Down to the wire

Here are scores and highlights from Wednesday’s Salem County sports calendar

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
GOLF
Schalick 172, Washington Twp. 177
TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Clayton 0
Woodstown 5, Triton 0
TRACK
Woodstown 73, Overbrook 62
BOYS LACROSSE
Lower Cape May 17, Woodstown 8

By Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN –– New Woodstown track coach Tom Mason closed to within two of his 400th career victory Wednesday when the Wolverines edged Overbrook 73-62.

The Wolverines had a two-point lead going to the 3200 and then went 1-2-3 in the event.

The headline race of the day was the boys 400 that Mason called one of the best races he’s seen in a while.

Overbrook’s John Froelich won the race in 48.79, just nipping Woodstown’s Josh Crawford (49.0) at the wire. Karson Chew finished third.

Other highlights included the Wolverines going 1-2-3 in the 800, 1600, 3200 and javelin; Aidan Taulane setting personal bests in the discus (158-2) and shot put (48.2), and first-time track competitor Andrew White winning the high jump (5-10) and triple jump (41-1) and finishing second in the long jump (20-1).

This story will be updated.

Girls track

Schalick scored its first win of the season with a victory over Pennsville. Jaelynn Jarmon (long jump, triple jump) and Brooke Valentine (100 hurdles, 400 hurdles) both won two events. Sebrina Bradford had a PR in the discus (111-4) and Nevaeh Robinson had a PR in the javelin (100-3).

Boys lacrosse

LOWER CAPE MAY 17, WOODSTOWN 8: Cole Lewis scored five goals and three other players each scored three as the Caper Tigers scored their first win of the season while keeping the Wolverines winless. Bob Waddington scored four goals for Woodstown (0-4), while Grady Leyman and Kaden DeFlelice had two apiece.

Tennis

WOODSTOWN 5, TRITON 0
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Shrey Modi, 6-0, 6-0
Mason Shimp (WO) def. Tirth Patel, 6-0, 6-1
Luke Shaw def. Brennan Zabala, 6-0, 6-0
Kingston Khemlani-Josef Hummel (WO) def. Austin Chen-Brennan Temcheschen, 6-0, 6-0
John Hood McGinley-Luke Spears (WO) won by forfeit
Records: Woodstown 2-1, Triton 2-2.

PENNSVILLE 5, CLAYTON 0
Lucas Cooksey (P) def. James Mai, 6-1, 6-1
Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Jayden Sanchez, 6-0, 6-0
Carter Willis (P) def. Michael Cummings, 6-2, 6-2
Ian Peacock-Matthew Forino (P) def. Colin Schultz-Dyshamir Miller, 6-2, 6-0
Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Robert Schultz-Malcolm Turpin, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Pennsville 3-1, Clayton 0-2.

Golf

SCHALICK 172, WASHINGTON TWP. 177: Medalist Anthony Sepers posted a 3-over-par 38 on the front nine at Centerton CC and Seth Fisher made three birdies in a 4-over 39 to lead the Cougars.
SCHALICK: Anthony Sepers 38, Reed Bucolo 49, Michael Nelson 46, Seth Fisher 39; Nate Couch 55, Shawn Kelly 51.
WASHINGTON TWP. Aiden Covone 45, Collin McDonald 44, Christian Trabosh 42, Greg Nuzzo 46; Jacob Shachar 47, Addison Crosby 46.

High school softball

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Pennsville 5, Pitman 1
Gloucester Catholic 19, Salem 0
Schalick 9, Woodstown 6

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — Liv VanAcker had two hits and three RBIs and freshman Kaylee Broglin provided seven strong innings in her first varsity start to lead Schalick over rival Woodstown 9-6 Wednesday.

The win was Schalick’s first over the Wolverines in coach Rick Higinbotham’s four seasons and its first in the series since May 6, 2021, snapping a 11-game losing streak, including last year’s 3-1 heartbreaker in the South Jersey Group I quarterfinals.

VanAcker had an RBI double in the third inning when the Cougars (2-0) took a 3-0 lead and a two-run single in the five-run fourth that gave them control of the game.

Broglin was told she was starting against the Cougars’ biggest rival Tuesday and responded by scattering six hits and striking out five. She was one of four freshmen starters in the Cougars’ lineup. Another, centerfielder Noelani Whitley, had three hits at the top of the order.

This story will be updated.

PENNSVILLE 5, PITMAN 1: The Eagles scored three runs in the third inning with a squeeze bunt, sacrifice fly and RBI single to take the lead and Graillyn Weber scattered five hits and struck out five.

Lily Edwards, Weber and Kenzie Widener all had two hits for the Eagles (2-0). Edwards and Weber got the third-inning rally started with a single and double, respectively. Kylie Harris squeezed the first run home, Weber rode home on Avery Watson’s sacrifice fly and Widener singled home Harris.

They extended the lead with two in the seventh. Weber had an RBI double and another run scored on an error.

Before the game, catcher Harris announced her commitment to Division III Shenandoah (Va.) University. She chose the Hornets over Salem CC and had offers from Ramapo and RCSJ-Cumberland.

“I think it was because the area and the coaches and the girls,” Harris said. “When I went on the phone and talked with coach (Olivia) Scarbrough, I could tell from the start she was someone I wanted to be coached by and wanted to be around for the next four years. When I went down to visit I had an opportunity to have lunch with all the girls. They’re so wonderful, so amazing.”

One of her travel ball teammates and the daughter of her travel team coach also are committed to play there.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 19, SALEM 0: The Rams bounced back from their loss at Pennsville with four-inning no-hitter by Shaili Monaghan. She walked one and struck out nine. Riley Friend drove in five runs to lead the offense.

