By: Sean Moylan
Using a combination of great pitching and stellar defense, the Bordentown 12-year-old Little League All-Star softball team allowed just 11 runs in 23 innings in Pool A play.
It was the least amount of runs any District 12 team gave up in pool play.
Yet as good as his pitching and defense was the first three games, Bordentown manager Jeff Meszaros was looking for a little more offense out of his squad in Monday’s pool play finale at Millstone-Roosevelt/East Windsor.
And all Bordentown did was erupt for an 11-4 win over a pretty good Millstone-Roosevelt team.
"I challenged the girls to score 11 runs and they did and I challenged them to get 12 hits and they did," said Meszaros. "I was looking for something extra and we showed what we are capable of in the second inning when we scored eight runs."
Ashley Vastano, who was in the hospital the night before with stomach pains, pitched a great complete game (four runs allowed, three earned, four strikeouts, four hits and two walks) and she even helped her own cause with a hit and RBI. Maryrose Szeker had two hits and two RBI. Kaylee Creegan singled, doubled and drove in a run. Robin Antozzeski had a pair of hits.
While those girls did most of their damage in a second frame in which Bordentown sent 12 girls to the dish, Sammie Martinez, Ashley Pandolf, Kelly Yanucil and Selena Senachai all had key hits in three-run fifth inning by Bordentown. Emily Meszaros also singled and knocked in a run while Alexis Wiggley had a base knock and a RBI. Ally Potts and Dominique Douthit each knocked in a run for the victors. Sarah Lyons walked and scored a run.
Meszaros made no excuses for Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Washington at Washington.
"Washington played very well and we just didn’t hit," said Meszaros. "Their third and fourth hitters killed us."
Bordentown scored its only run in the bottom of the sixth when Szeker and Potts walked and Pandolf put down a solid RBI sacrifice bunt. Szeker smacked a double. Antozzeski pitched the entire game and did well. Bordentown just had trouble scoring against Nicole Ailey, who is a fine hurler.
On Friday, Bordentown hosted and beat Millstone-Roosevelt/East Windsor, 10-0. Vastano was credited with a five-inning complete game shutout. She gave up just one hit and one walk.
Ashley Vastano (3-for-4, two RBI, three runs) had a big day. Szeker cracked three hits and drove in four runs. Meszaros (1-for-2, run), Martinez (1-for-2, run), Antozzeski (hit, RBI, run), Potts (hit and RBI), Douthit (run), Pandolf (two hits, run, RBI), Lyons (hit) and Wiggley (hit) all contributed as Bordentown ripped 15 base hits in the contest.
Bordentown defeated Washington 8-3 in last Thursday’s opener at Bordentown.
"Robin Antozzeski pitched a really good game. She got behind on some hitters but she battled back and got some key strikeouts and won the game," said Meszaros.
Potts had a double, two singles and a RBI. Meszaros singled and doubled and had a RBI. Yanucil ripped a pair of hits and drove in a run while Szeker had a pair of base knocks. Creegan and Lyons both knocked in runs.
"Ashley Vastano had a key two-run hit in the fourth when we scored five runs," said Meszaros.
Bordentown, which was seeded first in Pool A with its 3-1 record, was scheduled to have played West Windsor yesterday in its Final Four opener at Florence.
10’S
All of the players on the Bordentown 10-year-old Little League All-Star softball team recently played in a Rec All-Star game. And most of those same players competed in the Bordentown Bandits Father’s Day Tournament and have been very active as of late.
But now Bordentown has only one thing on its collective mind and that’s getting ready for the District 12 All-Star tournament.
Last year Bordentown made it to the Final 4 and nearly won a District title. This year, with only four of those players returning, Bordentown will have its work cut out for it if it wants to repeat the same feat.
"I don’t want to take a step back. So our goal is to be there in the Final 4," said Bordentown’s manager Joe Vastano, who also ran the club last season.
Luckily, two of Bordentown’s returning players, Allie Millington and Caitlin Nitschmann, are pretty good starting pitchers. They are also excellent infielders who can hit. Bordentown’s other returning players are Emilee D’Angelo (outfield) and Abigail Geisel (infield/outfield). Infielder Samantha Pagnani is a 10-year-old who didn’t play for Bordentown last season. But the majority of the roster is very young.
"It’s still competitive. I have a lot of 9-year-olds," said Vastano, whose players are fighting for starting spots.
Brianna Christian (outfield), Jamye Kagel (outfield), Alexis Kane (outfield), Carli Shaw (infield), Alexa Spak (infield), Lauren Vastano (infield/outfield/pitcher) and Erin Zahn (outfield) all made the team. Some of their positions can change depending on how upcoming practices go. Cindy Nitschmann is helping Vastano out with the coaching.
"Our strength will probably wind up being our defense," said Vastano, who believes his team may have to play error-free ball to compete against some of the better District teams. "I know some of the (new) girls from my rec team. They play hard and they try hard."
Bordentown will be trying hard to win its opener versus Lawrence at Florence on July 12th. Bordentown is scheduled to play Florence at Millstone on July 15th. On July 17th, Bordentown is scheduled to host Millstone. Then on July 18th, Bordentown is scheduled to play Allentown at Lawrence.

