Pennsville baseball uses home field advantage to take the driver's seat in Tri-County Classic division race

Pennsville's Luke Wood tossed 6.2 innings allowing one run and six hits while striking out seven batters as Pennsville defeated Pitman in the baseball game played at Ed Reiger Field at Pennsville Memorial High School in Pennsville, New Jersey on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Chris Baker/D2 Sports Network

PENNSVILLE - The Pennsville Memorial High School baseball team had finally started to get healthy after a close loss to Millville last weekend. Harford commit Peyton O'Brien was cleared to finally swing a bat and be able to DH for the Eagles after getting Tommy John surgery back in the Fall of 2024.

With one of its senior leaders back in the lineup, Pennsville prepared for a Tri-County Conference Classic division clash with Pitman. The Eagles used their skin infield to their advantage, scoring the game-winning run on a fielding error for a 2-1 victory in eight innings. The extra innings triumph put Pennsville atop the division standings with two more division games left to secure the outright title.

Logan Streitz played the role of the hero with a knock to shortstop where the fielder couldn't come up with a clean play, allowing Mason O'Brien to score.

"I thought we barreled some balls up early that just ended up being right at a fielder," Streitz said. "We saw (Nick) Watson in the first game, so we kind of knew what to expect when he came in again this time. I think our field being a skin infield also helps to our advantage as well."

Pitman scored its only run in the first inning when Messiah signee Hudson Rue lined a leadoff single to right field, then later came around to score on an RBI single by Aidan Stranahan.

After allowing the early run, McDaniel commit Luke Wood was lights out on the mound. Wood finished the game tossing 6.2 innings and allowed one run on six hits and struck out seven batters. The senior currently sits at 99 hits after going 0-for-2 at the plate with a pair of walks, a run scored, and reaching base on an error.

LaSalle commit Chase Burchfield also added to the offense with a pair of singles and a stolen base.

As of the time this story was written, Pennsville is third in power points, and Pitman is sixth in South Jersey Group 1. The intensity and talent on display in the game between Pennsville and Pitman previewed a possible playoff matchup that could come to fruition later in the bracket. If the two division rivals meet for a third time, spectators and those involved can expect a fun, intense postseason game.

"Games like this are what prepare us for the playoffs and games ahead," Pennsville coach Matt Karr said. "This was a possible preview for the playoffs for both teams. We want to win games like this to allow us to clinch home field advantage so we can create chaos and use the field we practice and play on so often, to give us the upper hand."