West Deptford Majors Win in District 15 Quarterfinals

took a 4-1 lead through three innings and turned it into a rout, pushing seven runs across the plate in the fifth inning to take a 13-2 quarterfinal win in five innings over Harrison Township in the District 15 tournament Tuesday night.

But even though the bats were on fire, it was the play in the field that really impressed coach Gus Knestaut.

From Tommy Sampson’s four putouts at shortstop, to Kyle Magee’s performance both on the mound and at third, where he gunned down a runner at home, to Adrian Mason’s signal-calling behind the plate to solid play from Gabe Crowley and Cole Malsbury, it was a total team effort, Knestaut said.

“The defense carried the day,” he said.

That’s not to say the offense didn’t get done—far from it.

Sampson collected three hits in four at-bats, driving in five runs, and Jared Schultes was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

In fact, Schultes helped push West Deptford over the 10-run rule in the fifth, with a delayed steal of home, which was followed by Matt Knestaut’s single to drive in Sampson to widen the gap.

Magee got the win on the mound, while Jake Keuler pitched solid relief to close out the game.

West Deptford advances to the semis, which are slated for 7 p.m. against Glassboro in Glassboro Wednesday.