PHOTO GALLERY: Cape Tech battles OLMA in softball
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May 1, 2019VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY: Crusaders slug their way to win over LCM
Wildwood Catholic's Tyler Cruz slides safely into home as the ball skips past Lower Cape May catcher Mark Ryan.
By BRIAN CUNNIFF
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — Justin Klemic may be heading to Division III Immaculata University to play baseball, but the Wildwood Catholic High School senior isn’t looking ahead to his college career just yet.
He’s having too much fun playing for the Crusaders.
Klemic tossed a five-inning complete game and also went 2 for 3 with three runs scored and three RBI to lead Wildwood Catholic to a 13-2 victory over county rival Lower Cape May Tuesday.
“It’s a really good feeling,” Klemic said. “But we did a good job today. It was a total team effort.”
That it was.
In addition to Klemic’s heroics, Giacomo Antonicello was 2 for 3 with three runs scored and three RBI and C.J. Deegler hit a two-run single to highlight a potent Crusader offense. Every player in Wildwood Catholic’s lineup either scored at least one run or had at least one RBI. The Crusaders recorded 10 hits in their four turns at bat.
“Everyone did a really good job today,” Wildwood Catholic coach Jimmy Norris said. “Everyone pretty much got a hit or at least put the ball in play. Those are definitely positives.”
Sean Dougherty and Klemic each had RBI hits in the first inning. Lower Cape May got a run back in the top of the second, but Wildwood Catholic answered with five more in the bottom of the inning behind a two-run single by Antonicello, a two-run double by Klemic and an RBI single by Ben Church.
“It feels really good as a pitcher when you get that early lead,” Klemic said. “I feel like I get a better feel for my pitches and I can throw better. And it helps the guys behind me, too.”
Wildwood Catholic put the game away with five more runs in the third inning. The big blow was Deegler’s two-run single to center.
Wildwood Catholic improved to 6-5 with the victory. Just a month into the season, the Crusaders already have their highest win total in a season in almost a decade.
“The kids are having a lot of fun,” Norris said. “That’s what winning and being competitive does. They’re having fun, but they’re also taking the games seriously and they’re taking the practices seriously and that’s why they’re getting better.”
Paul Gilbert had three hits and Kenny Haungs tripled for Lower Cape May (1-8).
