Good game, let’s eat

Pennsville softball routs Salem, then heads off for some team bonding and baked ziti; includes all the reported Salem County high school sports results

WEDNESDAY SOFTBALL
Pennsville 17, Salem 0
Williamstown at Woodstown, ppd.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – The Pennsville softball team has always been a group that’s kept its eye on the prize. It’s one of the things that has made it so successful over the years.

The Eagles had a very specific prize in mind Wednesday as they were taking out Salem 17-0.

“Baked ziti” was heard from their dugout along about the third inning of the Tri-County Classic Division game and at regular intervals thereafter.

Actually, it wasn’t so much a prize as a destination. After the Eagles got back to school and cleaned up, they were headed to teammate Cara Hoyt’s house for some team bonding and big helpings of the tasty pasta treat.

“We usually have team bonding, so we always get at Cara’s house and her parents make us ziti, so it’s kind of like a tradition,” outfielder Mary Montagna said. “We have one at Cara’s and we have one at Reagan’s (Wariwanchik) and at Reagan’s we play volleyball and stuff.

“I love ziti. I’m going to get two platefuls.”

The dinner was a players-only affair, but Eagles coach Beth Jackson was OK with that.

“That’s their thing,” she said. “It’s nice that they get together and do that. I used to have them at my house way back like 2013 or ’14, we would have a cookout and whatnot, so it’s something they do every year.

“I remember doing it when I played soccer. We always had a spaghetti dinner before the first night game. We’d play Woodstown under the lights and we’d all get together for a spaghetti dinner. I know a lot of the teams do it.”

Savannah Palverento pitched a one-hitter and allowed just four base runners in the five-inning game. The only hit she allowed was Sade Jones’ opposite-field single with one out in the third inning. She struck out five, including the final out of the game. It was the first time she has not worried about her right (pitching) hand since developing a blister on the middle finger two weeks ago.

“I thought considering the fact my hand’s been messed up this entire week I felt a lot better pitching today compared to other games,” Palverento said.

The Eagles (6-4), playing their third road game in as many days and seventh in nine days, pounded out 15 hits with eight of their nine starters collecting at least one. Kylie Harris and Avery Watson both went 3-for-4, with Harris, a sophomore, collecting her 50th career hit. Bella Rappa and Montagna each had two hits and three RBIs. Lilly Birney (two hits), Sierra Stultz and Hoyt drove in two runs apiece.

Rappa ran her career totals to 77 hits and 54 RBIs. Bella Farina’s RBI moved her within two of 50 for her career.

The Eagles led 5-0 after two innings, then broke it open with eight in the third. They sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning. Hoyt and Montagna both had two-run singles.

“They continue to hit the ball,” Jackson said. “They’ve hit the ball all week. We continue with the hitting and making the adjustments to the different pitchers that we see and taking it one day at a time, one at-bat a time. Today’s done, now we focus on Pitman tomorrow.”

The Pitman game completes a run of four road games in as many days. The Eagles have won the first three all by shutout, including Jackson’s 200th career coaching win Tuesday at Wildwood. They haven’t allowed a run since the sixth inning of their loss at West Deptford Saturday and have allowed only two runs in their last 19 innings.

Wednesday roundup

BASEBALL
PENNSVILLE 7, MILLVILLE 3: Mason O’Brien and Jacob Grant each drove in a pair of runs and the Eagles took the lead with a four-run fourth inning. Luke Wood pitched the first six innings, allowing three hits and striking out eight. O’Brien came on to start the seventh but struggled and Connor Starn came from behind to plate to get the last three outs all by strikeout.

GOLF
WOODSTOWN 156, PENNSVILLE 191: Woodstown’s Jacob Schermerhorn (37) edged Pennsville’s Jake Isaac by a stroke for medalist honors at Sakima GC.

Kingsway girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
Schalick vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC

TRACK
Overbrook 101.5, Pennsville 32.5
Penns Grove at Schalick
Woodstown at Glassboro

BOYS TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 5, DELRAN 0
Gabe Schneider (P) def. Aidan Moskowitz, 6-0, 6-0
Maddox Efelis (P) def. Evan Therur, 6-0, 6-1
Brody Wiggins (P) def. Jacob Charney, 6-0, 6-0
Noah Flitcraft-Noah Bohn (P) def. Colin Thiel-Justin Hatcher, 6-0, 6-0
Luke Chamberlain-Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Billy Boyce-Matt Rocha, 6-0, 6-1
Records: Pennsville 6-1, Delran 2-2.

Vineland at Woodstown

GIRLS LACROSSE
KINGSWAY 21, WOODSTOWN 5: Ally Phalines scored eight goals and Phoebe O’Rourke (five assists) and Madi Rothwein had four each for the Dragons (5-3). Delaney Walker scored three goals for Woodstown (2-3) and assisted on the goals by Blair Baldi and Emma Morgan.

