Dobleman Delivers Decisive Hit For Gloucester

It was considered the upset of this year’s group tournament. The eighth seeded Lady Lions from Lindenwold were up against considerable odds when they played Pennsville in the quarterfinals of the South Jersey Group 1 tournament. By scoring early runs, the Lions were able to hold off the number one seed to advance to the next round. This time traveling to Gloucester, Lindenwold used a different approach by rallying in the seventh inning to take a one run lead. The fourth seeded Lions from Gloucester responded in dramatic fashion by scoring two runs during the bottom of the inning with two outs to advance to the finals when Sam Dobleman nailed the game winning single for Gloucester. With that clutch hitting, Gloucester would win this game by a 4-3 margin.

The excitement of high school softball could be found during this meeting between the Lions. Gloucester had taken a 2-0 lead when they scored single runs during the bottom of the third and fourth innings. Lindenwold would get one of those runs back during their top half of the fifth inning. Things appeared to be going Lindenwold’s way when they responded during the beginning of the seventh. Shennez Wombley delivered a two run triple that gave Lindenwold a 3-2 lead. Gloucester would see their first two batters retired with outs and it seemed that Lindenwold would pull out yet another upset. But when the next two batters reached base and moved into scoring position, it was in intense moment as both teams were on the edge of their seats. Dobleman had worked a full count at the plate and at that moment this game obviously could have gone either way. But Dobleman’s hit found open spaces for both runners on base to score and Gloucester would go on to celebrate their dramatic victory.