West Deptford wins first state baseball title on reversed call

TOMS RIVER, N.J. - West Deptford's John Oehler has been coaching high school baseball for 10 years. Parsippany coach Ken Dobkin is a 17-year veteran.

Neither had seen this before.

"Not to end the game," Oehler said.

"I've never heard that from an umpire, 'Changed my mind,' " Dobkin said.

West Deptford led Parsippany, 2-1, in the bottom of the eighth inning of the NJSIAA Group 2 championship game Saturday at Toms River East. Parsippany had a man on third with one out. Tommy Nowicki chopped the ball to short.

"It took a not-so-favorable hop off my chest. I was panicking," Eagles shortstop Moonie Garrison said. "I thought my throw beat him."

The first-base umpire called safe. Oehler ran out to argue. The umpires met near the mound. The home plate umpire turned and waved his fist in the air, the out sign.

West Deptford players stormed the field to celebrate the school's first baseball state championship.

Parsippany players yelled at the umpires. The umpires hustled up the steps away from the field. Redhawks fans crowded around as the umpires lowered their heads.

"They got it right," Oehler said. "The guy was out by a step."

"He was out by a mile," Eagles third baseman Matt Britt said.

Step, mile, it doesn't matter now. West Deptford won. Out of breath, soaked in champagne, and surrounded by hundreds of fans in white "Win West Deptford Win" shirts, the Eagles tried to find the words.

"It's absolutely amazing," junior pitcher/outfielder Drew Wilden said. "It's indescribable."

"No better feeling in the world," Garrison said. "So many people took the two-hour ride. Feels awesome to do it for them."

"It's the greatest feeling in the world," senior pitcher Derek Wakeley said. "I can't even explain it. I don't know what to say."

The Eagles made history because Wakeley pitched six shutout innings. The Redhawks went 1 for 10 with men on against him.

"My teammates made big plays," Wakeley said.

The one hit was a single to center in the third. Wilden fielded the ball and fired home. Catcher Ryan Baglivo tagged the runner out mid-slide.

Parsippany tied the game in the seventh. But West Deptford regained the lead in the top of the eighth. Parsippany's shortstop sailed the ball over the first baseman's head. Garrison raced home from second.

West Deptford 100 000 01 - 2 5 2

Parsippany 000 000 10 - 1 9 2

WP: Drew Wilden. LP: Tommy Nowicki. 2B: P: Bener Uygun. 3B: WD: Moonie Garrison.