Month: March 2026

Tuesday sports report

Scores and highlights from Tuesday’s Salem County sports calendar; Woodstown, Salem Tech score softball wins; tough day for Salem CC baseball, softball

SOFTBALL
Salem Tech 24, Pilgrim Academy 13
Woodstown 8, Sterling 3
BOYS TRACK
Penns Grove at Glassboro
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Glassboro 0
Woodstown 5, Clearview 0
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Montgomery County 26, Salem CC 4
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Lackawanna 10-2, Salem CC 2-0

By Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — The thing Woodstown softball coach Rob Hildebrand really likes about his lineup is its capability to deliver from any spot at any time regardless of the situation, but they’re especially tough late in the game.

That ability was on full display in the fourth inning Tuesday when the Wolverines scored six runs with two outs to break open a one-run game and power an 8-3 win over Sterling.

“I’ve never had an opportunity to coach a team on any level, and I tell them all the time, where we get better every single time we get another at bat against a pitcher,” Hildebrand said. “We only get stronger as the middle of the game goes on and like our third at-bat every game that’s when everybody starts hitting. I’m proud for them to be able to hit the ball.”

Kendall Young’s three-run double and Talia Guardascione’s inside-the-park homer highlighted the big inning. The Wolverines (2-0) led 2-1 going into the fourth and then sent 10 batters to the plate to break it open.

Brianna Hitchner scored on Ellie Wygand’s ground out that was the second out of the inning and cleared the bases. Guardascione followed by slashing her homer past a drawn-in left fielder to the fence. Madison LaPalomento scored on Grace Hitchner’s single and after Lila Bowling and Macie Moore drew walks to load the bases Young brought them all home with her double.

Hildebrand called Young’s hit a “sign of relief.” The Wolverines loaded the bases in the third with nobody out and only scratched out a couple runs.

Guardascione’s homer was the second of her career. Her first also was an inside-the-parker, against Salem last season.

“She’s the two-hole hitter and they play her in a lot in the outfield,” Hilderbrand said. “When they play her in like that she burns them. She’s so fast, I knew she was going to score when she came around second.”

The Wolverines took a 2-0 lead in the third on RBI singles by Grace Hitchner and Moore.

Leah Clark went the distance in the circle, allowing five hits, one earned run and striking out four. She retired the first seven batters she faced and faced the minimum through three innings.

The Wolverines host rival Schalick Wednesday.

Sterling (1-1)0001002-351
Woodstown (2-0)002600x-884
WP; Leah Clark. LP: Peyton Emmertz. HR: Talia Guardascione.

SALEM TECH 24, PILGRIM ACADEMY 13: The first-year Chargers took advantage of 11 walks and 11 errors to score a school-record 24 runs and win for the fourth time in five starts.

Shelby Drummond went 3-for-3, Claire Kier had three RBIs, Kate Liber and Morgan Fogg both had two hits and two RBIs. Drummond has hit in all five games and is hitting .769 (10-for-13) for the season. Kier also has hit in all five games.

The Chargers broke a 2-2 tie with five runs in the third inning and then broke it open with nine in the fourth.

Salem Tech (4-1)025908-2492
Pilgrim Academy (1-1)112540-13611
WP: Isabele Roberts. LP: Addison Brittin. HR: Moriah Parmer (PA)

Tennis

PENNSVILLE 5, GLASSBORO 0
Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Andrew Miller, 4-6, 6-0, 10-5
Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. James Pence, 6-0, 6-0
Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Seth Taylor, 6-1, 6-1
Coen Rinnier-Matthew Forino (P) def. Joy Patel-Vincent Pasquarello, 6-1, 6-1
Records: Pennsville 2-1, Glassboro 0-2.

WOODSTOWN 5, CLEARVIEW 0
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Dan Meader, 7-5, 6-0
Mason Shimp (WO) def. David Carter, 6-1, 6-1
Luke Shaw (WO) def. Cole Harper, 6-4, 6-2
Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Chase Roberts-Jared Wax, 6-3, 6-4
Connor Miller-Josh King (WO) def. Matt Kalpas-Raj Rana, 7-5, 6-2
Records: Woodstown 1-1, Clearview 1-2.

College baseball

MONTGOMERY 26, SALEM CC 4: The Mustangs continued to mash the baseball, setting a season high in runs while scoring in double figures for the fourth game in a row. They have scored 75 runs over the last four games.

The 26 runs were the most the Mighty Oaks have given up in a game since reviving the program. The previous high came in a 25-7 loss to RCSJ-Cumberland in April 2024.

College softball

LACKAWANNA 10-2, SALEM CC 2-0: Mackenzie Adolfson hit a two-run homer in each game for Lackawanna, but the swing in the second game was the dagger for the Mighty Oaks.

Salem’s Jordyn Busch and Lackawanna’s Ayahna Fleisher were locked in a scoreless pitching duel for five innings in the nightcap, but one pitch broke the ice. Adolfson launched a two-run homer to center to get the Falcons on the board.

The Mighty Oaks threatened in the seventh, getting two runners in scoring position with one out, but couldn’t get them home. Savannah Palverento and Bella Rappa opened the inning with singles and moved up on Sawyer Simmons’ sacrifice, but Fleisher got out of it with a pop out to the catcher and game-ending grounder to the pitcher.

