An eight-run outburst over the first two innings and two tremendous defensive plays by shortstop Rick Palmer in the sixth inning led to the Wildwood baseball team's 8-6 victory over Wildwood Catholic Tuesday afternoon at Maxwell Field.

Wildwood used a few walks, a couple of Wildwood Catholic errors, a two-run triple by Trevor Rivera and a two-run single by Rich Fullerton to score eight runs over the first two innings.

Wildwood Catholic chipped away at the Wildwood lead and seriously threatened in the sixth inning. Nick Long's two-run single was the offensive highlight of a four-run inning for the Crusaders, who could have scored many more times if not for two stellar defensive plays by Palmer. With the bases loaded and no outs, Palmer dove to his right to field Matt Morey's hard grounder before scrambling to his feet and flipping to second base for a force out. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Palmer again ranged to his right on Bryan Toland's grounder, gobbled up an in-between hop and threw across his body to get another force out at second base.

Wildwood Catholic loaded the bases again with two outs in the top of the seventh but a short fly ball to left field ended the game.

Wildwood improved to 5-3 with the win, while Wildwood Catholic dropped to 2-3.