The Cherry Hill High School West baseball team celebrates its 3-1 win over Delsea in the 50th annual Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic final played at Alcyon Park in Pitman, New Jersey on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Collin Conway/D2 Sports Network
PITMAN - The Cherry Hill West High School baseball team was close to clinching a spot in the Diamond Classic final a year ago, but ultimately fell to Delsea, 5-1, in the semifinal round.
The Chapel Avenue program matched up with the Crusaders again in the South Jersey Group 3 semifinals.
Another loss.
This year, the Lions avenged those losses with a 3-1 victory over Delsea in the 50th annual Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic final. It was Cherry Hill West’s first Diamond Classic championship since 1989.
South Carolina commit Ryder Garino tossed 6.1 innings allowing one run, five hits and a pair of walks. He struck out 10 batters in the process.
Through the first three innings, both sides combined for just three hits. Drew University commit and Delsea leadoff hitter Frankie Master led the game off with a double to the left center field gap on the first pitch of the game. Fellow Drew commit Zach Maxwell moved Master over to third with a bunt that couldn't be corralled by Garino.