Salem also had a runner in scoring position in the first inning with two outs but stranded her.

Adolfson’s two-run shot in the opener highlighted a four-run first inning. The Mighty Oaks cut their deficit in half in the third on an RBI single by Megan Koski and Bella Rappa’s bases-loaded hit batsman, but the Falcons answered with two in the bottom of the inning and walked it off with four in the fifth.

The doubleheader starts a busy week for the Mighty Oaks. They travel to Monroe-Bronx Thursday, host Howard CC Friday and visit Mercer Saturday.

‘First of many more’

Salem Tech scores its first baseball win in school history in rout of Lindenwold; includes reported scores and highlights from Monday’s Salem County sports calendar


BASEBALL
Salem Tech 24, Lindenwold 2
Schalick 5, Glassboro 0
Wildwood 26, Salem 2
Woodstown 15, Penns Grove 2
GOLF
Gloucester Catholic 170, Salem Tech 208
Woodstown 187, Pennsville 222
Schalick 164, Wildwood 245
Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Penns Grove 4, Glassboro 1
Pennsville at Wildwood
Schalick 3, Clayton 2
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Highland 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-19, 25-15)
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at St. Joseph
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown 18, Cedar Creek 11

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

LINDENWOLD — Sometime during the course of the day Tuesday, the players on the Salem Tech baseball team are going to pass around a shiny new baseball that each will sign his name until there’s no space for another. When the last player has signed one of them is going to take that baseball and run it back up to the school where it will be set in a place of honor for posterity.

The Chargers made history Monday afternoon. They won the first game in their baseball program’s history, routing Lindenwold 24-2.

“Being the first coach is an honor and getting the first win’s an honor,” head coach John Helsel said. “I’m so happy for all the kids and for Mr. Swain (superintendent Jack Swain) because I know he really loves baseball. I’m glad I could get us our first of many more to come, I believe.”

Jaxon Raymond was credited with the inaugural win. He pitched the first four innings, giving up one hit and striking out 10. Jack Beal pitched the fifth, giving up one hit and striking out the side.

Raymond didn’t give up a hit until the fourth, faced only two over the minimum through the first three innings and struck out the side twice.

“I would say (he pitched) good, just from the amount of strikes I threw (43 in 82 pitches) and how fast I got out of innings,” Raymond assessed. “JI felt I wasn’t going to do good and started a little flat, (but) halfway through the first inning just more strikes were coming through the zone.”

“He was a little shaky in the beginning, but once he got his command down he was good,” Helsel said. “He had a little trouble with that mound – it was a little rough where they were landing – but once he got used to it, he was all right.”

The Chargers (1-1), who lost their inaugural game 13-0 at Cumberland, were as prolific in this game as they were in winning their two preseason scrimmages. They banged out 14 hits and took advantage of 12 walks and seven Lion errors. Cooper Coles went 3-for-5 with five RBIs. Chase Pompper had two hits and three RBIs. Lucas Clement had two hits and two RBIs, and Shamus Smith and Raymond had two hits apiece.

Take away the 10-run first inning of the Cumberland game and the Chargers have outscored their opponents 24-5 over their last nine innings.

“They showed me they bounced back and didn’t let that (Cumberland) game bother them,” Helsel said. “We played well. We had some real good hits. We were sound defensively.”

Pompper scored the first run in school history when he raced home on Coles’ inaugural RBI single after reaching on an error and going all the way to third on a passed ball. Coles scored on Clement’s RBI single. Clement scored on a wild pitch and Harris’ sacrifice fly made it 4-0. They added four more in the second and then broke it open with 11 in the third.

The Chargers also gunned down their first runner attempting to steal when freshman catcher Logan Hearn nailed Julius Hammond trying to steal second in the second inning.

This Chargers play their first home game in school history Thursday against Wildwood Catholic.

Salem Tech (1-1)44(11)05-24141
Lindenwold (0-3)10010-227
WP: Jaxon Raymond. LP: Aidan Ryan.

SCHALICK 5, GLASSBORO 0: Ricky Wattt went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and starting pitcher Jamari Whitley threw 3 2/3 innings of no-hit ball with eight strikeouts to lead Schalick over Glassboro, 5-0, Monday.

Cole Hartley broke a scoreless tie with a two-run single in the third. Watt doubled the lead with a two-run double in the fourth. Evan Glaspey’s grounder to short produced the Cougars’ fifth run. Evan Sepers had two hits for the Cougars.

Three Schalick pitchers held the Bulldogs to two hits and struck out 13. Whitley faced 15 batters and threw 66 pitches in his first start of the year. Mason Hollywood went the next 2 1/3, giving up one hit and striking out three. Mason Sanchez pitched the seventh, giving up a hit and fanning two.

The defending South Jersey Group 1 champs have given up just one run in their first two games.

Schalick (2-0)0022010-5100
Glassboro (0-2)0000000-021
WP: Jamari Whitley. LP: Ryan Newell.

WOODSTOWN 15, PENNS GROVE 2: Talyn Priore went 4-for-4 in his varsity debut, three pitchers scattered two hits and the Wolverines pulled away from a one-run game with an 11-run third inning.