Feel good win

Salem CC bounces back from a tough loss the day before in a big way, erupting for 20 runs, 17 hits

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The thing about baseball is it’s such an everyday game it gives you a chance to jump back on the horse after he bucks you off hard.

After losing in the most painful way possible the day before, the Salem CC baseball team enjoyed its most prolific outing of the season Tuesday, bouncing back in a big way to crush undermanned Luzerne County CC, 20-2.

The Mighty Oaks (12-20) scored 20 runs for the second time this season, but this time they did it with a season-high 17 hits. They had a 10-run inning. Twelve of their 14 batters had at least one hit and all 14 reached base at least once. When Lee Rodriguez ripped an RBI double in the sixth, it guaranteed every spot in the lineup having at least one hit, one run and one RBI.

Demetrius DeRamus had two extra-base hits and his leadoff home run touched off the 10-run third. Matt Murphy went 3-for-3 and had two hits in the big inning. Jared Vandersteur had two hits and three RBIs. Cole Dawson went 2-for-2 and Mike Ochmanski had two RBIs.

“It’s a feel good win,” leftfielder Murphy said. “Everyone did their jobs today. J-Mac (John McAllister) pitched a hell of a game. Will (Jones) came in and pitched his butt off. When you have guys coming in throwing strikes, getting outs, it’s kind of easy to just put bats to ball. When you get a lead like that everything’s smiling for everyone and everything’s good.”

Most of the time. The Mighty Oaks had a seemingly comfortable lead like that the day before, but couldn’t hold it. Bergen CC scored 11 runs over the final three innings and scored five in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Oaks 14-13. That’s what made bouncing back against the winless Trailblazers such a big deal.

“It hurt, without a doubt, it stung a little bit, but there are lessons to be learned from it,” Oaks coach John Holt said. “That’s what I try to enforce with these guys, that at the end of the day every loss is an opportunity to learn something from it.

“We’ve made that mistake a few times, kind of sitting back on our heels once we got a big lead and we’ve gotta stop that. We’ve got to attack. We’ve got to stay in the game. We’ve got to have a bulldog mentality the rest of the way.”

Both pitchers the Mighty Oaks used in the seven-inning game had strong showings.

Sophomore McAllister retired nine of the first 10 Trailblazers he faced and took a no-hitter into the fourth inning. He gave up just two hits, two runs and struck out eight in five innings.

The two runs he allowed came to open the fourth inning after watching the 10-run third. He tried to stay warm down in the bullpen as the inning extended. When he went back out, he gave up a slicing leadoff single to Brandon Smith and a triple into the rightfield corner by Bruce Leatherman, but he retired the next three batters with only the one other run scoring.

“Everything was all good,” McAllister said. “The day really went planned how I wanted to. I showed up early and then came out for my guys. It’s kind of like a confidence boost for me because most of the time it’s a struggle for me to find the zone and I just wanted to fill the zone up, keep the strike percentage up and give my guys a good chance.”

Jones followed McAllister and pitched the final two innings. The freshman from Wilmington gave up back-to-back one-out singles in the sixth and got all six of his outs via strikeout. He has yet to give up an earned run in four career appearances (five innings).

“It felt good,” Jones said. “Actually, I was a little sick this morning, got sick a couple times, but Coach Holt told me yesterday I was going to throw and I don’t get very many opportunities to throw so I knew I had to come out here and just give it my all.”

The Oaks got it started early scoring three runs in the first highlighted by an RBI double by DeRamus and an RBI single by Murphy.

They sent 15 batters to the plate in the third inning. The first eight all reached safely and scored. Besides DeRamus’ leadoff homer, the Oaks got a two-run single by Ochmanski, an RBI single by Dawson, an RBI double by Yen Rodriguez, sacrifice flies by Nick Ciesielka and Ben Charbonneau and a two-run single by Vandersteur.

The Trailblazers (0-7), who had only nine players available, spoiled the shutout with two runs in the fourth. The Oaks got the runs back in the fifth on Vandersteur’s RBI double and run-scoring single by Joe Fekete, then rounded out with scoring with five in the sixth.

It was the Oaks’ fourth win in their last five games as they look to make a late-season run for the playoffs. It also the fourth time in the last five games they scored 10 runs or more.

“A lot of people were frustrated with yesterday,” Murphy said. “Coach told us before the game if you’re frustrated take your frustration out on the other team and just focus on one day at a time and that’s what we did. That’s what we’re trying to do for the rest of the season trying to make the playoffs, focus on just one game at a time, one pitch at a time.”

Tuesday roundup

Here’s a look at what happened in Salem County sports on Tuesday

BASEBALL
SALEM 7, CLAYTON 3: The Rams picked up their second win of the season behind Colin Finney going the distance, allowing six hits, no earned runs and striking out six. Terrell Robinson went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Chase Davis had two hits. The Rams jumped out to a 6-0 lead through innings.

“It was a great win today, a real team win with everyone getting on base and manufacturing runs,” Rams coach Eric Fizur said. “This is one of the best group of young men I’ve ever coached. They are completely selfless and care about each other.”

