VIDEO, PHOTOS: Surging Middle wins seventh straight, eyes conference title

Posted: April 16th 2025

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – In its season opener in late March, the Middle Township High School baseball team gave up runs in the sixth and seventh innings to turn a 3-2 lead into a 4-3 loss to St. Joseph.

The Panthers haven’t lost since.

A 14-3 victory over Bridgeton Wednesday sends Middle into a rivalry game with Lower Cape May on Thursday evening with a seven-game win streak. The Panthers (7-1 both overall and in Cape-Atlantic United Conference games) are tied with St. Joe atop the conference at this point.

“We have a lot of goals every year and the first is winning a division title,” Middle coach Chris Branigan said. “The kids have really bought into everything and it showed in the offseason and how we’ve started out this year.”

Against Bridgeton, Middle took advantage of 11 walks and four errors, complemented by four hits, to score its 14 runs. Many younger players saw action in the game once Middle jumped out to a 9-0 lead after two innings.

Seniors Max Adelizzi and Adam Radzieta have led the way for Middle thus far. Adelizzi is batting .423 with three extra-base hits and a team-high 15 runs scored and also has 12 strikeouts and a 3.00 earned run average over seven innings on the mound. Radzieta is hitting .375 and is tied for the team lead in RBI with 11 and doubles with four.

Those seniors are guiding what is otherwise a young team. The lone junior, Antonio Panzini, is batting .300 with eight runs scored. Sophomore Ryan Murray is off to a tremendous start to the season, posting 10 hits in 24 at bats for a .417 batting average while being tied with Radzieta for the team lead in RBI and doubles. Sophomores Tommy Yarson (.333 batting average), Jerome Booth (12 runs scored) and Ty Gandy (nine runs scored, six RBI) and freshman Mikey Fritsch (.263 batting average, 11 runs scored, eight RBI) and Kyle Mick (team-high eight walks, 11 runs scored) have been solid contributors.

There’s no dominating pitcher on the team but there is depth, with 10 players seeing action on the mound so far. Seven of those 10 are sophomores and freshmen.

“Top to bottom, seniors to freshmen, we have a good mix of experience and talent,” Branigan said. “The older guys know the standard and the expectations and they’ve bought into bringing those younger guys under their wing and getting them caught up to speed.”

The win over Bridgeton completed a sweep over the Bulldogs in the span of two days. Middle also has a pair of wins over both Wildwood Catholic and Pleasantville and salvaged a split with St. Joseph. Middle still has two games each with Cape May Tech and Atlantic City in conference play.

“We’ve been able to win games but we still have a lot of room for improvement,” Branigan said. “For us, our message is, it’s not going to be pretty or perfect at times, especially early on at the end of March and in April, but limiting your mistakes as much as you can and finding ways to win is what’s most important.”

Following Thursday’s game against Lower Cape May, Middle will travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to play three games next week at The Ripken Experience baseball complex.