Schalick’s Longo wins boys sectional pole vault title in first competition of season, Stewart wins two more events; Salem County produces 7 champions, 30 state qualifiers through first full day of SJ Group I sectional meet
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
MEDFORD – Sal Longo spent his entire senior outdoor track season rehabbing a hamstring injury he sustained at the indoor Meet of Champions and didn’t compete once for Schalick during the spring. He made his long-awaited season debut Friday and what does he do – just become a sectional champion.
Just a week clear of being cleared to compete and with only four days of practice to prep him, Longo won the South Jersey Group I boys pole vault title with a vault of 13 feet.
“I was so stressful,” he said. “I didn’t know if I was going to make the opening height, to be honest. It’s been two months since I’ve done any competition, so clearing that opening bar was really a big weight off my back.
“I’m very proud of myself. I didn’t really think I would get first place at my first meet of the season let alone sectional. Honestly, it’s just a big stress reliever knowing that I’m back to how I was in winter track.”
Longo was one of five Salem County athletes to win an event in Friday’s first full day of sectional competition at Lenape High School.
Teammate David Stewart added two more titles to his collection, winning the long jump (22-8.5) and 400 hurdles (55.33); he won the triple jump Wednesday. Woodstown’s Josh Crawford won the 800 (1:54.31) in a 1-3 finish with teammate Karson Chew and teammate Aidan Taulane won the discus (159-2). Schalick’s Navaeh Robinson won the girls javelin (118-3) in s 1-2 finish with teammate Sebrina Bradford.
Salem County athletes picked up 30 qualifying spots to the state meet – 17 in boys, 13 in girls. The remaining spots are up for grabs Saturday.
Schalick is currently second behind Glassboro in the boys team standings and fourth in the girls race. Woodstown is fourth in the boys standings, and fifth in girls.
Longo sustained a Grade 3 strain in his left hamstring on March 8 and had been out of competition ever since. While his teammates were outside chasing PRs, he stayed inside anxiously waiting. He resisted the temptation to go out for fear of aggravating what had been healing. He passed on the Salem County Championships knowing all along the sectionals were the target date for his return.
He entered the competition Friday night at 11 feet and cleared the bar on his third attempt. He went through 11-6 and 12-feet and eventually he and Haddon Twp.’s Bobby McIlvaine were the last two standing as the bar went to 12-6.
Longo made it on his second attempt and McIlvaine went through on his third. Longo cleared 13 feet on his final attempt and had the gold after McIlvaine missed on his third try.
Longo made a bid for the Schalick school record, but missed all three attempts at 13-3.
“Sal’s a competitor and has been working hard for this moment for four years; he deserves every bit of this title,” Schalick coach James Turner said. “I really wasn’t sure what he was going to be capable of doing. Because of the injury he wasn’t even allowed to practice, or at least practice at our facility, until he was cleared, which happened this week. His dad told me yesterday he jumped 12-6 so I knew he was going to be able to do that.”
“I was really excited for him,” Stewart said. “He got injured right before Meet of Champs and that was really discouraging, so for him to just work past that and put the hard work in and see him win this is a really good feeling.”
Stewart had a stressful time of it as well. He was dealing with a leg issue left over from Wednesday’s triple jump competition, but he persevered.
He barely made it into the long jump finals with a jump of 20-3.25, then on his first jump in the final he went 21-8 to take the lead, which was matched by Glassboro rival Moses Robles. He fouled on his second attempt, then won the event by soaring 22-8 on his final attempt. He won the triple jump Wednesday on the final jump of the competition.
“I had to deal with some hamstring problems so today I was mainly just trying to focus on advancing to the next round, but I ended up winning the event,” he said. “I didn’t jump that good in the prelims, I barely made it through. I was mad, like why am I jumping bad? Turner texted me that I made it through to the finals, so I went over there and was stretching. I felt loose and then I just popped a great third jump which led to the 22-8.”
