Salem CC scores double-digit runs in both games of doubleheader sweep of Atlantic Cape, Hacker hits for cycle in Game 1

REGION XIX BASEBALL
Saturday’s Games
Salem CC 13-15, Atlantic Cape 7-5
RCSJ-Cumberland 20-21, Delaware County 0-9
Monroe Bronx 14-5, Middlesex 10-7
Delaware Tech 12-2, Morris 0-3
RCSJ-Gloucester 16-21, Union 1-0
Mercer 8-0, Sussex 7-4

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The Salem CC baseball players were scattered in the outfield and the bullpen area stretching, playing catch, doing whatever it is players do before getting down to the serious business of the day. Above the chatter, one player leaned against the fence and, speaking to no one in particular, opined the Mighty Oaks needed to score runs in the forthcoming doubleheader because they sensed they were lagging behind the competition it that department.

The Mighty Oaks made a major move in closing that gap Saturday, scoring double-digit runs in both games of their 13-7, 15-5 sweep of Atlantic Cape to sweep their three-game weekend series.

Despite a lineup capable of producing numbers like they did Saturday on a regular basis, the Mighty Oaks entered the day with 122 runs in 20 games, 20th nationally and fourth in Region XIX. They had scored 10 runs or more five times, including Friday’s series single game, but they’ve also been held to three runs or fewer eight times, including five of the last six games on their recent Myrtle Beach trip.

“We dropped some games that we should win and we came into warmups with (the approach) we have to do good,” sophomore first baseman Tyler Hacker said. “In our I-O we were solid, we were ready to go. (Against) a team like this you want to put as many as you can on the board, execute, play some baseball, work on things as well.

“Yesterday we should have ended the game a lot sooner and I think that’s why we’re saying we’re lagging a little bit. Some of the guys are getting too happy, kind of like I did in my AB. I can see how that happens, but we got the job done at the end of the day.”

The Mighty Oaks (9-13) banged out a season-high 15 hits in each game against the Buccaneers (2-6) Saturday. Coach John Holt said the offense is “getting there,” but “not quite where we need to be yet,” a nod to sharpening parts of their approach at the plate.

The first game was highlighted by Hacker hitting for the cycle for the first time since Little League. He had an RBI single in the first, an RBI double in the second, a solo homer in the fourth and, after flying out to center in his first attempt to complete the feat in the fifth inning, made it happen with a leadoff triple in the seventh.

“I was actually just telling my guys I hit for the cycle before, but in Little League, doesn’t really count, so this is my first real cycle,” he said between games. “I was 12 years old in Lake Mary (Fla.) Little League. I didn’t even know because I was 12. My grandpa told me. He said you had a good game, you hit for the cycle. Do you know what that means? I was like no. He was like, that’s pretty rare. I was like, all right.”

It’s the first cycle Holt can remember in his eight years with the Mighty Oaks, and even though he needed the hardest part of it in his last at-bat Hacker was going for it when he came to the plate in the seventh.

“As soon as I hit it, I don’t know if you heard it, but somebody said like, ‘that’s it,’” he said. “I told coach if it’s close I’m going for it. (The previous at bat) I got the pitch I wanted, but I got a little happy and took it off the end, so I made sure if I got up again I was going to take it the other way.”

Early in the game it was a race to see who might get the cycle first. Rocco String had an RBI double and RBI triple in his first two at-bats before being collared in his last three at bats.

“I was rooting for him,” Hacker said. “Two good-hit balls. He’s got more home runs than I do, so (it’s) more probable for him. It’d been just as cool if he did it. When I came in he congratulated me. There’s competitiveness there, but we’re all rooting for each other.”

The Mighty Oaks were even more prolific in the nightcap. Every spot in the lineup scored at least one run and seven starters had at least one RBI.

The highlight was Louie Rivera’s first three college hits after an 0-for-10 start. His leadoff double that started a six-run second inning was his first hit since his sophomore year in high school. He actually had two hits in the inning, delivering a two-run single once the Mighty Oaks batted around. He also had an RBI single in the fifth.

“I talked about (the oh-for) with my family and told them it sucks not having a hit, but my goal is to just put the ball in play as much as I can,” the redshirt freshman transfer from West Virginia Wesleyan said. “I knew if I kept putting it in play I was going to reach first at some point.

“I had three strikeouts last time I played (March 15 vs. Surry in Myrtle Beach), which was my worst day. I don’t want to strike out anymore. I struck out once today, but that was later in the game, but at the end of the day in my point of view every time I’m at the plate my mindset is the battle’s been won (through his faith) so I’m just trying to have fun up there.”

