In a thrilling showdown on Saturday, the Delbarton Varsity Green Wave emerged victorious over Don Bosco Prep with a score of 10-7 to claim the NJSIAA Non-Public A North championship.
The game began with a bang as Sal Garcia's single on the sixth pitch of the at-bat put Delbarton on the board in the top of the first inning. However, Don Bosco Prep quickly responded in the bottom of the inning. Singles by Becker and Gilpin, followed by a walk to Pena, each brought in a run, giving Don Bosco Prep an early 3-1 lead.
Delbarton regained momentum in the top of the second inning. Aidan Dill's sacrifice fly scored one run, and Jack Harley's double drove in two more, putting Delbarton ahead 4-3. Yet, Don Bosco Prep was not to be outdone, reclaiming the lead in the bottom of the second. Espinal's double brought in three runs, and a single by Pena added another, making the score 7-4 in favor of Don Bosco.
The Green Wave began to chip away at the deficit in the fourth inning. Louis Friedrich's groundout scored AJ Saccento, and Matt Tafuri's single drove in Miles Handy, narrowing the gap to 7-6.
Delbarton took decisive control in the top of the sixth inning. Garcia's single tied the game, then Handy's triple brought in two more runs. Danny Haggard's perfectly executed squeeze bunt drove in Handy, giving Delbarton a commanding 10-7 lead.
Christian Zebrowski earned the win for Delbarton with a stellar relief performance. The right-hander allowed only three hits and no runs over five and one-third innings, striking out four and walking one. Dill, who started the game, allowed five hits and seven runs over one and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking four.
The Green Wave offense was relentless, racking up 13 hits throughout the game. Tafuri, Haggard, Garcia, and Handy each collected two hits, while Harley, Garcia, and Handy each drove in two runs, contributing significantly to Delbarton's championship-clinching victory.
Delbarton now heads to the NJSIAA Non Public A Championship on Thursday against St. Augustine Prep at Veterans Field in Hamilton Township. Congrats to Coach Shatel and the Green Wave on another sectional title!
