Big jump out of the gate

Salem’s Weathers reaps the benefits of his training, PRs by six inches in winning the Deptford Relays high jump his first time out this season

SATURDAY SCORES
BASEBALL
Haddon Heights 3, Woodstown 1
SOFTBALL
Ron Vinick Tournament, Millville
St. Joseph Acad. 6, Pennsville 1
Absegami 1, Pennsville 0
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown 21, Washington Twp. 3
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Mercer 8, Salem CC 0, 6 inns.
Mercer 8, Salem CC 0, 5 inns.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

DEPTFORD — Donovan Weathers’ coaches thought the Salem senior would PR in his first outdoor meet of the season, but the way he knocked it out of the water just blew them away.

Weathers won the boys high jump in the Deptford Relays Saturday, clearing the bar at 6-feet, 4-inches. His previous best was 5-10, but the way he’s been working in the run up to the meet that was a piece of cake and it was a just matter of how high he could take it.

“We were surprised he went 6-4, but not that he PR’d,” Rams coach David Hunt said. “We were confidently hopeful he would jump over six feet today, just because of all the jump work he’s put in.”

The jump work is a new element in his training. In the past, Hunt explained, the jumpers were getting the guidance in their specialties but didn’t necessarily have the drills to augment the instruction. Now they have someone working with them as a position coach in the guise of Hunt’s wife Rachel and Weathers has been working on his drills and technique.

“They’re getting coached hard,” Hunt said. “I’m not going to sugar-coat it, he tried to dodge a little bit of that hard work before, but now he’s running drills and doing all that … I think he sees it’s my senior year, I’ve got to invest in that and go out the right way. His ultimate goal is to be a state champion and go to nationals.”

The bespectacled 6-2 senior, a forward on Salem’s basketball team, beat four other jumpers stymied at 6-2, including Glassboro sophomore Moses Robles, who had already won the long jump and triple jump.

There were dramatic moments along the road to the win. To stay alive in the competition, Weathers needed to clear 6-0 on his third attempt. Robles entered the competition at 6-2 and needed all three attempts to clear that mark. Then all four of Weathers’ challengers XXX’d out at 6-4. Weathers nailed it on his first attempt with room to spare.

He tried 6-6 and missed all three attempts. He probably would have gotten it if he wasn’t sprinting back and forth to the triple jump pit to update Hunt on his progress.

“It’s a combination of the practice and his work ethic,” Rachel Hunt said explaining Weathers’ success. “I think he’s just dedicating himself to his craft as a senior. I think he saw the competition at indoor – he didn’t jump for indoor – and that’s driven him to push a little bit harder. He’s not just about going out there and jumping the bar. He’s really dedicated himself to doing the drills, completing the practice and, honestly, just showing up as a good motivator for the young guys.”

Among other top performances by Salem County athletes

— Schalick’s David Stewart finished second in the boys 400 hurdles (56.51) and second in the boys long jump (21-3.25). He grabbed second in the long jump on his final attempt.

— Penns Grove (3:29.87) and Salem (3:32.67) finished 3-4 in the boys 4×400 relay

— Schalick’s Ethan McLean was third in the boys discus (134-9)– Penns Grove’s Bryan Garlic was second in the boys triple jump (44-3) and fourth in the 400 hurdles (56.84)

— Pennsville’s Aubrey Manorowitz was T-2 in the girls high jump (4-10) with Sandy Henry of Washington Twp. Manorowitz, Henry, event winner Amirah Murphy of Bridgeton and Addison Chiodi of Gloucester City all cleared 4-10, but Murphy made it on her second attempt while the other three took three. All four XXX’d out at 5-0.

The top three finishers in each event are awarded medals.