Jason LeBold went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and reached base all six times he batted in the nightcap. He went 3-for-4 in the opener and reached base in four of his five plate appearances. He’s now batting .413 for the season thanks to a 10-mph increase in bat speed, being healthy and the confidence that comes with batting in a type lineup the Mighty Oaks have built. Holt called him a “difference maker.”

“It’s fun playing with a lineup that you can trust if I get out,” LeBold said. “I’m batting behind the best hitter almost in the country, Tyler Hacker. If I get out I know I’ve got someone to back me up. It’s a lineup that I can trust. It’s a lot easier to hit that way when you don’t feel like there’s pressure on you.”

Salem CC baseball team runs wild in series opener with Atlantic Cape, Mighty Oaks steal 18 bases in eight-inning walk-off win

FRIDAY’S GAME
Salem CC 12, Atlantic Cape 2, 8 inns.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT — John Holt says this year’s Salem CC baseball team is top to bottom one of the fastest and most aggressive on the base paths he has had in some time. That ability was on full display Friday.

The Mighty Oaks recorded an incredible 18 stolen bases (in 19 attempts) in their 12-2 win over Atlantic Cape that was walked off on Trevor Hernandez’ sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Aiden Nestor, Tyler Hacker and J.J. Pankowski, a fifth-inning substitution, all had three apiece. Four others had two each. Every spot in the lineup but one had at least one. It was the most they’ve swiped in a game since COVID.

“Once you get the first few, you see what the catcher is working with, and he threw a lot of balls to the outfield,” Hacker said. “We know that we’re going to keep doing it until they stop us and they didn’t stop us today. We took advantage of that, took what we could get and it helped us score runs and win the game.”

They came into the game with 45 stolen bases (in 53 attempts). The had swiped 11 in a game earlier this year. They had 17 in a win over the Buccaneers last May.

The National Junior College Athletic Association doesn’t list a record for stolen bases in a game, tending rather to focus on seasonal and long-term milestones, but the 19 bags swiped by Transylvania in 2018 (before it transitioned to NCAA Division III) is often cited as the JUCO single-game record. The NCAA Division I single-game record is 22 by St. John’s in 1978. The Division II and III record is 24 by Benedict (2012) and Hendrix (2001), respectively..

The Mighty Oaks (7-13) used five to score their three runs in the first inning. They also swiped five bags in the fifth. Seven of the runs they scored in the game had at least one stolen base attached.

“In warmups we saw (Bucs catcher Josue Cuadrado) was a little bit slower than what we’ve seen and we were able to get good jumps on them,” Mighty Oaks catcher Hernandez said. “We read their pitchers really well and took our opportunities when we could get them. It’s definitely unfortunate (for the catcher) and his pitchers weren’t helping him out at all so I can definitely understand that. At the same time, he had some opportunities to get us — he got us once — but we definitely got more of them.”

Several of the stolen bases were on the back end of double steals. The most daring was Hacker’s astute first-inning steal of home on the catcher’s lazy throw back to an inattentive pitcher.

“We saw that opportunity probably about three pitches prior and he was in my ear about it,” Holt said. “I said, no, no, no, then we agreed with the two strikes now was the time.”

The Mighty Oaks scored runs in every inning except the fourth. They got three in the first inning without the benefit of a hit and scored their first five with only two balls striking a bat — and one of those was a foul. They steadily drove towards the run-rule threshold and finally reached it in the eighth. Sal Mesete singled, Roman Hernandez doubled and Trevor Hernandez closed it out with his sac fly to left.

“We’ve got to take advantage of every opportunity we can,” Holt said. “We’re not exactly knocking the cover off the ball right now so we have to generate offense. I’ve always as a coach defined offense as what we do when we’re not hitting. We’re always going to try to create an offense here on top of what we do with the bats.”

While the Mighty Oaks were running wild, pitchers Joe Pallante and Louie Rivera were keeping the Buccaneers at bay. Pallante worked into the sixth, giving up three hits, walking four and striking out five. Rivera closed it out with 2 1/3 shutout innings.

The teams are scheduled to play atnoon doubleheader at the Carneys Point Rec Complex Saturday. Former Woodstown pitcher Mike Valente (0-1, 7.71) will draw the start in the opener and Andre Stewart (1-0, 2.25) will start the nightcap.