In a season filled with close calls and near-misses, the Bordentown High School varsity baseball team finally broke through with a gritty, come-from-behind win—and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Led by senior pitcher Tyler Rossell, the Scotties clawed their way past a strong Allentown squad for a 3-2 victory at home, snapping a four-game losing streak and breathing new life into their campaign.
“This was a big one,” said Rossell, who is bound for Rowan University this fall. “We’ve been fighting in every game, but to finally come back and get the win—especially against a team like Allentown—it means a lot.”
Rossell Dominates on the Mound
Rossell turned in a complete-game performance that embodied determination. The right-hander struck out seven and worked around six Allentown hits, showcasing his ability to pitch to contact while keeping his composure in pressure situations.
The Redbirds jumped out early with two runs in the first inning, sparked by an RBI single from Dom Inzilla and a perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Dieter Von Harten. But from that point forward, Rossell locked in, shutting the door on Allentown’s offense and setting the stage for the comeback.
“I don’t try to strike everyone out,” Rossell said. “I trust my defense and just try to force weak contact. That’s what we did today, and we stayed focused even when we were behind.”
Fifth-Inning Firepower Lifts the Scotties
The momentum-shifting moment came in the bottom of the fifth. With Allentown starter Anthony O’Rourke showing signs of fatigue, Bordentown seized its opportunity. A bloop single by Wyatt Steckley, followed by a wild pitch, a walk to Rossell, and a bunt single by Evan Cacciabaudo quickly loaded the bases with no outs.
That’s when the top of the order delivered.
Luke Guire drew a walk to force in the first Bordentown run, and Connor Collora and Nick Carlini followed with back-to-back sacrifice flies to give the Scotties a 3-2 lead. It was a textbook example of manufacturing runs and capitalizing on key moments—a sign of maturity from a team hungry for a turnaround.
“We finally got that inning where everything clicked,” head coach Chris Glenn said after the game. “We’ve been close so many times, but this group kept believing. Today, we executed when it mattered most.”
Allentown Fights to the End
To their credit, the Redbirds didn’t go quietly. O’Rourke, a junior and Allentown’s new leadoff hitter, continued his hot streak at the plate by going 2-for-3. His move from the bottom of the order to the top has been a spark for the Redbirds, who had won three of their last five coming into the game.
Allentown threatened again in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with one out. But a fielder’s choice at home and a lineout to end the inning halted the rally—an opportunity lost in a game where every pitch mattered.
“We knew it would be a battle,” said Allentown head coach Brian Nice. “Bordentown’s a well-coached team, and Rossell pitched a great game. We had our chances, but they made the plays.”
A Win That Could Turn the Tide
For Bordentown, the win pushes their record to 11-8, giving them a confidence boost ahead of their next Colonial Valley Conference matchup against Hopewell Valley. The Scotties have now won six of 10 games decided by two runs or less, a sign that they’re learning how to close out tight contests as the season progresses.
“This was a team win,” Rossell said. “Everyone contributed, and we just kept fighting. Hopefully this gets us rolling.”
Final Line:
Allentown (11-9): 2 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 — 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 error
Bordentown (11-8): 0 0 0 — 0 3 0 x — 3 runs, 5 hits, 1 error
Winning Pitcher: Rossell (3-2)
Losing Pitcher: O’Rourke (0-1)
RBIs: Inzilla, Von Harten (Allentown); Guire, Collora, Carlini (Bordentown)
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