High school baseball

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Gateway 10, Penns Grove 0
Pennsville 12, Pitman 0
Woodstown 9, Schalick 6

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — Noah Williams couldn’t have picked a better time to hit the first home run of his life. Not the season. Not his career. His entire 17 year old life.

The Woodstown senior launched a three-run homer into the football stadium in the sixth inning Wednesday to give the Wolverines the lead in an eventual 9-6 win over rival and defending South Jersey Group I champion Schalick.

It was Williams’ first homer in 24 varsity at-bats, but it had been longer. A lot longer.

A quick and very unscientific post-game measurement set the blast at 340 feet in the air and 386 feet from home plate to where Woodstown athletics director Joe Ursino picked up the ball.

The Wolverines staged multiple comebacks before taking the lead for good under Schalick’s sixth-inning collapse. The Cougars (2-1) led 3-0 on Ricky Watt’s three-run homer in the first and 6-4 going into the bottom of the sixth.

PENNSVILLE 12, PITMAN 0: The Eagles opened their season with five-inning combined no-hitter from Logan Streitz and Mason O’Brien.

Streitz worked the first 2 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out four. O’Brien came on in the middle of a count and finished the game on 19 pitches (16 strikes), including the purest of immaculate innings — three pitches in the fifth inning.

The Panthers put only five balls in play, including a fly ball to right in the first inning that Jeff Wagner turned into an inning-ending double play.

“We were just so dialed in we get to the third inning and I’m looking at my coaches and ask, ‘have we made a play in the field,'” Eagles coach Matt Karr said. “I’m trying to count the balls they put in play.

“We didn’t even know (about the no-hitter) until we got out to left field after the game. I think it was (assistant coach Ryan Wood) who said ‘Did they have a hit?’ Then the guy doing the Gamechanger for us said, nope, a no-hitter.”

The hitters supported the effort with nine hits. Gavin Spears and O’Brien both had a pair at the top of the lineup. Stevie Fatcher had four RBIs.

GATEWAY 10, PENNS GROVE 0: Colin Murray held the Red Devils to one hit and a walk over five innings and struck out 12 and hit a two-run double in the five-run second inning that broke the game open.

Dylan Hyatt had the only Penns Grove hit, a one-out single in the first inning. Murray struck out eight in a row after the hit and retired 12 straight before walking Ronniel Terrero in the fifth. He faced one batter over the minimum.

The Gators scored a run in the first, then took control with five in the second highlight by Enzo Gambale’s two-run single and Murray’s double. Nick Watts had two hits and three RBIs.

This story will be updated.

Staff taking shape

Salem CC adds Crowley, Troy to its football coaching staff, Accorsi designates coordinators

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Salem CC football coach Jay Accorsi has added two assistants to his coaching staff and designated coordinator assignments just in time for the start of the program’s first spring practice Monday.

Accorsi on Wednesday confirmed the appointments of Chris Crowley and Damon Troy to join previously hired Joe Dougherty as his assistants. Their contracts are expected to be ratified by the school’s board of trustees April 9.

“I think it’s the start of a really great staff, which I knew would be kind of the easier pieces to put together,” Accorsi said. “I’m super ecited for both. They’re great, great people moreso than just coaches and I know they’re going to be able to mentor our young men here in this process of being in the community college and starting up, so I’m really, really excited that both of them are joining us.”

Crowley, a former head coach at Woodrow Wilson and Deptford high schools, will serve as the Mighty Oaks’ offensive coordinator with his position specialty still to be determined. Dougherty, who has been with the program since Accorsi was approved as head coach, will be the defensive coordinator and coach linebackers. Troy, a former Penn State and Rowan player, will coach defensive backs and likely be the assistant special teams coordinator.

Accorsi will be the special teams coordinator.

“I think it’s important as the head coach that I be involved in all the players,” he said. “Even though I was enticed to be one of either the offensive or defensive coordinator, I think it’s important I get to know all the players, which, really, special teams you’re involved with all the players.”

Crowley was head coach at Woodrow Wilson (now Camden Eastside) from 2008-11 and Deptford’s coach from 2014-2016 with a year as a Paul VI assistant in between. His Woodrow Wilson teams went 21-20, winning a WJFL Independence Division title in 2011. His Deptford teams were 9-21, but each won more games than the year before.

“Chris I’ve known for a long time,” Accorsi said. “He impressed me when he was the head coach at Woodrow Wilson High School (and) personally drove a player over (to Rowan) one day later on in the recruiting process and that player ended up being a really good player for us and a great young man … so that really impressed me when I met him early on.

“I’ve known him for a long time in all his different stints and a lot of different positions he was at, but that one struck me at Woodrow Wilson. He just really impressed me in that environment that he was in that I think will be able to give him some great experience to be in the environment and young men we’re with here. He’s somebody I had on the radar early in the process and certainly it worked out.”

Troy was one of Middle Township’s all-time best quarterbacks and an all-conference defensive back for then-assistant coach Accorsi at Rowan in 1997 and 1998 after transferring from Penn State. He helped the Profs to back-to-back appearances in the Division III national title game.

“He was a great player for us,” Accorsi said. “What really impressed me about Damon when he was a player was he took a lot of younger players under his wing and really helped them in a lot of other areas besides football. He reached out to me in the process early on and had an interest getting into college coaching and I think it’s just a natural fit. He was somebody I always knew would be a great coach and had an interest in jumping in doing it. He’s going to be phenomenal.”

Accorsi said the next critical piece to building the staff is the offensive line coach and that search is continuing.

Salem CC approved bringing football to campus in November with designs on starting play this coming fall. The school recently purchased a piece of property in Carneys Point to serve as its practice field. The coaches expect about a dozen players already enrolled at school to participate in spring drills.

This story will be updated.