The Haddonfield-based Roughriders, which began as an entry in the TriCounty Baseball League in 1986, had one of their top runs in franchise history by winning this year's league championship. Not only did they win, but it came in dominating fashion. The Roughriders went 6-0 in the postseason while sweeping three straight best-of-three series.

"It was terrific, a little unexpected because we had an entirely new team," said manager Bill Kohut, who has been with the program since the start, beginning as a player. "I knew we were a good team and didn't know how it would play out in the playoffs."

How brand new was the team? There was no season in 2020 due to the pandemic, but the Roughriders brought back just five players from the 2019 team and added 19 new players. Pitching, defense, and timely hitting was the difference in earning the third championship in franchise history. Kohut, a Collingswood graduate, was a player on the 1993 championship team and manager on the on the 2006 title squad.

The Roughriders earned 2-0 and 2-1 wins over Camden during the opening round of the playoffs. In the opening 2-0 victory, Mike Shannon, a pitcher from Rowan and Triton graduate, threw a three-hit complete game, striking out 11. The Roughriders scored one unearned run and another on an RBI double by Jake Swerdloff, a Cherry Hill East graduate.

"We picked up Shannon late in the preseason and he was recommended to us by Rowan," Kohut said. Good recommendation.

In the Quarter Final clincher, righthander Matt Kennedy, a former standout at Haddon Heights and St. Joseph's University, and former Audubon and Rutgers-Camden righthander Zach Welsher combined on a two-hitter in the 2-1 win. Kennedy struck out seven in four hitless innings and Welsher earned the save, allowing one earned run and striking out four in three innings. Nate Johnson provided the needed offense with a two-run single in the second inning.

The Roughriders opened the Semifinals with a 4-2 win over the Titans as Shannon pitched a complete-game six hitter. Monny Strickland hit a solo homerun. Johnson, Eric Sabato, and Thomas Gosse' each had one RBI. Gosse', a Haddonfield graduate, was a key for the Roughriders behind the plate and at the plate. "He wa a true leader for us,", Kohut said.

Gosse' batted .275 and led the team with 19 RBI.

The Roughriders reached the Finals with a 7-5 victory in eight innings. Sabato went 4 for 5 and had the game-winning RBI in the eighth inning. Former Haddonfield righthander Drew Dark pitched the complete game win.

The Roughriders then beat Cherry Hill two games to none to win the championship. The first game was a 2-1 victory as Shannon threw a complete-game four-hitter, striking out six. Trailing 1-0, the Roughriders tied the game 1-1 on Lloyd McLaughlin's RBI single. In the fifth inning, Strickland broke the tie with an RBI single scoring Jim Bruno, a Paul VI graduate who is at Rowan at Gloucester County.

The Roughriders then defeated Cherry Hill 5-0 to win the championship. Dark was awarded the win after starting this suspended game and pitching the first three innings. Welsher then pitched the second half of the suspended game and earned the save with four scoreless innings.

Sabato, a Bishop Eustace graduate now at Rowan at Gloucester County, had two RBI while Isaiah Ishmail, Bruno, and Gosse' each drove in a run. Sabato was the leadoff man and center fielder and one of the key offensive catalysts.

The Roughriders finished the season with a 21-8 record.

Shannon was 7-1 with a 1.45 ERA. Dark went 6-3 with a 3.63 ERA. Welsher was 2-0 with an 0.82 ERA and a team-high four saves. Kennedy was 5-0 with an 0.96 ERA. Strickland and Swerdloff each hit .353 to lead the team. "It was a great experience and I am proud of the guys," Kohut said. "They played tremendous baseball and really deserved it."