Walkin’ on the Ocean

Salem CC takes advantage of 17 walks to walk over Ocean CC, move closer to clinching a home playoff series

REGION 19 BASEBALL
Salem 17, Ocean 5
RCSJ-Gloucester 6, RCSJ-Cumberland 4
Middlesex 14, Bergen 8
Montgomery 22, Delaware County 6
Northampton 16, Union 8 (Thur.)
Brookdale 10, Morris 0
Camden vs. Cape Atlantic 

By Riverview Sports News

TOMS RIVER – You could say the Salem CC baseball team walked on water Friday afternoon.

The Mighty Oaks took advantage of 17 walks – three in a row with bases loaded in the inning they took the lead – and walked over Ocean CC 17-5.

With one win in Saturday’s home doubleheader or a Middlesex loss in its twinbill with Bergen the Mighty Oaks (24-22) will clinch fourth place in Region 19 and play at home in the playoffs for the first time since they revived the program in 2019.

“It’s nice to pick up the win, but we’re trying to take it one game at a time and focus on winning one game at a time,” Salem coach John Holt said. “Getting ready for the playoffs.”

Nine of the Mighty Oaks batters drew at least one walk. Demetrius DeRamus had four. The four pitchers Ocean used threw 247 total pitches. Salem starter Jon Gambone threw 100 pitches in eight innings.

The 17 walks tied the most Salem has had in a game since the revival. Delco passed 17 Mighty Oaks in March of last season. Four of the walks forced runs home. Eight came around to score.

The Mighty Oaks fell behind 2-0 in the second inning, but took the lead in the fourth inning on consecutive bases-loaded walks to Cole Dawson (four pitches), Yen Rodriguez (six pitches) and Demetrius DeRamus (six pitches) and a wild pitch.

When the Mighty Oaks did make contact, Rodriguez went 2-for-5 with four RBIs, Jared Vandersteur went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Dawson went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Angel Velez also had two hits.

Rodriguez’ two hits left him four shy of becoming the fourth Salem player this season to collect his 100th career hit. DeRamus needs 11 RBIs for 100 in that career category. He did score his 100th run.

“We put together a lot of good at bats and executed on offense,” Holt said.