The Gloucester City High School baseball team poses with the South Jersey Group 1 championship trophy after defeating Woodstown, 5-4, at Jim Kelly Field at Gloucester City High School in Gloucester City, New Jersey on Monday, June 3, 2024. Chris Baker/D2 Sports Network
GLOUCESTER CITY - A 50-year drought.
Half a century had surpassed since the last time the Gloucester City High School baseball team hoisted a sectional championship trophy. The Lions had their share of deep playoff runs, but ultimately came up short each time. Their deepest run in the previous 10 years concluded with a sectional semifinal loss to state runner-up Glassboro in 2019.
The drought ended on Monday.
The Lions defeated Woodstown, 5-4, in dramatic fashion in the South Jersey Group 1 final.
With the score knotted at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Ayden Daily etched his name into Gloucester City history. Ahead in a 2-1 count, Daily popped a fly ball to left-center field where the ball was caught by Woodstown's center fielder. Courtesy runner Mason Widman tagged up from third base and slid in safely to beat an errant throw to the plate and give the Lions their first sectional title since 1974.
Daily earned playing time as a platoon player and served as a backup in mop-up duty situations as an underclassman.
As a senior, he saw an uptick in production with increased playing time.
And he played the role of hero on Monday.