Buccaneers Baseball Team Supports Basketball against Ocean County

The Gym on Atlantic Cape’s Mays Landing Campus was rocking as the Baseball Buccaneers came out in force to support their brothers and sisters on the men’s and women’s basketball teams as they competed against the Ocean County College Vikings.

“We teach our guys to be men for others; supporting our fellow Buccaneer athletes is one small way – and a fun way – to fulfill that obligation,” said Head Buccaneer Baseball Coach Rod Velardi. And what a fun night it was. The Baseball team watched and cheered vigorously as the women Buccaneers soundly defeated the Vikings.

“Hopefully, having almost thirty players and coaches in the stands shouting and cheering them on helped motivate our young ladies,” added Velardi. “In any case, they looked terrific out there. I’m sure Coach Fred is proud. I know we were.”
After the game, the Baseball team congratulated the young ladies and they all posed to have their pictures taken together before they retired to the stands to share pizza as they waited for the men’s game to begin.

The ladies joined the Baseball Team as they enjoyed pizza together and waited for the men’s game to begin. And what a game it was. For most of the game it was like watching a heavyweight prize fight as the two teams charged up and down the court, exchanging blows and trading points in a tight see-saw battle as the first half ended with the Vikings up by only two points.

The second half started where the first half left off. Some spectacular dunks by the Buccaneers brought the Baseball Team to their feet yelling and cheering their comrades on. Back and forth they went. The Vikings pulled away at one point only to see the Buccaneers valiantly battle back. In the end, the Vikings pulled out the victory; but the Buccaneers never quit.

It made you wonder if there was more time, maybe the Bucs would have prevailed. We may never know. What we do know is it was a fun night for all involved and the Buccaneer basketball players – men and women – definitely impressed the baseball team.

Head Baseball Coach Rod Velardi succinctly summed up the evening, “This was a great night for our Baseball Team as we hope it was for the Basketball Teams. The students at this college really need to support their athletic teams. These kids work so hard and the games are terrifically entertaining. We will definitely do more of this next year. We salute the basketball teams and their wonderful coaches.”

In the meantime, Coach Velardi and his team have an exciting season of baseball coming up, starting Sunday, March 3 at beautiful Surf Stadium in Atlantic City. There is no doubt the baseball team is hoping for Atlantic Cape fans to show up and bring that Buccaneer Spirit with them!