West Deptford Ousts Likely Top Draft, Advances in Baseball Playoffs

West Deptford, NJ -- The West Deptford High School baseball team defeated a likely first-round draft pick on Thursday, and the win kept the Eagles on track for a possible NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 title, according to nj.com.

The top-seeded Eagles ousted No. 8 Barnegat, 2-1, in the quarterfinals on Thursday. The Eagles scored both their runs in the first inning, with Ryan Baglivo scoring what would become the winning run on a wild throw. Matt Britt scored the first run earlier in the inning, on an RBI by Baglivo.

Drew Wilden picked up the win on the mound for West Deptford, which will host No. 4 Audubon in the semifinals on May 31. Audubon defeated No. 12 Gateway, 11-3, in the quarterfinals.

The winner advances to the final, set for June 3.

To view the full bracket, click here.

Barnegat pitcher Jason Groome struck out 12 batters, walked two, and gave up two hits and one unearned run.

He finished the season with a 1-3 record. He entered the season as the possible No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft, but was forced to forfeit his first two wins of the season and sit out 30 days after the NJSIAA ruled him ineligible when he violated the state’s transfer rule.

Nj.com has since reported that the Philadelphia Phillies have lost interest in Groome.

On Friday, nj.com reported he will meet with three early drafting teams ahead of the June 9 MLB Draft.