Lawrence Post 414’s Jason Zegarski, Allentown’s Sahil Thakur and Bordentown Post 26’s Ryan Podlesny will manage their respective teams at the NJ American Legion State Final 8 at Wood-Ridge Athletics Complex. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)

Now the best baseball teams from the Mercer County American Legion League will get to see how they stack up against the rest of the state when the New Jersey American Legion State Final 8 begins Sunday at the Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex in North Jersey.

With the state down to three Legion leagues this summer, the MCALL got three representatives. Without district tournament play and with the MCALL Playoffs reinstated for the first time in 13 years, the league’s top three teams – Allentown, Bordentown Post 26 and Lawrence Post 414 – will represent local interests.

Manager Sahil Thakur’s 20-1 team A’town qualified by winning the MCALL for the third time in the last four years.

Manager Ryan Podlesny’s 17-4 B’town club finished second, then defeated fifth-place Hamilton Post 31, 11-1, in their playoff game to earn the trip.

Manager Jason Zegarski’s 15-6 Lawrence squad finished third in the league, then survived a scare from the fourth-place North Hamilton Hibos, 4-3, in their playoff to join the other two in Wood-Ridge.

“It’s almost an expectation now (to make the final eight),” said Zegarski, whose squad is making its fifth straight appearance. “We haven’t had much luck yet. But we’ve been saying the last couple weeks why not us. We got the horses, we got the team, let’s go make a run.”

Using the same seven-inning format as was in play during the regular season, Allentown will begin state play at 10 a.m. Sunday with Camden’s 10-8 third-place team, Mullica Hill Post 452, in an American Division game.

Post 26 will follow at approximately 12:30 p.m. against 26-2 Pyramid League champion Whitehouse Post 284, also in an American Division tilt.

Post 414 will open National Division play at 3 p.m. versus 17-1 Camden County League champion Cherry Hill Post 372.

The second National Division contest will follow at approximately 5:30 p.m. with Camden’s second-place team, Brooklawn Post 72 Red (16-5), taking on the Pyramid League’s No. 2, Montgomery Superior (14-6).

Depending how teams do Sunday will determine when they play Monday. American Division Day 1 losers play at 10 a.m., while their winners play around 12:30 p.m. National Division Day 1 losers play at 3 p.m. with their winners scheduled to play around 5:30 p.m.

Play will continue until an American Division and National Division champion meet in the state final, tentatively set for Friday, July 26 at a time to be determined. The state championship game is usually a 7 p.m. start, but thunderstorms forecast throughout the week are using precaution.

New Jersey’s legion baseball champ will move on to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Aug. 7-11 at Joe Cannon Stadium in Ridge, Md. with the ultimate goal of reaching the 97th American Legion World Series Aug. 15-20 at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.

NJAL STATE FINAL 8 (Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex)

Sunday, July 21

Game 1: Mullica Hill Post 452 at Allentown, 10 a.m.

Game 2: Bordentown Post 26 at Whitehouse Post 284, 12:30 p.m.

Game 3: Lawrence Post 414 at Cherry Hill Post 372, 3 p.m.

Game 4: Montgomery Superior vs. Brooklawn Post 72, 5:30 p.m.

Monday, July 22

Game 5: MullicaHill/A’town loser vs. B’town/Whitehouse loser, 10 a.m.

Game 6: MullicaHill/A’town winner vs. B’town/Whitehouse winner, 12:30 p.m.

Game 7: Lawrence/CherryHill loser vs. Montgomery/Brooklawn loser, 3 p.m.

Game 8:  Lawrence/CherryHill winner vs. Montgomery/Brooklawn winner, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 23

Game 9: Game 6 loser vs. Game 5 winner, 10 a.m.

Game 10: Game 8 loser vs. Game 7 winner, 12:30 p.m.

Game 11: Game 9 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 3 p.m.

Game 12: Game 10 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 24

Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 6 winner (if necessary), 4 p.m.

Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 8 winner (if necessary), 7 p.m.

[If only 1 game, 6 p.m. start]

Thursday, July 25

Rain Date

Friday, July 26

State Championship

American Division winner vs. National Division winner, TBA

Directions to Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex: Take the New Jersey Turnpike North to Exit 16W (Meadowlands). After toll, get on Route 3 West. Proceed for about 1.4 miles to the exit for Route 17 North. Follow Route 17 about 2.4 miles to the right-hand exit for Wood-Ridge/Moonachie. At light off exit, turn left onto Moonachie Ave. Continue on Moonachie until it dead-ends at traffic light, and turn right onto Hackensack St. Go to second street and turn left onto Highland Ave. (Wood-Ridge Senior Center will be on your right after turn). Follow Highland Ave. up and down hills until it dead-ends at Johnson Dr. (train station in front of you). Turn right and go to the next stop sign. Turn left into the parking lot for Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex. Allow 1½ hours to two hours travel time.