STEVEN BASSIN/STAFF

Scotties heating up on the diamond

The bats have been on fire for the Bordentown Regional High School baseball team the past few weeks.

Bashing out a total of 61 runs has led the Scotties to winning five of their last seven games, and they currently stand at 8-7 on the season heading into their matchup with Delran High School on May 11.

“The last few weeks we have been really swinging it (at the plate),” said Bordentown baseball Coach Chris Glenn. “From 1-9 in our lineup, we’ve had guys contribute in some way during the season. We’ve had some guys come off the bench and get big hits. It’s really been a team effort.”

The most runs in a game that the Scotties scored during that seven-game stretch came against Pemberton Township High School on May 9 in Bordentown.

A nine-run first inning led Bordentown to a thunderous 16-2 victory over Pemberton to win its eighth game of the season, which is two more then the six victories the Scotties had last year.

After the victory over Pemberton, Glenn said he can tell that there is a lot more confidence in his players from last season and they’re showing it with their play on the diamond.

“When you look at the confidence that we’re playing with now, it’s a huge difference compared to last year,” Glenn said.

The star of the day for the Scotties in the victory over Pemberton was senior Rees Pillik, who went 4-4 at the plate with a walk and a career-high 7 RBI.

“It was a great day for me,” Pillik said after the game. “It’s my senior year and I’m trying to make the most of it.”

Pillik is having a great senior campaign for the Scotties in the leadoff spot, batting .423 with 22 hits and has knocked in 14 runs and scored 14 runs. His 14 RBI ties him with teammate Zach Matthews for the most on the team this season so far.

The Scotties have gotten a huge boost to their lineup this season in the form of freshman Luke Guire.

As a true freshman, Guire is batting .490 with a team-high 24 hits, 16 runs scored and eight RBI.

Glenn said he is very impressed with what Guire has been able to do as a true freshman, from batting second in the order to manning the shortstop position in the Bordentown infield.

“He’s having a phenomenal year so far,” Glenn said of Guire. “As a freshman, it’s tough coming in and batting second in the lineup like he is doing.”

Guire said he isn’t surprised by the success he has had as a freshman, crediting his hard work ethic in the offseason in helping him be a strong player for the Scotties this spring.

“I believe that I can hit anybody when I’m at the plate,” said Guire. “I just go up (to the plate) ready to swing.”

Guire had two hits and two RBI during Bordentown’s victory over Pemberton. Senior Alex Ryba and sophomore Elijah Tradigo also had 2 RBI for Bordentown in the contest.

Over their last 11 games, Bordentown is 7-4. The next five games will be a big test for the Scotties as they prepare for the sectional tournament that is slated to begin on June 1.

Following the matchup against Delran, Bordentown will face Delsea Regional High School of Franklinville, Steinert High School of Hamilton, New Egypt High School and Ewing High School. All those teams currently have a .500 record or better.

Glenn believes his Scotties are “more than capable” of pulling off a couple of wins in that stretch if they continue to play good baseball.

After suffering its first losing season since 2016 last spring, this Scotties’ team believes they are close to getting back to the program’s winning way and ending this season with a strong stand.

“I think we can go pretty far,” said Pillik. “I believe in our team. We have a lot of good players and I think we can go as far as we can.”