Month: February 2025

Another hard loss

Salem CC baseball suffers third straight lop-sided loss; Rodriguez hits Mighty Oaks’ first homer of the year; Holt: ‘We’ve got to stop playing scared’

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The tough start to a new season continued for the Salem CC baseball team Friday afternoon as the Mighty Oaks suffered a third straight lop-sided loss in their home opener.

Eight infield errors in the first five innings led to at least nine unearned runs and the bats were silent most of the game in a 22-6 loss to third-ranked Brookdale at the Carneys Point Rec Complex. 

It was the Mighty Oaks’ third straight loss by double digits to open the season.

“We’ve got to keep routine plays routine; simple game,” Salem coach John Holt said he told his team after the game. “At one point it was nine unearned runs. You can’t win baseball games that way.

“We’ve got to stop playing scared.”

Just like after Sunday’s doubleheader against Sussex it was hard for Holt to find something positive to take away from the day. If you really pushed, it might be answering Brookdale’s four-run visitors’ first with four when they came to bat. Or Yen Rodriguez hitting their first home run of the season in his first home at-bat, a two-run shot in that four-run response.

But there wasn’t much beyond that. Brookdale kept scoring after its first-inning outburst. The Mighty Oaks didn’t get another hit after theirs until scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh of a game that was destined for the seven-inning run rule.

They did threaten in the fifth. They loaded the bases with one out on two walks and an infield error, but Brookdale starter Tyler Spencer struck out the next two batters to end the threat and complete his day.

In fact, the Jersey Blues (4-0) scored in every inning to extend another unwalcomed Salem streak. The Mighty Oaks (0-3) have given up a run in each of their last 17 innings. The last time they put up a defensive zero was the third inning of last week’s Game 1 against Sussex CC.

It’s a head-scratcher.

“We’ve got to figure it out,” Holt said.

The series concludes Saturday with an 11 a.m. doubleheader at Brookdale. J.D. Wilson and Jared Vandersteur, a pair of Pennsville products, are expected to start on the mound for Salem.

ACORNS: Demetrius DeRamus had a pair of doubles for the Mighty Oaks and reached base three times … Angel Velez and Tyler Hacker also reached base three times … Rodriguez homered in his first home at-bat last year, too. It was an inside-the-park job in his first college at-bat.

BROOKDALE 22, SALEM 6

Brookdale (4-0) 442 353 2-22204
Salem (0-3)400 000 2-678
TYLER SPENCER (W), Dylan Swanson (6) and Shane Andrus; JON GAMBONE (L 0-2), Alex Newman (4), Mason Klug (6), Andre Stewart (7) and Angel Velez. 2B: Anthony Pizzutti (B), Shane Andrus (B), Gary Perone (B), Demetrius DeRamus (S) 2. HR: Tyler Mendez (B), Yen Rodriguez (S 1).

Top photo: Salem CC’s Yen Rodriguez crosses the plate after hitting a first-inning home run against Brookdale Friday.



All-star snub

Despite their powerful stats, Salem CC’s Taylor and Spencer left off the All-Region 19 Division III Teams

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Mike Green will stand up for his guys as high as the day is long, but when the results of this year’s Region XIX All-Division III basketball team crossed his field of view he just couldn’t stand still.

Green’s improved Salem CC team has two of the more dynamic players in the entire region let alone Division III – 6-4 sophomore guard Akeem Taylor and 6-8 freshman post Jyheim Spencer – but when the region’s “All” teams crossed the coach’s clipboard Thursday neither were on any of the three teams. It was presumably because they became eligible at mid-year and didn’t meet the criteria of playing in at least 80 percent of their teams games.

They certainly played in 80 percent of the 14 regular-season games for which they were eligible after being activated Jan. 7. Spencer played in them all and Taylor missed two (86 percent). They both played in Wednesday’s post-season win at CC of Philadelphia.

You can’t argue with their impact or production. Green said the whole first month of the season the Mighty Oaks would be a different team when they joined the lineup and they have been. Salem is 12-3 since they started playing.

Taylor would have been among the Division III leaders in scoring (20.8 ppg) and was undoubtedly the straw the stirred the Mighty Oaks’ drink. Spencer averages a double-double (13.3 ppg/14.3 rpg) and would be the second-leading rebounder in Division III nationally and sixth in blocked shots (42/2.8 per game) had he played enough games to qualify. He already has one Division I offer.

When they first handed Green the all-star list the second-year coach looked to see what he already suspected and threw the paper in the trash. One of his assistants pulled it back and he glanced again to make sure he hadn’t overlooked anything in haste and then tossed it back in again.

The Division III MVP was Sean Emfinger of Montgomery, who the Mighty Oaks will face in Saturday’s North Atlantic District B championship game at Northampton. Green was fine with that call. Emfinger averaged 20.2 ppg (22.1 in conference games) and 8.3 rebounds with 124 assists and 60 steals. He put 19 and 12 on the Mighty Oaks when they played Feb. 4.

Green called the type of season his two players had “amazing years, first-team all-conference type years, an All-American type of year.”

Spencer did get placed on the ballot for second team from what Green was told. Alas, there will be none of that.

“With the way things go around this league I’m never surprised,” Green said. “It’s kind of a fraternity I haven’t gotten in yet. It’s just my first full year.

“Hopefully these guys aren’t penalizing my players because of who they think I am, because they don’t know me. I don’t hardly even know these guys. Hopefully they don’t think the success I had has anything to do with these kids. They’re not playing against me. I kind of get a feeling these guys think they’re beating me, Mike Green, instead of Salem from the way these guys are celebrating after the game.”

The snubs do add fuel to another interesting debate – is Green a viable Coach of the Year candidate? After all, his team put together a record-breaking season with 22 wins (so far), a region-best 8.5-game overall turnaround (11 in the win column) and a spot in the district title game – all without one all-region player.

“The way things are going you’d think it would be me, right?,” he said, not that he’s worried about it. “What they’re telling me is we don’t have a top 15 player in the league, so how are we in the championship game? So, I should be Coach of the Year just on that, but there are a lot of coaches in the league doing a great job. That could go either way.”

If the snub is bothering the two Mighty Oaks stars, they don’t seem to be letting on.

“They’re mature,” Green said. “They’ve got bigger fish to fry. They’ve got a championship (to pursue) and they’re getting recruiting. They’ll get a last laugh.”