DEPTFORD RELAYS
(Event winners, Salem County top 6 finishers)
BOYS
400 hurdles: 1. Kareem Brown, Deptford 54.44; 2. David Stewart, Schalick 56.51; 4. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 56.84
800 SMR: 1. Pleasantville 1:33.56
4000 DMR: 1. Vineland 11:05.74
4×100: 1. Deptford 41.93; 4. Penns Grove (Reed, Roy, White, Goodson), 43.46
400 SHR: 1. Deptford 1:00.91
4×800: 1. Deptford 8:01.75
4×200: 1. Deptford 1:27.52
1600 SMR: 1. Gloucester City 3:36.12; 5. Schalick (Chomo, Stewart, Rhynie, Carter) 3:45.23
4×400: 1. Shabazz 3:22.74; 3. Penns Grove (Garlic, White, Allah, Goodson) 3:29.87; 4. Salem (Buzby, Seals, Bergen, Gregory) 3:32.67
Discus: 1. Jack Day, Seneca 137-6; 3. Ethan McLean, Schalick 134-9; 6. Jack Benfer, Schalick 121-10
High jump: Donovan Weathers, Salem 6-4; 6. Tommy White, Penns Grove 6-0
Long jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 22-1; 2. David Stewart, Schalick 21-3.25; 4. William Roy, Penns Grove 21-1.5
Pole vault: 1. Mason Henry, Deptford 13-6; 4. Caleb Jenkins, Schalick 11-6
Triple jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 45-11.5; 2. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 44-3
Javelin: 1. Kaden Roane, Deptford 170-0; 6. Gary Simonini, Schalick 149-0
Shot put: 1. Humberto Cuellar, Eastern 53-7.5; 4. JaKai Ingram, Penns Grove 47-7.5

GIRLS
400 hurdles: 1. Natalie Dumas, Eastern 59.66
800 SMR: 1. Kingsway 1:47.61
4000 DMR: 1. Williamstown 12:37.62
4×100: 1. Winslow 47.32; 6. Salem (Massengill, Tucker, Williams, Parsons-Smith) 50.84
400 SHR: 1. Winslow 59.60
4×800: 1. Eastern 10:07.99
4×200: 1. Winslow 1:41.11
1600 SMR: 1. Winslow 4:04.46
4×400: 1. Winslow 3:57.19
High jump: 1. Amirah Murphy, Bridgeton 4-10; 2. Aubrey Manorowitz, Pennsville 4-10
Javelin: 1. Brynn Greenwood, Williamstown 106-2
Long jump: 1. Brianna Growalt, Atlantic Tech 17-10
Pole vault: 1. Brynn Greenwood, Williamstown 10-6
Shot put: 1. Hannah Nuhfer, Delsea 44-1.5
Triple jump: 1. Trinity Brapoh, Willingboro 35-0.75
Discus: 1. Hannah Nuhfer, Delsea 170-9; 4. Tatiyonna Crawford, Pennsville 109-3

Baseball

WOODSTOWN — Haddon Heights played small ball to produce three runs in the third inning and three pitchers held Woodstown to a run and struck out 10 on the way to a 3-1 victory Saturday morning.

The Garnets parlayed two bunt singles, a sacrifice, an intentional walk and two hit batsmen into their three runs. The hardest hit ball of the inning was CJ Lovelidge’s line single to right that brought home the first run.

The Wolverines got one of the runs back in the third on Chase Harding’s bases-loaded walk. They had the tying runs in scoring position with one out in the seventh, but couldn’t get them home.

Drew Sutton had three of Woodstown’s six hits, going 3-for-3.

Haddon Heights	030	000	0-	3	5	0
Woodstown	001	000	0-	1	6	0

WP: Cole Simon. LP: Stone Hassler.

Softball

MILLVILLE — Pennsville scored a run in the first inning of its first game in the 41st annual Ron Vinick Tournament, but couldn’t push one across the rest of the day and lost to St. Joseph 6-1 and Absegami 1-0.

Kylie Harris’ sacrifice fly for the first out brought Lily Edwards home in the first to tie the St. Joe game, but after that the Eagles managed just five more hits. They did opened the sixth with a Harris single and Avery Watson’s double, but St. Joe reliever Elaina Portalatin struck out the next three batters to end the game.

The Eagles’ second game was a true pitchers’ duel. Pennsville’s Kelsey Cook scattered five hits and struck out two. Absegami’s Meghan Johansen allowed three hits, struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.

The game’s only run was scored in the fifth on a passed ball with two outs. The Eagles put two runners in scoring position with one out in the fifth, but Johansen got the next two batters on a strikeout and ground out to end the threat. They put the tying run in scoring position with two outs in the sixth, but couldn’t bring it home before the game clock expired.

Girls lacrosse

WOODSTOWN — Delaney Walker scored six goals and five other players scored multiple goals as Woodstown routed Washington Twp., 21-3.

Angelina Lindenmuth and Arianna Hyman each scored four goals, while Isabella Lindenmuth, Emma Morgan and Emma Perry all had two apiece.

The 21 goals were the most the Wolverines have scored in a game since a 23-10 win over Haddon Heights in April 2022.