Drew Sutton came on after starter Cole Begley struggled out of the gate and gave the Wolverines 2 2/3 innings of no-hit relief with five strikeouts. Stone Hassler went the final two innings without allowing a hit and fanning six of the seven batters he faced.

Eighteen Wolverines got at least one plate appearance and 14 reached base. Priore was their only batter with multiple hits. Ty Coblentz, Luke Fraley and Tommy Tucci drove in two runs apiece.

Woodstown (1-0)21(11)10-1590
Penns Grove (0-1)20000-220
WP: Drew Sutton. LP: Liam Irvin.

WILDWOOD 26, SALEM 2: Nolan Mawhinney had a two-run double and Owen Bannon a two-run single to highlight an 11-run second inning that broke the game open. The first three runs in the inning scored on bases-loaded walks.

Bannon had five RBIs in the game. Gianni Troiano went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and Trevor Triano scored six runs.

Three Wildwood pitchers held Salem to three hits, two by Jonathan Bower. The Rams scored both their runs in the fifth inning. Bower led off with a triple and scored on Izaiah Santiago’s ground out. Cole Sayers scored on a double steal.

Wildwood (2-0)2(11)643-26152
Salem (0-2)00002-2310
WP: Will Auly. LP: Rudulfo Perez.

Tennis

PENNS GROVE 4, GLASSBORO 1
Andrew Miller (G) def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-4, 7-5
Stuart Mondragon (PG) def. James Pence, 6-4, 6-4
Anthony Pacheco (PG) def. Seth Taylor, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
Juan Ortiz-Adan Gonzalez (PG) def. Nico Tsoukalis-Vincent Pasquarello, 6-0, 6-0
Jesus Arrendondo-Rene Ruiz (PG) won by forfeit
Records: Penns Grove 1-0, Glassboro 0-1
NOTE: It’s the fourth year in a row the Red Devils have won their season opener.

SCHALICK 3, CLAYTON 2
James Mai (CL) def. Gabe McFeeley, 6-2, 6-4
Tyr Brattlie (S) def. Jayden Sanchez, 6-0, 6-1
Michael Cummings (CL) def. Reece Loatman, 7-5, 7-5
Cooper Halperin-Christopher Chica (S) def. Robert Shultz-Malcolm Turpin, 6-4, 7-5
Angelo Boston-Gavin McGrath (S) def. Emmanuel Ansah-Bryne Contravo, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Schalick 2-0, Clayton 0-1.

Golf

WOODSTOWN 187, PENNSVILLE 222: The Wolverines counted three scores in the 40s at Sakima CC, led by medalist Nate Valente’s 44. Trevor Hann (49) posted Pennsville’s low round.

WOODSTOWN: Jack Bucksar 45, Nate Valente 44, Alejandro Vazquez 48, Lucas Fulmer 50; Julia Swierczynski 52, Blake Bialecki 52.
PENNSVILLE: Trevor Hann 49, Caden Thomas 52, Abigail Bohn 59, Keagan Kaminski 62; Makenna Minguez 63, Jack Haley 65.

SCHALICK 164, WILDWOOD 245: Senior Seth Fisher was bogey-free over his final six holes at Union League National and shot 2-over-par 38 to win medalist honors. Jaxon Weber and Anthony Sepers followed close behind with 41s. All six Schalick players posted rounds in the 40s.

SCHALICK: Jaxon Weber 41, Anthony Sepers 41, Seth Fisher 38, Reed Bucolo 44; Michael Nelson 44, Bradford Foster 49.
WILDWOOD: Angel Gonzalez 55, Jess Alamein 54, Sarai Salas-Lopez 66, Alex Vida’s 70, Kianely Velasquez 71.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 170, SALEM TECH 208: Medalist Chad Niederman birdied his first hole and went on to post a 2-over-par 38 at Sakima CC to lead the Lions. Teammate Zack Payne birdied his last hole and shot 41. Freshman Cohen Sutton (45) posted the Chargers’ low round.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC: Anthony Beach 44, Nicholas Kolodzey 47, Zack Payne 41, Chad Niederman 38; Emmit Kiniry 47.
SALEM TECH: Cohen Sutton 45, Thomas Conto 50, Hannah Kormann 56, Sophia Conto 57; Jonah Baynes 71.

Pennsville rallies

Eagles score 5 after a moment of reflection to rally past Gloucester Catholic in season opener, Weber fans career high 10; Woodstown no-hits Penns Grove

MONDAY SOFTBALL
Pennsville 8, Gloucester Catholic 5
Salem Tech 16, Lindenwold 5
Schalick 6, Glassboro 5
Wildwood 10, Salem 0
Woodstown 20, Penns Grove 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Between the top and bottom of the sixth inning Monday Pennsville catcher Kylie Harris, as she’s been known to do, called her teammates to a huddle in front of the dugout. Even though they trailed at the time, she told them with the ability she knows they have there still was time to pull out the game and they should try “any way you can” to make it happen, preferably in this next half inning they batted.

The Eagles answered her call, rallying for five runs in the home sixth to turn a day-long game of catch-up into an 8-5 season-opening win over Gloucester Catholic.

“We were definitely falling behind a little bit and I knew we had it in us to really get the ball rolling and after that we did,” Harris said. “I think that really gave us all a little push.”

