Delbarton and Gloucester Catholic Deliver in Duel Between Top Recruits

This clash between two powerhouse teams, Delbarton and Gloucester Catholic, was expected to be a spectacle, and it certainly lived up to the hype, featuring top recruits and dramatic plays that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

The game kicked off with Delbarton’s pitcher, AJ Saccento, a Duke commit, showcasing his skill by striking out two batters and throwing a shutout inning, setting a strong tone for the Green Wave. Delbarton wasted no time in asserting their dominance on the scoreboard. Matthew Tafuri ignited the Green Wave’s offense with a leadoff home run, followed by another run batted in on a sacrifice fly, giving Delbarton an early 2-0 lead.

Continuing his strong start, Saccento maintained control over the Rams' lineup, picking up his third strikeout of the game and effectively managing Gloucester Catholic’s run game with his fastball and changeup.

Tate DeRias, a Miami commit, continued to impress on the mound for Gloucester Catholic, securing his fourth strikeout of the game. The Rams finally broke through Delbarton’s defenses in the third. Jack Mustaro put the ball in play to score the first run for Gloucester Catholic. With two outs, Braeden Lipoff, smashed a double down the line to tie the game at 2-2.

Both teams kept a steady pace of offense and defense for two more innings as the score remained at 2-2. Eventually due to pitch count limitations, Saccento was replaced with Christian Zebrowski who came in with something to prove. It wasnt until the bottom of the 6th that the tie broke with an RBI single from Myles Handy. The Green Wave took the 3-2 lead and Zebrowski closed out in the 7th to give Delbarton a huge victory. 

Both Saccento and DeRias displayed why they are considered top prospects, with Saccento’s varied pitch selection and DeRias’s aresenal being particularly effective. Their performances were crucial in keeping the game tight and competitive. Both teams will not have the chance to meet again in playoffs but surely will be the favorites of their perspective bracket.