By: Sean Moylan
Everyone knows the Bordentown 12-year-old Little League All-Star baseball team is good. Bordentown was the runner-up in the District 12 11-year-old tourney last season. This year the Bordentown boys came back with even more commitment as it won its first three games of Pool C play and clinched a spot in the District 12 Final 9, which is taking place this week at Lawrence.
Bordentown’s best win was its closest game, a 4-3 victory over West Windsor last Thursday’s at Nottingham. Bordentown scored two runs in the first and a run in the second and never trailed. Pitching against a very good West Windsor lineup, Marshall Harden surrendered just five hits and whiffed five batters and only one of the three runs he allowed during his complete game win was earned.
"He did well," said Bordentown manager Russ Harden, who’s son had two nifty double plays turned behind him.
In the first inning, Zach "Home Run" Mesday got Bordentown started with a two-run single which scored Nick Hammell (1-for-3, run, RBI) and Harden (2-for-3, run). Pat Donohue was a perfect 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored. Alec Tripodi smacked a pair of hits for the winning team.
Last Wednesday at Bordentown, Bordentown was leading just 1-0 in the fourth frame against North Trenton when play was suspended due to rain. But when the game resumed on Friday, Bordentown had an offensive explosion and went on to beat North Trenton, 10-2.
"We started up slow because the boys weren’t protecting the plate," said Harden, whose team got in a good batting practice and came back swinging on Friday.
Tripodi smacked a two-run double while Chris Limani (2-for-2) and Harden (two doubles) each ripped run-scoring extra-base hits. Mesday was 2-for-4 with a double. But Bordentown won the contest with pitching as Ryan McGowan struck out nine and gave up one run in four innings to earn the "W."
Mesday and Donohue (3 hits) each tossed an inning and fanned 2 batters.
Then on Sunday, Bordentown clobbered West End, 12-0, at Washington. Donohue (three innings, one hit, a walk, four strikeouts) and Limani (one inning, no hits allowed, a walk and three strikeouts) combined for the shutout.
"I was working on keeping them focused," noted Bordentown’s catcher Cullen Carter, who called the game. "I had them keep throwing fastballs. Why fool around?"
Carter was the star of the game on offense with a three-run homer and a two-run single. Harden also blasted a homer. Limani had a hit and run scored.
Donohue, the winning pitcher, supported his own cause with a triple, a RBI and two runs. Mike Kendall had two hits and scored a run while Conner Young doubled and scored a run. Meanwhile, Tripodi, McGowan and Mesday each had a hit and scored a run while Hammell drove in a run and scored a run.
"That new batting cage is a Godsend," said Harden, who has been working his kids hard in practices.
Bordentown was scheduled to have wrapped up pool play with a game versus Nottingham at West End on Tuesday. Bordentown has a very good chance of earning the top seed in Pool C.