To that point, catcher Andrew May continues to take one for the team. He has been hit by a pitch seven games in a row.

PENNSVILLE 18, WILDWOOD 5: Peyton O’Brien and Chase Burchfield both had three hits and three RBIs and the first five batters in the Eagles’ lineup went a combined 12-for-19 with eight RBIs. The Eagles scored five runs in the top of the first and never looked back.

SCHALICK 10, PENNS GROVE 0: Ricky Watt had three hits and two RBIs, Luke Pokrovsky had two hits and two RBIs, and three Schalick pitchers combined on a three-hitter. Starter Cole Hartley retired all nine batters he faced. Enrico Hatz went 3-for-3 and Matt Lamazza went 2-for-2.

WOODSTOWN 13, OVERBROOK 5: Brent Williams, Rocco String and Jack Holliday all collected three hits to lead the Wolverines. Williams had three doubles and three RBIs. Andrew Pedrick, Jack Knorr, Blake Bialecki and Thomas Tucci had two hits apiece.

SOFTBALL
PENNSVILLE 12, WILDWOOD 0: Savannah Palverento went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and combined with Sierra Stultz in the circle for a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts. The Eagles got hits from everywhere in the lineup. Kylie Harris had three doubles, Lilly Birney went 4-for-4 with two RBIs, Bella Rappa went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, Bella Farina went 3-for-4 and Mary Montagna went 2-for-4.

WOODSTOWN 16, OVERBROOK 6: Tulana Mingin had three hits, Hannah Hitchner drove in three runs and Kayla Brown and Grace White combined in the circle for the win. Cara Delia and Lila Bowling had two hits apiece.

CLAYTON 13, SALEM 3: The Rams jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and outhit their hosts 12-10, but couldn’t get the others runners home. Meanwhile, the Clippers took advantage of 12 walks. Kyla Henderson and Phoenix Holland both had three hits for Salem.

SCHALICK 22, PENNS GROVE 0: Cloe Elliott drove in seven runs and Taylor Soarks had four RBIs. The Cougars scored 11 runs in the first inning.

GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Delsea, Centerton CC
Woodstown vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
Salem Tech girls vs. Clayton, Sakima CC

BOYS TENNIS
CUMBERLAND 4, WOODSTOWN 1
Samuel Falk (C) def. Tim Schwienbacher, 6-2, 6-0
Luke Fischer (C) def. Drew Stengel, 6-2, 6-2
Eric Lipovsky def. Chase Sheppard, 2-6, 6-3, 10-7
Josiah Jiminez-Joey Nolan (C) def. Joseph Kurpis-Ben Stengel, 6-4, 7-5
Justin Nolan-Mason Staffieri (C) def. Luke Shaw-Mason Shimp, 4-6, 6-3, 10-2
Records: Cumberland 4-2, Woodstown 4-1.

SCHALICK 5, GLASSBORO 0
George Gould (S) def. Rowan Somdahl-Sands, 6-0, 6-0
Jesus Espinoza (S) def. Jesus Lopez, 6-0, 6-0
Conor O’Toole (S) def. Kileche Umbaofu, 6-0, 6-0
Rocky Monticolo-David Santana (S) won by forfeit
Cayden Brzozowski-Kaden Barnes (S) won by forfeit
Records: Schalick 3-2, Glassboro 0-5.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
WILLIAMSTOWN 2, SALEM TECH 0 (25-12, 25-12): Justin Reuther had six kills, Connor Vautour had five and Gavin Batterman 20 assists for Williamstown (5-2).

Busy week ahead

Woodstown, Pennsville both have a full calendar this week; Wolverines go 5 in 5 days, Eagles 4 in 4 but all on the road

EDITORS NOTE: This story has been edited from an earlier version.

MONDAY SOFTBALL
Buena 14, Schalick 1
Ocean City 8, Woodstown 5
Pennsville 14, Paulsboro 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – A demanding week, made more challenging over the weekend, got off to a tough start for the Woodstown softball team. But when faced with such a daunting task, the approach the Wolverines are taking is “one inning, one game at a time.”

Ocean City rallied twice – once before a 71-minute weather delay and once after – to knock off the Wolverines 8-5 Monday.

It was the start of an unprecedented stretch of five games in five days for the Wolverines (3-3), a stretch that is expected to test their depth and stretch their pitching staff.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had five games scheduled in one week,” starting pitcher Grace White said. “But I think we’re doing really good working as a team together and I think we’ll easily get the job done. I think it’ll all work out.”

The task is daunting enough with a full squad, but the Wolverines are down a pair of pitchers following the absence of Liv Boultinghouse and Johanna Way. Coach Dave Wildermuth declined to comment on any aspect of their situation and it is not known how long the players will be unavailable.

