Confident Cougars find a way

Schalick ends four years of frustration against its archival, uses big inning, inspired play by freshmen to take down Woodstown

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

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – The players on the Schalick softball team, veterans and newcomers alike, had been looking forward to Wednesday’s game with Woodstown for 10 months, ever since that bitter 3-1 loss in the South Jersey Group I quarterfinals.

In their offseason workouts. In their preseason practices. Even in the hallways during the school day, in the final hours before the game, the meeting with their rivals was on their minds.

With that singular focus guiding their play, the Cougars willed their way to an historic 9-6 win over the Wolverines Wednesday.

“I think me and a few of my teammates have been hyped this whole year, talking about it all year, how we were going to come back and get it and get revenge for how it ended last year,” infielder Liv VanAcker said. “Last year was such a good team and we were so close. And then talking to the previous graduates they were like you’ve gotta get this for us, and that motivated us even more.

“Throughout the school day we were hyped in the hallways, talking to each other, hyping each other us. The bus ride here was hype and when we got here we knew we were just going to get it.”

VanAcker, the second baseman in the middle of one of the biggest plays in last year’s playoff game, delivered two hits and three RBIs and freshman Kaylee Broglin provided seven strong innings in her first varsity start to lead the attack.

It was Schalick’s first win 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.

“It’s been a long time coming, but it feels good,” Higinbotham said. “It’s important because it’s a division win. I was telling the girls we need to stack division wins. Glassboro earlier in the week was a division win and then this one, so we need to keep stacking division wins. So it’s important. I wouldn’t say playoff-level important, but it’s important. Satisfying, very much.”

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.

They sent 10 batters to the plate in the big inning. After a leadoff out, the next seven hitters all reached safely. Noelani Whitley single home the first run and kept the bases loaded. VanAcker cleared the bases with her single and accompanying error and she scored on Khloe McGrath’s single.

“I was looking for that pitch,” VanAcker said of her single. “I was ready for it and I saw it coming in.”

“I told the girls to go up with a plan and they all had a plan that inning,” Higinbotham said.

Broglin was told she was starting against the Cougars’ biggest rival the day before and responded by scattering six hits and striking out five. The first three hitters she faced reached to load the bases, but she got out of it with back-to-back strikeouts and an inning-ending ground out. The Wolverines threatened or scored in every inning but the sixth against her, but she never let it faze her.

“It was every opportunity,” she said. “I felt like (Higinbotham) really had faith in me that I could help them win. Especially because we hadn’t won against them in a while it just felt like a great opportunity for me to prove myself and show them that I’m capable of taking on teams like this.

“It made me think I really have to do good, I have to push myself and dig deep not just for me but for my team, too, because I know how much this means to everyone. It felt like I did really good and that I earned my spot.”

Broglin was one of four freshmen starters in the lineup who Higinbotham said “are contributing and doing well.” Designated hitter Noelani Whitley had three hits at the top of the order. Third baseman Paige Sparks had two hits and was one base three times. And second baseman Khloe McGrath had an RBI single and reached base twice. 

The Wolverines, meanwhile, might have been in a hole after Schalick’s big inning, but they kept fighting. It was 9-4 going to the bottom of the seventh but it wasn’t over. Lila Bowling’s one-out triple made it 9-5 and courtesy runner Ella Winchell raced home on Ava White’s grounder. 

Kendall Young kept the inning alive when she beat out an infield single, allowing the tying run into the on-deck circle. But Broglin ended the threat with a game-ending pop to second.

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.