GLEN RIDGE – The Glen Ridge Senior American Legion baseball team clinched a state tournament berth.
The team, consisting of Glen Ridge High School players, received one of the six bids that were awarded to the Essex County Senior American Legion League. The division winners (American and National) and the next four best teams in terms of points earned berths.
Glen Ridge, under coach Rob Rollo, lost to the West Essex Knights, 5-0, Tuesday, July 12, in the regular season finale to move to an 8-9 record with 16 points in third place in the American Division. Cedar Grove (10-5-2, 22 points, third place in National) and the Knights (9-8-1, 19 points, fourth place in National) had more points than Glen Ridge, but both those teams have elected to not play in the state tournament. As a result, Glen Ridge was given a state tournament berth as a replacement.
The other league teams in the state tournament are Bloomfield (American Division champ, 13-3 record, 26 points); Montclair (9-8-1, 19 points, second place in American); Caldwell Post 185 (7-8, 14 points, fourth place in American); Union Post 35 and Vailsburg Post 395. Union (16-2) and Vailsburg (16-3) both have 32 points and are tied for first in the National. Vailsburg consists of Seton Hall Prep players.
After being swept in a doubleheader against Montclair on Friday, July 8 in Montclair by scores of 8-2 and 3-1, Glen Ridge bounced back the next day by sweeping a doubleheader against Belleville at Hurrell Field with scores of 7-2 and 8-5.
Glen Ridge then lost at Verona, 4-3, Monday, July 11.
The state tournament consists of four districts. The districts will run July 16-20. District 1 will be held at the New Milford complex on July 16 and will move to Breslin Field in Lyndhurst for the next four days; District 2 will be held at Teener League Field in Union; District 3 will be held at Mercer County Park in West Windsor and District 4 will be held at Union Field in West Deptford.
The Final 8 will be held at Moody Park in Ewing Township.
About the Author