Eagles coach Beth Jackson has been known to turn things over to her players once the game begins in recent years. She’ll give them words of encouragement and instruction in the pre-game and post-game huddles – and if anything needs to be added to the players’ moment – but once that first pitch is thrown she pretty much leaves it to them to provide the inspiration.

It’s not always the same player who delivers the message, and it doesn’t always happen in the sixth inning, but Harris, somehow, always seems to be in the middle of it.

“She does that a lot,” outfielder Kenzie Widener said. “It helps us get motivated and pumped up so we can get out of our heads and just keep firing at the ball. Even if we were down by one she would just give off this giant speech that would make us work together to win that game. I think that really got us together and helped us win.”

The Eagles needed something. They fell behind 3-0 in the first inning and trailed 5-3 going into the home sixth.

Reagan Wariwanchik got the rally started with a one-out single into right field. The Lions booted Gianna Evans’ double-play grounder to keep the inning alive and Gracie Mease loaded based with a bunt single. The next three hitters – the top of the Eagles’ talented lineup – all batted with the bases loaded and they all delivered.

Lily Edwards singled to make it 5-4. Graillyn Weber followed with a single to left to tie the game at 5. Harris gave them the lead with a sacrifice fly. And after Avery Watson walked to reload the bases, Widener, just looking to make contact to extend the lead, did just that and ripped a two-run single to make it 8-5. Widener went 3-for-4 in the game.

“It was a great comeback,” Widener said. “I think it was well deserved. We work our butts off out here. We did what we could to come back and win.”

“That’s the team I just know we are capable of being all the time and it was just so great to see the bats back,” Harris said. “I definitely think we had a little bit of nerves (because of the) first home game. I think we were just trying to get back in the groove, but that last inning, seeing that rally, it was so much fun.”

Now with a lead to protect, Weber finished off the Lions from the circle. And even when the visitors got a runner on in the seventh she didn’t flinch. Harris picked that runner off first to end the game.

Weber looked comfortable in her new role as the Eagles’ main pitcher. She gave up seven hits and hits and struck out 10, beating her career-high she established last year against the Lions (seven). After the Lions scored their three in the first, the junior struck out the side in the second and gave up just two runs and three hits the rest of the way – none over the final 2 1/3.

“I might have just thrown too much over the plate in the beginning,” she said, “but then I got used to the umpire and what his zone was and that helped.

“I’m definitely more confident this year, for sure. I’m excited to be pitching and I like it. I’m glad to be out there.”

Gloucester Catholic (0-2)3010100-562
Pennsville (1-0)010115x-8112
WP: Graillyn Weber. LP: Maddie McGinn.

SCHALICK 6, GLASSBORO 5: Freshman starting pitcher Noelani Whitley’s inside-the-park home run with one out in the sixth inning gave the Cougars a 6-4 lead and freshman Kaylee Broflin turned back Glassboro’s threat in the seventh inning after the Bulldogs put the tying run in scoring position with one out.

The Cougars broke a scoreless tie with five in the fourth. They scored the first three runs when the Bulldogs misplayed a grounder off Whitley’s bat and scored the other two on an error on a bad throw to thwart a stolen base.

“Our freshmen pitchers did a great job today,” Cougars coach Rick Higinbotham said. :They were throwing strikes and keeping the ball down in the zone. I was pleased with their performance.”

Glassboro (1-1)0000311-583
Schalick (1-0)000501x-653
WP: Noelani Whitley. LP: Gianna Askin. HR: Noelani Whitley.

WOODSTOWN 20, PENNS GROVE 0: The Wolverines opened their season by converting 14 walks and seven hit batsmen into 20 runs and three pitchers combined on a four-inning no-hitter. They already were leading 9-0 when they erupted for 11 runs in the third inning. Leah Clark, Madison Roback and Brianna Hitchner combined for the no-hitter, facing one batter over the minimum. The only two base runners they allowed reached on errors and one eventually got cut down at the plate.

Penns Grove (0-1)0000-003
Woodstown (1-0)54(11)x-2062
WP: Leah Clark. LP: Domari Torres Caraballo.

SALEM TECH 16, LINDENWOLD 5: The Chargers erupted for 10 runs in the first inning and coasted to their third victory. Shelby Drummond, Isabele Roberts and Rachel Reed drove in three hits apiece. Drummond and Roberts both had two-run doubles in the big first inning. Roberts pitched the first two innings and retired all six batters she faced, striking out five.

Lindenwold (0-1)0032-526
Salem Tech (3-1)(10)60x-1693
WP: Isabele Roberts. LP: Veronica Guardado.

WILDWOOD 10, SALEM 0: Addison Troiano went 4-for-4 with three extra-base hits and drove in five runs and Emma Contreras held the Rams to three hits while striking out 14 in six innings. Isla Bohn had all three Salem hits, singles in the first, third and fifth.

Salem (0-2)000000-034
Wildwood (1-1)3011051090
WP: Emma Contreras. LP: Avah Brown.


Rodriguez back home

Recovery ‘going well’ for the Mighty Oaks softball coach as he works to return from heart surgery

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Salem CC softball coach Angel Rodriguez is back home in Brooklawn following successful heart surgery and plans to have a “very involved week” as he slowly returns to the team.

