COMMENTARY By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Publisher Mention the words “City Series” in the Atlantic City area, and the first thing most people probably think of is Yankees vs. Mets. But if you travel about 30 miles west along Route 40 you will come to Vineland, where “City Series” takes on a much more important – and personal – meaning. In Vineland, everyone knows what the City Series means – Vineland vs. Sacred Heart. There are many storied rivalries in sports: 
The Sacred Heart High School baseball team did a tremendous job transforming Morie Field into one of the best fields in the Cape-Atlantic League during the past year. graduated decades before were on hand, remembering the City Series games they played in. What also boils up the intensity in a rivalry is when it gets personal. And make no mistake, the Vineland vs. Sacred Heart rivalry is personal. Parents are neighbors, some players grew up competing against each other in Little League, or even were teammates, and now found themselves wearing different uniforms in – for some – their final high school baseball game. Vineland senior Don Money III (yes, he’s the grandson of former Phillies and Brewers player Don Money) had spent the afternoon swimming alongside Sacred Heart senior Kevin Allen. No doubt there was some trash talk going on, although maybe not that much. Money’s own mother has a hard time getting a word out of the soft-spoken senior. In the seventh inning, it was Allen on the mound, facing Money, who lives two doors down. Vineland coaches Jim Hague Sr. and Don Money II pointed out Sacred Heart players. “Yup, I coached that one in Little League. And that one, too.” There were many stories inside the game. Sacred Heart’s Steve Steigerwalt turned in a gutsy performance for the Lions (7-16), striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings while throwing 134 pitches. Don Money III was going for his ninth pitching win against just one loss for the Fighting Clan (21-7). Vineland coach John Malatesta wanted that 21st victory, which would tie a school record for wins in a season. The Sacred Heart players were looking for the Hollywood ending to a disappointing season, riding off into the night with a victory in the final game in program history. They would be denied, as Vineland claimed a 6-2 victory. And it’s no surprise that in a game of this magnitude the most unlikely of heroes turned the tide in Vineland’s favor. Tommy Rodriguez had hopes of being a three-year varsity starter at catcher when he was a sophomore. He didn’t win the job, as current junior Jimmy Hague emerged as a standout backstop. Rodriguez shuffled through his junior year playing DH, a little first base here and there, warming up relief pitchers in the bullpen. When the 2013 season started, coach Malatesta told Rodriguez that he wouldn’t see much playing time as a senior, but that he would have an important role and would like Rodriguez to accept that role. Rodriguez could have quit, and who would have blamed him? What 
Sacred Heart’s Steve Steigerwalt turned in a gritty performance in the Lions’ loss to Vineland, striking out seven in six-plus innings while throwing 134 pitches. acknowledging the efforts of their opponents. They may have stepped between the white lines as fierce competitors, but after the game they looked more like brothers having competed in a sandlot game. And, maybe, in a weird way, they kind of are brothers. At the very least, they joined the brotherhood of true baseball players. The brotherhood you only gain entry into by leaving everything you had that night out on the field for the sake of your team, your school, your town.
City Series finale caps S.J. high school tradition