Photo by John Holt

Salem County spring 2025

Here is the master schedule for spring sports in Salem County; schedules provided by the schools; events begin at 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage (missing Salem, Salem Tech); for additions or corrections reply to al.muskewitz@gmail.com

MARCH 1
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Brookdale CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Monroe-Bronx at Salem CC, noon

MARCH 7
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Delaware County CC, 3 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Sussex County CC at Salem CC, noon

MARCH 8
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Delaware County CC at Salem CC (2), noon

MARCH 10
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Alexandria (Minn.) Tech & CC (2), 2:45 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Southeastern CC-Whiteville (N.C.), 1 p.m.

MARCH 11
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Prairie State (Ill.) (2), 1:15 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Wake Tech (N.C.), 1 p.m.

MARCH 12
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Northland (Minn.) C&TC (2), 2 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Fayetteville (N.C.) Tech, 3 p.m.

MARCH 14
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. North Dakota State/Science, 9 a.m.
Salem CC vs. Oakton (Ill.)  CC, 1:45 p.m.

MARCH 15
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. SUNY Niagara (2), 9 a.m.

MARCH 16
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Westchester CC (2), 10 a.m.

MARCH 17
BASEBALL
x-Williamstown at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
x-Pennsville at Williamstown

MARCH 18
SOFTBALL
x-Pennsville at Cedar Creek
TENNIS
x-Palmyra at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Luzerne County CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 19
BASEBALL
x-Pennsville at Holy Spirit

MARCH 20
TENNIS
x-Pennsville at West Deptford
BOYS LACROSSE
x-Woodstown at Delran
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Brookdale CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 21
BASEBALL
x-Gloucester City at Schalick
x-Woodstown at Deptford
SOFTBALL
x-Schalick at Gloucester City
x-Woodstown at Deptford
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland, 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 22
SOFTBALL
x-Gateway at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
x-Woodstown at Mainland, 9 a.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
x-Camden Catholic at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC (2), noon

MARCH 23
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Delaware Tech, noon
MARCH 24
BASEBALL
x-Highland at Schalick
TENNIS
x-Gateway at Pennsville

MARCH 25
BASEBALL
x-Woodstown at Cumberland
SOFTBALL
x-Cumberland at Woodstown
TRACK
x-Penns Grove, Salem at Bridgeton
BOYS TENNIS
x-Gateway at Schalick
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Haddon Heights, Tavistock CC
GIRLS LACROSSE
x-Woodstown at Haddon Twp.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Raritan Valley CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 26
BASEBALL
x-Penns Grove at Lindenwold
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Salem Tech, Sakima CC
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Mercer County CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 27
BASEBALL
x-Schalick at Collingswood
SOFTBALL
x-Timber Creek at Schalick
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL
TENNIS
x-Clearview at Woodstown

MARCH 28
BASEBALL
x-GCIT at Woodstown
x-Schalick at Timber Creek
GOLF
Clearview vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
Pennsville vs. Haddon Twp., Sakima CC
BOYS TENNIS
x-Schalick at Triton
Pennsville at Clearview
GIRLS LACROSSE
x-Timber Creek at Woodstown
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Ocean City
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Montgomery County (Pa.) CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Howard CC at Salem CC, 11 a.m.

MARCH 29
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Gateway, 10 a.m.
Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 11 a.m.
Penns Grove at Gateway, 2 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Montgomery County (Pa.) CC at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at CC of Morris, noon

MARCH 30
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Bucks County CC at Salem CC, noon

MARCH 31
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Salem at Wildwood
SOFTBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Penns Grove
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Scotland Run
TENNIS
Clayton at Schalick
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Pennsville
LACROSSE
St. Joseph at Woodstown

APRIL 1
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Pitman, Pitman CC
Schalick vs. Wildwood, Union League GC
GIRLS LACROSSE
Haddonfield at Woodstown
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Lackawanna at Salem CC 3 p.m.

APRIL 2
BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove
Pennsville vs. Pitman, Alcyon Park
Woodstown at Schalick
SOFTBALL
Pitman at Pennsville
Woodstown at Schalick
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Clearview, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Pennsville at Overbrook
TRACK
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Schalick at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook

APRIL 3
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Cumberland, Sakima CC
TENNIS
Pennsville vs. Clayton, Williamstown MS
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Triton
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Camden CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 4
BASEBALL
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Parsippany
Schalick at Delran
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Delsea
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Cedar Creek, Sakima CC
Schalick vs. Overbrook, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Pennsville at Bridgeton
Vineland at Schalick
Vineland at Woodstown
LACROSSE
Lower Cape May at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Middlesex, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 5
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Millville Tournament, 9 a.m.
TRACK
Pennsville at Deptford Twp., 9 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Mercer County CC at Salem CC, noon

APRIL 7
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Pennsville
Schalick at Haddon Heights
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Woodstown
GOLF
Schalick vs. Williamstown, Scotland Run GC
Schalick girls vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC
TENNIS
Deptford at Woodstown
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Schalick at West Deptford, River Winds TC
GIRLS LACROSSE
West Deptford at Woodstown

APRIL 8
BASEBALL
Clayton at Schalick
Pennsville at Overbrook
Salem at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Wildwood
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Pennsville
Schalick at Clayton
Woodstown at Wildwood
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Clayton, The Birches
Schalick vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC
TENNIS
Woodstown at Kingsway
TRACK
Glassboro at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Pennsville
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Northampton CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Sussex County CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 9
SOFTBALL
Woodstown at Maple Shade
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Triton, Sakima CC
Schalick girls vs. Kingsway, Centeron CC
TENNIS
Delsea at Pennsville
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
Overbrook at Schalick
Timber Creek at Penns Grove
GIRLS LACROSSE
Kingsway at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Northampton CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 10
Clayton at Pennsville
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Salem at Pitman
Schalick at Overbrook
Woodstown at Gloucester City
SOFTBALL
Gloucester City at Woodstown
Pennsville at Clayton
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Triton at Woodstown
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Holy Spirit

APRIL 11
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Haddon Heights
SOFTBALL
Haddon Heights at Pennsville
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Wildwood
Woodstown at Highland
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Moorestown Friends
GIRLS LACROSSE
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Camden CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Cecil at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 12
BASEBALL
Schalick at Gloucester City
Woodstown at Buena, 10 a.m.
TRACK
Pennsville at West Deptford, 9 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Camden CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Delaware Tech at Salem CC, noon

APRIL 13
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Orange County CC, noon

APRIL 14
BASEBALL
Clayton at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Schalick
Wildwood at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook
GOLF
Pennsville at Overbrook, Sakima CC
Schalick vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL
Schalick girls vs. Clearview, Pitman GC
TENNIS
Schalick at Gateway
Triton at Pennsville
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Mainland

