Delsea Crusaders win 4-0 with strong pitching, defense and timely hits
OCEAN CITY — The Red Raiders fell 4-0 to the Crusaders on Friday, ending their quest to repeat as South Jersey and state champions on their home field at Sixth Street and Bay Avenue.
After excellent performances earlier in the playoffs and eight strikeouts Friday, Ocean City High School pitcher Duke McCarron got into a little trouble early and never really recovered in the South Jersey Group III championship game. He beaned Delsea Regional High School’s first batter to put what would become the winning run on base, then gave up 4 runs on 5 hits before being replaced on the mound.
Head coach Andrew Bristol said winning requires three things: good pitching, good defense and timely hitting. Despite slugging some balls out near the fence, the Raiders came up short on the final count with seven hits and zero runs.
Conversely, the Crusaders worked the bunt well, had strong base running and got several key hits to advance runners into scoring position and eventually home.
Delsea, the third seed in the NJSIAA Group III playoffs, is now 23-6 (12-3 Tri-County League), while top-seeded Ocean City finished 19-9 (12-5 Cape-Atlantic League).
The Crusaders scored their first run in the top of the first inning. Right fielder Frankie Master took two strikes before getting hit in the back. Center fielder Jake Watson laid down a bunt, making it safe to first and advancing Master to second. Batting third, catcher Mike McGinley got a hit down the gap between second and third base, scoring Master and sending Watson to third.
With no outs and two on base, the team gathered at the mound to talk.
McCarron struck out the next two batters, but not before McGinley stole second. He then struck out left fielder Connor Reilly on a full count to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Ocean City got a two-out double down the first-base line from McCarron and first baseman Tom Finnegan walked, but the rally ended when center fielder Jack Hoag hit one deep to center that was caught near the fence.
McCarron retired the side in the top of the second and the Raiders looked to have something going but could not get the job done.
Dante Edwardi started off the inning with a base hit. Riley Gunnels followed that with a hit of his own but Edwardi was thrown out at second. Noah Herrington then got the Raiders’ fourth hit of the game, advancing Gunnels to second before Shawn Repetti flew out and Hoag grounded out to end the threat.
The Crusaders got another runner in scoring position in the top of the third. Master walked on four pitches, then stole second on a high throw and third on a ball in the dirt. An easily fielded grounder finally put the kibosh on that effort.
Ocean City was back to making contact in the bottom of the third but Dylan Oliver’s drive back to the warning track was easily caught. McCarron then hit a popup for an out before Finnegan got the Raiders’ fifth hit of the game to start a two-out rally. Taylor walked, putting two runners on base, then shortstop Edwardi made solid contact but the Delsea defense was again successful.
Repetti got to first in the bottom of the fourth but there were two outs and Hoag hit another fly ball for the final out, stranding another base runner.
McCarron walked Delsea shortstop Max Van Auken on a full count to open the top of the fifth and the Crusaders again played it short, with Master bunting for a base hit and Van Auken moving to third. Master stole second and advanced to third on Watson’s sacrifice fly that scored Van Auken for a 2-0 lead. McGinley’s hit brought Master home, putting Delsea up 3-0. Ocean City’s defense then tightened up to end the inning.
Delsea pitcher Angelo DelPalazzo walked Oliver to start the bottom of the fifth, then was replaced by George Starr after giving up six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
McCarron got the Raiders’ final hit of the game, a single, but Oliver was thrown out at second before Finnegan hit a fly ball deep for an out. Designated hitter Thompson then walked, putting McCarron on second, but Edwardi flew out again.
Reilly got the Crusaders going again in the sixth with a base hit and advanced to second on a sacrifice grounder before first baseman Landon Burns got a base hit down the third-base line to score the final RBI.
Bristol said Delsea was the better team Friday.
“Hats off to them. They did everything they were supposed to do to win a baseball game. They executed on every level. So, it was more them. They deserved it, they outplayed us,” he said. “We just didn’t have a good approach today. I think that first inning shook us a little. We left too many guys on base early and didn’t get the big hit. That was the difference.”
He said the team has nothing to be ashamed of, defending their state championship by getting back to the South Jersey final.
“I’m proud of these boys. They made their own mark but they came up short today,” Bristol said. “There were two teams left in South Jersey, eight teams left in the state and we were one of them.”
McCarron said no one likes to lose but he felt everyone gave it their all.
“It hurts. You go out there and try to do your best, rely on your teammates and everyone behind you. Sometimes the other team gets the better end of the stick. All you can do is give your best effort and see how it pans out,” he said. “We had a good run. We had a new group of guys come in and I feel like most of them stepped up and did their part. I can’t ask for better guys behind me. You can try as much as you want and sometimes it’s not going to pan out for you.”
Delsea lost 6-1 in the state semifinals Monday to Middletown North (20-10), which will play Cranford Saturday for the Group III state title. Cranford (25-4) beat Ramapo (19-15) 12-1 in the other state semifinal.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
