How sweep it is

Schalick’s softball team breaks close game open with 4 in the sixth, sweeps Woodstown for first time since 2021

MONDAY’S SOFTBALL
Schalick 9, Woodstown 3
Gloucester Catholic 14, Salem 0
Winslow at Penns Grove

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

ELMER – They handed Schalick softball coach Rick Higinbotham the Elmer Classic trophy while he standing near the pitching circle. His players had already gathered in the outfield grass to celebrate the win. He didn’t mind the walk.

The Cougars made a lot more history Monday night than just getting their hands on the new-to-them Classic trophy for the first time. In beating Woodstown at the Elmer LL complex, 9-3, they swept their rival for the first time since 2021. They beat them on April 1, the first time they’d beaten the Wolverines since May 6, 2021, snapping an 11-game losing streak in the series. 

“This was something we’ve been working for for four years,” Higinbotham said. “I’ve been working for it for four years, too, to sweep them. It puts us in a good spot in the (Tri-County Diamond) division, too. We’re up two on them right now (with three to play) and that’s big.”

The game was tight for five innings as starters Addi Shimp and Leah Clark were unyielding in the circle, but the Cougars (8-2) broke it open with four runs in the sixth after two were out. In fact, all nine of their runs came with two outs.

The sixth started innocently enough with Clark retiring the first two batters. The next six, though, all reached safely. Emma Cain scored on an error, Liv VanAcker drew a bases-loaded walk, Kaylee Broglin had an RBI single and Emily Miller scored when the Wolverines played a pickoff through to second base.

“The girls kept hustling, didn’t stop,” Higinbotham said. “When we got two outs, we kept hitting, kept fighting, got some key walks … it was great. They did a great job.”

After Shimp kept Woodstown bottled up for five innings, Higinbotham brought in Broglin for a hard-throwing change of pace and the freshman slammed the door. Broglin retired all six batters she faced and recorded two strikeouts.

“This is something our team in general has been working for,” Shimp said. “We knew if we really worked hard – and we’ve been working so hard for this – we knew we could get it. Woodstown kept us close the whole time. We knew they would, so we just had to outhit them.”

Khloe McGrath had three hits to lead Schalick’s 10-hit attack. Alexa Shimp and Broglin had two hits apiece. Ellie Wygand, Talia Guardascione and Kendall Young all had two hits for Woodstown.

Schalick struck first with four in the first, highlighted by Broglin’s two-run single. Woodstown made it 4-3 with three runs in the third, highlighted by Young’s solo homer. Paige Sparks raced home with an insurance run for Schalick in the fifth on a passed ball.