Awards Night Highlights
The Mercer County American Legion Baseball League gathered for its annual awards picnic, bringing together players, coaches, and families to celebrate a season marked by perseverance and achievement.
Cousins Shane Mitchell and Connor Willever from Lawrence stole the spotlight, each collecting two honors. Mitchell was crowned both Most Valuable Player and Batting Champion after posting a .533 average, while Willever earned the Gold Glove and Sportsmanship awards.
Other standout performances included Jason Zegarski, who was selected Manager of the Year after guiding Lawrence Post 414 to a second‑place league finish, and Dan Golembiewski, named Player of the Year with a .477 average and 26 runs batted in.
Matteo Pandolfini, a 13‑year‑old catcher, was recognized as Rookie of the Year after batting .442, and Josh Yoo took Pitcher of the Year with a 1.73 earned run average and 36 strikeouts.
The league also awarded $1,000 scholarships to Nolan Arnold and Anthony Zuccarello, and paid tribute to Joe O’Gorman with the Dedication & Service to the MCALL award.
Seven teams from the circuit will advance to the State Final Four, scheduled to be held at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, adding a regional spotlight to the upcoming competition.
The ceremony underscored the community’s commitment to youth baseball, with league officials highlighting the role of local institutions such as Kean University in supporting the sport’s growth.