Mighty Oaks drop playoff opener

Salem CC takes an early lead, but top-seeded Mercer rallies to win Region XIX softball tournament opener; Mighty Oaks await 2 p.m. elimination game

REGION 19 D2 PLAYOFFS
Mercer 8, Salem CC 3
Delaware Tech vs. Lackawanna, noon
Salem CC vs. Del Tech-Lackawanna loser, 2 p.m.
Mercer vs. Del Tech-Lackawanna winner, 4 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WEST WINDSOR – Salem CC’s trip to this year’s Region XIX softball playoffs started with such promise, evoking memories of their start two years ago when they upset the No. 1 seed in the opening round. But then the No. 1 seed came to life.

Fourth-seeded Salem grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first inning of their opening round game against Mercer, but the top-seeded Mustangs shut it down and their own bats came to life sending the Mighty Oaks to an 8-3 loss. Salem now awaits the loser of the Delaware Tech-Lackawanna game in the 2 p.m. elimination game.

Two years ago, the Mighty Oaks were the fourth seed and Mercer the 1 and Salem pulled off a 6-0 upset. It looked like things would repeat Friday when they scored three runs right out of the gate.

Lilly Peverelle got it started with a one-out double. She scored on J.J. Aguirre’s two-out single, Emme Witter followed with a single and Savannah Palverento brought them both home with a smash off pitcher Jozalyn Sheipe-Warthen’s glove.

After that, however, they managed only three hits off Sheipe-Warthan and five baserunners. They did get runners to third in the second and fourth innings, but failed to bring them home.

Mercer tied it in the third, then took the lead in the fifth after putting the first two runners on forcing Salem starter Reagan Wilson out of the game. Both runners stole bases to advance, then Sheipe-Warthen delivered a sacrifice fly and Karisa Krawiec doubled. The Mustangs added three insurance runs in the sixth, a rally capped by Sheipe-Warthen’s two-out, two-run double on a 3-2 pitch from reliever Jordyn Busch.

Bella Rappa and Palverento each had two hits in the game for the Mighty Oaks.

This story will be updated with the second game result