Big Defense Powers West Deptford Senior Leaguers to District 15 Finals

If you’re ever caught in a thunderstorm, you might want to stay away from trees, open water and Dominic Bisirri.

Though lightning might never strike the same spot twice, the West Deptford Senior League catcher could probably shift those odds, after twice coming up with critical stops at the plate in his team’s 7-0 District 15 semifinal win over Deptford at Union Field Wednesday night.

With West Deptford up, 3-0, in the fourth inning, Bisirri came up with his first big stop when Deptford’s Eric Williams and Aron Richendoller got caught in an awkward rundown after Jason Loeffler’s attempted sacrifice bunt.

Richendoller, who was on second to start the play, nearly overran Williams, who had checked up at third; in the ensuing chaos, Richendoller skittered back to second, where West Deptford looked to get the out initially, while Williams trucked for home.

Bad news for him, Bisirri was waiting for the relay throw, got the tag down well in front of the plate and held on to the ball when Williams clotheslined him to the dirt.

“It’s nerve-wracking just trying to catch the ball and trying to tag him,” Bisirri said. “Honestly, I looked at my glove and was hoping the ball was in it.”

One bang-bang play at home wasn’t going to be enough on the night, though.

Two innings later, Bisirri was called on again, after what seemed like a guaranteed two-run double to deep right from Richendoller.

Deptford baserunner Blake Patton tripped heading around third, and with teammate Williams tight on his heels, had no choice but to get up and try to win the footrace home.

Once again, Bisirri was there, the relay throw was well in time, and West Deptford got out of the inning unscathed, up 4-0, instead of 4-2 or 4-3–or worse.

West Deptford manager Marty Roselli said it was one of those strange plays that just happen.

“You see all kinds of things in baseball, and I think that’s just part of the game,” he said.

And though Bisirri’s defense was essential, West Deptford’s offense gave them a lead after fewer than a dozen pitches in the top of the first. With Brendan Glass on second, designated hitter Harry Sturgis came up with a two-out blast to deep left center that hit the fence, just beyond the reach of Deptford center fielder Andrew Steen.

A few pitches later, Sturgis was able to score after Bisirri lined a single to right, and West Deptford had all the lead it would need on the night.

“I was just trying to get some runs going in the first, get the momentum going,” Sturgis said.

West Deptford tacked on one run in the fourth and another in the sixth, before getting to Deptford reliever Richendoller with a three-run seventh to put the game completely out of reach.

With the win, West Deptford advances to the District 15 finals against Glassboro, which starts Friday night at Union Field. The two teams will play a best-of-three series to decide who will be the host team for the Senior League Eastern Regional tournament, which begins next week.