A Good Run
Bordentown had a difficult ending to its final game of its American Legion season, but it shouldn’t take away all that the program accomplished. The season ended with a 7-4 loss to perennial state and national power Brooklawn in the championship game played in Wood-Ridge, NJ.
What made the loss difficult to digest for Bordentown is that it took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh and final inning, only to surrender six runs, ending on Jack Mustaro’s walk-off grand slam.
So Bordentown finished its season 20-6, but head coach Ryan Podlesny was able to keep things well in perspective when summing up that final loss.
“The kids battled all year, we didn’t win our league but got into the final and they played their hearts out as soon as they got here,” Podlesny said of his team, which competes in the Mercer County American Legion League. “Everybody seemed to step their game up once we hit this field during the tournament.”
This was a double-elimination tournament up until the final. Brooklawn went 3-0 to reach the final, but would have been eliminated with a loss to Bordentown.
To open the tournament, Bordentown earned a 3-1 win over Whitehorse Post 284. That was followed by a 4-0 win over an Allentown team that won consecutive American Legion state titles in 2021 and 2022.
Bordentown then lost 12-2 to Allentown the next day. The following day these two met again and Bordentown earned a 15-5 win, eliminating Allentown from the tournament and advancing to the championship game.
Bordentown battled so hard for its first-ever American Legion state title, until Brooklawn put on one of its patented late-game comebacks.
In the final, righthander Elijah Tradigo, a recent graduate of Bordentown, pitched a great game and was not involved in the decision.
Leading 4-1, he loaded the bases to start the seventh inning before being lifted.
Another player who really stood out in the final was shortstop Sean Heffernan, a rising senior at Burlington Township. Heffernan went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Catcher Kyle Stoner, a recent Burlington Township graduate, added an RBI single for Bordentown.
Bordentown was seeking its first American Legion state title. Meanwhile Brooklawn extended its state best state title total to 32.
“I have been in Legion baseball since 1995, I get the history here, you’ve got to get through them” Podlesny said of Brooklawn. “They are historically one of the best teams in the nation when it comes to American Legion, so you’ve got to beat the best.”
Bordentown came oh so close to being the best during this memorable season.
“Our guys played fantastic baseball this year,” Podlesny said. “I am very proud of them.”
Photo: Bordentown pitcher Elijah Tradigo / Marc Narducci
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Author: Marc Narducci
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