STEVEN BASSIN/STAFF

Scotties record first win on the diamond in 2021 campaign

It’s been two years since the Bordentown Regional High School baseball team has enjoyed a win on the diamond.

On April 26 against Pennsauken High School in Bordentown, the Scotties relished the long-awaited feeling of victory by scoring a season-high 17 runs in a 17-5 triumph over the Indians for the first win of the 2021 season.

“We’re all just happy to be out here, but at the same time we want to compete and want to win games,” said Bordentown Varsity Baseball Coach Chris Glenn after the game. “We know we’re a little bit young and there are going to be some growing pains along the way. We keep our heads up and come ready to work every day. I’m glad we were able to come through (today).”

Bordentown’s bats were rolling from the get-go.

Down 2-0 before even getting their first licks at the plate, the Scotties erupted for a six-run bottom of the first inning.

Senior center fielder Matt Greenemeir started the scoring barrage for Bordentown and did so in a very special way.

Greenemeir blasted his first career varsity home run over the left-center field fence for a two-run shot to tie things up 2-2.

Hitting his first varsity home run was a moment Greenemeir said he’s been waiting to happen for a while and that he will always remember it.

“It felt great seeing it fly over the fence,” Greenemeir about his home run. “It’s one of the best balls I’ve ever hit. It’s great.”

Bordentown took a 4-2 lead later on in the inning with back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Matt Nemes and Johnny Bassett, before shortstop Ryan Byard blasted a two-run double down the left-field line to put the Scotties up 6-2 going into the second inning.

The four-run cushion was plenty enough for Bordentown starting pitcher Connor Bell, who was terrific in his first career varsity start on the hill.

Bell settled down in the second inning by setting down Pennsauken in order and went out to rack up eight strikeouts in four solid innings of work to earn his first career varsity victory.

Helping Bordentown earn its first victory of the season meant a lot to Bell because most of his teammates haven’t won a game on varsity before.

“I’m just glad we got our first win of the season,” Bell said. “No one really has been on varsity yet because of the coronavirus and experienced a victory. It was more of a team thing for me.”

Leading 6-3 entering the bottom of the third inning, the Bordentown bats tallied up another big inning by plating five runs across the dish.

Nemes and Bassett scored the first two runs of the frame for the Scotties by crossing home plate on wild pitches.

First Baseman Andrew Meyer would later extend the Bordentown lead to 9-3 on a sacrifice fly. Two bases-loaded walks followed to help the Scotties take a commanding 11-3 lead into the fourth inning.

Just like the first inning, Bordentown struck for a six-run inning in the fourth to cap off its first victory of the spring.

Following Connor Wood’s RBI single to plate the first run in the fourth inning, Greenemeir recorded his third RBI of the contest by smacking a single to left field to make it a 13-3 contest.

Greenemeir reached base safely in all four of his at-bats in the contest for Bordentown.

Being back out on the diamond this spring has meant a “ton” to Greenemeir, who is thrilled to have the chance to make new memories with his teammates this season.

“Being back out here is really motivating,” Greenemeir said. “It’s just a happy environment and feels great.”

Nemes also had three RBI during the victory for the Scotties, hitting an RBI single in the fourth inning to put Bordentown up 15-3.

Jack Runner and Zach Matthews each drove in a runner during the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly, while second baseman Rees Pillik rounded up the 17-run day for the Scotties with an RBI single.

Byard gave up two runs in an inning of work to close out the contest for Bordentown.

Sitting at 1-2 now on the season with contests against The Pennington School and Burlington Township High School coming up on the schedule, Glenn wants to see his inexperienced club continue to grow and enjoy the opportunity of playing a full season.

“We’re going to continue to grow and the young guys continue to take advantage of the opportunities to play and have fun,” said Glenn. “It’s nice to be back out here and play a full schedule.

Bordentown will next travel to play The Pennington School on April 28 and then play Burlington Township on April 30.