West Deptford Majors Are Champions

The West Deptford Major Division All-Star team that had been powering its way past its competition did things a bit differently in Thursday night’s District 15 championship game with Woodbury.

West Deptford didn’t hit any of the home runs that have become commonplace over the last two weeks. In fact, the team had but one extra base hit, and three hits total.

Yet, in the end, the championship was theirs.

A patient approach at the plate, quality pitching and strong defense was more than enough to earn the team its second straight District 15 title.

Brian Bernetich and Drew Wilden combined on a two-hitter and the West Deptford offense played a bit of small ball in a 6-2 victory in Clayton.

West Deptford will compete in the Section 4 tournament beginning Sunday at 5 p.m. in Clayton.

“It was definitely a different type of game,” said West Deptford coach Mark Ainsley. “(Woodbury) is a good team. They make their plays, they pitch well. We didn’t hit the ball as well as we normally do, but it proved that we can grind out a game, get a few runs, keep a lead with good pitching and win a close game.”

One element that remained the same was West Deptford's ability to get out to a fast start.

Derek Wakeley and Eric Ainsley each reached base in the bottom of the first after being hit by a pitch, and Moonie Garrison and Wilden followed up with an RBI single and RBI ground out, respectively, to give the team a 2-1 lead.

Garrison said when going up to the plate, it helps knowing the rest of the team has your back.

“If you get out, you know the person behind you is going to get a hit,” Garrison.

Bernetich got into a self-imposed jam in the top of the second when he walked two and gave up a single to load the bases with two outs. The young pitcher bore down though, and got a foul out to end the threat.

Bernetich finished with one run on one hit, five strikeouts, four walks and two hit batters in three innings.

“He’s our ace,” Ainsley said. “Tonight, he wasn’t throwing as hard as normal. He didn’t have his best stuff, (but) he grinded out three innings, only giving up one run. It says a lot about Brian.”

West Deptford increased the lead to 4-1 in the second when Wakeley's RBI single plated Travis Hack, and Bernetich hit a groundout to second that scored Tommy Sampson.

The small ball continued in the third as Wilden led of the inning with a double and later scored on a groundout by Ian Kruithof.

Wilden scored once more in the bottom of the fifth to set the stage for the final three outs.

After a double and an error brought Woodbury within 6-2, Wilden retired the next three batters, including catching a popup to end the game and ignite a celebration.

“I was kind of nervous, but then I redeemed myself and got under it and caught it,” Wilden said. “Then everybody just charged at me.”

Wilden allowed just one unearned run in three innings.

“It was kind of scary (pitching) at first but when we started getting more runs I was confident,” Wilden said.

Now the team enters the next stage of the playoffs as confident as ever. Not only did this team demonstrate that it can wear teams down with its relentless offense, but now the players also know they can win a close, low scoring game.

Said Garrison, "It was great to win it again."