Top 5 Showdown: Gloucester Catholic Rams Prevail Over Kingsway Dragons

by NJ Athletics April 30, 2024

photo by: Drew Tineo

In an electrifying matchup between two of the state's top-ranked teams, No. 1 Gloucester Catholic Rams showcased their dominance in a commanding victory over No. 5 Kingsway Dragons. The game, filled with momentum swings and big hits, did not disappoint the high expectations set for this high-stakes encounter.

The game kicked off with both teams looking to assert dominance early. The first action came in the second inning when Gloucester Catholic's Bogart scored on a RBI single, nudging the Rams ahead 1-0. The third inning saw both teams tightening up, with no runs added.

By the fourth inning, the dynamics began to shift significantly. Tommy Popoff of Kingsway tied the game at 1-1 with a two-out RBI single, injecting some momentum into the Dragons' lineup. However, the Rams responded forcefully in the bottom of the fourth, flexing their offensive muscles as they batted around the order. The Rams tallied six runs in a display of staggering offense to pull away with a 7-1 lead.

Tommy Popoff was again in the spotlight in the sixth, delivering an RBI double to add to Kingsway's tally, but by then, Gloucester Catholic had already established a formidable 11-4 lead. Contributions from Lyman and Belfus, who each notched RBI doubles, helped extend the Rams' lead further in the sixth inning.

Heading into the final inning, Kingsway faced a daunting deficit. Despite a late surge where the Dragons scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh, it was not enough to overcome the early lead built by the Rams. Gloucester Catholic's, Joe Vaccarella, earned the win thanks to his effective pitching throughout the game.

The Rams take home a 13-8 win on the day and prove why they are atop of the state. Being able to take control of big time games has been the focal point of their season. With this win Gloucester Catholic advances to 13-0 on the year and remain as one of few undefeated teams in the state. These teams will meet once again on May 17th in the final bout of the year.