It has caused to Wolverines to do some creative shifting. White remains at the top of their pitching rotation, but the development pressed Kayla Brown into an extended role in the circle. It’s likely the Wolverines will alternate the two until the situation is resolved to keep from overworking either of them.

“Thirty-five innings is very tough for any pitcher,” White said, “but like I said I’ll do whatever it takes for my team.”

White started Monday and pitched into the fifth inning, when she was lifted after surrendering back-to-back doubles to Taylor Vaugh and Anna McCabe that tied the game. Brown came in from second base at that point and pitched the final three innings. She gave up an inherited run, two of her own, four hits and two intentional walks.

“I’ve pitched in like two or three Woodstown games ever,” Brown said. “I used to pitch for travel, but I’m only a second baseman here at Woodstown. I think getting called in is an opportunity in a way, but at the same time I just hope I do right by my coaches and teammates because I don’t want to let them down.”

Brown pitched in five games previously for the Wolverines and had never gone more than three innings. She threw a total of six innings in four appearances last season without allowing a run and pitched three shutout innings in her only appearance as a freshman. She spent all weekend throwing to prepare herself for the expanded role.

As the second baseman she wields a big bat. Her two-run double highlighted the Wolverines’ three-run first inning.

The Red Raiders (6-2) erased that early deficit with four in the third inning that was interrupted by the weather delay. Jessica Mooney delivered a game-tying two-run double right before the stoppage, then starting pitcher Brooke Douglas put her team in front with an RBI double on the first pitch after play resumed.

The Wolverines tied it 4-4 on Hannah Hitchner’s RBI single in the home third and Ellie Wygand’s sacrifice fly gave them a 5-4 lead in the fourth. Ocean City retook the lead in the fifth and added an insurance run in the sixth. The Red Raiders’ pitchers didn’t give up a hit after Aubrie Rennie’s leadoff single in the fourth.

“They got some timely hits,” Wildermuth said. “We played a good game in the field and we hit the ball. I guess the best way to describe it is they outhit us a little bit. Outpitched us just a hair and outhit us.”

The Wolverines aren’t the only county softball team with a tough week ahead. Pennsville opened a stretch of four games in four days – all on the road – with a 14-0 shutout of Paulsboro.

By the time this week ends the Eagles will have played eight road games in 11 days. They haven’t played a home game since their season opener April 5 and won’t play at home again until April 22. Before last Thursday the last time they practiced on their field was March 25.

“I’m glad we’re not baseball and we have to worry about pitch counts,” Eagles coach Beth Jackson said. “That would make it even more challenging, so it’s nice we don’t have to worry about that.”

This week’s stretch couldn’t have started better. Lilly Birney hit a two-run homer, came within a centerfielder’s rolling catch at the fence of an earlier homer and drove in four runs, Kylie Harris had two doubles among her three hits and two RBIs and the Eagles broke it open with an eight-run second inning. Sierra Stultz relieved starter Savannah Palverento in the circle in the first inning and allowed only four baserunners over five innings.

“Today was a good start with good defense and we scored runs,” Jackson said. “Today was a good showcase of how good they can do with minimizing mistakes and whatnot.”

As for the rest of the week, the Eagles will take the same approach as Woodstown – one game at a time.

“Now that today is done with Paulsboro, our focus is tomorrow to go to Wildwood,” Jackson said. “Just take it day at a time, one thing at a time. Today is done, good job, enjoy the win, now we turn our focus to Wildwood tomorrow. Beyond that, I’m not worrying about it. One day at a time.”

**Woodstown starter Grace White sends in a pitch during the early innings of Monday’s softball game with Ocean City.**

Cover photo: Kayla Brown will see more time in the circle as Woodstown finds itself down a couple pitchers.

Oaks felled

Bergen rallies for 5 in bottom of the ninth to prevent Salem CC from sweeping the series

By Riverview Sports News

PARAMUS – The Salem Community College baseball team looked in great shape to collect its first three-game series sweep in three years Monday, but Bergen CC had other ideas.

The homestanding Bulldogs scored 11 runs over the final three innings, including five in the bottom of the ninth, to break the Mighty Oaks’ hearts, 14-13. Nick Alverez’ one-out single was the game-winner.

The Mighty Oaks won the first two games of the series by sweeping Saturday’s home doubleheader with two strong outings from their starters. Their last three-game series sweep came against Camden CC April 6, 7 and 14, 2021.

The Mighty Oaks seemingly took control of the game with seven runs in the fourth inning and led 10-3 when they lifted starter Ben Foote after six.

They sent 13 batters to the plate in their big inning. Yen Rodriguez tripled home the tying run and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Demetrius DeRamus singled home a run, Cole Dawson hit a sacrifice fly and three runs scored on consecutive bases-loaded hit batsmen and a bases-loaded walk.

They led 11-5 going into the bottom of the eighth, but Bergen scored four to tighten it up.

Salem got some separation with two more in the top of the ninth on Angel Velez’ sacrifice fly and Jared Vandersteur’s RBI double and needed only to retire the Bulldogs (10-21) in the ninth to nail down the victory.

