Staff Report
The Ocean City High baseball team has always been tough to beat and has had a long tradition of success. When you take a ride over the 9th Street bridge, you know you’re going to get a fight from the Red Raiders.
Senior infielder Colin Thompson embodied what Ocean City baseball is all about during his four-year varsity career — rarely leaving the field without a filthy uniform, and more often than not leaving the diamond with a win in hand.
Thompson, an athletic defender who brought speed to the bases, was a very consistent left-handed hitter throughout his career, and this year helped Ocean City make a run to the South Jersey Group 3 semifinals after the Raiders had a tough start to the season mired by injuries. Once the team got healthy, the Red Raiders won nine of their last 12 games to finish the year at 14-12.
“He was our field general,” said Ocean City coach Andrew Bristol. “When Colin played well, it lifted us. He was a rare four-year starter, and he was a playmaker in every sense of the word. His play and leadership will be missed.”
Thompson hit nearly .300, scored 18 runs, had 13 walks and added 14 stolen bases. For his career, he racked up 81 hits in 229 at-bats — good for an impressive .354 average — and he added 64 runs, 47 RBIs, 11 doubles, four home runs, 25 walks and 38 stolen bases. He also helped Ocean City win seven playoff games during his career and reach the sectional championship game when he was a freshman.
— Dave O’Sullivan, Staff Writer