Walker, who scored 86 goals last season, is now 22 goals shy of 200 for her career. Morgan needs one more for 100.

College softball

REGION XIX SCORES
Mercer 8-8, Salem CC 0-0
Brookdale 7-4, RCSJ-Gloucester 2-13
Northampton 14-15, Middlesex 7-10
RCSJ-Cumberland at Camden
Bergen 7-9, Ocean 4-11
Delaware Tech 5-4, Lackawanna 4-5
Raritan Valley at Morris

MERCER 8-0, SALEM CC 0-0: The second-place Vikings held the Mighty Oaks off the scoreboard in the doubleheaand to two hits in each game.

Game One was close until the Vikings walked it off with five runs in the sixth inning before anyone got out.

SCC starter Raegan Wilson kept Mercer off the board for three innings, facing one batter over the minimum, but the Vikings broke the scoreless tie with two runs on three alternating singles in the fourth and added another in the fifth. The Vikings sent eight batters to the plate in the sixth with the final two runs scoring on passed balls.

The Mighty Oaks were hitless until Lilly Peverelle’s leadoff single in the fourth. Megan Koski had their other hit, a leadoff single in the fifth.

The Vikings jumped out early in the nightcap, scoring three in the first on a steal of home, reigning GASC Player of the Week Karisa Krawiec’s solo homer and Ammonie Wertz’ RBI triple.

They add two in the third and reached the run-rule threshold with three more in the fourth.

The Mighty Oaks managed only three bases runners against Mercer pitcher Ashley Haywood. Kasen Ervin and Emme Witter had Salem’s two hits and Peverelle drew a walk.

First schedule set

Salem CC’s inaugural football season to open with three straight home games at three different county high schools

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Three home games to open the season and four in three of Salem County’s five high school stadiums highlight the “traveling road show” that will be Salem Community College’s inaugural football season.

The Mighty Oaks finally matched dates with venues to complete their eight-game first-year schedule. They’ll open the season August 29 at Pennsville High School against Hudson Valley CC. They’ll play Nassau CC at Schalick on Sept. 12 and Thaddeus Stevens at Penns Grove Sept. 19. Their final home game is Oct. 17 at Pennsville against Sussex, the only other JUCO in the state that offers football.

Athletics director Bob Hughes said “it just kind of happened” that the first three games fell at home. The Mighty Oaks wanted to play an early game at home and head football coach Jay Accorsi said they took “what we could get” in order to play “legitimate teams and both military preps.”

During the weekends the Mighty Oaks use the county high school stadiums, the high school schedule for those teams has Pennsville hosting Woodstown, Schalick visiting Woodstown, Penns Grove hosting Pitman and Pennsville is at Schalick.

“All the credit goes to Jay in terms of putting the schedule together,” Hughes said. “We had talked through a lot of the parameters and are grateful to have partners in the local high schools and be able to partner with them to bring this, as we call it, our traveling road show across the county.

“It’s exciting. It makes it feel more real, especially as we go into having our first workouts this week. It’s happening.”

Their road games are Sept. 25 at Army Prep, Oct 3 at Sussex, Oct. 23 at Navy Prep (at Annapolis) and Oct. 31 at Erie CC.

“We thought it was important to have (a home game) early on,” Hughes said. “I am very happy we have this first stretch at home to hopefully establish a little bit of presence with the community.”

SALEM CC 2026 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DATE	TEAM	TIME	VENUE
Aug. 29	Hudson Valley	TBD	Pennsville
Sept. 12	Nassau	Noon	Schalick
Sept. 19	Thaddeus Stevens	Noon	Penns Grove
Sept. 25	at Army Prep	6:30 p.m.
Oct. 3	at Sussex	TBD
Oct. 17	Sussex	TBD	Pennsville
Oct. 23	at Navy Prep	2:30 p.m.	Annapolis
Oct. 31	Erie CC	TBD

‘Family complete’

Rodriguez returns to the Salem CC softball team, inspires Mighty Oaks to earn a split in their doubleheader with Howard

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – It really was a good Friday for the Salem Community College softball team.

The Mighty Oaks split their Good Friday doubleheader with Howard CC, winning the nightcap 8-5 after dropping the opener 10-7, but the big takeaway was head coach Angel Rodriguez was back in the dugout for the first time since going in for heart surgery March 19.

The 29-year-old fourth-year head coach underwent triple bypass heart surgery March 24 and has been resting and recovering since. He returned to his Gloucester County home Sunday.