The leg problem that bothered him Friday isn’t expected to impact what he has left. He still intends to run the open 400 Saturday in a bid for four sectional golds.
“I’m still going to go out there and give it everything I got,” he said. “I’m going to run.”
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I MEET
(Event winners, Salem County state qualifiers (top six))
BOYS
Team scores: Glassboro 74, Schalick 48, Camden 34, Woodstown 32, Haddon Twp. 16, Salem 16, Penns Grove 12, Gateway 10, Burlington City 9, Clayton 8, Buena 6, Maple Shade 5, Woodbury 4, Palmyra 2, Audubon 2, Pennsville 1
4×100: 1. Camden 42.32; 5. Salem (Bergen, Beverly, Stevenson, Clayton) 43.98
800: 1. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 1:54.31; 3. Karson Chew, Woodstown 1:57.94
400 Hurdles: 1. David Stewart, Schalick 55.33; 4. Grady Buzby, Salem 59.09
100: 1. Jaiden Steele, Camden 10.74; 4. Kylee Goodson, Penns Grove 11.14
3200: 1. Jaeden Wesley, Glassboro 9:34.67; 5. Jacob Marino, Woodstown 9:52.70
Discus: 1. Aidan Taulane, Woodstown 159-2; 2. Ethan McLean, Schalick 151-9
Long Jump: 1. David Stewart, Schalick 22-8.5; 2. Will Roy, Penns Grove 22-0.25; 4. Donovan Weathers, Salem 21-0.25; 6. Danny Knight, Pennsville 20-9
Pole Vault: 1. Salvatore Longo, Schalick 13-0
Triple Jump (Wednesday): 1. David Stewart, Schalick 48-7.25; 3. Jerry Seals, Salem, 43-9.5 4. Andrew White, Woodstown 43-0
GIRLS:
Team scores: Audubon 75, Glassboro 57, Haddon Twp. 29, Schalick 24, Woodstown 15, Salem 11, Burlington City 10, Buena 10, Clayton 8, Maple Shade 8, Woodbury 8, Camden 6, Penns Grove 6, Paulsboro 4, Pennsville 3, Palmyra 3, Gateway 2
4×100: 1. Glassboro 49.72
800: 1. Riley Fayer, Audubon 2:16.66
400 Hurdles: 1. Emily Madden, Buena 1:07.13; 5. Brooke Valentine, Schalick 1:11.62; 6. Lia Covely, Woodstown 1:11.90
100: 1. Kayla James, Glassboro 12.68; 4. Anyzha Williams, Salem 13.01
3200: 2. Riley Fayer, Audubon 11:21.91; 3. Abby Marino, Woodstown 11:36.00.
Shot Put: 1. Sunny Moore, Glassboro 44-4.5; 4. Zoey Ceasar, Penns Grove 35-10
Javelin: 1. Navaeh Robinson, Schalick 118-3; 2. Sebrina Bradford, Schalick 105-0; 6. Kaliyah Taylor, Salem 87-11
High Jump: 1. Julianna Lazton, Audubon 5-2; 2. Kami Casiano, Woodstown 5-2; T-4. Kallie Morrison, Pennsville 4-10
Triple Jump (Wednesday): 1. Nyima Burley, Burlington City 37-8.5; 3. Ramiyah Jones, Salem 35-6; 4. Jaelynn Jarmon, Schalick 35-0; 5. Arianna Dowe, Penns Grove 34-1
Top photo: Schalick’s Sal Longo clears the bar to win the South Jersey Group I sectional pole vault title in his first competition of the spring. (Submitted photo)
Month: May 2026
From Woodstown to the world
Wolverines recognizes14 more senior athletes who have signed with various colleges and universities to continue their playing, academic careers
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Joe Ursino was getting ready for another day in the life of Woodstown athletics director Thursday morning, but he knew this day felt different than most of the others.