Bergen chipped away against J.D. Wilson and got it to 13-11. Matt Decker came in with two runners on. He issued a walk to load the bases and then gave up RBI singles to Ian Scalabrini and Enger Ortiz to tie the game. The Oaks cut down a runner on the bases on the play that tied the game, but then Alvarez followed with his game-winning hit.

Foote gave up seven hits, three earned runs, walked one and hit three in his six innings. The bullpen, however, gave up eight hits, six walks and 11 earned runs over the final three.

Vandersteur went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Matt Murphy went 3-for-6. Wilson and Dawson each had a pair of RBIs.

The Oaks (11-20) won’t have long to fret over the loss. They’re back at it Tuesday 3:30 p.m. against Luzerne County CC at the Carneys Point Rec Complex.

BERGEN CC 14, SALEM CC 13

Salem CC (11-20)	011 710 012 –	13 10 4
Bergen CC (10-21)	030 000 245 –	14 15 11

Ben Foote, Inaki Hutchinson (7), Mike Ochmanski (8), J.D. Wilson (9), MATT DECKER (9) and Angel Velez; Aran Basaran, Paul Figueroa (4), TYLER MERTZ (8) and Daniel Ramos. 2B: Matt Murphy (S), Jared Vandersteur (S), J.D. Wilson (S), Daniel Ramos (B), Ian Scalabrini (B), Enger Ortiz 2 (B), 3B: Yen Rodriguez (S).

Monday roundup

Here are the results of Monday’s high school sports action for teams from Salem County

BASEBALL
Collingswood 18, Penns Grove 1
Haddon Heights 17, Woodstown 7

HADDON HEIGHTS 17, WOODSTOWN 7: The Wolverines (3-4) scored four runs in the top of the first, but Haddon Heights continually chipped away. The Garnets (4-1) got three back in the bottom of the first, took the lead in the second inning and then walked it off with an eight-run fifth.

Lucas Fulmer, Andrew Pedrick and Brent Williams – the first three hitters in Woodstown’s lineup – all went 2-for-3. Pedrick had two doubles and Williams had two RBIs.

COLLINGSWOOD 18, PENNS GROVE 1: Elijah Crespo scored for the Red Devils (0-4) in the first inning, but Collingswood answered with four in the bottom of the inning and broke it open with 10 in the second.

Crespo had one of the Red Devils’ four singles in the game. The others belonged to Dylan Hyatt, Ethan Brooks and Bristol Scott. Max Hess, Jairo Mendoza and John Antrilli all went 2-for-2 with four, three and two RBIs, respectively, for the Panthers (4-1).

BOYS TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 5, KINGSWAY 0
Gabe Schneider (P) def. Filip Mirkovic, 6-1, 6-3
Maddox Efelis (P) def. Dominic Palladino, 6-3, 6-4
Brody Wiggins (P) def. Nick Decinque, 6-2, 6-0
Noah Flitcraft-Noah Bohn (P) def. Jack Tanzola-Charlie West, 6-2, 6-4
Sawyer Humphrey-Luke Chamberlain (P) def. Aiden Shoemaker-Nolan Steurer, 4-6, 6-4, 10-0
Records: Pennsville 5-1, Kingsway 1-4.

SCHALICK 5, DEPTFORD 0
George Gould (S) def. Xavier Dean, 6-1, 6-2
Jesus Espinoza (S) def. Ethan Bui, 6-3, 6-3
Conor O’Toole (S) def. Bradyn Gee, 6-2, 6-3
Rocky Monticolo-David Santana (S) def. Joseph Crowley-Bryce Williams, 6-2, 6-0
Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski (S) def. Olaoluwa Gureje-Anmolpreet Singh, 6-3, 6-3.
Records: Schalick 2-2, Deptford 1-2

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
TIMBER CREEK 2, SALEM TECH 0 (25-14, 25-8): Maddox Pace had two kills, three digs and a block for Salem Tech (0-3). Gabe Rich was credited with four assists.

GOLF
WOODSTOWN 160, STERLING 186: Kyle Brainard shot even-par 36 and teammate Joey Olbrich posted a 39 to lead the Wolverines at Town & Country Golf Links. The Wolverines also counted a 40 from Jacob Schermerhorn and a 45 from Max Webb.
(Results not posted)
OLMA vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
Pennsville vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC
Wildwood boys vs. Schalick, Centerton CC

GIRLS LACROSSE
Eastern at Woodstown

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 15-20; all events 4 p.m. unless noted

Monday

BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Collingswood
Woodstown at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Buena at Schalick
Ocean City at Woodstown
Pennsville at Paulsboro
GOLF
OLMA vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Sterling, Town & Country GL, 3:30 p.m.
Pennsville vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:45 p.m.
Wildwood boys vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Kingsway, 3:45 p.m.
Deptford at Schalick
GIRLS LACROSSE
Eastern at Woodstown
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Triton at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Bergen CC

Tuesday

BASEBALL
Clayton at Salem
Penns Grove at Schalick
Pennsville at Wildwood
Woodstown at Overbrook
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Woodstown
Pennsville at Wildwood
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Penns Grove
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Luzerne County CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Delsea, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech girls vs. Clayton, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown at Cumberland, 3:45 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove
Schalick at Glassboro
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Williamstown
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Williamstown, 3:45 p.m.