“It’s nice to get out, it was nice to just kind of be in the environment again and just kind of pick up where I left off,” he said. “I don’t think there was any preparation of what to say walking out there other than it was good to be back.”

“It’s like a puzzle piece is back to our big puzzle,” said freshman designated player Sawyer Simmons.

“It definitely feels like we’re back together as a family and it feels like the family is complete,” said interim head coach Mackenzie Freas said.

Simmons saw Rodriguez’ truck pull up in the parking lot and shed a tear and freshman infielder Savannah Palverento said she caught a glimpse of him from second base, but for the most part the players weren’t aware their coach was at the facility until he was announced and making his way towards the dugout between games. He watched all of Game 1 on the team’s Gamechanger page in the press box after his arrival because he didn’t want to interrupt a game in progress.

“I think it was good surprise for them,” he said.

The players and coaches exchanged hugs and tears in the outfield between games. Rodriguez spent all of Game 2 in his usual coach’s chair in the dugout where he “encouraged and managed well,” allowing his assistants to handle the in-game responsibilities as he has all season. At least one player said his presence influenced her play in the nightcap. He presented his observations to the team, as he usually does, in the post-game post-mortem, a meeting moved to around first base instead of the customary right field, no doubt to conserve his energy.

He plans to travel with the team to Saturday’s region doubleheader at Mercer and be with them the rest of the season, although restricted to limited activity. He returns to his doctor for a follow up exam April 15.

“I feel great,” he said. “This is the best I’ve felt since I had (it). I don’t know what the doctor’s cure is, but I found mine.”

“It’s just really good to see Angel back out and able to be out in some fresh air watching some softball on the road to recovery,” athletics director Bob Hughes said. “Obviously our thoughts are never far from here, especially when we’re here, and we just want him to have a speedy and thorough recovery.”

Catcher J.J. Aguirre agreed seeing Rodriguez’ walk out onto the field between games put a little more pep in the Mighty Oaks’ step in the nightcap.

“It was the voice they wanted to hear again,” Freas said.

“With him back it kind of gave us that motivation like now we’re playing for him, he’s here, we need to be better,” Palverento said.

The first game was a back-and-forth affair with two lead changes and two ties through the first three innings. The Mighty Oaks fell behind 8-6 through five, but got it back to 8-7 on Aguirre’s leadoff homer in the sixth and had the tying run in scoring position with one out. The Dragons added two insurance runs in the seventh when Jalyn Rambally ran down a tailing fly in left but couldn’t hold it in her glove.

Simmons hit the first home run of her entire life in the second inning to give the Mighty Oaks a 3-2 lead. It came in her 30^th college at-bat. He didn’t have one in 121 plate appearances at-bats at Pennsville and never hit one in the Pennsville Little League.

“It was electrifying,” she said. “It lit a fire under my butt. Made me want to keep hitting more and more and just get more at bats.”

With Rodriguez comfortably in his coach’s seat, the Mighty Oaks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap, then broke a 4-4 tie with three in the fifth. Koski had an sacrifice fly, Palverento an RBI double and Tiana Wilson an RBI single in the winning rally. Palverento went 3-for-3 in the game, Koski had three RBIs and Aguirre went 4-for-4 with another home run.

Jordyn Busch gave the Mighty Oaks a complete game in the circle and was her sharpest late. After the Dragons pushed across the tying run on a throwing error with two outs in the fourth, Busch retired the next eight in a row into the seventh to give her team every chance to retake the lead.

“I have been struggling with getting out of my head a lot and I came back in the dugout and Coach Angel just told me to relax and take a deep breath and I did and just threw the ball,” Busch said. “I know how to pitch, I just had to remember that for a minute. That little reminder from him just helped set it all in. It’s different hearing it from him.”

Players on the Salem CC softball team wipe away tears Friday as head coach Angel Rodriguez visits them for the first time since undergoing heart surgery last week. (Top photo) Angel Rodriquez talks with Tiana Wilson (19) and Sawyer Simmons (6) between games of their doubleheader (Photo by Tyler Hacker).

Howard	112	220	2-	10	11	2
Salem CC	211	021	0-	7	9	4

WP: Jensyn Koonce. LP: Emme Witter. HR: Jensyn Koonce (H), Emme Witter (S), J.J. Aguirre (S), Sawyer Simmons (S).

Howard	212	101	1-	5	5	0
Salem CC	310	031	x-	8	13	2

WP: Jordyn Busch. LP: Sophia Steele. HR: J.J. Aguirre (S).

