Schalick stunner

Cougars ‘on point,’ score walk-off win over Pennsville, denting the Eagles’ bid to become the No. 1 seed in South Jersey Group I softball; Woodstown, Schalick win tennis tourney openers, face-off next week

TUESDAY SOFTBALL
Clayton 21, Salem 0
Schalick 4, Pennsville 3 (8 inns.)
Woodstown 15, Wildwood 2

By Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Emily Miller’s one-out single in the eighth inning scored Maddie Brown with the walk-off run in Schalick’s 4-3 win over Pennsville that put a dent in the Eagles’ bid for the No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group I softball tournament.

The win was Schalick’s first over Pennsville since 2019 and extended the Cougars’ winning streak to four, enhancing their own position for a high seeding. The loss snapped Pennsville’s seven-game winning streak.

“It was a nice win for the team,” Cougars coach Rick Higinbotham said. “Pennsville is a tough opponent so we knew we were going to have to be on point. Fortunately, we played one of our best all around games of the season. We took advantage of a few opportunities and got the win. Hopefully we can use this win to build some momentum for the playoffs next week.”

Pennsville (18-4) was looking to stay ahead of Haddon Twp. and overtake Audubon at No. 1 in the SJ Group I power points standings, but likely needed a sweep of its three games before Wednesday’s cutoff to do it. The Eagles still could make a big move with a win over undefeated SJ Group 3 No. 1 Delsea at home Wednesday.

As of late Tuesday night, the Eagles were second with 22.783 power points. Audubon remained No. 1 at 24.424 and Haddon Twp. was third at 22.486. Schalick (12-4) is currently solidly in fifth, less than 900 percentage points behind No. 4 Woodstown.

Haddon Twp. lost to Gloucester Tuesday, but Audubon swamped Sterling.

Pennsville starter Savannah Brewer-Palverento pitched three perfect innings to open the game, but was lifted for Graillyn Weber as planned in the fourth and Schalick scored three runs to take a 3-0 lead. The Cougars got their runs on a bases-loaded walk to Cloe Elliott, a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Brown and Ava Lauglin’s ground out.

The Eagles closed their deficit to 3-2 in the fifth on Weber’s leadoff inside-the-park homer and Avery Watson’s RBI single. They tied it in the sixth on Weber’s RBI double.

The Cougars started their winning rally with Elliott’s walk off Weber. Brewer-Palverento was returned to the circle and got Brown to hit into a fielder’s choice. Brown stole second and moved to third on an infield error before Miller delivered her game-winning hit.

WOODSTOWN 15, WILDWOOD 2: Leah Clark struck out 12 and didn’t allow a hit over six innings and the Wolverines supported her with a 15-hit attack. Ellie Wygand went 4-for-5 with three RBIs, Kendall Young went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Clark went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Hannah Hitchner and Talia Guardascione had two hits apiece.

The Warriors scored two unearned runs in the second inning to tie the game 2-2

CLAYTON 21, SALEM 0: The Clippers had only four hits, but took advantage of 28 walks. Sophia Petsch held Salem to one hit over four innings and had two hits and two RBIs at the plate. Korrin Robinson had Salem’s only hit

GOLF
Schalick 174, Pitman 176: Jaxon Weber and Seth Fisher both shot 40 to squeeze between Pitman’s top two counters providing the margin of victory in a close one at the site of next week’s Tri-County Championship tournament. Nolan O’Toole and Shawn Kelly both shot 47 to tie Pitman’s other two counters. 
Washington Twp. girls 139, Schalick 164: Paige Weber (32) and Tessa Reilley (34) posted the low rounds for Washington Twp. at The Birches. Cali Fisler posted Schalick’s low round (37).

TENNIS
Woodstown and Schalick are headed to a second-round matchup after sweeping their opponents in the opening round of the South Jersey Group I tournament. Fourth-seeded Woodstown eliminated Penns Grove 5-0 and fifth-seeded Schalick ousted Lower Cape May 5-0.

The second-round match is scheduled for Woodstown Tuesday. The teams have not played each other this season

South Jersey Group I Tournament
(1) Haddon Twp. bye
(9) Gateway 3.5, (8) Clayton 1.5
(5) Schalick 5, (12) Lower Cape May 0
(4) Woodstown 5, (13) Penns Grove 0
(3) West Deptford bye
(11) Wildwood at (6) Palmyra, Wednesday
(10) Audubon at (7) Point Pleasant Beach, Thursday
(2) Pennsville bye

WOODSTOWN 5, PENNS GROVE 0
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-0, 6-3
John Farrell (WO) def. Stuart Mondragon, 6-1, 6-0
Jake Lewis (WO) def. Angel Perez Herrera, 6-4, 6-3
Ben Stengel-Joseph Kurpis (WO) def. Anthony Pacheco-Rene Ruiz, 6-0, 6-2
Mason Shimp-Vincent Merendino (WO)  def. Juan Ortiz-Adam Gonzalez, 6-1, 6-2
Records: Woodstown 14-4, Penns Grove 2-9

SCHALICK 5, LOWER CAPE MAY 0
George Gould (S) def. Ismael Lopez, 6-1, 7-5
Rocky Monticolo (S) def. Nicholas Fitch, 6-0, 6-1
Conor O’Toole (S) def. Nathan Chase, 6-2, 6-0
Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski (S) def. Bryan Ortiz-Victor Vasquez, 6-0, 6-1
David Santana-Anthony McGrath (S) def. Max Vaught-Chris Hawes, 6-2, 6-2
Records: Schalick 14-5, Lower Cape May 4-15