Ocean City girls upended in extra innings during S.J. semifinal game
OCEAN CITY — The Red Raiders softball team ended its season in the South Jersey Semifinals on Wednesday after a nine-inning battle against fifth-seeded Shawnee High School.
The Ocean City girls had a historic season this year with a record of 20-9, the first time the high school has collected 20 wins in a season since the 1980s.
Following the 2022 season in which the girls went 5-15, this season was all about redemption and Ocean City battled until the last pitch was thrown.
The first six innings flew by as Ocean City’s and Shawnee’s pitchers — Jessica Mooney and Alyssa Pley, respectively — held the batters up.
OCHS freshman Mooney recorded 11 strikeouts in the first six innings while Shawnee’s Pley had nine.
With two evenly matched teams, the innings went quick and no hit broke through either defense. It wasn’t until the bottom of the sixth when the Red Raiders started to make some magic happen.
Anna McCabe started off the inning with a hit to right field. Shawnee’s fielder dropped the ball and McCabe was safe on first. The third batter of the inning, Carlee Hiddeman, approached the plate with McCabe still on first and one out. No fear was shown as she faced the pitcher and instantly blasted one off over the center field fence for a two-run homer.
During the next inning, Shawnee retaliated.
In the top of the seventh, Shawnee’s Parola stepped out as the third batter of the inning. She too faced a teammate on first base and one out. A long hit soared over the left-field fence to bring both players home and the game was tied up.
Freshman Brooke Douglas started off the top of the seventh strong for Ocean City with a base hit right over second base. A few more Ocean City players connected with the ball, but all hits were successfully defended by Shawnee to end the inning.
Being the semifinals, one team had to come out on top and extra innings were added. The top of the eighth inning is when the battle really began. Ocean City made an overthrow error and Shawnee got two players on base.
However, the Red Raiders got their heads in the game, pushed through and got out of that tricky spot with no runs scored for their chance to bat in the bottom of the eighth.
Ocean City started out with two base hits that had the fans on their feet. With two girls on base and the bulk of their lineup still to come, excitement filled the air. However, Shawnee’s defense came to play and the inning ended with no runs scored.
The ninth and final inning of the game was the turning point.
Mooney stepped off the mound and moved to third base and Douglas took over as the closer. Shawnee’s first batter of the inning, Parola, stepped up to the plate and smashed a home run out of the park to put Ocean City down by one.
A dropped third strike, a hit to shortstop and a walk led to the bases being loaded. Maddie Konopka approached the plate and hit a pop fly to center field. Ocean City defended well and snagged the out, but Shawnee’s runner had tagged up and another run was awarded.
Shawnee had another base hit to send the second runner home, making the score 5-2. Douglas struck out the last batter to end the inning and it was time for Ocean City to bat for the win.
Douglas started off the bottom of the ninth with another base hit and managed to make it safely to first. With the inning having started on a good note, players and fans were on their feet to cheer for the girls.
The first out of the inning came from a pop fly caught in left field. With Douglas still on first and two more outs to play, it seemed like a lot of ballgame was left.
But Ocean City’s third batter of the inning hit a pop fly to left field. Shawnee snagged the ball out of the air then immediately threw to first base to catch Douglas off the bag for a double play to end the game.
After such a great season and a long-fought battle, the loss for Ocean City was tough, but head coach Carrie Merritt is proud of the team and excited for seasons to come.
“Obviously this is a tremendously disappointing ending in nine innings. We were in this game, but I don’t think they can process this now, I don’t know if I can. But there’s nothing to hang their heads about., Merritt said. “We were 5-15 last year. We came back and made it to the South Jersey semifinals, we fought through the end. We just have such a bright future; it’s sad to see some senior leaders go. It’s been an incredible season. I’m super proud and just look forward to the future with them.”
Shawnee will go on to the South Jersey finals, playing either second-seeded Moorestown or third-seeded Delsea Regional.
By DELANEY CRAWFORD/For the Sentinel
