Anytime two Hamilton Township teams square off on the baseball field you can count on it being intense.  The Hamilton Post 31 against Broad Street Park American Legion District 2 Tournament game at Mercer County was no different.

Combine the sheer rivalry and pride then couple that with that fact that one team would be moving on in the quest to get to the Final 8 and one team would be playing its last game of the year and you have a recipe for great baseball and a lot of intensity from both sides.  You got all that and more for your viewing pleasure.

In the end, it would be Hamilton Post 31 topping Broad Street Park Post 313 by a score of 3 to 2 in a game that had a little of everything.  Strong pitching, gold glove plays on defense and timely hits in the clutch.

“It’s a very emotional game, especially being rivals in a tight spot in such an important game,” said Post 31’s Sean O’Boyle, the winning pitcher in an interview with the Trentonian.

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O’Boyle, who struck out nine and went all seven innings for Hamilton. 

BSP’s TJ McKenzie threw a gem only allowing 1 hit, yet suffered the loss.

Brady Plunkett led off the third and reached on an error.  He would eventually score on a passed ball.  Hamilton’s only hit would come from Ryan Mostrangeli in the same inning driving in 2 runs that reached on a pair of walks. 

But Broad Street Park would battle back, never giving up hope scoring 2 in the 5th with hits by Conner Hayes, Jose Rodriguez and Kyle Harrington.

The 5th and 6th innings would look like a Golden Glove auditions from both teams.

Hamilton’s Jake Beyer started it out by making a sliding catch to deny a bloop single. BSP’s Brein Cardone returned the favor later that inning by

cutting off a would be single up the middle and making an off direction, acrobatic throw to get the runner at first. Then in BSP’s last at bat, Hamilton Post 31’s Chris Cote flashed some leather and made a diving snag, followed by the long throw to get the first of Broad Street Parks 3 final outs.

Hamilton Post 31 moves on to fight another day.  They play Haddon Heights on Wednesday in their quest to make the Final 8 in the State of NJ.