Tough Time in the Carpenter Cup

Tough Time For South Jersey Teams in the Carpenter Cup

It was a difficult time for the three South Jersey teams in the Carpenter Cup baseball tournament.

The Olympic/Colonial, consisting of players from the Olympic Conference (minus players from Burlington County) and the Colonial Conference, suffered a 6-1 first round loss to Suburban One National/Bicentennial.

Burlington County, which has won three Carpenter Cup titles since 2006, suffered a first-round, 18-0 loss to Jersey Shore, which consists of players from Ocean and Monmouth counties.

Tri-Cape was the only one of the three South Jersey teams to advance after a first round 19-0 win over Lehigh Valley. Tri-Cape consists of players from the Tri-County and Cape Atlantic League.

In the second round, Tri-Cape was eliminated with a 13-5 loss to that powerful Jersey Shore team.

Burlington County has been so competitive in this tournament in recent years, but not this season. In the first round Burlington County lost 18-0 to Jersey Shore.

There were only two hits by Burlington County, a single by Seneca junior Brett Barnes and and double by Moorestown junior designated hitter Ryan Gold.

The one pitcher who distinguished himself was

Shawnee junior Jake Miller, who pitched one hitless inning in the seventh. Miller had four strikeouts because one batter who struck out reached base on a wild pitch.

That was the extent of the positive news.

Against Jersey Shore, Tri-Cape cut the deficit to 6-5 with four runs in the seventh, but the winners then scored seven runs in the next two innings.

For Tri-Cape, senior outfielder Mike Maldonado of Glassboro when 1 for 2 with an RBI. Clearview sophomore third baseman Tim Dezzi was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Tri-Cape also received seventh inning RBI singles from Atlantic City junior first baseman Steve Myers and Absegami catcher Steve Hewa. Ocean City junior rightfielder Josh Arnold added an RBI on a groundout.

The one Tri-Cape pitcher who threw a shutout inning was Wildwood sophomore Brandon Bean, who allowed two hits and struck out one in his one scoreless inning.

So this year it was a tough time for South Jersey teams in this 16-team single-elimination tournament.

What is interesting is that Olympic-Colonial has won the most titles in the 30-year history with five, but the last time it won the championship was 1997. (Jersey Shore entered the championship game with four titles could would tie Olympic-Colonial with a win).

Burlington County has won the three tiles and has an impressive 37-27 record in the tournament.

Tri-Cape has never won a title, but has been competitive, evidenced by its 34-30 career record in the Carpenter Cup.

The first three rounds of the Tournament are played at FDR Park, with many of the games at the new plush field that the Phillies recently dedicated.

The semifinals and finals are played at Citizens Bank Park.

This is a unique tournament and one that is anxiously anticipated each year because the participants’ goal is to win two games in order to play at the field where the Phillies compete.

Photo (Marc Narducci): West Deptford's Walt Vickery pitching for the Olympic/Colonial in the Carpenter Cup

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Author: Marc Narducci; Photo by Marc Narducci