By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
X @tortreports
During the last three years, Zach Maxwell and Frankie Master have made a lot of memories together while dominating varsity baseball for the Delsea Regional Crusaders.
They recently wrapped up their high school careers with an exclamation mark — a 27-4 record en route to the South Jersey Group 3 title and a state final berth.
They’re set to continue at the collegiate level together at Drew University, but for now, their focus is on making a few extra prep-career memories together.
“We have an incredible bond,” Maxwell said. “When we were looking for colleges, I was like ‘if we could find a college we both could play at, that would be ideal.’ We didn’t think it would actually happen but it ended up happening because the program over at Drew is amazing and they allowed it to happen.”
They are both competing for Tri-Cape in the annual Carpenter Cup tournament, an all-star showcase featuring the best players from New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Tri-Cape, featuring players from the Tri-County Conference and Cape-Atlantic League, has advanced to Monday’s semifinals, which will be played at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Maxwell, also the starting quarterback on the Crusaders’ state-championship winning football squad, made the varsity baseball lineup his sophomore year after overcoming a torn labrum in his shoulder. Since then, he’s piled up 75 RBIs on 110 hits in his career.
“It meant everything to me to come back from injury and pick back up right where I left off five years ago,” he continued. “Last year I was here as a reserve (player) at the Bank, and this year it feels better to be on the actual team and get to experience this with these guys.”
Tri-Cape defeated Philadelphia Catholic, 5-2 on Thursday to book its ticket to the semis on Monday, where a win puts the squad into the championship game on Tuesday.
“It means a lot to be able to play on this team,” Master said. “It’s a great team, and to be able to get there (to Citizens Bank) is an amazing feeling. I was able to play there sophomore year, and to be able to go back and try to win it all is really fun. Obviously, we’re trying to win it all, but it’s one at a time. You have to take it one pitch at a time. There’s a lot of good teams in this, getting to the semifinals and finals — there’s going to be some good pitching we’re going to see.”
A natural ballplayer, Master started varsity all four years for Delsea, racking up 53 RBIs on 128 career hits. He performed exceptionally well in Thursday’s quarterfinal triumph, going 1-for-2 at the plate.
“That was something that was definitely similar interests we had, going to college (together),” Master said. “Playing at Delsea was unbelievable. I loved every moment of it. Being able to win two South Jersey championships, making a run in the Diamond (Classic) a few times. Every day just going out there, it was such a good time.”
Delsea coach Joe Smith is an assistant on the Carpenter Cup team, but was unable to make it to Thursday’s quarterfinal. However, Tri-Cape head coach D.J. Gore of Highland Regional had plenty of nice things to say about the Crusaders’ duo, whom he is familiar with as a TCC divisional rival.
“We do (have a relationship) with the kids from Delsea just because we’ve played them in conference,” Gore said. “I’ve seen them eight times, twice a year, over the past four years. I’m pretty familiar with them, and they’re fantastic kids. They’re well coached, and really good kids. They’ve been successful in the Carpenter Cup. Frankie Master has been here now for three years, Maxwell’s been here for two. It’s a really good group of kids.”