For this was the day he got the enjoyable task of introducing the next wave college-bound Wolverines to the world. This was the day of Woodstown’s spring signing celebration, one of the AD’s favorite days of the year.
Ursino presided over festivities announcing 14 future college athletes to the world. Most had already signed their official paperwork for their programs of choice, but this was a day for collective public recognition and celebration.
“This is one of the days you get up to come to work (and) you’re not coming to work,” Ursino said. “We normally try to do it before the prom, so this is like the first celebration into the celebration season, so I like to be able to take advantage of that as the athletic director.
“Spent a lot of time with these kids. They’re all great kids. They all have different personalities, but like I said it doesn’t matter what their personality is, they all lean on each other, they appreciate each other. For me, I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
The group was impressive for its size, variety of schools chosen and the kaleidoscope of school colors on display.
It included Elizabeth Daly (Ursinus women’s lacrosse), Bryceton Rooney (Rochester football), Kyia Leyman (RCSJ-Gloucester women’s basketball), Ellie Wygand (FDU-Florham softball), Bryce Ayars (RCSJ-Cumberland soccer), Aidan Taulane (Rowan track), Sara Lodge (Rowan track), Anthony Costello (Georgian Court track), Kami Casiano (Wilmington track), Jacob Marino (Bloomsburg track), Emma Morgan (TCNJ women’s lacrosse), Joanna Winchell (TCNJ cheer) and Josh Crawford (Sacred Heart track).
That’s 11 different colleges and seven different sports represented Thursday. Add the group from the signing celebration the school held earlier this year and it’s another three schools and two more sports.
“It definitely impresses me seeing that people reached out to other places besides our local schools,” Ayars said. “It definitely impresses me that people reached out to farther places to see what they want to do in college and where the next home is for them.”
“It speaks to our individuality,” Marino said. “Everyone’s found something they loved at all these schools and I think that’s really impressive. To find a place you love and want to be at is great, and I feel like it’s amazing that everyone found their home.”
Being a bulldog on the Bulldogs
Woodstown pitcher Clark faces down some tough situations in win; Wygand homers, but still searching for hit No. 100
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
GLASSBORO – It’s late in a game that carries some major playoff implications. The home team is threatening your lead with two runners in scoring position and the winning run at the plate. One miscalculation could mean the difference between winning and a bitter defeat.
In that situation, Woodstown softball coach Rob Hildebrand could think of no one he’d rather have in the circle to stare it down than Leah Clark.
Clark faced just such a scenario in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday and got through it with just a few frayed nerves, preserving a 6-4 Woodstown victory that locked down second place in the TCC Diamond Division and likely an opening-round home game in the upcoming South Jersey Group I playoffs.
The Wolverines carried a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh with the lower half of Glassboro’s lineup coming to the plate. The Bulldogs didn’t go quietly, putting runners at second and third after a sacrifice bunt, but Clark got out of it with a strikeout and a game-inning grounder to No. 9 hitter Erica Rode, who delivered a two-run opposite-field single in her previous at-bat.
“She’s a bulldog,” Hildebrand said. “The girls call her ‘Bulldog,’ we call her ‘Bulldog;’ she always digs deep. Never had adversity slow her way her entire career. She knows how to get the job done. I wouldn’t want anybody else on there except for her.”
It wasn’t the first time in the game Clark turned back a threat. She faced two bases-loaded situations earlier in the game and got out of them with minimal damage.
The Bulldogs already had a run home in the first inning when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Clark got an infield out to end the inning.
They loaded the bases with none out in the sixth and Rode poked her two-run single into right field to make it 6-4. They reloaded the bases – still with no outs — then Clark hunkered down and got out of it with a strikeout, a fly to center that didn’t move the runners, and an inning-ending force at third.
“It’s definitely intense and a little frustrating when it’s bases loaded and you know you really need those outs,” Clark said. “Sometiems it just doesn’t work out and other times I’m able to dig deep and make it work.