Happy home opener

Heads-up base running move helps Salem Tech rally to win inaugural home baseball game, Chargers softball rallies past Highland, and more

THURSDAY SCORES
BASEBALL
Pennsville 8, Paulsboro 3
Salem Tech 15, Wildwood Catholic 9
SOFTBALL
Salem Tech 14, Highland 11
Paulsboro 19, Penns Grove 1
BOYS GOLF
Pitman 180, Woodstown 182
Schalick 165, Overbrook 204
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown 4, Pennsville 1
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC 21-20, Monroe-Bronx 0-1

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – For all the runs that scored in the game on balls put in play, the game-winning run in Salem Tech’s historic home opener Thursday was scored on a heads-up play by a runner on the base paths.

Lucas Clement caught the pitcher and catcher napping between pitches with two outs in the fifth inning of a tie game and smartly stole home to give the Chargers the lead for good in an eventual 15-9 win over Wildwood Catholic in the first home game in their baseball history.

Clement was stationed at third, having moved around the bases on a walk, stolen base and passed ball, and was studying the interaction between Crusaders catcher Ash O’Donnell and reliever Theo Margarites, who had just come into the game moments earlier. The window opened and he was gone.

“I was standing over there for a while,” the senior third baseman explained, “and I realized every time that pitcher got the ball he just never gave me any attention. As soon as he caught the ball and started walking back I realized I can get home. I didn’t know if (coach John Helsel) would be a big fan of that with it being two out, but as soon as he threw the ball back I just saw my chance and took it.

“I went on my own. I didn’t know if he was going to be happy about it, but I knew if I got home it’d be a good thing and put us by a run. He hasn’t spoken to me about it yet; he’s my trade school teacher, so we’ll see. He might never allow me to do that again.”

Quite the contrary. Helsel wants the Chargers to be aggressive. They stole 10 bases in the game, six in a five-run second inning that staked them to a 6-0 lead.

Clement’s mad dash wasn’t the only time the Chargers’ speed got them a run. Courtesy runner Brayden McAllister didn’t slow down coming around third in the second inning when Landon Haley was called safe on a close two-out play at first similar to the one that got Phillies manager Rob Thomson tossed in the first inning against Washington earlier this week. It got that five-run outburst started. And Chase Pompper scored all the way from first in the sixth inning when he stole second and the attempt to get him at second sailed into center field.

“I like putting a little pressure on them; pressured people crack,” Helsel said. “I thought (Clement’s dash) was a great heads-up play. I have no problem with that. I want to be aggressive. I tell them keep their eyes open. If they throw over, go. They’ve got to catch the ball, throw the ball and catch it again to get you. I’ll take that chance.”

The third and fourth innings nearly did the Chargers in. They had trouble fielding pop ups in the infield in the third and the miscues allowed the visitors to tie it. The Crusaders tacked on three more in the fourth to get Tech starter Bryce Harris out of the game.

The Chargers missed an opportunity to answer the Crusaders’ big tinning when they loaded the bases with three straight one-out walks, but couldn’t get the runners home. They had a threat in the fourth, too, but only got one run out of it.

Jack Beal replaced Harris on the mound for the Chargers and he gave them three innings of shutout relief. The hard-throwing right-hander four hits and struck out five. The Crusaders loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but he put out the fire with a strike out and a game-ending grounder to second.

“I was just trying to keep it so they weren’t scoring any runs and could come back and win,” Beal said. “I was a little pumped up because it was the first game at Vo-Tech so I was trying to throw a little harder. I was really trying to get the first (home) win for the team.”

The Chargers’ entire fifth-inning rally came with two outs and once they got to the top of the order. Pompper got it started by reaching on an infield throwing error that got him to second. Cooper Coles and Clement delivered RBI singles to tie it. Clement scored the go-ahead run with his dash then Harris delivered a two-run single to make it 12-9.

Coles went 3-for-3, reached base all five times he came to the plate, scored five runs and was a homer shy of hitting for the cycle.

The Chargers tacked on three more in the sixth on Pompper’s run around the bases, an RBI single by Clement and Jaxson Raymond’s RBI double.

“This was a good game because, I told them, it showed character,” Helsel said. “After the Cumberland (10-run) first inning they all started fighting. I just was worried they were going to do what they did at Cumberland (after falling behind). But they overcame that and showed character by doing that.”.

