Softball sweep

Salem CC erupts for 20 runs in first two innings of doubleheader, earns run-rule sweep of Raritan Valley

TUESDAY’S REGION 19 SOFTBALL
Salem 22-8, Raritan Valley 0-0
Lackawanna 12-15, Penn State-Hazelton 2-0
Mercer 15-20, Sussex 2-0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – After a rough start to its return from its Carolinas swing, the Salem CC softball team needed something like Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep really bad.

The Mighty Oaks had lost three of their first four back in their neck of the woods – the last two in run-rule routs – but they turned it around at Watson Field with a 22-0, 8-0 run-rule sweep of Raritan Valley.

It helped to talk about it and that’s what a rainy Monday was all about.

“The good thing with the weather yesterday, it gave us a chance to kind of take a step back and actually review where we are so far in our season,” Mighty Oaks coach Angel Rodriguez said, “It’s still early, but it was a good reflection on what are things that are not going well, what are things we can adjust.

“We were able to sit down and actually talk about that as a group and I think every year when we do that it really does help. Whether you’re playing a really good team that the toughest team in the region, or a team that’s still going to give you headaches, there are adjustments you can make and we did that when we started out today.”

The Mighty Oaks (9-5) wasted no time jumping on the Lions (2-8). They erupted for 20 runs in the first two innings of the opener. Every player had scored at least once before the Mighty Oaks went through the lineup a second time (midway through the second inning).

They sent 14 batters to the plate in the first inning, 15 in the second. Their first three batters of the game were all hit by pitches and even their first out produced a run.

Callie Rozak had a pair of two-run singles in the nine-run first inning. She also had an RBI single in the 11-run second. That’s 3-for-3 with five RBIs in the first two innings, if you’re counting.

“The first two innings were just (about) getting ahead, getting that big lead,” Rozak said. “With bases loaded, just put the ball in play, put it hard in play, let’s get some runs in. We struggled getting on base the past couple games where we were swinging at pitches that aren’t ours; wait for yours, get a good hit and get the run in.”  

Shortstop Ella Hayes seemed to get back on track. Her batting average had dropped more than 100 points since the Mighty Oaks returned from the Carolinas, although she did collect her 100th career hit last week, but she had a pair of hits in each game and reached base seven times in eight plate appearances.

She had an RBI double in the nightcap and scored all the way from second on Bella Rappa’s sacrifice bunt later in the inning.

“These games were definitely games we needed as a team, honestly just to correct our mistakes and errors,” Rozak said. “I was always told you can’t get better unless you make errors; errors you make you need to get better. I mean, if you’re batting a thousand percent there’s nothing to work on.”

The going was a little slower in the nightcap, but the Mighty Oaks took control with three runs in the third inning and walked it off with five in the fifth. 

“It was nice to see the adjustment that we talked about come to fruition in the game; that was the most important part of it,” Rodriguez said. “We told them you’ve got to lock back in, get back to the fundamentals of our swing and really understand what we need to do to put those runs up and we were able to do that.”

It wasn’t only the hitting that showed out. Raegan Wilson and Jill Robinson both fashioned five-inning shutouts. Wilson gave up four hits in the opener, struck out six and had her shutout preserved when the Mighty Oaks cut down a runner at the plate for the game’s final out.

Robinson, who had gotten roughed up in three of her last four starts north and south and both northern starts last week, gave up only a third-inning leadoff single, allowed just three base-runners and got all her outs in the infield. She had given up 24 runs and 31 hits in 11 innings last week, but was a sharp as she’s ever been at Salem Tuesday.

“I was pretty grateful with the outcome; it was really good,” Robinson said. “I think these games were more of a working game for me, making sure I’m hitting my spots, hitting the pitches that are called, adjusting to the strike zone of the umpire. I think I did pretty good on that.

“It was definitely a relief compared to the last game. I came out of those games hoping to hit some spots and I wasn’t doing very good, but I stayed out of my head. This game I came in and did the job, I hit my spots, most of them anyway.”

“She went into the circle today a little bit more confident, you could definitely tell her presence,” Rodriguez said. “And when your team is making routine plays like they’re supposed to be doing and you’re pitching your game you’re going to feel that sense of relaxation. I definitely liked her adjustment today.”

The Mighty Oaks return to action Thursday in an added doubleheader at RCSJ-Gloucester (No. 4 JUCO Division III). Their scheduled doubleheader with Bucks County CC Sunday has been postponed …  Rozak hurt her ankle stepping on a ball in the opener. She didn’t start the nightcap, but came off the bench as a pinch-hitter in the fifth and got another hit … Recruiting for 2026 is already in high gear. The Mighty Oaks already have signed eight players with two more out of state prospects expected. Among the signees are four pitchers and two local products – Savannah Palverento and Sawyer Simmons of Pennsville. The other pitchers come from Arizona, Washington and Ohio.

GAME ONE

Raritan Valley	000 00-	0	4	5
Salem CC	9(11)0 2x-	22	14	0

Raritan Valley	000 00-	0	1	6
Salem CC	003 05-	8	8	0