The fourth-year head coach, 29, underwent triple bypass last Tuesday after falling ill in his office the previous Thursday and has been making steady progress on his return to the dugout.

“Good news; I’m back HOME,” he wrote in a text message Monday. “Everything is going well per (the) medical team with healing. Walks have been much improved. (The) countdown until I can get back continues, but it’s very, very close.”

The Mighty Oaks have four doubleheaders this week, including two big road dates with Region 19 leaders Lackawanna (19-6) and Mercer (17-1). They went 5-3 in Rodriguez’ absence, including a first-ever modern era win over Delaware Tech and a record-setting sweep of Morris on Saturday.

Rodriguez hopes, but wouldn’t immediately commit, to attending Friday’s home doubleheader with Howard CC.

“I’m back on softball talks more with the staff more now,” he said. “There’s a good chance (he’ll be at Friday’s games), but I don’t want to commit to that just yet.”


Milestone watch

Here is a look at the ‘carrots’ dangling in front of some of the Salem County baseball and softball players this season

Baseball

PLAYERTARGETLEFT
Blake Bialecki, Woodstown

75 Hits
50 RBIs
30 SBs		27
25
7
Ty Coblentz, Woodstown


100 Hits
50 RBIs
20 2Bs
50 SBs		34
20
6
11
Steve Fatcher, Pennsville
50 Hits
50 RBIs		10
24
JT Fleming, Schalick

75 Hits
50 RBIs
59 SBs		25
23
28
Evan Glaspey, Schalick
50 Hits
50 RBIs		18
25
Cole Hartley, Schalick100 Ks46
Mason O’Brien, Pennsville

75 Hits
50 RBIs
75 Ks		26
15
36
Evan Sepers, Schalick


100 Hits
50 RBIs
20 2Bs
25 SBs		31
11
5
12
Logan Streitz, Pennsville


50 Hits
50 RBIs
20 2Bs
100 Ks		7
19
9
37
Tommy Tucci, Woodstown
50 Hits
25 SBs		23
11
Jeff Wagner, Pennsville
75 Hits
75 RBIs		31
33
Ricky Watt, Schalick


100 Hits
75 RBIs
25 2Bs
10 HRs		33
21
7
5
Jamari Whitley, Schalick

50 Hits
50 RBIs
100 Ks		13
19
24

Softball

PLAYERTARGETLEFT
Lila Bowling, Woodstown
50 Hits
50 RBIs		17
22
Leah Clark, Woodstown150 Ks45
Lily Edwards, Pennsville
100 Hits
50 RBIs		30
20
Talia Guardascione, Woodstown50 Hits26
Kylie Harris, Pennsville

150 Hits
100 RBIs
50 Doubles		26
21
10
Ava Laughlin, Schalick50 RBIs29
Julliana Love, Salem

100 Hits
50 RBIs
50 SBs		37
29
6
Addison Shimp, Schalick

50 Hits
50 RBIs
200 Ks		22
29
44
Alexa Shimp, Schalick
50 Hits
50 RBIs		12
29
Reagan Wariwanchik, Pennsville
50 Hits
50 RBIs		11
26
Avery Watson, Pennsville
100 Hits
50 RBIs		45
13
Graillyn Weber, Pennsville
100 Hits
50 RBIs		55
20
Makenzie Widener, Pennsville
50 Hits
50 RBIs		15
24
Ellie Wygand, Woodstown

100 Hits
50 RBIs
50 SB		37
1
23

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of March 30-April 4

MONDAY, MARCH 30
BASEBALL
Salem Tech at Lindenwold
Schalick at Glassboro
Wildwood at Salem
Woodstown at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
Lindenwold at Salem Tech
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Salem at Wildwood
GOLF
Woodstown vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick vs. Wildwood at Union League GC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Pennsville at Wildwood
Schalick at Clayton
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Highland at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at St. Joseph
GIRLS LACROSSE
Cedar Creek at Woodstown

TUESDAY, MARCH 31
SOFTBALL
Salem Tech at Pilgrim Academy
Sterling at Woodstown
BOYS TRACK
Penns Grove at Glassboro
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown at Clearview, 3:45 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Montgomery County, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Lackawanna, 3 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Gateway
Pitman at Pennsville
Schalick at Woodstown
Wildwood Catholic at Salem Tech
SOFTBALL
Highland at Salem Tech
Penns Grove at Paulsboro
Pennsville at Pitman
Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Woodstown
GOLF
Schalick vs. Washington Twp., Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Clearview, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Wildwood, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Clayton at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Triton at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Glassboro
BOYS TRACK
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown
GIRLS TRACK
Pennsville at Schalick, 3:45 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Glassboro
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
LEAP at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Lower Cape May
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Montgomery County at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 2
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Pleasantville, 1:30 p.m.
Wildwood Catholic at Salem Tech, 2 p.m.
Schalick at Ocean City
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
SOFTBALL
Clearview at Schalick
Highland at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
BOYS GOLF
Woodstown vs. Pitman, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Monroe-Bronx, 2 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Howard CC at Salem CC, 3 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4
SOFTBALL
Pennsville in Thunderbolt Tournament, Millville
TRACK
Salem, Schalick at Deptford Relays, 9 a.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Washington Twp. at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Mercer, noon