Wednesday

BASEBALL
Pennsville at Millville
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Ocean CC (2), 1 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Salem
Williamstown at Woodstown
GOLF
Kingsway girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC
Woodstown vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
Overbrook at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Schalick
Woodstown at Glassboro
BOYS TENNIS
Delran at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Vineland at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Kingsway at Woodstown

Thursday

BASEBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
LEAP at Penns Grove
Pitman at Pennsville
Schalick at Overbrook
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Pitman
Woodstown at Glassboro
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Wildwood, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick
GOLF
Overbrook vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
Pitman at Salem
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Highland at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Egg Harbor Twp., 5:30 p.m.

Friday

BASEBALL
Gloucester City at Schalick
Wildwood at Woodstown
Williamstown at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
GCIT at Salem
Schalick at Gloucester City
Woodstown at Wildwood
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Camden CC, 3 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Delaware Tech at Salem CC (2), noon
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown at Overbrook, 3:45 p.m.
Cumberland at Schalick
Pennsville at Millville
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Egg Harbor Twp.

Saturday

BASEBALL
Schalick at Eastern, 10 a.m.
Pitman at Woodstown, 11 a.m.

Hedelt Tournament, Oakcrest
Pennsville vs. Buena, noon
Pennsville vs. Oakcrest, 3 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Camden CC at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Lackawanna (2), noon
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Lower Cape May, 10 a.m.
TRACK
Penns Grove, Pennsville, Salem, Schalick at Woodbury Relays, 9 a.m.

Nearly perfect

Salem CC’s Mecham comes within a leadoff walk of a perfect game, her no-hitter, sophomores take spotlight in softball sweep of Morris

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Saturday was the day for Salem Community College to celebrate the softball sophomores who helped restart the program and those upperclassmen played big roles in helping the Mighty Oaks score an historic sweep of County College of Morris 8-0, 10-0 guaranteeing them a winning regular season.

The Mighty Oaks recognized nine sophomores after the nightcap. The group combined for 10 hits, 10 runs and seven RBIs in the doubleheader and spun two shutouts, including Morgan Mecham’s near perfect game in the nightcap.

The group has been part of 40 wins since they helped revive the program last year.

“I’m getting emotional again,” coach Angel Rodriguez said. “They’re awesome. As we’re sitting there honoring them, we started reflecting back on the zoom calls and the conversations we had, having them on campus for the first year.

“They’re a great group. We wouldn’t be here today without them. They had a lot of hard work, dedication, sacrifices they made from their families. Seeing them giving me the opportunity in my first year and theirs, seeing the growth that they’ve had, I couldn’t be any prouder. Seeing where they were a year ago to now is incredible. Hats off to them for putting in the work and choosing us.”

Mecham pitched a five-inning no-hitter in the nightcap. She walked the game’s leadoff hitting on a 3-2 pitch, then retired the next 15 hitters in a row. It is believed to be the first no-hitter in the program’s history.

She threw 64 pitches, 44 for strikes. She got five ground outs and four fly outs. Only two balls made it to the outfield. It was her ninth shutout and reduced her ERA to 1.57 for the season.

“I might be the worst statistical coach in America; we didn’t even know it (was a no-hitter) until after the game,” Rodriguez said. “When we got in the huddle I said I think she had a no-hitter. Then it was announced over the speaker and we were like, yeah, we were right.

“She’s been hot all year. Today she just went out and did her thing. Sophomore Day. Parents were there. It was awesome to see it all come together. She was zoned in. I don’t even know if she knew it, either. She was kind of shocked herself.”

Sophomore Vaye Savage was the big hitter in the opener. She went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer in the second inning and a double. Freshman Ella Hayes went 3-for-3 in the nightcap with a two-run homer. Hayes, second in the nation in batting entering the doubleheader, is now hitting .628 (54-for-86) with 51 RBIs for the season.

The sweep ran the Mighty Oaks’ record to 24-6 on the season. With 44 games on the schedule, they are now guaranteed the first winning regular season in school history.

“It was definitely one of our goals from last year, just to keep improving as a group and we definitely did that,” Rodriguez said. “As I say all the time we just keep it going each week. Our goal was set to get more than 16 (wins) so we did more than the first year.

“We’ve gone back and dug up some records. For us, those are just things you can take in and be proud of, but we’re just trying to do whatever we can to keep just being good and improving. Obviously, it feels good when you win.”

The Mighty Oaks were scheduled to return to Watson Field Sunday against Cecil College, but the doubleheader has been canceled. Their next games now are Friday at home against Delaware Tech.

