two hits from Matt Vereb and Will Ethington, NBC fell a bit short. Pat King did toss two innings of scoreless relief, though. And NBC played good defense throughout.
Last Saturday Pemberton beat NBC, 10-6.
King took the loss.
"He (King) had a rough outing after pitching well versus Florence," noted Doppler.
Vereb (two RBI), Hoyer, Ghaul, Chuck Krichling and Zach Traino all collected for NBC.
Last Thursday Rancocas Valley shut out NBC, 7-0, at R.V.
Hoyer suffered the loss but he did have two hits as did Vereb.
Despite the final score, it was a close game until the late innings.
NBC is scheduled to host Moorestown today (Thursday). Then on Saturday NBC is scheduled at Lawrence.
FLORENCE
With quality road victories over Palmyra, Riverside and Pemberton this past week, the Florence Township Memorial High School boys’ varsity baseball squad showed all the characteristics of a championship team.
The Flashes have a pair of natural leaders in Matt Ordog and Ryan Lee. They have great arms in James Chambers, Ordog, Steve and Chris Giambrone, Joe Spahn and Taylor Lovejoy. They have big boppers in Spahn, Lee and Ordog. They’ve got spark plugs in Anthony Cardone and C. Giambrone and they’ve got unselfish role players in Maurice "Mo" Calhoun, Kyle Lutz and Chris Foehr. Most of all these are kids that love to play baseball. And new head coach Ryan Pandolfini is really bringing that to the surface.
A good case in point was Monday’s 8-4 win at Pemberton. It was a game where everyone bailed each other out.
When Chambers tired with two outs, bases loaded and the score knotted at 3-3 in the fourth inning, C. Giambrone came in to get the final out.
"He (Chambers) was sick last week that’s why he didn’t play against Northern (Burlington)," added Pandolfini.
Then, Steve Giambrone (3-for-4) gave Florence the lead with a big two-run knock in the sixth.
C. Giambrone ran out of gas in the final frame but "Spahny" was there to save the day.
"It was 8-4 with the bases loaded when I brought him (Spahn) in," added Pandolfini.
Spahn recorded the final out and that was that. C. Giambrone got the "W." Lee and Spahn each had two RBI while Ordog and C. Giambrone each knocked in a run.
Last Friday, S. Giambrone tossed a 13-0, two-hitter at Riverside.
"Honestly, we came out and the kids had the eye of the tiger," said Pandolfini. For Florence to club a good team like Riverside was some accomplishment.
Spahn had a spectacular 3-for-3 day with a pair of two-baggers, three runs scored and four RBI.
Ordog smacked a dinger while Lee had a triple and a pair of RBI. S. Giambrone (two RBI), Foehr and Cardone also knocked in runs. Cardone (2-for-3) was the catalyst in Florence’s 10-2 win at Palmyra last Friday.
He’s batting a whopping .579, which is just behind Spahn’s .591 team-leading average.
"I have six guys hitting .400 or better," Pandolfini added.
"And Chris Foehr keeps on making unbelievable plays in center."
C. Giambrone was 3-for-3 at Palmyra as was Spahn. Ordog, who recorded the easy win, helped his own cause with a 3-for-4 day at the plate.
Lovejoy was also 3-for-4. Florence (6-1) is scheduled to host Westampton Tech today (Thursday).
LCA
The Life Center Academy boys’ varsity baseball team’s second game of the season didn’t go nearly as well as its first, as Moorestown Friends topped the Warriors, 15-3, last Friday at Moorestown.
"They had a pitcher that got us out 1-2-3," said LCA head coach Art Steffen.
The Warriors did score a pair of runs in the second. Jacob Foerter took the loss for LCA.
This past Tuesday’s scheduled home game versus Solebury Prep was postponed.
LCA (1-1) is scheduled to host St. Mary’s Hall today (Thursday). LCA is scheduled at International Christian on Tuesday.