APRIL 15
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Washington Twp., The Birches
TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville
Woodstown at Timber Creek
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Timber Creek
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Luzerne County CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Bergen CC at Salem CC 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 16
BASEBALL
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem at Pennsville
Woodstown at Glassboro
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Salem
Woodstown at Glassboro
GOLF
Schalick vs. Washington Twp., Centerton CC
Woodstown vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC
TENNIS
Millville at Pennsville
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Woodstown
TRACK
Glassboro at Pennsville
Woodstown at Schalick
LACROSSE
Cinnaminson at Woodstown
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Clearview
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Mercer County CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 17
BASEBALL
Cumberland at Pennsville
Northern Burlington at Schalick
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Cumberland
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. OLMA, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Delsea at Woodstown
Pennsville vs. Pitman, Shertle Park
Penns Grove at Schalick

APRIL 18
SOFTBALL
West Deptford at Schalick
TENNIS
Pitman at Penns Grove
LACROSSE
Rancocas Valley at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Bergen CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 19
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Sterling, 11 a.m.
TRACK
Pennsville at Woodbury Relays
LACROSSE
Paul VI at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Bergen CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Mercer County CC, noon

APRIL 21
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Williamstown
SOFTBALL
Williamstown at Pennsville
TENNIS
Pitman at Woodstown
Triton at Schalick

APRIL 22
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Schalick at Pitman
Woodstown at Salem
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Salem at Woodstown
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Cumberland, Running Deer CC
Schalick vs. Overbrook, Pinelands GC
Schalick girls vs. Delsea, White Oaks CC
TENNIS
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Schalick vs. Pitman, Shertle Park
TRACK
Salem County Championships, Pennsville
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Kingsway
GIRLS LACROSSE
Kingsway at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
CC of Morris at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 23
BASEBALL
Collingswood at Woodstown
SOFTBALL
Kingsway at Woodstown
GOLF
Pennsville vs. West Deptford, River Winds GC
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Haddonfield
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 24
BASEBALL
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Stauffer Fields
Woodstown at Penns Grove
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Kingsway, River Winds GC
Schalick vs. Cumberland, Centerton CC
Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Clayton at Pennsville
Haddon Heights at Schalick
Mainland at Woodstown
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Washington Twp.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Lackawanna at Salem CC 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 25
SOFTBALL
Gloucester City at Schalick
TENNIS
Schalick at Clayton
Williamstown at Penns Grove
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at West Deptford
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Union, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 26
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Camden Co. Tech, 10 a.m.
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Bishop Eustace, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Union at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Raritan Valley CC, noon

APRIL 28
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Paulsboro
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Pennsville at Wildwood

APRIL 29
GOLF
Schalick vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC
LACROSSE
Egg Harbor Twp. at Woodstown

APRIL 30
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Pitman
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Cumberland, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Glassboro at Schalick
Woodstown at Penns Grove
TRACK
Pennsville at Overbrook

MAY 1
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Bridgeton
Wildwood at Salem
GOLF
Carl Arena Tournament, River Winds 
Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Sakima CC

MAY 2
BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Pennsville at Glassboro
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Ocean CC, 3:30 p.m.

MAY 3
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Ocean CC at Salem CC (2), noon

MAY 5
BASEBALL
Overbrook at Schalick
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Pennsville at Clayton
Salem at Pitman
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Pennsville
Schalick at Overbrook
TENNIS
Pennsville at Burlington Twp., Green Acres Park
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Atlantic Cape CC, 3:30 p.m.

MAY 6
BASEBALL
Schalick vs. Woodstown, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Schalick vs. Woodstown, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick vs. Delsea, Centerton CC
Schalick girls vs. Kingsway, River Winds
TENNIS
Highland at Woodstown
Wildwood at Schalick
Wildwood at Penns Grove
TRACK
Woodstown at Penns Grove

MAY 7
BASEBALL
Pitman at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Pitman
TENNIS
Deptford at Woodstown
Vineland at Pennsville
TRACK
Tri-County Conference Meet, Delsea
GIRLS LACROSSE
Clearview at Woodstown

MAY 8
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Wildwood
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Overbrook
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Schalick
GOLF
Salem Tech vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC
Schalick vs. Gloucester Catholic, Centerton CC
Schalick girls vs. Washington Twp. Centerton CC
TENNIS
GCIT at Pennsville
Schalick at Washington Twp.
Williamstown at Penns Grove

MAY 9
BASEBALL
Millville at Pennsville
South Hunterdon at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Delsea at Woodstown
Schalick at Haddonfield
TENNIS
Schalick at Woodstown
LACROSSE
Vineland at Woodstown
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Washington Twp.

MAY 10
BASEBALL
Lee Ware Tournament, Woodstown
SOFTBALL
Woodstown in Williamstown Tournament

MAY 12
BASEBALL
Clayton at Woodstown
Pennsville at Glassboro
Salem at Schalick
Wildwood at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville
Schalick at Salem
Woodstown at Clayton
GOLF
Schalick vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC
Schalick girls vs. OLMA, Eastlyn GC
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Pitman
Pennsville at Schalick
Timber Creek at Woodstown
TRACK
Schalick at Penns Grove
GIRLS LACROSSE
Maple Shade at Woodstown

MAY 13
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Delran
GOLF
Schalick vs. West Deptford, River Winds
TENNIS
Woodstown at Collingswood
TRACK
Pennsville at Woodstown
LACROSSE
Clearview at Woodstown

MAY 14
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pennsville at Salem
Schalick at Cumberland
SOFTBALL
Maple Shade at SchalickSalem at Pennsville
Woodstown at Glassboro
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Delsea, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Pitman at Pennsville
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Delsea

MAY 15
BASEBALL
Buena at Schalick
Pennsville at Triton
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Buena
Triton at Pennsville
GOLF
Schalick vs. Hammonton, Pinelands GC
TENNIS
Rancocas Valley at Pennsville
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Eastern

MAY 16
SOFTBALL
Triton at Woodstown
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Millville, Sakima CC
TENNIS
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Overbrook
TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Millville
GIRLS LACROSSE
Millville at Woodstown

MAY 17
BASEBALL
Schalick at Paulsboro
TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals

MAY 19
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Pennsville
Woodstown at Pitman
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Schalick
Pitman at Woodstown
TENNIS
Woodstown at Cumberland
LACROSSE
Williamstown at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Triton at Woodstown

MAY 20
BASEBALL
Pennsville vs. Tome, Frawley Stadium, 7 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick vs. Pitman, Pitman GC

MAY 21
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Cedar Creek
Schalick at Wildwood
SOFTBALL
Palmyra at Schalick
Woodstown at Ocean City
LACROSSE
West Deptford at Woodstown

MAY 22
BASEBALL
Collingswood at Schalick
SOFTBALL
Schalick at OLMA

MAY 27
GOLF
TCC Showcase, Pitman
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Williamstown

MAY 30
TRACK
State Meet

MAY 31
TRACK
State Meet

JUNE 1
TRACK
Meet of Champions, Pennsauken

On their ‘Six’

Spencer stars as Salem CC moves within a Saturday win of a trip to the national tournament after beating CC of Philadelphia on the road

REGION XIX TOURNAMENT
DIVISION III MEN
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Salem CC 83, Philadelphia 70
Montgomery 83, Brookdale 64
Union 87, Atlantic Cape 84
Northampton 83, Camden 66
SATURDAY’S GAMES
(At Northampton)
Northampton (23-5) vs. Union (22-4), noon
Salem CC (22-7) vs. Montgomery (21-5), 3 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PHILADELPHIA – Jyheim Spencer wasn’t in a seat when the Salem CC basketball team pulled out of the Dupont Fieldhouse parking lot for its Region XIX playoff opener Wednesday night, but by the middle of the second half he was driving the bus.

