Allentown, Bordentown Post 26 Wins After Opening Day in American Legion State Finals 8 – Trentonian

WOOD-RIDGE — Ray Mulhern had arguably the longest drive of any player in the Mercer County American Legion League on Sunday when his Allentown Legion baseball team played in the opening round of the New Jersey American Legion State Final 8 at the Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex.

Mulhern, a Beach Haven West resident, graduated from Southern Regional High in Manahawkin last month. He will attend Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., in late August.

At least in that part of Rhode Island there is a Country Kettle Fudge. Not in this part of North Jersey.

To make up for his long drive, Mulhern made the most of his time in the A’town lineup. The leadoff-hitting center fielder went 2-for-4 at the plate, reaching base three times, stealing two, scoring twice and driving in two runs, plus a double. He also made six putouts in the outfield, retiring five of the first seven batters Mullica Hill Post 452 faced with nice, but not frustrating, catches for the visiting team.

As a result, manager Sahil Thakur’s Mercer County American Legion League champion took a seven-run lead through the first three innings before going on to beat Post 452 8-1.

With the win, Allentown (21-1) advances to the game that starts Monday at 12:30 p.m. against Bordentown Post 26 (18-4), the MCALL runner-up. Yesterday, they defeated Whitehouse Post 284 3-1 in the second game.

“I try not to look at that kind of stuff,” Mulhern said of his team’s early control of the game, which forced Mullica Hill starter Anthony Palumbo to throw 84 pitches in 2⅔ innings. “But I do know that, especially with the guys we had on the mound, I was really confident.”

That was understandable, as A’town hurlers Jovani Hallihan, who pitched the first two innings, and Slade Harrill limited Post 452 (10-9) to one hit in the first five innings. Palumbo singled with one out in the top of the third. The only other Mullica hurler to reach base during that span was Gavin Weiner, who walked to lead off the fourth.

While Allentown didn’t exactly dominate the ball, they did benefit from six hits and seven batters, split between Palumbo and reliever Andrew Ward.

After Mulhern was hit by Palumbo’s first pitch and stole second in the bottom of the first, Jack Osmond ran for a two-run double by Nick Izzo. The next inning, Julian Caruso tripled and scored on an RBI single by Mulhern. After stealing second again, Mulhern saw Osmond and Izzo run for an RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of David Yorke. Mulhern scored on the play with everyone safe.

Despite the 4-0 lead, A’town left five runners on base in the first two innings, four of which were in scoring position.

The MCALL champions scored three more in the third inning, with Izzo drawing a bases-loaded run for a run batted in and Yorke driving in two more. Both players finished the day with three RBIs. The final push never quite came, however.

Mulhern drove in Joe Maier (hit by pitch) with two outs in the sixth inning after Camden County’s third-place qualifier Mullica Hill had broken the shutout in the top half of the inning when Enrico Tufano drove in Brendan Loughery.

“We can’t leave runners in scoring position as much as we used to,” Mulhern said. “We’re better off hitting or just putting the ball in play with guys on base.”

For the game, Allentown left 12 men on base with nine in scoring position. By comparison, A’town’s three pitchers, including Jack Cahill, who pitched the final 1⅓ inning, allowed only hits in two innings, giving up two hits and leaving four, only one of whom was in scoring position.

Mullica Heuvel (10-9) 000 001 0 — 1 4 0

Allentown (21-1) 223 001x — 8 6 0

2B: Izzo, Mulhern (A); 3B: Caruso (A); RBIs: Tufano (MH), Mulhern 2, Izzo 3, Yorke 3 (A).

WP—Harrill (3-1); LP—Palumbo.

BORDENTOWN 3, WITTEHUIS 1

WOOD-RIDGE — Elijah Tradigo showed why he was named the MCALL’s Bus Saidt Most Valuable Player by throwing a complete game of 109 pitches to lead Post 26 to an impressive victory over the Pyramid League champions in another opening round of the NJAL State Final 8 at the WRAC.

Tradigo was bolstered by his team’s offense, which scored a run in the sixth inning to tie the score when Kyle Stoner drove in Sean Heffernan, and added two more runs in the seventh inning off Whitehouse pitcher Alfonso Esposito.

With the score tied at 1, Luca Mannino was hit by a pitch, then Conor Bell sacrificed him at second before Kyle Forster was also hit by a pitch. Quaran Williams beat out what appeared to be a double play ball to put runners at the corners with two outs.

Heffernan, who went 3-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI on the day, followed with a smash to third that got past the infielder and scored Mannino on the go-ahead run. As Heffernan stole second, Williams came home when the catcher’s throw to try to get him from third went into left field.

“No, I wasn’t worried when (Post 284) took the lead,” said Tradigo, who allowed just four singles and two walks while striking out nine. “I realized they were having trouble with my curveball, so I backed him up with my fastball.

“For us, we hit their pitcher and got guys going,” continued Tradigo, who was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double. “So I thought it was just a matter of time before we scored.”

Dom Parenti hit a two-out infield hit in the fourth inning to bring in Kaleb McGann, the lone run for manager Steve Farsiou’s 26-3 team.

Manager Ryan Podlesny’s B’town club remains in the winner’s pool to play its MCALL opponent. Post 26 was the only team to beat Allentown during the regular season.

Bordentown (18-4) 000 001 2 — 3 8 1

White House (26-3) 000 100 0 — 1 4 2

2B: Heffernan, Tradigo (B); RBIs: Parenti (B), Stoner, Heffernan (W).

WP — Tradigo (3-1); LP—Esposito.