Lucas locks down

Former Schalick pitcher beats Salem CC in nightcap to give Dukes DH split, series win; Mighty Oaks’ Seitzinger goes distance in opener for first win

REGION XIX BASEBALL
Salem CC 7-3, RCSJ-Cumberland 1-8
RCSJ-Gloucester 10-19, Atlantic Cape 1-5
Northampton 12-12, Delaware County 9-1
Mercer 12-14, Delaware Tech 5-0
Sussex 6-10, Lackawanna 5-9
Morris at Raritan Valley
Montgomery 17-13, Bergen 7-1
Middlesex 15-6, Brookdale 13-3

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

VINELAND – When Lucas D’Agostino pitched at Schalick he used to relish the opportunities to go against the other teams in the county. Now that he’s in college, he was just as stoked to go against the junior college team from his county – and in a pretty big situation.

D’Agostino drew the start for RCSJ-Cumberland in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader with Salem CC and tasked with closing out weekend series. He answered the call, going six innings and the Dukes beat the Mighty Oaks 8-3 to split the twinbill after Salem won the opener 7-1 and win the three-game Region 19 series.

The freshman right-hander threw 113 pitches in his second-longest outing of the year, giving up four hits, two unearned runs and striking out a career-tying eight for his second win of the season. He gave up a run in the first and one in the sixth. After the first run, he allowed only two runners to reach scoring position over the next three innings and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth with an inning-ending strikeout.

“It was cold, it was a little rough to start, but I ended up putting pitches where I wanted them and got lucky a couple times,” he said. “I laid a couple pitches in there that probably should’ve been hit pretty well, but other than that I feel like I hit my spots pretty well and kept them a little off-balanced, too.”

The Mighty Oaks reached him for a run in the first when he hit Jason LeBold, LeBold stole second and scored on Tyler Hacker’s single. But he wasn’t too concerned. His teammates rolled out the bats like he hoped in the bottom of the inning and gave him the lead to protect the rest of the game.

The Dukes put five up in the bottom of the inning off Salem starter Seth Bogan. Cole Shover scored on a wild pitch, Tyler Schoppe drilled a three-run homer and Nolan Murawski later delivered an RBI single.

Schoppe have five RBIs in the nightcap, Stover scored three runs and Kory Jenkins went 3-for-4 to complete a 7-for-11 series.

“Our offense battled back and put up a five spot in the bottom of the first to kind of set the tone,” D’Agostino said. “I thought that was a very big part of the game.

“The cold was tough today, but I think we battled and we locked in mentally for Game 2. Game 1 got out of our hands a little bit, but it was very impressive with my offense to get beat a little bit and then come back and set the tone for the next game.”

They gave D’Agostino two more runs to work with in the second on a bases-loaded walk to Schoppe and Chase Montgomery’s RBI single, and another in the third on another bases-loaded walk to Schoppe.

Salem won the opener to square the series behind a 114-pitch complete game from sophomore Pat Seitzinger and sophomore Jay Barber’s first college homer.

Seitzinger gave up five hits, walked seven and struck out two to earn his first win of the season and lower his ERA to 6.23. The only run he allowed was Chase Montgomery’s one-out homer in the second.

The Mighty Oaks answered the blast with two runs in the third to take the lead. Cliff Wysinger tied the game with an RBI double and J.J. Pankowski scored the go-ahead run from third when he beat the throw home on Tyler Hacker’s grounder to short.

They extended the lead with three in the sixth on Colin McLaughlin’s RBI single, a run-scoring error and Pankowski’s sacrifice fly. Barber’s homer in the seventh brought the final margin.

Barber, Wysinger and Roman Hernandez all had two hits in the game.

Salem CC0020032-7100
RCSJ-Cumberland0100000-151
PAT SEITZINGER (W 1-3) and Jacob Sharrow. RYAN BEEBE (L 2-1), Tito Perez (7) and Zack Braig. 2B: Cliff Wysinger (S), Jason LeBold (S), Roman Hernandez (S). 3B: Jay Barber (S). HR: Jay Barber (S), Chase Montgomery (RC).
Salem CC1000011-353
RCSJ-Cumberland521000x-886
SEAN BOGAN (L 1-2), Louie Rivera (2), Tyler Jacker (6) and Trevor Hernandez; LUCAS D’AGOSTINO (W 2-1), Adam Radzieta (7) and Zack Braig. 2B: Kory Jenkins (RC). HR: Tyler Schoppe (RC)

Region XIX Baseball Standings

DIVISION IIIR19ALLGSAC
RCSJ-Gloucester13-116-413-1
RCSJ-Cumberland10-218-4-17-2
Middlesex8-215-64-1
Northampton7-213-7
Brookdale7-612-76-4
SALEM CC7-612-154-4
Camden5-58-83-5
Montgomery4-44-4
Bergen4-75-134-7
Ocean3-66-93-6
Atlantic Cape2-82-82-8
Union1-122-120-9
Delaware County0-100-10

Tons of runs

Salem CC softball sets modern era scoring records for the second time this season in sweep of Morris

REGION XIX SOFTBALL
Salem CC 29-17, Morris 0-3
Delaware Tech 9-3, Mercer 0-9
RCSJ-Gloucester at Bergen
Northampton 18-15, Camden 9-5
Lackawanna 8-20, Sussex 0-4
Brookdale 18-15, Middlesex 0-4

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – The Salem CC softball team batted around – twice – to start their doubleheader, batted around again at the end of it and scored a lot of runs in between. A lot of runs.

