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Championships decided in area youth baseball and softball

The Greater Wildwood J Byrne team won the Wildwoods minor league baseball championship with a thrilling extra-inning victory in the final game of a best-of-three playoff series. Pictured are from left: bottom row, kneeling – Owen Bannon, Kedian Sanchez, Adrian Augsberger, Sean Cunniff, Earl Belasco; middle row standing – Jake Williams, Will Auty, Kavon Richards, Leo Figueroa, Angelo Panzini, Michael Sciarra, Michael Valerio; back row standing – coaches Dave Bannon, Lou Belasco, Bill Auty.

The following are results from recent games played by area youth baseball and softball teams:

MINOR BASEBALL

Greater Wildwood Lions 6, Greater Wildwood J Byrne 5: Vinni Sweeney’s RBI hit with two outs in the bottom of the final inning won it for Lions in Game 1 of the best-of-three playoff series. Sweeney and Logan Veras gave Lions a strong pitching effort. Kavon Richards and Sean Cunniff each had RBI hits for J Byrne.

Greater Wildwood J Byrne 6, Greater Wildwood Lions 5: Owen Bannon hit a walk-off RBI single with two outs that scored Angelo Panzini from second base with the winning run for J Byrne in Game 2 of the best-of-three playoff series. Panzini had earlier tied the game with an RBI hit that scored Leo Figueroa. Will Auty also had a key hit in the last inning for J Byrne. Michael Valerio pitched four solid innings for J Byrne. Vinni Sweeney scored two runs and pitched four good innings for Lions. Logan Veras blasted an RBI triple and Andrew Raymond had an RBI single for Lions.

Greater Wildwood J Byrne 2, Greater Wildwood Lions 1 (7 inn.): Angelo Panzini’s RBI single chased home the winning run in the top of the seventh inning for J Byrne in the final game of a best-of-three championship series. Kavon Richards was the winning pitcher, allowing just one run over three innings. Will Auty pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh for the save. Owen Bannon pitched three scoreless innings to start the game for J Byrne. Leo Figueroa added a key hit. Bohdan Oashaduk’s hit in the bottom of the fifth inning helped send the game into extra innings for Lions. Logan Veras allowed just one run over 4 ⅓ innings pitched for Lions.

MAJOR BASEBALL

Greater Wildwood Elks 9, Greater Wildwood Raging Waters 0: Brian Cunniff went 2 for 3 with a two-run double and two runs scored, R.J. Blanda was 2 for 2 with a triple and two runs scored and Max Del Monte and Antonio Panzini each added RBI singles to lead Elks to the victory in Game 1 of the best-of-three playoff series. Christian Sorensen, Devon Weber and Ryan McGrath each added hits for Elks. Sorensen, Panzini and Cunniff combined on a three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts. Trevor Troiano posted two hits and Gianni Troiano added a hit for Raging Waters.

Greater Wildwood Elks 11, Greater Wildwood Raging Waters 2: Antonio Panzini allowed just one hit and one run over three innings and also went 2 for 3 with an RBI at the plate as Elks swept the best-of-three playoff series. Cade Vogdes stroked a two-run double and R.J. Blanda hit a two-run single and made a terrific over-the-shoulder catch near the center field fence. Eidian Valez chipped in a hit for the winners. Trevor Troiano had two hits and scored a run for Raging Waters.

MINOR SOFTBALL

Middle Township 16, Upper Township 4: Middle Township won the league championship game behind three hits by Alex Palumbo and three runs scored by Tori Atwood. Grace Hall added two hits and four RBI and also pitched four shutout innings with 11 strikeouts.

MAJOR SOFTBALL

Greater Wildwood Optimist 25, Lower Township 11: Allyson Vessels recorded three hits, three runs scored and four RBI and Emily Evans added two hits, two runs scored and two RBI for Optimist in the playoff victory. Charlotte Killian chipped in a hit, three runs scored and three RBI for the winners. For Lower, Hayley Anzelone had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI and Brynn Brophy posted two hits and two runs scored.

Middle Township 11, Greater Wildwood Optimist 1: Middle Township won the league championship game behind a complete-game no-hitter by pitcher Gabby Cruz. Juliet Thompson and Lily Vogel each recorded two hits, two RBI and two runs scored for the winners. Emma Messer drove in the lone run for Greater Wildwood.

Greater Wildwood Elks won the Wildwoods Little League baseball championship by sweeping a best-of-three playoff series. Pictured are (from left): kneeling – Eidian Valez, Antonio Panzini, R.J. Blanda, Ryan McGrath, Nick Tyson; standing – coach Brad Vogdes, coach Steve DelMonte, Max DelMonte, Michael Blanda, Cade Vogdes, Devon Weber, Brian Cunniff, coach Brian Cunniff. Not pictured: Christian Sorensen.
Middle Township won the minor league softball championship by beating Upper Township in the title game. Pictured are Top standing-Coach Gene Hall, Panther mascot, Coach Tim Atwood, Coach Heidi Von Colln-Hunter, Addie Whittle, Amya Corley, Emma Gotwols, Hannah O’Neil, Tori Atwood, Kendall Hunter, Alex Palumbo, Grace Hall, Charlotte Romberger, Alex Huzovic and Lindsey DeVol. 
Middle Township posted an 11-1 victory in the title game to win the major league softball championship. Pictured are (from left): top row standing – Coach Josh Nemeth, Abby Letts, Camryn Rothenbiller, Johanna Longstreet, Caylynne Tyrell, Carli Payne, Sydnie Hunter, Gabby Cruz, Coach Heidi Von Colln-Hunter and Coach Dylan Cruz; bottom row kneeling – Sophia Nemeth, Ashlee Cox, Juliet Thompson, Alex Pittman and Lily Vogel.