The 6-foot-8 freshman post they call “Six,” whose story of redemption has been well-documented and admired by many of the college recruiters who have seen it, was as beastly as he’s been all season. “Dominant” is how coach Mike Green described him.

Spencer had another double-double with 18 points and 19 rebounds – his ninth in 15 games – plus six blocked shots and four steals, as the Mighty Oaks bounced third-seeded CC of Philadelphia 83-70 to reach the JUCO Division III North Atlantic District B finals Saturday at Northampton.

The sixth-seeded Mighty Oaks (22-7) will play second-seeded No. 13 Montgomery County CC at 3 p.m. with a trip to the Division III national tournament in Herkimer, N.Y., March 12-15 in the balance. With the region receiving two automatic bids to the nationals, the region tournament was split into two districts crowning two champions. 

“I just had to play like today was my last game,” Spencer said. “Just play every play hard, don’t take any off; just play like it’s the last game.

“For me, this is very big because I got another chance. Not only do I get another chance, I’m in the playoffs now. I never even thought I was going to be able to play again, now I’m in the playoffs. It just felt like the first game all over again. First playoff game, got to set the tone.”

Spencer, who was already in Philly and met the team upon its arrival at the CCP gym, made his presence felt all game, but he was especially impactful in the second half and particularly the final 12 minutes.

Akeem Taylor hit two free throws to give Salem a seven-point lead, then Spencer went on a tear. He converted a sharp entry pass from Taylor into a dunk and then after hurting his left ankle fouling a guy made a put back and another basket to push the lead to 14.

Later in the quarter he picked a CCP player’s pocket coming out of the backcourt and finished that off with a dunk to make it 68-54 with 6:17 to play. The Lions (20-8) got within six with 1:30 to go before looking for someone to foul and Fortune closed them out at the line.

“That’s the way he’s supposed be for us all year long,” Green said of Spencer. “When he’s not that, we struggled, so when he is that, we’re a force to be reckoned with.

“He was a dog. He was a beast. That’s what we needed. That’s what he needs to be for us to go where we need to go.”

All three of the Mighty Oaks’ Jan. 7 newcomers played major roles in the program’s first playoff victory in three years. In addition to Spencer, Taylor had 18 points and six assists, and Tamir Powell had 14 points. Tyrese Fortune, who has been there from the beginning but only recently started spreading his wings, also scored 18 points and went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 40 seconds to close it out.

The Mighty Oaks are 12-3 since adding those players to their roster in the second semester.

“He played great,” Taylor said of Spencer. “He grabbed all the rebounds we needed. He did everything we needed. I feel like everybody played well today. We could have gotten 50-50 balls more, but besides that everything was good.”

The Mighty Oaks lost to CCP earlier this season in a game they readily admit they didn’t play well. They had more turnovers than made shots in that one – a season-high 22 turnovers to 21 field goals – but on this night they were more focused and had only seven. They also made more shots.

“We came in this expecting to win,” Taylor said. “Last game we didn’t really play so well. I think we had more turnovers than made shots. We came into this one confident.”

And they left victorious.

ACORNS: The Mighty Oaks are 8-5 away from Dupont this season. One of those losses was to Montco, 74-72 on Feb. 4, in which they had a shot at the end but messed up their spacing and got the shot blocked … Several of the Mighty Oaks continue to get four-year offers, but only one has made a pledge. Rodney Shelton has committed to Harris-Stowe, an NAIA HBCU in St. Louis, Green said … Taylor is weighing several options – he recently return from visits to Harris-Stowe and Northwestern Ohio – and hinted a commitment could be coming in March.

SALEM CC 83, PHILADELPHIA 70
SALEM CC (22-7) – Akeem Taylor 6-12 6-10 18, Tyrese Fortune 4-10 9-13 18, Jyheim Spencer 9-12 0-1 18, Tamir Powell 4-8 5-8 14, Xavier Brewington 2-5 2-5 7, Josh Ramos 1-2 0-0 3, A.J. Jones 1-1 0-0 2, Tivon Woolford 1-1 0-0 2, Dontarius Jones 0-1 1-2 1, Rodney Shelton 0-1 0-2 0, Tajee Jordan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-53 23-41
PHILADELPHIA (20-8) – Regjon Knight 11-29 5-7 29, Malachi Montgomery 1-16 2-6 4, Maki Pettigrew 4-19 0-0 9, Brince Shelton 4-16 3-7 12, Tahjir Davis 5-10 0-0 10, Saleem Henderson 1-1 0-0 2, Devon Stanley 2-3 0-1 4, Dontae Bacon 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-95 10-21 70.

Salem CC4241-83
Philadelphia3436-70
3-point goals: Salem 4-15 (Taylor 0-1, Fortune 1-7, Powell 1-3, Brewington 1-1, Ramos 1-2, D. Jones 0-1); CCP 4-19 (Knight 2-5, Montgomery 0-4, Pettigrew 1-6, Shelton 1-3, Davis 0-1). Rebounds: Salem 38 (Spencer 19, Fortune 6); CCP 35 (Knight 7, Davis 10). Fouled out: Stanley, Davis. Total fouls: Salem 17, CCP 26.
Salem CC’s Jyheim Spencer (L) cuts across the lane in hopes of giving teammate Akeem Taylor a big target.

