PHOTOS, VIDEO: Oliva helps Cape Tech program make major strides

Posted: April 21st 2024

(Note: This story has been updated to reflect the corrected Cape May Tech career strikeout record)

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – When the Cape May County Technical High School baseball team won its first-ever state tournament game three seasons ago, Tanner Oliva was a part of it.

When the Hawks won the New Jersey Technical Athletic Conference Tournament last spring for the first time in program history, Oliva again played an important role.

This spring, the Hawks are off to a competitive start, improving to 3-3 overall with Friday’s 10-0 win over fledgling Wildwood Catholic. Once again, Oliva has his fingerprints all over the Hawks’ efforts so far this season.

Oliva recorded the 100th strikeout of his career as he and teammate Ben Lynch combined for a five-inning no-hitter in the win over the Crusaders, who are fielding a team for the first time in four seasons this spring.

“It was cool to come out here and get that milestone,” Oliva said.

Oliva struck out eight in his three innings of work and now has 107 career strikeouts. The career strikeout mark at Cape May Tech is 169, set by Carson Denham in 2018.

Based on his past production, Oliva has gotten off to a slow start at the plate, with four hits in 16 at bats so far. But the Rutgers-Camden commit, who is coming off a junior season in which he hit .565, had a hit, an RBI and three runs scored against Wildwood Catholic Friday. He is 22 hits shy of 100 for his career.

As a pitcher, Oliva has posted a 3.15 earned run average over 109 career innings pitched so far.

“Tanner’s been one of those hallmark kids that’s going to go down locally as one of the best kids to play here and a guy that people will talk about for a while,” Cape May Tech coach Sam Picketts said. “He came in with a good class of kids that got to play early and had some success. He’s a good leader, a good locker room guy, and he holds himself and his teammates to an incredibly high standard.”

Oliva and fellow senior Ron Neenhold, who has 11 hits in 20 at bats so far (.550 batting average), have helped lead the Hawks. Lynch and Matt Hirt (.333 batting average through six games) are other sernios who’ve also contributed.

“We’ve had some guys come in with a good work ethic and they’ve brought a winning spirit around here,” Oliva said. “Guys are jumping on and they believe that we can keep changing this program around.”

Cape May Tech has two important Cape-Atlantic United Conference games with Pleasantville on Monday and Tuesday, before a local rivalry contest against Wildwood on Thursday.

“Early on, like a lot of teams, it’s been tough to find a rhythm because of the weather,” Picketts said. “But we returned a lot of guys who had some success last year. We’re in a decent spot competing game in and game out.”

Oliva believes the Hawks have the potential to go on a nice run over the rest of the season.

“We started off slow but now that we’ve gotten some wins under our belt we can keep it going and get hot in this next stretch of games we have,” he said. “Our biggest goals are to try to win the division and defend our NJTAC championship.”

Against Wildwood Catholic, Neenhold went 2 for 2 with a walk, three runs scored and two RBI and junior Hunter Urbaczewski was 2 for 3 with four RBI, with his two-run double with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning ending the game on the 10-run mercy rule.

Wildwood Catholic (1-4) is trying to find its way as basically a new program. None of the team’s current players has any high school baseball experience since this is the first time since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that the Crusaders are fielding a team. There are some good young players in the program, as freshman Nick Antonicello, Robbie Miller and Andrew Badlt have emerged as major contributors. Senior Charlie Dunner, who leads the team with four hits so far, and junior Cade Vogdes and sophomore Peyton Rosenello are also among the team’s better players.

Cape May Tech's players and coaches huddle after Friday's victory over Wildwood Catholic.

Cape May Tech infielder Tommy Chiera tags out a Wildwood Catholic player at second base.

Wildwood Catholic's Charlie Dunner throws a pitch in the first inning of Friday's game.

Wildwood Catholic third baseman Keynan Alston gets a force out.

Wildwood Catholic freshman Andrew Badlt pitches in the fourth inning.

Wildwood Catholic shortstop Nick Antonicello throws to first for an out after fielding a ground ball.

Cape May Tech's Ben Lynch struck out the side in both of his innings in relief.