West Deptford Senior Leaguers Edge Paulsboro, Force Game 3

Things finally broke the West Deptford Senior Leaguers’ way.

After a pool play loss to the Red Raiders and Paulsboro’s come-from-behind win in the first game of the District 15 championship series, the Eagles’ season hung in the balance at Monday night.

They delivered in a big way, scoring 10 runs—the second-most Paulsboro had allowed this summer—in a nail-biting, one-run victory at Union Field to force the decisive third game for the district title and the automatic bid into the Eastern Regional.

And they did it without ever trailing in the game, leaping out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first as they took advantage of ragged pitching from Paulsboro, which gave up nine walks on the evening.

Coming out aggressively and putting up a lead early, instead of trying to fight back late, was the key to the game, said Tyler Garrison, who drove in five runs, including the game-winner.

“It gave us confidence for the rest of the game,” he said.

West Deptford’s bats weren’t overwhelming—they scratched out nine hits to Paulsboro’s 10—but with some smart baserunning and plate discipline, the Eagles were able to get runners on and move them around almost at will.

That was exemplified in Conor Goggin, who managed a pair of heads-up plays, scoring twice when Paulsboro was lazy about getting relay throws back into the infield.

While Paulsboro fought back every time West Deptford put up runs, the fact that the Eagles could keep on scoring and play with the lead made a huge difference, said Ty Castellano, who scored one run and drove in another.

“It takes the pressure off our pitchers,” he said. “We could just sit back and hit the rest of the night.”

The Eagles got it done with a trio on the mound—CJ Chando started the game and had an up-and-down outing, allowing six earned runs, but also matching Paulsboro starter Phil Scott in a hitless second inning.

Sonny Conto came on in relief and was tagged for two runs, and he was followed by Isaiah Easterling, who let the bases get loaded before escaping the sixth, then looked dominant in the seventh, striking out two of the four batters he faced—including a strikeout of Paulsboro’s Jim Schmidt to end the game.

But the game was ultimately a prelude to Wednesday night, which will be the decisive third game of the series.

Castellano, who was the No. 1 pitcher during the spring, will take the mound with everything on the line. The good news is he’s seen pressure plenty of times before.

“I was in the same situation last year, so hopefully I’m used to it,” he said. “I’ve just got to come out and throw strikes.”

There’s no doubt in his mind the title is there for the Eagles to grab when the two teams meet again at 7 p.m. at Union Field.

“I’m amped up right now,” he said. “I can’t wait for Wednesday.”