SJ Group I boys

Woodstown snaps out of state tournament slump, the only Salem County boys team to win in the opening round; Penns Grove has heart broken in final second of overtime

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Pitman 58, Wildwood 50
Burlington City 59, Penns Grove 58
Woodbury 57, Glassboro 56
Audubon 40, Paulsboro 39
Haddon Twp. 74, Clayton 68
Palmyra 59, Salem 50
Woodstown 71, New Egypt 52
KIPP Cooper Norcross 62, Maple Shade 15

SATURDAY’S QUARTERFINALS
(9) Burlington City at (1) Pitman
(5) Woodbury at (4) Audubon
(6) Palmyra at (3) Haddon Twp.
(7) Woodstown at (2) KIPP Cooper Norcross

WOODSTOWN 71, NEW EGYPT 52: Rocco String led three Woodstown scorers in double figures with 18 points as the Wolverines beat New Egypt for the second time this season to win its first South Jersey tournament game in five years.

The Wolverines’ last win in the South Jersey Group I tournament came in 2020 when they beat Maple Shade in the opening round.

In addition to String’s exploits, M.J. Hall pumped in 17 points and Elijah Caesar tied his career high with 11.

The Wolverines (16-9) now travel to No. 2 seed KIPP Cooper Norcross in Saturday’s quarterfinals.

“I’m just proud of the boys for the commitment and hard work they put in,” Woodstown coach Ramon Roots said. “They never shy away from getting better and they battle for me and their teammates each and every day. We didn’t have any offseason. It has just been non-stop work every day.

“Some games we may only have like a seven- or eight-man rotation, but those other guys from the JV and varsity bench are so key. They came to practice and made each other better each day.

“This is the first playoff win since 2020 and we are motivated to keep getting better and better. At the end of the day they trust their work, give 110 percent and live with the results. That’s all you can ask from your team. We have built a family and I’m proud to be their coach.”

NEW EGYPT (12-13): Nolan Arnold 5 11-12 22, Clyde Ferris 7 1-2 16, Evan Goldberg 3 0-0 8, Lucas Burgos 0 2-4 2, Dylan Harper 2 0-2 4. Totals 17 14-20 52.
WOODSTOWN (16-9): Trey Markward 1 0-0 2, Elijah Caesar 3 4-4 11, Garrett Leyman 1 2-4 4, Rocco String 9 0-1 18, Blake Bialecki 4 1-1 9, M.J. Hall 7 2-4 17, Jalen Markward 2 1-1 5, Alejandro Vazques 2 1-1 5. Totals 29 11-16 71..

New Egypt671821-52
Woodstown12171428-71
3-point goals: New Egypt 4 (Arnold, Ferris, Goldberg 2); Woodstown 2 (Caesar, Hall).

PALMYRA 59, SALEM 50: Palmyra placed five scorers in double figures, jumped out to a 10-point first-quarter lead and ended the Rams’ season with coach Anthony Farmer sitting on 99 career wins.

The Rams had the margin to four and the ball with a minute to play, but suffered a turnover and then gave up a three-point play.

Jesahi Robinson led Palmyra with 14 points. Sam Adams and Jaleel Laitmore each had 12, DaShon Edmonds chipped in 11 and John Latimore added 10. Robinson also grabbed six rebounds and dealt six assists.

Salem (14-13)7171214-50
Palmyra (15-13)17141612-59

BURLINGTON CITY 59, PENNS GROVE 58 (OT): The Red Devils staged a furious second-half rally to force overtime and had a three-point lead with 90 seconds left in the extra period only to have Chase Downs hit the go-ahead layup with nine-tenths of a second left to break their heart.

Zane Thomas’ put back with 13.3 seconds left gave the Red Devils a 58-57 lead before Downs drove the length of the floor for the game-winner.

Downs also hit a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 52, but neither team could deposit the winning shot. Penns Grove had two shots under the basket with 20 seconds left that didn’t fall and had the ball out of bounds with 3.2 seconds left and couldn’t get a shot.

Thomas, a sophomore just back from a knee injury, led all scorers with a career-high 19 points. He had scored only seven points all season prior to the game. B.J. Robbins had 17 points and KaRon Ceaser had 10.

“I’m proud of how we fought back,” Penns Grove coach Damian Ware said. “We were down 14 in the third quarter and battled and kept scraping back. For a young team it showed a lot of courage and toughness. And all these guys will be back next yer to make a title run.”

BURLINGTON CITY (10-15): Chase Downs 5-1-12, Jason Brown 7-3-17, Jamie Lambing 2-0-5, Corey Degree 2-0-4, Piper Comiso 2-0-6, Rashard Newark 6-3-15. Totals 24-7-59.
PENNS GROVE (11-14): B.J. Robbins 7-0-17, Roman Gipson 2-2-6, KaRon Ceaser 4-1-10, Jameel Horace 2-0-4, Luis Colon 1-0-2, Zane Thomas 9-1-19. Totals 25-4-58.

Burlington City (10-15)131213147-59
Penns Grove (11-14)13814176-58
3-point goals: Burlington City 4 (Downs, Lambing, Comiso 2); Penns Grove 4 (Robbins 3, Ceaser).

SJ Group I girls

Two Salem County teams, Woodstown and Pennsville, advance to the second round of tournament

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Haddon Twp. 56, (8) Schalick 13
Glassboro 51, Penns Grove 37
Audubon 58, Cape May Tech 20
Woodstown 52, Gateway 24
Wildwood 77, Riverside 5
Pennsville 70, Woodbury 56
Clayton 43, Burlington City 27
Palmyra 40, New Egypt 35

SATURDAY’S QUARTERFINALS
(9) Glassboro at (1) Haddon Twp.
(5) Audubon vs. (4) Woodstown
(6) Pennsville at (3) Wildwood
(7) Clayton at (2) Palmyra

WOODSTOWN 52, GATEWAY 24: The Gators knocked Woodstown back on its heels early with two big shots some smart, aggressive man defense, but the Wolverines shook it off, started playing their brand of basketball and steadily pulled away.

“Great defense led to open layups and shots,” Woodstown coach Matt Smart said. “

Talia Battavio led on both ends of the floor, scoring a team-high 13 points and recording eight of the Wolverines’ 24 steals. Megan Donelson had 11 points, four rebounds and five steals. Kyia Leyman had 10 points, four boards and three steals.

Actually, every player who got in the game made some type of contribution.

“I’m really proud of the effort that we showed today,” Smart said. “Everyone played as hard as possible when they were on the court.”

The Wolverines (18-6) now host fifth-seeded Audubon Saturday.

Gateway (10-15)64212-24
Woodstown (18-6)1518118-52

PENNSVILLE 70, WOODBURY 56: Taylor Bass led five Pennsville scorers in double figures with 22 points despite missing all of the second quarter with early foul trouble and the Eagles used a big second half to push past Woodbury.

Nora Ausland and Addie Johnston both scored 13 points, Jaida Burns had a career-high 12 and Marley Wood 10 for all the Eagles’ scoring. Johnston hit three 3s in their 23-point third quarter. Ausland grabbed 17 rebounds, while Burns had nine.