Prior to first pitch school officials commemorated the inaugural home game with superintendent Jack Swain throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. It came in a little high, but when Salem Tech supporters talk about this day years from now they’ll say it was right down the middle.

Wildwood Catholic	006	300	0-	8	10	4
Salem Tech	150	153	x-	15	10	7

WP: Jack Beal. LP: Carter Givner.

PENNSVILLE 8, PAULSBORO 3: It might not have been as impressive as the day before, but Mason O’Brien pitched out of another bases-loaded no-out situation and kept the game from getting away.

The junior left-hander came in to start the sixth inning with a 5-2 lead after starter Gavin Spears threw 72 pitches and fanned 10 through the first five. He gave up a walk, back-to-back singles and another walk to force in a run to start his outing, then struck out the next three hitters to put out the fire.

In Wednesday’s combined no-hitter against Pitman, O’Brien entered in mid-count with bases loaded and none out and got out of it with a short fly to left and two strikeouts. He got through the next inning on three pitches, an ultra-immaculate inning he called “pretty cool,” and finished with 19 pitches total, enough to tell head coach Matt Karr he wanted to pitch the next day.

“The coaches have a lot of trust in me and when they have a lot of trust in me then I believe in myself more,” O’Brien said. “I have the confidence in going out there and being capable of getting all those three outs with no one scoring or maybe one run scoring. I’m just thankful to my coaches for believing in me in those situations and allowing me to come in.”

“Mason is one of our leaders, (he’s) been starting since his freshman year,” Karr said. “There are not many other people I trust more than him. He and (Logan) Streitz are our leaders.”

The Red Raiders (0-3) had lost their first two games by a combined score of 39-3, but they led 2-1 after Kayden Weber’s open-field home run in the third. The play developed when Eagles outfielder Stevie Fatcher ran full-speed into the left field fence Aaron Howard style and chipped three teeth while the ball bounded away.

Fatcher stayed down for a while allowing Weber to round the basis. Once he got to his feet Fatcher stayed in the game and, Karr said, “gave us a big shot of energy by showing his toughness.”

The Eagles (2-0) took the lead in the bottom of the inning on Dante Cummings’ RBI single and a run-scoring error. They extended it in the fourth on O’Brien’s RBI single and Streitz’ sacrifice fly.

The Eagles answered the run Paulsboro got off O’Brien in the sixth with three in the bottom of the inning. Streitz had a two-run single and Fatcher’s sacrifice fly brought home the final run.

Cummings had three hits for the Eagles, while Spears, O’Brien and Grady Sanders each had two.

Paulsboro	101	001	0-	3	5	4
Pennsville	012	203	x-	8	12	0

WP: Gavin Spears. LP: Julius Scott. HR: Kayden Weber (Pa).

Softball

SALEM TECH 14, HIGHLAND 11: Morgan Fogg and Carmen Mott hit back-to-back run-scoring doubles to highlight a six-run sixth inning rally that lifted the Chargers (5-1) to their season-best third straight win.

Fogg’s double snapped an 11-11 tie and gave the Chargers their first lead of the game. Mott followed with a two-run shot to extend the lead.

The Chargers, currently seventh in the South Jersey Group II power points standings, trailed 11-9 entering the inning. Shelby Drummond got the rally started when she circled the bases with a double and error. Claire Kier singled home Izzy Roberts to make it 11-10. Kier scored the tying run on a passed ball.

Roberts swent 4-for-4 at the plate and then set down the Tartans in order in the seventh, with two strikeouts, to close out the game.

Highland	141	311	0-	11	12	3
Salem Tech	104	126	x-	14	11	1

WP: Shelby Liber. LP: Soledad Vasquez-Milstein

PAULSBORO 19, PENNS GROVE 1: The Red Raiders erupted for 12 runs in the first inning and held Penns Grove to two hits for the game. They had only four hits, but took advantage of 15 walks. Yeneris Garcia and Nyasia Numan had Penns Grove’s two hits.

Golf

PITMAN 180, WOODSTOWN 182: Joey Zubert played his final five holes on the front nine at Town & Country Golf Links in even par to shoot a 4-over-par 39 and win medalist honors in the tight match. Jack Bucksar posted Woodstown’s low round (41).
PITMAN: Max Pappalardo 49, Jake Bowen-Ashwin 44, Joey Zubert 39, Logan Sharpnack 48, Luke Friscoll 53, Dane Collum 52.
WOODSTOWN: Jack Bucksar 41, Alejandro Vazquez 44, Logan Jones 46, Austin Wood 51; Greyson Hyland 53, Chris Porreca 54.

