GAMES – Del Corio Twins Lead Cape May Tech

Frank and Denise Del Corio are very proud of their children and with good reason. The oldest, 27-year-old Danielle, works with pupils at the county’s Special Services School District. Twins Bernadette and Ben, 17, are captains of the Cape May County Technical High School softball and baseball teams, respectively.
Bernadette or “Bern” is the Hawks’ second baseman and baseball lifer Ben is a leftfielder and his squad’s three-hole hitter. He’s smacked five hits in his first nine at bats for the much improved Cape Tech nine.
Born 39 minutes apart, Bern and Ben are also accomplished surfers, primarily in the waters off of Stone Harbor. Bern possesses four varsity letters in soccer and softball along with three in basketball. Without a varsity squad in his freshman year, Ben has settled for three varsity letters in baseball.
Bern, who grew up playing catcher and shortstop in youth leagues, is one of five softball team captains while her brother holds the leadership mantle by himself for the guys.
Bern is an admitted defensive stalwart who prefers to keep opponents away from scores. She patrolled the fullback spot in soccer although she is very fond of her first goal, a 20-yard rifle shot against Wildwood Catholic last October.
She credits defensive capability with the Hawks’ softball improvement this season. “Our infield defense has been phenomenal,” said Bernie, a 5-5 guard in hoops. “We need to improve our batting.”
As for basketball, Bern, also a captain for that squad, is most proud of the Lady Hawks’ first-ever playoff victory, a post-season triumph over LEAP Academy this winter.
Ben, who played two years of soccer, was rookie of the year as a freshman and earned team MVP honors after his junior season when he led the squad with 16 runs batted in. His team has also shown impressive improvement in 2011.
“We’ve got more talent,” said the National Honor Society inductee. “We have a super freshman class. Our first-year guys are really good. We want to win a few more games and be more competitive.”
Bern was the recipient of the softball coaches award and batted .296 a year ago. “I felt comfortable at Cape May Tech right from the start because I went from one small school (Bishop McHugh) to another,” she said. “It was pretty much what I expected so that helped.”
Ben and Bern are focused academically. Both said they attack assignments immediately because they realize procrastination will lead to trouble as they balance books and bats.
They have both expressed interest in studying the natural sciences and plan to begin higher education at nearby Atlantic Cape Community College where they will continue with athletics.
Dad, an electric company employee and former landscape contractor, competed in basketball and football at Wildwood High. He also enjoyed one year of walk-on gridiron activity at Montclair State where he studied business and horticulture.
He’s most pleased about how his twins refuse to quit when things aren’t going well and how they deal effectively with peer pressure in competition.
“They keep moving forward and they accept constructive criticism very well,” said Frank. “Every parent thinks of his or her kid as a superstar but I’m happy to see their dedication. Benny is devoted to baseball and Bern is a natural at everything.”
Frank said he was also glad to see his daughter’s team go out on a winning note in basketball after struggling for most of Bern’s career. “To go through all of that and not get down or quit, that says something,” he said. “Bern loves the bus rides and being around her teammates.”
Dad noted that sports helps students make decisions as they juggle their studies with sports. “It can be a roller coaster ride,” he said. “Having them be captains of their teams is great. Being part of a team looks great on your resume.”
Frank said he and Denise “pushed” their children “a little bit.” He said the Middle Township couple wanted their offspring “to commit themselves” to their teams.
“As they get older you appreciate it more,” he said. “They’re compassionate about their sports. They value playing and getting better.”
Denise, a personal trainer at Muscle World and a former lab technician, says her children all have “hearts of gold” and have competed in sports since kindergarten.
“Ben has played baseball in fall, spring and whenever he could, not just for school teams,” said the former lacrosse and field hockey athlete. “He’s 100 percent baseball. Bern never has a puss on her face. Just like Ben she gives 100 percent to her teams. They give it their all. We can’t ask for more.”