The Eagles (18-9) now travel to No.3 Wildwood for their quarterfinals game Saturday.

WOODBURY (7-20): Jenessa Robinson 2 2-6 7, Zoe Bell 3 1-2 8, Emerald Sills 4 8-9 16. Jabrielle Howell 1 0-1 2, Nyla Ivey 7 0-7 23, Dakota Sellers 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 17-25 56.
PENNSVILLE (18-9): Taylor Bass 10 2-2 22, Marley Wood 5 0-0 10, Nora Ausland 6 0-6 13, Addison Johnson5 0-0 13, Jaida Burns 5 2-4 12, Izzy Saulin 0 0-0 0, Ashlyn Fredo 0 0-0 0, Sofia Beeistes 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 4012 70.

Woodbury15171113-56
Pennsville15152317-70
3-point goals: Woodbury 5 (Robinson, Bell, Ivey 3); Pennsville 4 (Ausland, Johnston 3).

GLASSBORO 51, PENNS GROVE 37: The teams played to a 19-19 halftime tie, but Glassboro pulled away in the second half. They outscored the Red Devils 19-9 in the third quarter to seize control. Kezia Brackett (14) and Tamia Smith (12) led the offense, while Kimora Miles and Lily Czubas each pulled down 10 rebounds.

Glassboro (12-13)1181913-51
Penns Grove (11-13)11899-37

HADDON TWP. 56, SCHALICK 13: Kiersten Callahan led a balanced scoring attack with 11 points and the Hawks scored more points in the first quarter than Schalick scored the entire game. Twelve players scored from Township in the game.

Defense also was a key to the victory. The Hawks held the Cougars without a field goal in the first and fourth quarters and collected 16 steals. Alli Kamulda led the way with four steals, while Sammy Martin and Emory Shaw each had three.

Schalick1291-13
Haddon Twp.15211010-56
3-point goals: Schalick 1 (Davis); Haddon Twp. 7 (Callahan 3, Maher, Kennedy, Wiedeman, Kamulda). Rebounds: Haddon Twp. 34 (Turkot 6)

Tale of the Tape

Here’s a statistical comparison for Wednesday’s Region XIX playoff game between Salem CC and CC of Philadelphia

SALEM CC at PHILADELPHIA, 6 P.M. SCC (RK)CCP (RK)
RECORD (SEED)21-7 (6)20-7 (3)
FIRST MEETING (Jan. 28)5962
POINTS PER GAME 87.2 (7)84.1 (19)
POINTS ALLOWED72.7 (26)72.6 (24)
FG MADE31.6 (19)32.0 (15)
FG ATTEMPTS73.3 (3)73.0 (4)
SHOOTING PCT.43.1 (50)43.9 (39)
3-PT MADE8.8 (3)6.8 (37)
3-PT ATTEMPTS31.7 (36)19.9 (46)
FT PCT.69.9 (12)66.9 (33)
REBOUNDS43.8 (13)46.2 (8)
OPPONENT REBOUNDING38.3 (52)26.6 (2)
RK: National rank in JUCO Division III

Top Scorers

SALEM CC PPGPHILADELPHIAPPG
Akeem Taylor21.0Regjon Knight21.8
Jyheim Spencer12.9Brince Shelton15.0
Tyrese Fortune11.4Malachi Montgomery14.8
Xavier Brewington10.9Kristion Tiller11.4
Tamir Powell10.0Maki Pettigrew10.6

Top Rebounders

SALEM CC RPG PHILADELPHIAPPG
Jyheim Spencer14.0Tahjir Davis10.3
Rodney Shelton6.9Aymere Thomas 9.8
Tyrese Fortune6.8Brince Shelton6.5
Xavier Brewington5.1Regjon Knight5.7
Akeem Taylor4.8Malachi Montgomery5.3

FREE THROWS — Salem: Stefan Phillips, 45-51, .882; Tivon Woolford, 13-17, .765; Akeem Taylor, 44-50, .759; Xavier Brewington, 60-80, .750; Tamir Powell, 20-27, .741; Tyrese Fortune, 61-87, .701. CCP: Kristion Tiller, 32-40, .800; Regjon Knight, 55-69, .797; Donte Bacon, 11-14, .786; Brince Shelton, 79-111, .712.

3-POINTERS — Salem: Josh Ramos, 71-194, .366; Tamir Powell, 20-60, .333; Tivon Woolford, 20-64, .313; Akeem Taylor, 10-32, .313; Xavier Brewington, 39-126, .310; Tyrese Fortune, 22-97, .227. CCP: Regjon Knight, 49-144, .340; Malachi Montgomery, 41-117, .350; Kristion Tiller, 40-109, .367; Maki Pettigrew, 30-99, .303.

Monday basketball

Penns Grove girls tune up for playoffs with win at Salem, Pitman’s Crispin reaches milestone against Salem Tech

By Riverview Sports News

SALEM – RaNyiah Wilson scored 31 points to jump several places on the Salem County all-time girls scoring list and propelled Penns Grove to a 54-35 victory over Salem in its final preparation for the South Jersey Group I tournament.

The Red Devils (11-12) open the tournament Wednesday as the No. 8 seed hosting Glassboro.

The Red Devils pressed from the jump and held the Rams to only three field goals in the first half while opening a 26-13 halftime lead. Wilson had 19 of their points.

PENNS GROVE 54, SALEM 35
PENNS GROVE (11-12) – Brianna Robbins 2 1-2 6, NyAsia Numan 0 0-0 0, RaNyiah Wilson 12 7-17 31, Keziah Patterson 0 0-0 0, Mikayla Washington 2 0-2 4, JaNiyah Cummings 6 0-4 13. Totals 22 8-25 54.
SALEM (3-18) – Dakirah Gray 1 0-0 3, Carlysia Pierce 5 1-8 12, Madison Dixon 1 6-8 9, Timmiyah Simmons 0 3-5 3, Zaniyah Frieson 2 2-2 8, Amariah Frye 0 0-0 0, Skyla Parsons 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 12-23 35.

Penns Grove12141711-54
Salem581210-35
3-point goals: Penns Grove 2 (Robbins, Cummings); Salem 5 (Gray, Pierce, Dixon, Frieson 2).

Boys Game

PITMAN 64, SALEM TECH 48: Pitman’s Elijah Crispin became the 111th player in New Jersey history — 41st in South Jersey and third in his family — to reach the 2,000-point milestone when he hit a driving layup with 3:27 left in the first half. The bucket gave the Panthers a 26-12 lead. 

Crispin finished with 24 points and now has 2,011 for his career.