Oaks take big steps

Salem CC baseball make strides on multiple fronts in scoring first doubleheader sweep since February 2022

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The Salem Community College baseball team and two of its pitchers trying to find their way all took big steps forward Saturday afternoon.

Starting pitchers Sean Kelby and Aiden Ewe both pitched historically into the seventh inning of their games and behind them the Mighty Oaks scored their first doubleheader sweep since February 2022 in beating Bergen CC 12-3 and 4-2.

The Mighty Oaks had won two games in one day during their trip to Myrtle Beach in March, but their two wins over the Bulldogs was their first true twinbill takedown since sweeping Rockingham (N.C.) CC on Feb. 20, 2022. They have won three in a row.

“It’s a step forward,” Oaks coach John Holt said. “These guys are growing up as a team. We’ve got a lot of young guys here and they’re buying in. They’re buying into playing like a team. It’s a good time to start coming together.”

Kelby, a well-traveled freshman left-hander, pitched into the seventh inning for the first time in as near as he figures six years in the opener. His teammates rewarded him by batting around in the fifth and sixth innings to break open a close game.

Ewe, a hard-throwing sophomore right-hander and converted catcher, worked the longest outing of his career. He had a no-hitter with 10 of his 11 strikeouts over the first 4 2/3 innings. His longest outing previously was 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Lehigh Carbon CC on March 26.

“We needed those guys to step up and they did,” Holt said. “They both wanted the ball today. There’s something to be said when guys want to put the team on their back and they did. With what we’ve got this week, we needed to get length out of our guys and they gave us that length today.”

“I thought today was a big step for the team,” Kelby said.

Perhaps for no one in particular as much as him.

Kelby’s old enough to be finishing a college career much less start one. He went to Towson out of high school, then Delaware, fell out of baseball after tearing ligaments in his pitching elbow and foregoing Tommy John surgery, worked for a couple years, but missed the game and in 2022 had the operation before landing on Salem’s doorstep this winter.

Holt gave him a shot because he throws hard. He’s a 23-year-old with freshman eligibility, which means he could be a 27-year-old senior somewhere down the road, but that’s not his path. His plan is to hook on with an independent league team after this season to get his timeline back on track.

“I wanted to do a lot this year and as you’ve seen through the games there’s been a lot of stuff I have to acclimate to for the past 5-6 years of not playing,” he said. “Today was a big step. I was kind of learning how to pitch again while I was out there.

“That was a big thing when I was going earlier. I’d get so worked up for the game you go out too hard and by that second or third inning it’s wearing down on you.”

He hears the clock is ticking, but he’s determined to keep playing.

“I’m still young,” he said. “You see guys in the major leagues making their debuts at 29, 30, 31 years old. For me, if I’m making that progress as I’m seeing it, I know what I’m capable of.”

Kelby gave up a home run in the second inning, but that really was his only mistake as he and Bergen starter Luixander Polanco were locked in a pitcher’s duel for four innings.

Polanco’s first time through the Salem order was easy with a pickoff and double play allowing him to face the minimum through three innings. The second time wasn’t so kind. Demetrius DeRamus’ RBI single tied the game in the fourth, then the Mighty Oaks erupted for five in the fifth and six in the sixth.

Matt Murphy and Cole Dawson had two-run singles in the fifth inning. Yen Rodriguez highlighted the sixth when he hit a bases-loaded triple to right field and scored when the relay throw to get him at third got away. DeRemus and Murphy both had two hits in the game.

Kelby gave up just three more hits after the homer through the sixth and while he wasn’t overpowering every time the Bulldogs tried to put something together he grinded through to turn them away. He wanted to go the distance, but came out after loading the bases in the seventh.

“I felt better (as the game went on),” he said. “I don’t know if it’s jitters or just getting comfortable, but usually that third or fourth inning I start feeling loose with the arm. At that point today it was like let’s go all the way here.”

Ewe, meanwhile, came to the Oaks as a catcher. He grew up catching, loved the position and that’s all he wanted to do. Then one day last year he starting throwing off the mound and was hitting “some pretty high numbers” on the radar gun, so he figured he’d give pitching a shot. Once he did, he said, “it just started to take off.”

Holt put him in three games last year, but never for more than an inning.

He always threw it hard, but his command was lacking. He had 37 walks in 19 innings coming into Saturday’s game. He changed his approach against the Bulldogs – he didn’t rely on the fastball, he gave up the hitch in his windup and he stopped looking at the radar gun – and had only three walks in six innings. He struck out the side in order in the first.

“Today he pitched,” Holt said.

“I made a few adjustments,” Ewe said. “I realized I was kind of all over the place just throwing it rather than being a pitcher. I usually go up on my toe, but I got rid of it today. I figure why not try something new. I feel like I need to be more accurate and it turned out definitely a lot more accurate.

“I’m fired up. I’m locked in now. I feel like that’s all I needed to do was make a little adjustment and it’s go time now.”