The Mighty Oaks set modern era school records for runs in a game and runs in a doubleheader Saturday when they rolled over Morris 29-0 and 17-3 at Watson Field.

It was their most prolific day since reviving the program four years ago. The 29 runs in the opener and 46 runs in the twinbill broke the records they set in a 16-6, 27-4 road sweep of Anne Arundel two weeks ago.

“It was very exciting knowing that we beat a record and set a new one that we can beat during this season, too, I’m sure,” outfielder Sawyer Simmons said.

“That’s always fun to do,” shortstop Lilly Peverelle agreed. “I think it did shock us a little bit how much we were able to score but … we’re an aggressive team, we know how to run the bases, we know how to be strong in the box and do our jobs.”

Just like the 27-run game against Anne Arundel, the Mighty Oaks scored 13 runs in the first inning of the opener against the Titans, who had been beaten similarly by Lackawanna in their first two games earlier this week. Unlike that Anne Arundel outburst, they were much more patient at the plate, with 18 batters sitting through 82 pitches and 11 walks in the first inning alone.

They had gotten so far in front, all 16 players available Saturday had gotten into the game when Tiana Wilson batted in the bottom of the second inning, another inning they batted around. The only player who didn’t get a plate appearance was starting pitcher Raegan Wilson – and interim coach Mackenzie Freas would’ve made it happen for the PO from Salem had she been made aware.

All 15 players who went to the plate scored at least one run in the opener and 13 had at least one hit and one RBI in the doubleheader.

“We were able to get everyone in off the bench, so I know for them that’s a really good feel-good game for everyone,” Freas said. “To see everyone come in and be able to produce runs at that high number it feels great … They need to know that whoever is behind them is going to be able to produce – and they did. I’m sure it makes them feel good like I have someone who will have my back.” 

The Mighty Oaks batted around in the fourth inning, too, sending 14 batters to the plate and scoring more 10 runs. The first 10 batters all reached safely – seven with hits — and scored. Ava Ortiz drove in the single-game record-breaking runs with a two-run single, her second hit of the inning.

The second game was more of the same. They scored eight runs in the first inning – all with two outs – to answer the run Morris scored in the top of the inning. Savannah Palverento tied the game with an RBI grounds-rule double and Kasen Ervin gave them the lead for good with a two-run opposite-field single to right.

They added four in the third on Lilly Peverelle’s two-run homer and Jordyn Busch’s two-run double, and batted around in the fourth to score five runs. The homer was Peverelle’s second of the year. Her first came in the Anne Arundel doubleheader.

“I didn’t think it was going to go over because the wind was blowing in,” she said. “Then I saw that it was starting to trail and I was like ‘yes’ because it was an inside pitch and I kind of struggle with those but I’ve been getting them lately.”

Peverelle was on base five of her six times at bat and made several sharp defensive plays in the field, including a diving catch to her glove side on the first play of the the nightcap and turning a double play to end it. Simmons went 4-for-5 in the doubleheader, reached six times in her seven plate appearances and scored six runs.J.J. Aguirre had five RBIs in the doubleheader and Palverento had three hits with six RBIs and was on base six times in nine plate appearances.

“I knew I wanted to hit the ball every single time I went up, so when I was walking it was still good because you’re still getting on base and you’re doing a job that needs to be done,” Simmons said. “Then I would get back in the dugout and be like, oh, I’m almost up again, oh wow. It was definitely exciting.”

RODRIGUEZ UPDATE: Mighty Oaks head coach Angel Rodriguez is scheduled to come home from Cooper University Hospital in Camden Sunday after undergoing triple bypass heart surgery earlier this week. Rodriguez has been getting around and recently completed a walk of 300 steps. “I talked to him yesterday,” Freas said. “He sounded real good.” The players are looking forward to seeing him. “We can’t wait to get him back, most definitely,” Simmons said. “It’s great hearing all the good news we’re getting back.”

Morris00000-026
Salem CC(13)42(10)x-29120
WP: Raegan Wilson. LP: Brooke Wilson
Morris10200-383
Salem CC8045x-17110
WP: Emme Witter. LP: Jamie Lynn Konvtroski. HR: Lilly Peverelle (S).

Region XIX Softball Standings

DIVISION IIR19ALLGSAC
Lackawanna6-019-6
Mercer5-117-14-0
Delaware Tech4-29-7
SALEM CC5-313-74-0
Sussex2-62-102-4
Morris0-40-40-2
Raritan Valley0-60-60-4



Friday sports report

Here are scores and highlights from Friday’s Salem County high school sports action

BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove, ppd.
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech, ppd

BOYS TENNIS
MAINLAND 5, WOODSTOWN 0
Luigi Batioja (M) def. Drew Stengel, 6-1, 6-1
Laksh Patel (M) def. Mason Shimp, 6-1, 6-1
Owen Medland (M) def. Nicholas DiTeodoro, 6-1, 6-1
Vikram Bansal-Ben Kahn (M) def. Luke Shaw-Vincent Merendino, 4-6, 6-3, 10-8
Jacob Reynolds-Liam Blake (M) def. Josh King-Connor Miller, 6-3, 6-3
Records: Mainland 2-0, Woodstown 0-1.