“It’s a lot of pressure knowing we don’t bat again and there’s only so much I can do. Either they hit or they get out. It’s definitely something I have to kind of take a deep breath and focus in on getting the outs we need. It’s very flattering (to hear the coach’s praise). I like to try to have that confidence in myself as well knowing I’ve been in situations before, I know I can handle the pressure. It means a lot that they believe in me like that, too.”
Clark only gave up five hits but she walked seven.
What might have made it a little easier for Clark to get through the tough innings is she was always pitching with the lead. The Wolverines jumped out 3-0 in the first inning with the help of some loose defense on the Bulldogs’ part and made it 4-1 in the third on Ellie Wygand’s third homer of the year to chase Glassboro starter Taylor Adcock.
The shot to left might have been Wygand’s 100th career hit had Glassboro third baseman Marissa Pasquarella not fumbled her leadoff grounder twice. It was ruled an error in both dugouts.
The homer was Wygand’s only hit of the game. She grounded out to short for the second out of the fifth inning and fouled out to first leading off the seventh.
“It was a little disappointing (not to reach the milestone) because it’s the one game my dad came to see,” Wygand said. “It was definitely a big game and I really hoped to get it today, but I’m really glad I still have time and a few more games to hit that.”
She agreed she may have been a little anxious in her final two at-bats with the milestone so close within her grasp.
“I think I did a little bit,” she said. “I think I was hoping she was going to throw me a strike and swung at pitches I shouldn’t have. I think going into the next two games I’m just going to relax a little bit more and sit back and wait for my pitch to drive.”
Downer’s big upside
Woodstown lacrosse goalie surpasses 700 career saves in fourth straight win, streaking Wolverines eyeing SJ Group I playoff berth
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
SICKLERVILLE – Bryce Downer is the type of player who has always wanted more. When the Woodstown goalie started playing high school lacrosse he thought 500 career saves would be a nice round milestone to hit. When he reached it last season he wanted more. When 600 came earlier this season he wanted more still.
Career save No. 700 landed on his doorstep Thursday in the Wolverines 12-2 win at Timber Creek. It came early in the third quarter of his 61st career game.
“For me personally, I feel like it’s a milestone that I’ve set ever since I started my freshman year,” the Holy Family-bound senior said. “I always wanted to hit at least 500 and then when I hit 500 I wanted 600 and as soon as I hit 600 I wanted 700. I’ve always been the person who’d always want more.
“Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be able to hit the 800 mark, but I’m going to try my best to get as far as I can.”
Downer needed six saves to reach the number and recorded 12 in the game. The milestone save came on what he called a “pretty nice shot” that he “saw from the start, locked in, ready for the ball.”
There was no fanfare when No. 700 was secured. He simply turned the shot away and sent his offense off to create its own scoring chance, which is what he sees his role as a goalie being all about anyway. They might have played on, but he made sure he got the ball, which now will be on display with the balls representing saves 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600.
He had 204 saves as a freshman, 142 as a sophomore, 180 last year and after Thursday 180 this season. The website laxnumbers.com lists only 25 New Jersey boys lacrosse goalies with 700 or more career saves and only three from as recently as 2023.
Of course, Downer may be the last line of defense for the Wolverines, but he’s not a man alone back there. He credited his defense with helping him reach the milestone.
“My defense, they’re amazing,” he said. “I wouldn’t be in the spot where I am without them. Throughout my whole four years I’ve had amazing guys in front of me and I’m grateful for that.
“You can’t hold someone to zero shots. Everybody’s going to hook up shots, it’s just the type of shots they put up. four years I’ve had amazing guys. My defense forces the opponent into harder shots and it helps me see the ball and save the ball more times than not.”
The win was Woodstown’s fourth in a row after an 0-11 start and has the Wolverines thinking about a South Jersey Group I playoff bid. The Wolverines currently sit 19th in the sectional power points standings with two games left before the May 19 cutoff – at 3-11 Camden Catholic Saturday and 6-7 Bishop Eustace at home on cutoff day.