SCHALICK 165, OVERBROOK 204: Michael Nelson birdied his final hole to pick up two shots on the leader and share medalist honors with teammate Seth Fisher at 4-over 40. All four of the Cougars’ counters at Kresson CC were in the 40s
SCHALICK: Anthony Sepers 42, Michael Nelson 40, Seth Fisher 40, Hunter Dragotta 43; Bradford Foster 45, Dylan Sheehan 51.
OVERBROOK: Jeffrey Boyd 48, Joseph Linane 56, Mark Scott 52, Harry Cieslak 48.

Tennis

WOODSTOWN 4, PENNSVILLE 1
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Lucas Cooksey, 4-6, 6-4, 10-3
Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Mason Shimp, 7-6, 7-5, 10-3
Luke Shaw (WO) def. Carter Willis, 6-0, 6-0
Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Matthew Forino-Ian Peacock, 6-0, 6-1
Connor Miller-Josh King (WO) def. Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman, 6-1, 6-2
Records: Woodstown 3-1, Pennsville 3-2.

College softball: SCC sweeps

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — The Salem CC softball team made a long and fruitful trip to Flowers Park, sweeping Monroe-Bronx 21-0 and 20-1.

It’s the first time the Mighty Oaks (15-9) have scored 20 runs in both games of a doubleheader since the revival of the program

The Mighty Oaks pounded 26 hits in the doubleheader (12 and 14), while Raegan Wilson (three) and Emme Witter (two) scattered five hits and both struck out nine in the circle.

In the opener, Megan Koski and J.J. Aguirre both went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Lilly Peverelle homered..

The Mighty Oaks hit four homers in the nightcap. Aguirre hit two of them and had six RBIs. Witter and Tiana Wilson hit the others. Witter went 4-for-5.

The Mighty Oaks host Howard CC Friday at noon.

Salem CC baseball

WEDNESDAY REGION XIX GAMES
Montgomery 24, Salem CC 14
Cecil 14-13, Delaware Tech 13-14
Ocean 20, RCSJ-Cumberland 10
RCSJ-Gloucester 11, Northampton 6
Bergen 10, Camden 5
Brookdale 18, Atlantic Cape 6
Westchester 15, Morris 0
Middlesex at Union
Monroe at Sussex

By Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT — Montgomery County CC pounded Salem CC for the second day in a row, outscoring the Mighty Oaks Wednesday at the Carneys Point Rec Complex 24-14.

The Mustangs outscored the Mighty Oaks 50-18 in the two-game home-and-home series.

Montgomery has scored 13 runs or more in each of its last five games. In the six games since they were shutout by Camden on March 22, the Mustangs have averaged 18.8 runs per game.

Region XIX Standings

DIVISION III	R19	ALL	GSAC
RCSJ-Gloucester	15-1	18-4	13-1
Middlesex	9-2	16-6	5-1
RCSJ-Cumberland	10-3	18-5-1	7-3
Montgomery	8-4	8-4
Northampton	8-4	14-9
Brookdale	9-6	15-7	8-4
Camden	6-6	9-9	4-6
Ocean	6-6	9-9	6-6
SALEM CC	7-8	12-17	4-4
Bergen	5-10	6-17	5-9
Atlantic Cape	2-10	2-10	2-10
Union	1-15	2-15	0-12
Delaware County	0-11	0-11

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

“I’ve raced this guy before indoors, I know what he can do,” Froelich said. “He beat me in the 4×4 indoor, so I know he’s definitely a competitor, he’s a player, he’s a person I had to look out for. I looked at his stats, I saw his times, we were close in times so I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy race.

“My starts haven’t been that great but I actually did get a good start out. I was doing OK, doing OK, but I was feeling he was right behind me. Knowing he’s a competitor, he’s a player, I just stayed strong, stayed to my plan. These last 40, 50 meters I just fought for it. I went down to my training, I just pushed right through. When it ended I saw him right on my side. I thought he almost had me.”

To run a PR in his first meet of the year fills him with confidence for the season ahead. He ran a 49 at the sectionals last year, then got sick and didn’t finish the way he’d have liked. You could say he’s got some unfinished business.

“Showing this right here and then my form breaking down how it was, to get the time that I did I already know this season is going to be hectic,” he said. “Not to toot my own horn, but I’m going to be a problem, man. I’m sure people will recognize that I’m a problem.”

