Williamstown knocks off Shawnee in Group 4 baseball

Derrick Capiak's change-up was his best pitch.

That was fitting, since everything about the Williamstown pitcher's performance was deceiving.

It was a hitter's day, but Capiak made enough pitches to lead Williamstown to an 11-8 upset of Shawnee in the first round of the South Jersey Group 4 baseball tournament.

"It's the best feeling in the world," Capiak said after pitching a complete game on Monday.

Jordan Rizzo, Joe Antonelli and Zach Hoffman hit home runs for 12th-seeded Williamstown (10-11), which advanced to face fourth-seeded Eastern or 13th-seeded Oakcrest in Friday's sectional quarterfinals.

Ed Royds hit two solo home runs and Brian Lawler rapped a two-run homer and a two-run single for fifth-seeded Shawnee (13-5).

"Eight runs ought to be enough to win a tournament game," Shawnee coach Brian Anderson said. "We just made too many mistakes."

The wind was blowing out at Shawnee's launching pad of a field, and Williamstown took advantage as Rizzo and Antonelli each hit three-run home runs for a 6-0 lead in the first inning.

"It was a 3-2 pitch and I was just trying to hit it hard," Antonelli said.

The Braves made it 8-1 on Hoffman's two-run homer in the second.

Capiak surrendered four home runs, all in the first three innings. But he allowed just three other singles, walked one, and struck out seven. If not for some shaky fielding in the sixth, he might have shut out the Renegades after the third inning.

"I wanted the complete game," said Capiak, who retired the side in order in the seventh.

Williamstown     620 300 0 - 11 14 4

Shawnee     122 003 0 - 8 7 2

WP: Derrick Capiak. LP: Dylan Johannink.

2B: W-Brett Virnelson.

HR: W-Jordan Rizzo, Joe Antonelli, Zach Hoffman; S-Vince Corbi, Brian Lawler, Ed Royds, 2.