By: Sean Moylan
Last year the Bordentown Regional High varsity softball team’s season ended with one of the best and most intense softball games one will ever see versus New Egypt in the Central Jersey Group 1 championship game.
The Warriors may have won the contest, but the Scotties played so well and so hard that they cemented their reputation as one of Burlington County’s finest teams with the loss.
In many ways last year was Bordentown’s best season ever. It was 18-3, it won the Patriot Division and for most of the season it flirted with a perfect record. A lot of the credit for Bordentown’s success goes to head coach Michele Brennan, whose calm demeanor and strong knowledge of the game, helps to make the Scotties a strong threat every time they take the field. However, Brennan gives most of the credit for her success and 33-10 lifetime record to her players. And Bordentown certainly had and still has some great softball players on the team.
"We did lose four of our starters (Taryn Lynch, Megan Temple, Reannon Trogdon and Joan Jaczko) from last year’s team that played both defensively and offensively," noted Brennan.
And yet, the Scotties are still so loaded that their expectations have not changed one iota.
"We want to be playing on June 9th," said Brennan. June 9th is the projected date of the state finals and Bordentown, truthfully, may just have the talent to get there.
Bordentown is lucky enough to have its ace back in junior Hillary Allen, who was the starting pitcher in all the team’s state tournament games last season. Allen is one of the best hurlers in all of Burlington County and the good news is she got even better over the off season. She’s also a fine hitter and a good first baseman.
Sophomore Ashleigh Johnson is a pretty good pitcher and first baseman herself. She’ll be a strong addition to the varsity unit.
This year Bordentown has only two seniors. However, they are very good ones. In fact, Meghan McDonald just may the best all-around catcher in all of Burlington County. Moreover, the Scotties’ other 12th grader, Jessica Swanson, is a good outfielder and a clutch hitter.
Junior Kara Lynch is currently starting at third base. But the Scotties’ versatile infielder could see action as a shortstop or a second baseman depending on where the Scotties need her the most.
Junior Sam Hardy, who started much of the season as a second baseman last year, could be used in both the infield and the outfield.
Sophomore Jessica Villalba, another versatile starting player, could also see action as an infielder and outfielder this season. Jessica’s twin sister Vicki will be used as an outfielder.
Freshman Megan Millington, a veteran of years and years of travel softball, will get varsity playing time in the infield.
"There are a couple of more girls (who will play varsity) but we won’t put any more names down just yet," said Brennan, who is still testing out her other players at multiple positions. But look for Brennan to add two or three players to her varsity unit over the next two weeks.
This year Brennan will be assisted by Summer Sierra, who went to Georgian Court on a softball scholarship. Sierra will also coach the junior varsity team. There are roughly 25 girls currently in Bordentown’s softball program.
Bordentown was so good last year that it was invited to participate in this year’s Hammonton Tournament, which is scheduled to get underway in late April. Bordentown has moved up to Central Jersey Group II this season. That, however, may not be a bad thing considering the incredible strength of Group I.
The Scotties would like to contend for another division title and earn a good seed in the playoffs. If they can accomplish those goals first, then a state championship may be in the cards.

