‘One of those days’

Salem silenced in 12U baseball, Middle Twp. senior softball swamps Monroe to set up championship rematch with Pennsville

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

VINELAND – The Salem Little League 12U All-Stars’ dream of reaching this year’s state tournament ended Wednesday night under the weight of a 6-0 loss to East Vineland.

They had beaten East Vineland and pitcher Luca Buono in the first round of the double-loss elimination portion of the District 3 tournament, but it was a different story this time around.

Buono pitched a complete-game two-hit shutout and struck out eight. Salem had scored 24 runs in their three tournament wins, but in each of their last two games they couldn’t deliver a timely hit.

“Offensively, it was one of those days,” Salem manager Brian Dolbow said. “We saw the same pitcher last week, got him under some pressure and he kind of cracked a little. Unfortunately, tonight we just didn’t get any base runners, weren’t getting walks. He pitched well. We just didn’t make a lot of contact and when we did it was weak contact, so credit to the pitcher.

“That’s how baseball goes. Unfortunately, the past two games our bats just went quiet at the wrong time. Nothing to be ashamed of, it’s just sometimes how baseball goes, the bats kind of go quiet. Every team goes through those kinds of things, you’ve got to work your way out of it, but tonight we weren’t able to get any big hits when we needed them.”

Trailing 3-0, Salem threatened to get a run back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ben Parkell led off with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball, but was cut down at the plate on a grounder to the left side of the infield.

Noah Blunt got Salem’s first hit on a bunt single in the third inning. He went to second on a one-out passed ball and to third on a two-out wild pitch, but was stranded there.

Salem finished third in the district, one win shy of playing for the championship. East Vineland now hosts undefeated South Vineland for the district title 7 p.m. Thursday. An “if necessary” game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at East Vineland.

“After last year with the run Alloway and Salem made I went into it with the expectations that we’re just as good as those other teams,” Dalbow said. “One thing, East Vineland and South Vineland, those kids play travel together, they play Little League together, they work together all year. Our team, literally, we’re three towns, five different Little League teams, coming together. 

“When we started on June 1 we had kids who didn’t even know each other. The way they came together and put this run together, for me, it was fun to be a part of, it was great to watch, and credit to them for being able to do that. 

“The fact these kids came together and were able to get basically the third team left that says a lot about the work they’ve put in. It was a good accomplishment for us just based on the way we’re set up and organized versus the teams we’re playing. I thought our kids showed really well.” 

East Vineland  020 121 – 6 8 1
Salem                000 000 – 0 2 4
WP: Luca Buono. LP: Drew Sutton. 2B: Anthony Abrams (EV), Enzo Candelario (EV), Aiden Knowles (EV); Ben Parkell (S).

Section 4 Senior Softball

MIDDLE TWP. 24, MONROE TWP. 1: Middle decided this one early, erupting for 10 runs in the top of the first inning, setting up a championship game with undefeated host Pennsville Thursday night.

Middle sent 16 batters to the plate in the first. They faced 66 pitches, drew eight walks and had two hit batsmen. Sophia Nemeth had two of their three hits in the inning – a leadoff triple and an RBI double.

Eight of the nine starters had at least one hit and 10 of their 11 batters had at least one RBI. Nemeth went 3-for-4, Charlotte Romberger had two hits and four RBIs, and K.J. Schaffer had two hits and two RBIs. Monroe pitchers issued 18 walks and hit four batters in the four-inning game.

Grace Hall, who got roughed up by Pennsville in their game Monday night, worked the first two innings, facing seven batters. She allowed two hits and struck out three before Brynn Brophy closed.

The Section 4 champion will play the winner of the Morris County-Roberto Clemente LL game in their state tournament opener July 15 in Parsippany.

Middle Twp.   (10)74 3 – 24 11 1
Monroe Twp.      000 1 –    1  3 4
WP: Grace Hall.