Representing South Jersey

by Marc Narducci | Jun 24, 2024

A year ago, Tri-Cape won the prestigious Carpenter Cup softball tournament, sponsored by the Phillies and played in Philadelphia’s FDR Park. In this year’s 19th annual Carpenter Cup, the Tri-Cape (consisting of players from the Tri-County Conference and Cape Atlantic League) advanced to the final day of competition, but was eliminated by eventual champion Lehigh Valley in the quarterfinal.

There were 16 All-Star teams in the tournament, from New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. The Carpenter Cup had four brackets of four teams each. The top two teams in each bracket advanced to the quarterfinals on the third and final day. Only freshman, sophomores and juniors from the 2024 high school season were eligible to compete.

Tri-Cape was one of three teams from the seven-county South Jersey area competing. The others were the Olympic-Colonial and Burlington County. Olympic-Colonial (with players from the Olympic and Colonial Conferences), like Tri-Cape advanced to the final day of competition, but also lost a quarterfinal game. Burlington County went 0-3, but played much better than the record indicated.

Tri-Cape advanced to the final day after going 3-0 in the opening day of action. In the quarterfinal, Tri-Cape was eliminated by eventual champion Lehigh Valley, 8-3. In the game, Tri-Cape actually out-hit Lehigh Valley, 10-8.

Ocean City sophomore Jessica Mooney concluded her fine tournament with an outstanding pitching effort in the quarterfinal loss. Carpenter Cup rules allow a pitcher to throw a maximum of four innings per game and Mooney, who was the starter for Tri-Cape, pitched four innings, allowing three hits and two runs, only one which was earned. She walked two and struck out one. Mooney was not involved in the decision as the game was 2-2 at the end of four innings.

Three players had big offensive games for Tri-Cape in the quarterfinal. Absegami junior catcher Alyssa Bailey went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Kingsway junior outfielder Olivia Sciulli went 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored. St. Joseph Hammonton sophomore outfielder Alaina Dorsey was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Olympic-Colonial advanced to the final day, but lost a quarterfinal game, 7-1 to Berks/Lancaster/Lebanon of Pennsylvania. Eastern sophomore Mya Torres was the offensive standout for Olympic-Colonial, going 2-for-2.

Cherokee sophomore Cali Taylor pitched three scoreless innings and Collingswood junior Piper Wright added another scoreless inning.

The previous day the Olympic Colonial advanced to the quarterfinal by going 2-1.

Olympic-Colonial opened by beating Pennsylvania’s Suburban One League/Bicentennial League, 4-0.

That was followed by a 3-1 loss to Mercer County.

The Olympic-Colonial then clinched its quarterfinal berth with a 5-3 win over Chester County.

Cherokee’s Taylor was the winning pitcher against Chester County, allowing just one run and three hits in four innings, while striking out five. Eastern junior Samantha Wakeley earned the save by pitching two hitless innings.

Eastern’s Torres was 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored, while Paul VI sophomore first baseman Danielle Audet was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI.

In the loss to Mercer County, Collingswood’s Wright, who played second base and shortstop, was the hitting standout, going 2-for-4.

Eastern’s Wakeley earned the win over SOL/BAL by pitching four shutout innings, allowing just one hit.

Burlington County lost its first game to Pennsylvania’s Mid-Penn, 9-5 in eight innings. Delran junior Elaina Faux was the hitting star, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. That was followed by an 8-3 loss to Berks/LL. Delran freshman Arianna Martinez went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored while Cinnaminson’s Maddyn Rittler was 1-for-1 with an RBI triple.

Burlington County ended with a 4-1 loss to Jersey Shore. In that game, Burlington County had the tying run at the plate before hitting into a game-ending popup.

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Photo: Ocean City's Jessica Mooney / Marc Narducci

Author: Marc Narducci

Representing South Jersey

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