Delsea Convincingly Advances to Group Finals

With the month of May down to its final day, most high school students have begun to count down the days until their summer break. For the baseball team from Delsea, a win on the last day of the month would propel them into the South Jersey Group 3 Finals. In order to advance into the month of June, the third seeded Crusaders traveled to Highland to take on the Tartans. Josh Sulzman delivered a two out bases clearing triple that highlighted a seven run second inning and Delsea never looked back. Starting pitcher Josh Krautwald also knocked in a couple of runs to help Delsea move into the finals with their 14-3 victory.

Highland was the second seed in this year’s sectional tournament and won a close game against Timber Creek. The seventh seeded Chargers were on the wrong end of a 1-0 decision against Highland. Paul Painter had delivered the only run of the game with a solo home run. Delsea had an easier time against the sixth seeded Red Raiders from Ocean City. Mike Hartman delivered the big hit in that game with a two run homerun.

There would be not homeruns in this game but it would be Delsea who would take advantage of the situations handed to them. Krautwald knocked in the game’s first run with a run batted in double. Six batters later and with the bases loaded and two outs, Sulzman lined a shot into right center that rolled back to the fence. Three runs would score giving Delsea a 5-0 lead. After another walk and a hit batsman, Krautwald singled to right scored two more runs and Delsea was in full control. Highland would get their first run of the game during the bottom of the second to bring the score to 7-1. The Crusaders head coach Joe Smith kept reminding his starting pitcher that the only way this team could get back into this game is if they give it to them by walks. He went on to mention to let them hit their way back into this game. Krautwald followed his coach’s instructions and the Crusaders’ defense were right their backing up their starting pitcher on the field. Delsea ended this game early by scoring four more runs in the sixth inning.