The Panthers (19-6) are the No. 1 seed in South Jersey Group I and open the playoffs Wednesday against Wildwood with a potential second-round matchup against Penns Grove. They wouldn’t potentially meet either Woodstown or Salem until the sectional final March 7.

SALEM TECH (0-22): Ayden Myers 2 0-0 5, Joseph Hayes 3 0-2 8, Aiden Bobo 2 0-0 5, Chase Pompper 1 3-4 5, Sam Battiato 1 0-0 3, Larry Pompper 7 1-1 15, Luke Kroll 0 1-2 1, Chase Ayars 3 0-0 6. Totals 19 5-9 48.
PITMAN (19-6): Wyatt Thompson 0 0-0 0, Elijah Crispin 7 9-11 24, Michael Fisicaro 5 0-0 11, Jaron Scull 0 2-4 2, Alex James 1 0-0 3, Hudson 1 3-4 10, Greg Peterson 5 3-4 15, Aidan Stranahan 2 0-0 4, Jay Craig 0 1-2 1, Jake Bowen-Ashwin 0 0-0 0, Ethan Kubat 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 18-25 65.

Salem Tech1091118-48
Pitman15221711-64
3-point goals: Salem Tech 5 (Myers, Hayes 2, Bobo, Battiato); Pitman 5 (Crispin, Fisicaro, James, Petersen 2). Rebounds: Pitman 44 (Crispin 10, Rue 10).


Opening Daze

Salem CC swept in season-opening doubleheader; Holt: ‘We’ve got some things to tighten up’

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CHICHESTER, Pa. – Opening Day is supposed to be a time when everything is fresh and excitement is high. But at the end of this day the Salem CC baseball team would just as soon have a do-over.

The Mighty Oaks picked up a doubleheader late in the week to serve as their 2025 Season Opener after their first three series were pushed back or canceled by the winter weather, but it wasn’t a good day. They were swept by Sussex CC 14-4 and 17-3 at the MSI Sports Complex that at one time was going to be the Mighty Oaks’ home.

“We’ve struggled to get outside, we’ve struggled to be out on the field, and I think it kind of showed today,” Salem coach John Holt said. “We’ve got some things to tighten up and once we do that we’ll get the ship righted.”

With all the arms the Mighty Oaks had to replace from last year’s Region XIX playoff team, pitching was going to be an issue that had to be settled. It proved to remain a work in progress Sunday.

The six pitchers Salem used in the doubleheader threw hard, they just had trouble with their control. They walked 16 and hit 13 batters in the doubleheader. Sussex first baseman Mitchell Doucette took one for the team twice in each game and center fielder Cole Bolton did it four times in the nightcap.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a struggle so much,” Holt said of the pitching. “I think guys have to get their innings.

“I think we’ve done an adequate job in regards to replacing some of the arms we lost. I think we’ve got a lot of quality guys. Some of them, we’ve got to get healthy; some of them, we’ve got to get innings and get their reps under their belt. I think we’ll be fine. I think it’s just a matter of working out the kinks and getting the attitudes right.”

Jon Gambone was making his first college start since March 18, 2023 as the Mighty Oaks’ Opening Day Game 1 starter. His last appearance in a college game was April 8 of that year before Tommy John surgery put him on the shelf until Sunday.

The sophomore right-hander was hoping to throw around 70 pitches, go four or five innings and “feel overall comfortable” in his return. He may have met his pitch count, but he went only three innings against the Skylanders, throwing about 40 pitches in the first inning.

He hit the first batter he faced, walked the next and gave up an RBI single before recording an out. Later in the inning he surrendered a single, walk and two-run single – all with the bases loaded – to the bottom three hitters in the order. The Skylanders sent 11 men to the plate in their first inning of the season and scored five runs to wipe out Salem’s 1-0 lead.

“It was definitely hard to keep my heart rate down, for sure; I was definitely very nervous,” Gambone said. “I think it was more nerves and excitement. I think I was so over-excited, so over-amped up, it was so hard to control it.”

A similar thing happened to him, he said, in his Mighty Oaks’ debut coming back from a hip injury in 2023. He gave up six hits and five runs in four-plus innings on that Opening Day. 

The Gateway product was much better in his next two innings Sunday, facing eight batters, giving up two hits and striking out two without allowing a run.

“I felt confident and was able to bounce back that second and third inning,” he said. “I figure I’ll be able to keep going, too, a little later in the season.”

J.D. Wilson started in the nightcap. He threw it as hard as ever, but had some trouble reeling it in. He did strike out seven in his three innings, but he also walked two and hit four. The Mighty Oaks need him and Gambone to give them at least five innings to be effective.

In a game Holt conceded didn’t have many positives – “we didn’t do much well today,” he said –the Mighty Oaks did mount a threat in the fourth inning of the nightcap.

They trailed 6-0 entering the inning, but scored three and had the go-ahead run at the plate with bases loaded and two outs, but the Skylanders got out of it. Angel Velez drove in the first run with an RBI-double, Yen Rodriguez drew a bases-loaded walk and a third run scored when Sussex misplayed Hunter Cohen’s sharp grounder to second.

“I think our approach at the plate’s got to be better and I think that’s where we struggled today, mostly,” Holt said. “If our approach is better I think we put together some better at bats. The whole pass-the-stick philosophy that we kind of believe in here wasn’t there today.”

Matt Murphy drove in Salem’s first two runs of the season with an RBI double in the first inning of the opener and a RBI single in the third. Velez and Cole Dawson each had two hits in the nightcap.

The Mighty Oaks will get their do-over of sorts Monday in their home against Genesee. The 7-inning doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. Genesee (2-2) split doubleheaders with Camden CC and RCSJ-Cumberland over this weekend.

Salem’s projected starting pitchers for the doubleheader are sophomore right-hander Jared Vandersteur and freshman left-hander Pat Seitzinger. Both will be making their first collegiate starts. Vandersteur made five relief appearances last season.

“I think once we get our reps under our belt … I think tomorrow will be better than today because we got it out of our system a little bit,” Holt said.

SUSSEX 14-17, SALEM 4-3

Game One
Salem (0-1)101 011 0-481
Sussex (1-0)500 315 x-14131
JON GAMBONE (L, 0-1), L. Rodriguez (4), Stewart (5) and Velez. AIDEN MAAS (W, 1-0), Mizener (3), St.-Pierre (6), Watson (6) and Klein. 2B: LeBold (Sa), Murphy (Sa), Kelly (Sa), Freda (Su), Klein (Su), Weatherwax (Su), Peterson (Su).
Game Two
Sussex (2-0)111 355 1-17123
Salem (0-2)000 300 0-363
J.D. WILSON (L, 0-1), McCormick (4), Jones (6) and Velez. RYAN MILLER (W 1-0), Klein (4), Steer (5), Yunkunis (6), Apa (7) and Sheruda. 2B: Lotruglio (Su), Klein (Su), Velez (Sa).
Salem CC coach John Holt (L) talks with starting pitcher J.D. Wilson between innings of Sunday’s nightcap.

