By: Sean Moylan
There are many reasons why the Bordentown Post 26 American Legion baseball team advanced to the Mid-Atlantic Regionals and is scheduled to open up against Cecil Post 435 (47-2) early this afternoon (Thursday) at Owls Field at Ted Palka Park.
But let’s start with run differential. Bordentown outscored its opponents at Districts and at States, 102-32. That’s practically insane. It’s a wonder they only finished 7-3.
Matt "The Bat" Moceri, the Mercer County American Legion League MVP, was often pitched around and yet he still batted .444 with 16 hits, three doubles, a homer, 13 RBI, nine runs and a .512 on-base percentage. Moceri had 15 two-out RBI overall this year. As a pitcher Moceri was 2-0 and allowed just two runs, eight hits and fanned 29 batters in 17 innings.
Catcher Bryan Henry had the best overall offensive numbers in the New Jersey playoffs. He had a 5-for-5 game, batted .500 overall with 15 RBI, nine runs and 22 hits and his on-base percentage was .511. He also had a team-leading six doubles and he had 11 two-out RBI with runners in scoring position.
Shortstop Stevie "The WonDer" Giambrone reached base well over 50 percent of the time and batted .489 with 22 hits (including four doubles), 13 runs and seven RBI. He also stole a pair of bases.
Leading the team in runs scored was third baseman Chuck Krichling with 20. He knocked in 10 runs and collected 15 hits while batting .385 with a .455 on-base percentage. He smacked a triple and two doubles along the way.
Center fielder Andy Hoyer hit .350 with a .435 on-base percentage. He had 14 hits, 13 runs, eight RBI and two steals. Three of Hoyer’s hits were doubles. He had two steals.
First baseman Matt Vereb hit .375 with a .487 on-base average. He crushed a dozen hits, scored nine runs and drove in five runs. He’d have more ribbies but the players ahead of him in the order would often clean the bases before his at-bats. Vereb had a big triple and a double in the playoffs, however.
Outfielder Mike "Line Drive" Loffredo batted .342 with a .419 on-base percentage. He had 10 RBI, six runs scored and 13 hits, including a pair of doubles. This year Loffredo had 11 two-out RBI.
Outfielder Lou Barbieri hit .241, but reached base 40 percent of the time and scored 13 runs while knocking in six runs.
Second baseman Sal "Buey" Garofalo’s .207 playoff average is also very deceiving because he walked a lot and posted a .378 on-base percentage. Garofalo scored seven times while driving in five runs.
Shawn "The Road Runner" Carter had three hits in four at-bats while Russ Stupienski batted .400 and pitched very well despite an 0-1 record. Rob Miranda was the top pinch-runner on the club.
Bordentown pitching star John Harvey may have gone 1-2, but he surrendered just four earned runs in 20 1/3 innings while whiffing 16 batters. Moreover, he often faced the tournament’s better teams.
Danny Agos was 1-0 and gave up just three earned runs while striking out nine in 12 innings. Relief pitcher Jonathan Hibbard pitched very well and won a couple of games without a loss. Zack Koss was also 1-0 and posted eight strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings.
Bordentown manager Tom Dolan and his coaching staff of Neil Cumming, Chris Hoyer, Kevin Cumming, Tommy Giambrone and Andrew Csik have done a terrific job of keeping their players loose and ready. Marissa Dolan has also helped out with the team.
Bordentown (28-8) has never been this far before as a team. Moreover, it has not been blown out or shut out once this entire season.
Yesterday (Wednesday) a bus was scheduled to arrive in Bordentown and take the entire Post 26 team to West Lawn, where it will play on the newly sodded Owls Field. Bordentown was scheduled to be honored along with seven other teams at yesterday’s Mid-Atlantic American Legion National Regional Banquet at the Inn at Reading.
Admission for all Regional games is $5 for adults, $3 for students and $30 for a tournament pass. No food, beverages or coolers may be brought into Fred Palka Park, however. Nonetheless, souvenir hats and shirts will be available for sale.
