OCEAN CITY — Ocean City High School’s Red Raider softball team is a perfect 10-0 in the National Division and 14-5 overall, putting the girls neck and neck with Triton atop the South Jersey Group III power points as sectionals loom.
The Raiders came off a big week and some tough but exciting games over the weekend in a tournament in Ocean City, one marked by a 6-5 loss that saw the girls come back from a 4-0 deficit.
Over the course of six days last week, Ocean City beat Holy Spirit 6-0, Our Lady of Mercy Academy 3-1, Mainland Regional 6-3 and Camden Catholic 12-0. The Camden Catholic game was a consolation in the weekend tournament in which the girls lost to Southern 6-5 in overtime and St. Mary (Ruth) 4-3.
“I would have liked to have won both games, but we put ourselves in a good spot, especially in the first game (against Southern),” head coach Carrie Merritt said. “I really liked how the kids fought back. We were at a 4-0 deficit and they really showed they’re willing to keep working and finding a way to score runs. They didn’t give up.
“That was a great sign, in my opinion, of what we’re going to see during the playoff run. And getting to play those teams this weekend was great practice because we are moving into the playoff season and we’re going to see some really great teams,” she said.
“I think it was a good learning weekend. We had a great Friday night at our Pink Game against Mainland, which is always a team and coach favorite. I think in our first game Saturday morning (against Southern) we experienced a little letdown, but figured out ways to rally back over the weekend.”
Against Mainland, Carlee Hiddeman hit a grand slam. Earlier in the week, Carly Hennis hit a big home run against OLMA, which was the basis of all the runs in that game. (It was a three-run homer in a 3-1 win.)
On Saturday’s cold, blustery morning, with temperatures barely getting to 50 degrees and the blowing wind making it feel much, much colder, the game went to an international tie-breaker when the Raiders battled back after Southern (12-4) blew the game open with a 4-run third inning.
In the top of the fifth, pitcher Jessica Mooney helped put three up and three down. In the bottom, Taylor Vaugh walked to start Ocean City’s at-bat. Anna McCabe singled to the infield. Although she was thrown out at first, Vaugh advanced to second. Normally a big hitter, Brooke Douglas hit the dribbliest of dribblers that rolled only a few feet, but she was able to hustle to first safely as Vaugh moved to third.
Hiddeman came up to bat and slammed a shot into the outfield, scoring Vaugh.
With Douglas on third and Hiddeman on second after a passed ball, Annabelle Shumski singled to the outfield, scoring the other base-runners to put Ocean City within reach, down 4-3.
In the top of the sixth, it was another three up and down for Southern. In the bottom, Ava Wahl started things off with a short bunt and scrambled to first safely. Vaugh hit to second and Wahl was able to break up the double play. McCabe’s hit moved Vaugh to third, but that’s where the threat ended.
The top of the seventh was a repeat of the sixth for Southern. Ocean City’s Douglas hit an infield fly but it was mishandled and she made it to second base. After two outs, Kiley McCorristin banged a shot to the outfield and Douglas rounded third and scored to tie the game. Under the international tie-breaker, each team that started the eighth inning begins with a runner on second base. Southern was able to score twice in its at-bat, but Ocean City mustered only one run and fell 6-5.
In the second game Saturday, Ocean City and St. Mary (10-5) were tied 3-3 heading into the seventh, when the opponents were able to score the winning run. McCorristin had a double and single in the game, McCabe had two singles and Vaugh and Mooney had a single each.
In Sunday’s consolation game, it was all Ocean City. Mooney hit a home run, McCabe had two singles and a double, Hiddeman doubled, and Vaugh, Wahl and Sydney Catto each had a single in the 12-0 win.
Coach Merritt said what has helped propel her team to its record is different players stepping up. “One of the most exciting components of our team this year is I’ve really given kids the task to get on base, whether you’re No. 1 or No. 9 in the lineup,” she said. “We have had all of our starting lineup get numerous hits. …. Different kids are stepping up every game. That’s huge. You know you have the big hitters in Douglas and Mooney, but that doesn’t really cover everything. Everybody from Vaugh and McCabe early in the lineup have been clutch and kids are scattering hits throughout.”
She noted that without power-hitting Hennis at the tournament over the weekend, the team put Wahl into the lineup.
“We asked her to put some bunts down and use her speed to get on base … and she had a great weekend,” Merritt said. “It’s really, truly been team effort.”
The coach also noted Mooney, a sophomore, recorded her 300th strikeout during the weekend tournament. “There are lots of exciting things happening.”
With four regular season games to go, the girls were second in power points in South Jersey Group III with 381. Leader Triton had 382. Delsea was third at 339 and Moorestown fourth at 336. That puts Ocean City in line for at least one home playoff game, possibly two.
“It’s always nice to have our home fans here. That’s a good thing,” Merritt said.
To catch the Raiders at home, at 4 p.m. Wednesday they host Buena.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