Exciting times

Woodstown’s Crawford wins boys Group I indoor 800, becomes Wolverines’ first indoor state champion in 19 years

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

TOMS RIVER – Josh Crawford turned a big negative into a big positive and it turned him into a record-setting state champion.

Woodstown’s Josh Crawford shows off his medals after winning the Group I indoor 800 and anchoring the runner-up 4×400 relay team.

The Woodstown junior was bummed by the way he ran in the 400 at Sunday’s Group I Indoor Track Championships at the Bennett Center Bubble, but instead of stewing over it the rest of the day he used it to fuel his next race and it became the best run of his life.

Crawford ran a personal-best 1:59.01 and edged Shore Regional’s Brady McHugh by 37 hundreths of a second – about two meters – to win Group I state title and give the Wolverines their first indoor state champion since before he was born.

“I’m just so happy,” he said. “I was feeling great today and I got out there and pushed my best. I never ran like that before with so much excitement and energy. It was a very unreal feeling (to win it).”

The 16-year-old is Woodstown’s first indoor state champion since Brenan McDonough won the 800 in the 2006 Group I meet at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym – 26 months before he was even born. Additionally, he broke the Salem County indoor 800 record of 1:59.21 set by Schalick’s Greg McGuire in the 2020 Group I meet here.

“I didn’t know that while I was running; that’s just insane,” he said of his piece of Woodstown history. “That just makes it like 10 times more exciting for me.”

And it was all a byproduct of his disappointment in the 400, where he had top time in his heat but wound up finishing 11th overall after getting bumped out of position midway through his heat race. His 53.09 was two seconds slower than his winning sectional time.

“It was definitely the 400 that added fire,” he said. “I just wasn’t in the correct mental state or physical state, so I just decided to switch my mindset around and focus on the upcoming 800 and put everything out there and make up for what I missed in the 400.”

To his credit, he didn’t go into the 800 trying to make up for the other race in the first 50 meters. He started next to teammate Cole Lucas and after some initial jostling settled into his gameplan. He was content to sit on McHugh and Raritan’s Joseph Testai the whole race and waited on them to fade to make his move.

That came with about 100 meters to go.

“I just had so much (energy) in me I just used all the anger that came from the previous race to get to the finish line before they could,” he said.

Crawford also ran the anchor leg on the Wolverines’ runner-up 4×400 relay team (with Cole Lucas, Karson Chew and Anthony Costello).

He was the only champion from Salem County Sunday, but the county produced four other qualifiers for next week’s Meet of Champions next week at the Ocean Breeze Complex on Staten Island. The top three finishers in each event and a select number of wildcards advance.

Woodstown’s Jaime Deal finished third in the girls 400, Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield was second in both the 1600 and 3200, Salem’s Anthony Parker was second in the boys 55 hurdles (by .02 seconds) and Schalick’s David Stewart was third in the 55 dash. 

NJSIAA GROUP I INDOOR TRACK
At Bennett Center Bubble, Toms River

GIRLS
TEAM SCORES (Top 10): Dumont 36, Ramsey 29, Metuchen 24, Walkill Valley 20, Clayton 19, Glassboro, SCHALICK 18, New Providence 16, Glen Rock 14, Butler 13. 
EVENT WINNERS
(And Salem County scorers)
400: 1. Julia Costa, Ramsey, 1:00.34; 3. Jaime Deal, Woodstown, 1:00.75; 5. Gia Martellacci, Schalick, 1:01.70.
1600: 1. Delana Einreinhofer, Wallkill Valley, 5:00.86; 2. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 5:09.08
55 Hurdles: 1. Jenna Monaco, Dumont, 8.25.
800: 1. Gwendolyn Neale, Verona, 2:16.08.
55 Dash: 1. Jenna Monaco, Dumont, 7.37
3200: 1. Delana Einreinhofer, Wallkill Valley, 10:39.46 (event record, old record by Dana Giordano, Bernards, 10:46.68, 2012); 2. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 11:19.59.
4×400 Relay: 1. New Providence, 4:11.01
High Jump: 1. Ashley Armstrong, Glassboro, 5-2; 1. Taylor Peters, Butler, 5-2.
Pole Vault: 1. Jenna Monaco, Dumont, 11-0; 6. Megan Morris, Pennsville, 9-6.
Shot Put: 1. Sunny Moore, Glassboro, 37-2.25.
NOTE: Top 3 finishers qualify for Meet of Champions

BOYS
TEAM SCORES (Top 15): Hasbrouck Heights 40, Glassboro 31.50, Woodbury 30, Shore 24, WOODSTOWN 22, Mountain Lakes 14, Metuchen 12, Dayton 10, Raritan 10, Cresskill 10, Pompton Lakes 10, Clayton 9, Haddon Twp. 9, SALEM 8, SCHALICK 7, Manville 7.
EVENT WINNERS
(And Salem County scorers)
400: 1. Marquis Taylor, Woodbury, 50.91.
55 Hurdles: 1. William Cusick, Cresskill, 7.64; 2. Anthony Parker, Salem, 7.66.
1600: 1. Eric Schleif, Metuchen, 4:23.06.
55 Dash: 1. Marquis Taylor, Woodbury, 6.46; 3. David Stewart, Schalick, 6.68.
800: 1. Josh Crawford, Woodstown, 1:59.01; 4. Cole Lucas, Woodstown, 2:02.59
3200: 1. Max Kahn, Mountain Lakes, 9:32.64.
4×400 Relay: 1. Woodbury, 3:31.29; 2. Woodstown (Cole Lucas, Karson Chew, Anthony Costello, Josh Crawford), 3:31.60.
High Jump: 1. Matthew Murillo, Hasbrouck Heights, 6-4.
Pole Vault: 1. Owen Keating, Pompton Lakes, 16-1 (event record, old record by Craig Hunter, Robbinsville, 15-1, 2012); 6. Salvatore Longo, Schalick, 12-0.
Shot Put: 1. Kane Perry, Shore, 53-10.25.
NOTE: Top 3 finishers qualify for Meet of Champions

Here is a screen shot of Woodstown’s Josh Crawford taking the lead, then crossing the line to win the Group I boys indoor 800 meters Sunday. The photo at the top shows his moment of victory. (Photo by Robert Crawford)