PHOTOS: Deegler’s RBI in 8th gives Crusaders wild victory over Cape May Tech

Posted: May 11th 2024

Cape May Tech's Amanda Daino slides into second base as Wildwood Catholic shortstop Julia Wallace collects the throw.

NORTH WILDWOOD – A wild contest that saw numerous extra-base hits, a couple of lead changes and nine-run innings by each team ended on a key hit that went just a few feet.

Grace Deegler’s bunt single scored Emily Evans with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Wildwood Catholic posted a dramatic 15-14 victory over county rival Cape May Tech Thursday afternoon.

The winning run came one inning after Wildwood Catholic tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch.

Wildwood Catholic jumped to a 9-2 lead after a first inning that saw the Crusaders belt three extra-base hits. Allyson Vessels hit a two-run double, Dani Shaw stroked an RBI triple and Julia Wallace hit a rare inside-the-park grand slam to highlight the inning.

Trailing 11-3 after four innings, Cape May Tech put forth an extraordinary rally of its own, taking a one-run lead behind a nine-run explosion in the top of the fifth. A three-run triple by Kayleigh Rhodes was the big blow in the inning for the Hawks.

The teams each scored two runs in the sixth before Wildwood Catholic tied the game with its run in the seventh and then won it on Deegler’s RBI bunt in the eighth.

Wallace and Sienna Sawyer each had two hits for Wildwood Catholic (3-11).

Emma Oravits went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI for Tech (8-10).

The game featured a combined 22 walks and seven hit batters.