Ewe needed to be sharp because the second game was close throughout, but the Mighty Oaks used the long ball to prevail.

Rodriguez hit a leadoff homer in the first and it stayed 1-0 until DeRamus’ two-run homer in the fifth. Bergen made it 3-1 in the sixth, but the Mighty Oaks got the run back in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back doubles by Lee Rodriguez and Dane Thomas.

Salem travels to Bergen Monday to complete the series. Woodstown’s Ben Foote is expected to draw the start.

Team immortalized

Pennsville LL Senior Softball World Series team immortalized with billboard on clubhouse Wall of Fame

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Bella Rappa was a rock during Pennsville Little League’s run to the Senior Softball World Series last summer, but when it came to unveiling the sign that commemorated the feat during the league’s opening ceremonies Friday night she didn’t mind saying she was a little nervous.

Rappa was called on to pull the bright yellow cord to reveal the billboard that will forever immortalize the team on the clubhouse wall, and it was all she could do to keep a steady hand.

“I didn’t want to pull it and the whole thing come down, but I think I did a pretty good job,” she said.

The dark blue sign is affixed at the far right of a row that carries similar signs from 1985, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2006 and 2022. It reads, “2023 Senior League Softball Eastern Region Champs” and contains the names of each player, manager and coach.

**Here is the sign that immortalizes the 2023 Pennsville Little League Senior Softball All-Stars.**

Eagles manager Chris Watson wasn’t sure as late as Thursday who was going to help him pull down the blue sheet covering the sign, but as the time drew closer everyone sensed it was so appropriate for Rappa to do the honors. “It was very cool, actually, the way it worked out,” Watson said.

Rappa lost her dad, Nick, a big supporter of the program, two days after the team won the Section championship and the first baseman dedicated playing the rest of the tournament program for him.

The team rallied around her. They swept the district and sectional tournaments in Pennsville, then swept the state tournament in North Jersey and the regionals in Massachusetts. They advanced to the World Series in Delaware where they went 2-4, beating teams from Puerto Rico and The Philippines in pool play, and ultimately finishing tied for seventh in the 10-team field.

They were welcomed home with a parade down Broadway riding atop a Pennsville fire truck and led out by a Pennsville police cruiser. Unveiling the sign, much like raising the pennant on opening day, was the last official act of a championship season.

“(Seeing the sign) was really nice just because this year there was a lot on the line, especially with the passing of my dad,” Rappa said. “The girls all thought that was our main goal, to get farther than we did last year, so to win East Regions and then be up there back-to-back is something that’s really special to all of us.”

Catcher Kylie Harris was emotional when she unveiled last year’s sign for a team that won the state and were thwarted in the regional final and she was trying not to cry this time.

“Being up there for the second time with the people that I love the most and are closest with, it’s definitely a tear-jerker,” she said.

Since this team has been together it has won district titles six times across various age groups, South Jersey four times and the state championship twice. Watson said the newest sign recognizes one of the best teams in the local LL’s 72-year history.

“It puts them up there at the top, one of the greatest teams to ever play down here at Pennsville Little League,” he said. “I’m very proud of that, that they were able to do it two years in a row. They were knocking at the door for so long, too, and then to finally get over the hump those last two years and win the state championship and go dominate the East Regional is huge. We’ll remember all that a long time.”

“It was pretty cool seeing my name up there two times,” infielder Bella Farina said. “It’s really fun to see all our hard work paid off and be on the side of a building. It’ll be really freaky to see my name up there in like 15-20 years. It’ll be crazy. I don’t know how I would feel.”

Although the championship run didn’t end the way the players would have liked, it provided them a lifetime of memories – memories that no doubt will come rushing back when the players, years from now, perhaps with daughters playing in the league themselves, return to the complex and look up to the clubhouse’s second story.

Rappa will remember “that I did it for my dad and made my dad proud.”

“I’m very proud of myself and my team for fighting through our personal battles and being able to come out on top, even if it is just a sport, but it’s more than just a sport to all of us,” Savannah Palverento said. “I know Little Me would probably be freaking out because these names … I don’t know who they are but just the fact they’re up there is like wow, that’s just amazing, and now my name’s up there twice, so wow, I’m amazing for being up there.”

The Pennsville LL was founded in 1952. Helping with this year’s opening ceremonies were Delaware Blue Rocks mascot Rocky Bullwinkle and the Pennsville Eagle, with Farina under the hood. The mascots threw out ceremonial first pitches.

This year, the league has more than 30 teams for children from 4 to high school age. Among the highlights of this year’s schedule are Pitch, Hit and Run competitions for softball (May 13) and baseball (May 17) and a Home Run Derby (June 1).

Cover photo: Pennsville LL first baseman Bella Rappa pulls off the cover (L) and then embraces manager Chris Watson after unveiling the sign that commemorates the team’s 2023 run to the Senior LL Softball World Series Friday night.