Vineland softball breezes past Ocean City in early-season Cape-Atlantic League clash

Vineland's Luci Day celebrates after a play in the softball game against Ocean City played at Memorial Park in Ocean City, New Jersey on Monday, April 14, 2025. Collin Conway/D2 Sports Network

OCEAN CITY (N.J.) - The Vineland High School softball team had to wait almost a week between games due to the rain postponing many events in South Jersey for most of last week.

The Fighting Clan came out firing on all cylinders to secure a 7-2 win over Cape-Atlantic League American division rival Ocean City.

Vineland started early, scratching across a run on an RBI single by Janiah Hernandez, scoring Holy Family commit Franki Celebre in the first inning.

The Fighting Clan broke the game open in the following inning when fellow Holy Family commit Luci Day wacked a triple to left field, clearing the bases and adding on three more runs to the scoreboard.

"When I got to third, I didn't know what celebration to do," Day said. "I was just too hype to think in the moment."

Ocean City responded with a run in the home half of the second after Notre Dame of Maryland commit

Annabelle Shumski drove in Carlee Hiddeman on a single to right field.

Both pitchers would hold each team at bay as Rhode Island commit Brooke Douglas and Kashvi Patel traded scoreless frames until Vineland extended the game out of reach in the sixth inning.

Thomas College signee Natalia Ponce blasted a leadoff home run to center field to start the second scoring outburst. Towson signee Leah Mears followed suit with a two-run double to center, officially putting the game to bed.

The Red Raiders did not go down without a fight when Douglas lined a single to center field, scoring Neumann commit Taylor Vaugh in a last-gasp effort.

Patel shut down any attempt at an Ocean City comeback, inducing a pop out to third base to close the contest and lock down Vineland's fourth straight win after dropping the season opener. The junior also collected her 100th career strikeout in the victory.

"I always like to put my trust in my defense when I'm pitching," Patel said. "I know I never have to try too hard to strike out every batter because my defense always has my back whether it's a ground ball or fly ball. I can just go out there and do my thing, knowing my team has my back.

With the rain foiling any plans Vineland had to play for most of last week, coach Mike Reed kept his players ready while waiting for the weather to clear up.

"The weather clearly hasn't been on our side for the last week, and today was finally a decent day," Reed said. "The girls have been itching to get back out and play; we're almost three weeks into the season and have only played five games. A win over a division rival is important, especially this early in the season, just in case of any future unfortunate weather."