Host Bordentown trying to spring a surprise
Since Bordentown didn’t enter a team in the District 12 Little League Softball Tournament last year, it may be the wild card now that it’s back in the field.
The youngsters from Bordentown are hoping that recapture the magic that once lifted the team to back-toback titles in 2001 and 2002.
“We have good young pitching,” manager Michael Hoppe said. “Really, just young tremendous talent. There’s plenty of potential with hard work and dedication.”
Bordentown is hosting the tournament at Northern Community Park and opens against heavy favorite Robbinsville.
But this group from B’town won as 10-year-olds last year and many of them are playing up a year this goround.
“As 10s, they were very strong, and we were within two runs every game in the regionals,” Hoppe said. “We’re in every game and play here or there and we could have won it all.”
They also have the perfect mix at the dish.
“We’ve got some thumpers and we’ve got some speed,” Hoppe said. “Versatility is there. We can play smallball and we can hit the longball.”
Hoppe said defense is also important and a key will be not giving away extra outs.
The skipper knows his group is ready to go.
“Excellent chemistry,” he said. “This team is combined with Florence and since you can’t start practice until June, it’s a little bit of a growing process, but they’ve come together. They really unified as a team right away.”