Downer has given up just seven goals in the last four games (while masking 39 saves). He even posted his first shutout of the season and second of his career in the stretch.
“Beginning of the year we started off with Cedar Creek and that was a hard (7-5) loss for us,” Downer said. “We had a decent amount of hard losses after that, but we also played some hard teams. But something this team is really good at is never giving up. Never giving up om each other, always had each other’s back, and that’s what I really like about this team.
“These past four games we really just put our heads, went to work every day at practice and came out on top. Our team’s always high energy. We’re a group of guys who just like to go out, have fun, fly around and do the best you can. The past four games they’ve been able to fly around a lot, have a lot of fun.”
Bryce Downer File
| YEAR | GP | SAVES | GOALS |
| 2022-23 | 14 | 204 | 123 |
| 2023-24 | 17 | 142 | 140 |
| 2024-25 | 16 | 180 | 170 |
| 2025-26 | 14 | 180 | 142 |
| TOTAL | 61 | 706 | 576 |
Thursday sports report
Here are scores and highlights from Thursday’s Salem County sports calendar
BASEBALL
Pennsville 7, GCIT 2: Grady Sanders’ two-run double capped a four-run fifth inning that gave the Eagles a 6-2 lead and control of the game. Logan Cowperthwait and Jeff Wagner broke a 2-2 tie with an RBI single and Logan Cowperthwait singled home a run a few batters later before Sanders’ game-breaking hit. Mason O’Brien threw a complete game, holding the Cheetahs to three hits and striking out eight.
“We’re playing confident baseball right now, that’s all we can ask for,” said Pennsville coach Matt Karr, whose team is 6-2 in the month of May. “Just keep playing really good competition and get ready for playoffs.”
Clayton 16, Salem Tech 11: The Clippers took control with 11 runs over the fifth and sixth innings. Kevin Mosley hit a game-tying homer in the fifth and Jameson Emerle hit a two-run homer in the sixth. Mosley and Jaiden Keller drove in four runs apiece. Daulton Sites had three hits and two RBIs for the Chargers. Cole Sacks and Logan Hearn had two hits apiece.
SOFTBALL
Woodstown 6, Glassboro 4: Leah Clark turns back Glassboro in seventh, Ellie Wygand homers, but denied her 100th career hit; separate story posting soon.
Delran 7, Schalick 1: Chloe Carucci’s two-run homer capped a four-run third inning and Mary Masterson held the Cougars to four hits and struck out 10. Kassady Sickler gave Schalick a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the second.
Bridgeton at Salem Tech
GOLF
Woodstown 159, Overbrook 184: Woodstown’s Nate Valente shot 1-over 37 to win low medalist at Kresson GC. Teammate Alejandro Vazquez was a shot back.
GIRLS GOLF
Schalick 165, Delsea 182: Schalick’s Lena Virga and Delsea’s Claudia Bui shared medalist honors (40) at Washington Twp. Municipal.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown 12, Timber Creek 2: Bryce Downer records his 700th career save, Wolverines win fourth straight; separate story posting soon.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Riverside at Salem Tech
TENNIS
Pennsville 4, Burlington Twp. 1: The Eagles’ No. 1 doubles team of Coen Rinnier and Jacob Cheeseman won their 13th match in a row. No 2 singles Lucas Cooksey has won 14 straight.
PENNSVILLE 4, BURLINGTON TWP. 1
Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Adam Mortaja, 6-1, 6-3
Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Jay Patel, 6-0, 6-1
Caleb Shin (BT) def. Carter Willis, 7-5, 6-2
Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Prabhnoor Ghotra-Taylor Lahr-Tirado, 6-3, 6-2
Lucas Thomas-Ian Peacock (P) def. Vincent Contrati-Ashan Wickamanyake, 6-0, 6-2.
Records: Pennsville 16-6, Burlington Twp. 10-9.