The Wolverines, meanwhile, showed in the meet they are more than just the Four Horsemen who dominate the relays. Among their other highlights Wednesday were going 1-2-3 in the 800, 1600, 3200 and javelin; Aidan Taulane setting personal bests in the discus (158-2) and shot (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).

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.

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.

Big blast

Woodstown senior’s first ever homer highlights sixth-inning rally that lifts Wolverines over Schalick in back and forth game

WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
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 outfielder launched a three-run homer into the football stadium with nobody out 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 him first homer in 24 varsity at-bats – he had 20 last season – but it had been longer since he’d gone yard. A lot longer.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever hit one in a Woodstown uniform, not even before high school; that’s my first one ever,” he said. “I’ve been close a couple times, but that was by far my farthest hit.”
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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.

“It was awesome,” he continued. “I didn’t think it was going at first, but once I saw the right fielder going back I knew it was over. It’s an unreal feeling. I’ve never felt like that in my life. I honestly felt like I was going to throw up, if I’m being honest.

“I was pumped. I was so pumped. It means everything to me. My dad’s here, my whole family’s watching me. Even my dog’s here. It was awesome. I thought I’d hit one (eventually), but I didn’t think it would be in this situation. It was surreal.”

The Wolverines (2-0) staged multiple comebacks before taking the lead for good under Schalick’s sixth-inning, three-error collapse. The Cougars (2-1) led 3-0 on Ricky Watt’s three-run homer in the first and 6-4 after Evan Glaspey’s two-run double in the top of the sixth.

They answered Watt’s homer with two runs in the home first on Tommy Tucci’s bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly by Williams. It stayed that way until fifth when they took a 4-3 lead on Drew Sutton’s two-run single.

“We came back all game long, every inning,” Woodstown coach Marc DeCastro said. “We didn’t always score, but we were on every inning. We didn’t give them any inning. It was when it was going to break through.

“We came back twice to take the lead twice, but I thought through six innings we came back every single inning. We were down right away, turned that into 3-2 so it was already a win. From there we had people on, people on and just couldn’t get that one hit until we got it in the sixth.”

The Wolverines sent nine batters to the plate in their big inning. It started with a walk and a single and then the Cougars threw away Stone Hassler’s bunt allowing the tying run to score. Williams followed by hammering an inside fastball into the football stadium. Sol Elmer restarted the process with a walk, was sacrificed to second and took off for third forcing another bad throw that allowed him to score.

Schalick coach Sean O’Brien agreed it was just a matter of time before the Wolverines broke through.

“It was kind of coming because we played poorly all game long,” he said. “They had many opportunities to break the game open and they didn’t do it, so it was a matter of time before it happened. They deserved to win the game. They played better than we did. We put together two innings to hit and that was it, that’s all we did.”

Another key element to the win was freshman Talyn Priore coming in to pitch with bases loaded and none out in the sixth. He came in to face the heart of Schalick’s order after the Wolverines’ intentionally walked Watt to load the bases and put out the fire on 13 pitches with a fly to Williams in left and two strikeouts looking. He got the win.

“We needed this so much,” Williams said. “It’s a big moment for us.”

Top photo: Woodstown’s Noah Williams reacts to hitting his first-ever home run, a go-ahead blast in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s win over Schalick. (Photo by Michelle Tucci)

Schalick	300	003	0-	6	10	4
Woodstown	200	025	x-	9	9	2

WP: Talyn Priore. LP: Mason Sanchez. HR: Ricky Watt (S), Noah Williams (WO)

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 with the bases loaded and finished the game on 19 pitches (16 strikes), including the purest of immaculate innings — three pitches in the fifth inning.

“The plan from the get-go was to throw him between 50 and 60 pitches,” Eagles coach Matt Karr said of Streitz. “I told him after the game we didn’t take him out for lack of trusting you. Today is April 1, I want you playing meaningful baseball June 1. No sense pushing it. It’s a marathon not a sprint.”

The Panthers put only five balls in play against the two Pennsville pitchers, including a fly ball to right in the first inning that Jeff Wagner turned into an inning-ending double play. It was the only ball they hit to the outfield.

“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,'” 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 their pitchers’ effort with nine hits. Gavin Spears and O’Brien both had a pair at the top of the lineup. Stevie Fatcher had four RBIs.

Pitman	000	00-	0	0	5
Pennsville	402	6x-	12	9	0

WP: Logan Streitz. LP: Drew Keefe.

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.

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.