Not-so golden hour

Mighty Oaks get caught in toughest 30-minute window of the sundown sky at The Treehouse

REGION XIX BASEBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland 19, Salem CC 2
Ocean 11, Union 1
RCSJ-Gloucester at Atlantic Cape, ppd.
Raritan Valley 14, Morris 10
Northampton at Delaware County, ppd.
Brookdale at Middlesex
Bergen at Montgomery, ppd.
Sussex 13, Lackawanna 7

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – There’s a reason it’s called a home-field advantage. Playing in your own ballpark provides a confidence you just don’t get playing on the road. The home team knows the way ground balls react in the infield, the best way to run down a fly ball in the outfield, even the way the shadows fall across the grass.

But sometimes even that’s not enough.

The Salem CC outfield lost three balls in the eerie multi-colored backdrop that’s particular to the early evening sky at the Carneys Point Rec Complex in a seventh-inning come-apart that turned Friday night’s 19-2 loss to RCSJ-Cumberland into a rout.

Fly balls hit by the Dukes’ Zack Braig, Kory Jenkins and Christian Willis all got past the Mighty Oaks’ outfielders to keep an eventual nine-run inning going. It would have been easy to think they had lost the balls in the lights, but it wasn’t that at all.

“The way the sky started to look, as soon as the ball got above the trees we lost it right away,” leftfielder Jason LeBold said. “Cliff (Wysinger) said he couldn’t see. Roman (Hernandez) said he couldn’t see. We were trying our hardest to direct each other, but as soon as the ball got in that sky, we couldn’t see a thing.

“There’s like a 30-minute point where you can see well, (then) the sky gets weird, then it gets real dark and you can see well again. We were the unlucky ones in the field during that moment in time.”

It wasn’t the first time the gloaming has given them trouble. It happened in the nightcap of last year’s doubleheader against the Dukes.

“Not as bad (as Friday),” LeBold said, “but we had two balls dropped. They even had some.”

“It was really weird today,” Mighty Oaks coach John Holt said. “It was pink, yellow. I looked at it myself.”

The Dukes carried a 10-2 lead into the seventh after pulling away from a one-run game with four in the fifth inning and three in the sixth. Jenkins hit a two-run homer in the fifth and Malachi Woods had a two-run double in the sixth.

The Mighty Oaks scored their two runs in the third inning on Tyler Hacker’s two-run triple to get within 3-2, but for the most part Dukes right-hander Otley Makosky kept them off-balance. They did collect nine hits, but 15 of their outs were in the infield.

“They shut our offense down,” Holt said. “Their guy (Makosky) did a real good job holding runners over there and we didn’t get enough guys on to get it rolling.

“We just didn’t execute. They executed, we didn’t execute; that’s baseball sometimes. I think we’re better than that score and hopefully tomorrow we can come out and show them that we are.”

The teams play a doubleheader Saturday at Cumberland. Pat Seitzinger (0-3, 8.50) and Sean Bogan (1-1, 7.20) will draw the starts for the Mighty Oaks. Former Schalick pitcher Lucas D’Agostino (1-1, 4.00) is expected to start Game 2 for the Dukes. 

ACORNS: LeBold and Hernandez both had a pair of hits for the Mighty Oaks … Hernandez, the right fielder, helped cut down a runner at the plate in the fourth inning (with a relay from second baseman J.J. Pankowski) to keep it a 3-2 game … The loss snapped a season-long five-game winning streak. 

RCSJ-Cumberland (17-3-1)0300439-19180
Salem CC (11-14)0020000-294
OTLEY MAKOSKY (W 4-0) and Zack Braig; SETH McCORMICK (L 2-3), Nick Reckard (6) and Trevor Hernandez. 2B: Zack Braig (RC), Cole Shover (RC), Kory Jenkins (RC), Malachi Woods 2 (RC), Angel Rodriguez (RC), Jason LeBold (S), Roman Hernandez (S). 3B: Tyler Hacker (S). HR: Kory Jenkins (RC).

Region XIX Standings

DIVISION IIIR19ALLGSAC
RCSJ-Gloucester11-114-411-1
RCSJ-Cumberland9-117-3-16-1
Middlesex6-113-52-0
Northampton5-211-7
Brookdale6-411-55-2
SALEM CC6-511-143-3
Camden5-58-83-5
Montgomery3-43-4
Bergen4-65-124-6
Ocean3-66-93-6
Atlantic Cape2-62-62-6
Union1-122-120-9
Delaware County0-80-8

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland (2)
Atlantic Cape at RCSJ-Gloucester (2)
Delaware County at Northampton (2)
Delaware Tech at Mercer (2)
Lackawanna at Sussex (2)
Morris at Raritan Valley (2)
Montgomery at Bergen (2)
Middlesex at Brookdale (2)
SUNDAY’S GAMES
Raritan Valley at Orange County (2)
Delaware Tech at CCBC Catonsville (2)
Lackawanna at Rockland (2)
Ocean at Union (2)
RCSJ-Gloucester at Atlantic Cape