Calling his shot
Schalick’s Stewart wins sectional triple jump with record effort, said the day before if he came down to a do-or-die jump he was going to win it
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WESTMONT – Maybe it was the confidence that comes with trusting his training talking, but Schalick junior David Stewart knew the day before what was going to happen in the sectional triple jump if a certain scenario had come to pass.
Stewart won the South Jersey Group I triple jump title Wednesday at Haddon Twp. with a jump of 48 feet, 7 ¼ inches on his final attempt of the day with no on left. Not only did the jump set the meet record, it was the best triple jump in all Group I sectionals all-time and the second-best Group I triple jump in state history.
And he predicted it was going to happen. Well, maybe not all the record-breaking stuff, but the win.
While doing some last-minute prep for one of his signature events Tuesday, Stewart told Cougars coach James Turner if he had the last jump of the day and someone was ahead of him in the standings he was going to win the event right there.
And that’s exactly what happened. Stewart’s close friend and rival Moses Robles of Glassboro had jumped 47-5 on his second attempt in the finals to grab the lead. Stewart was still in second when his turn came on the runway for his final attempt. He was going to advance to the state meet as it was, but he wasn’t second anymore when he landed in the pit.
“I told (Turner) that yesterday at practice,” Stewart said. “I told him if I’m the last jumper and somebody’s beating me I’m winning on the last jump. That’s just all confidence. I’ve really been working hard, training hard, so I knew my training would pay off. I trusted his training and it got me to where I am.
“It’s like literally a dream it happened that way. When I was lined up as the last jumper I was just sitting there talking to myself saying we talked about this, this is what we said was going to happen. We got this.”
There was a sense around the pit his next-to-last jump would have been strong enough to challenge the leader, but he buckled going in and he didn’t get the result. The number wasn’t there, but the feeling was.
“Everyone knew it would’ve been a big jump and that’s when I think he realized it, too; he was, oh, I’ve got this,” Turner said. “I talked to him. We made some minor adjustments we talked about earlier in the week. I just think he was finally focused now, that he knew it came down to it and he just put everything together for that final jump.
“We talked about the adjustments real quick. He understood what he needed to do. He was focused. He went back to the end of the runway to get ready for his final jump. He had a couple people he was waiting on. I went back and talked to him and said just focus in, continue to tell yourself you got this and just execute. When I walked away I knew he was going to get it. I knew he was going to jump a 47 or his best jump of the year.
“I knew where he needed to land. As soon as I saw him land I just went over to him and shook his hand. I said you got it. He just stood up and kind of knew he got it, too. It was a great moment. I was really proud because he puts in so much hard work. He’s probably one of the hardest working track athletes that I’ve ever coached. You can just see how determined he is and how much it means to him to succeed and continue to grow.”
Jerry Seals of Salem was third (43-9.5) and Woodstown’s Andrew White was fourth. Three Salem County girls also qualified to the state meet in the event – Salem’s Ramiyah Jones, Schalick’s Jaelynn Jarmon and Penns Grove’s Arianna Dowe – finishing 3-4-5, respectively. The top six advance.
The sectional meet resumes Friday and for the rest of the weekend at Lenape High School. Having the triple jump Wednesday actually frees up Stewart for his projected attempts at the open 400 (he’s ranked third in Group I), 400 hurdles (No. 2 among all groups) and long jump. Last year at sectionals he had to bounce between the jumps and the hurdles all the while balancing a painful foot injury that eventually kept him from competing in the triple jump at the state meet.
“That’s another thing that really plays a big part in sectionals,” Stewart said. “That being the only thing I had to do today also helps out with my other events. It helps with my focus, because today I didn’t have to worry about running, hurdling, long jump, all my focus was right there. Being on a Wednesday it was a little weird, it felt weird, but you still have to perform no matter when, what time, where. You have to perform.”
Big day for Eagles
Pennsville softball players set two milestones in bounce-back win over Gloucester Catholic; Woodstown’s Wygand, Schalick’s Sepers, Watt closing in on 100 hits; also includes scores, details from Wednesday’s Salem County sports schedule
SOFTBALL
Pennsville 6, Gloucester Catholic 3
Schalick 10, Glassboro 8
Wildwood 10, Salem 0
Woodstown 17, Penns Grove 0
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
GLOUCESTER – It was a milestone day for the players on the Pennsville softball team. Lily Edwards scored her 100th career run for the first run of the game and Graillyn Weber hit a pair of doubles to set the school’s single-season record as the Eagles bounced back from a bad loss to Millville the day before and topped Gloucester Catholic 6-3 to move within one win of an undefeated division season.
Edwards led off the game with a double and scored her milestone run on Weber’s 16th double of the season, breaking the record Kylie Harris set each of the last two years. Weber’s second double of the game came leading off the third inning and she later scored a game-tying run on a single by Avery Watson.
“I’m really happy about it and honestly I had forgotten before the game about the record, which definitely made it easier to accomplish because I wasn’t really thinking about it,” Weber said. “But I couldn’t have done it without my teammates because we had a great game.”
Weber may have forgotten about the record she was chasing, but Edwards had been counting down the runs and the 100 hits she’s closing on for the last couple weeks.
“For me it’s big because I missed my whole sophomore season (with a broken back) so just to accomplish something like that, that big, means a lot to me,” she said. “I definitely was looking for it. I knew it was going to happen. With Gray (Weber) and Kylie (Harris) behind me I knew I was going to get it, but I knew I needed to run really fast.”
It takes a lot of success at the plate to score 100 runs. She’s scored all those runs off 89 hits, 17 walks, eight HBPs and a couple of fielder’s choices. It’s not certain how many times she’s reached on an error. She’s scored in every game but two this year, and one of those was a shutout the third game of the season.
“My 100 hits is my main goal for high school softball,” she said. “You don’t get that recognition like travel ball or anything, but high school is the time to do it. It’s going to really nice to get it, hopefully.”
The Eagles came from behind twice to beat the Rams for the second time this season. They trailed 2-1 in the first inning and 3-2 in the fourth before scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead for good. Harris hit the go-ahead RBI triple, Watson followed with an RBI single and Kelsey Cook delivered a run-scoring ground out later in the inning. Weber pitched a scoreless seventh to wrap up a complete-game victory.
Watson, the Eagles’ senior shortstop and clean-up hitter, went 4-for-4 in the game. She also had a single in the first, a single in the fifth and another RBI single in the seventh.
“The game was important to us as a division game and I wanted to help be the fuel we needed to pick up the team after a tough loss the day before,” Watson said. “I have plenty of long at-bats where I’m looking to find my perfect pitch and fouling off what I don’t like, and that’s what I did today. I found a good mix of patience and aggression at the plate that helped contribute to our win.”
The Eagles (13-5) can complete an undefeated run through the TCC Classic Division with a win at Salem Monday.
WOODSTOWN 17, PENNS GROVE 0: Ellie Wygand went 4-for-4 with two RBIs, Lexi Taylor was 2-for-2 with three RBIs, Grace Hitchner drove in three runs and three Woodstown pitchers combined on a four-inning no-hitter.
SCHALICK 10, GLASSBORO 8: Khloe McGrath’s three-run homer gave Schalick the lead and highlighted a seven-run fourth inning that erased a 5-1 deficit. The win completed the Cougars’ first undefeated run in the Diamond Division since 2021.
WILDWOOD 19, SALEM 0: Emma Contreras went 4-for-4 with four four RBIs and pitched a four-inning one-hitter, facing one batter over the minimum. Julliana Love had the Rams’ hit, a leadoff single in the second inning.
BASEBALL
Schalick 13, Glassboro 3
Vineland 12, Pennsville 9
Woodstown 12, Penns Grove 0
Wildwood 17, Salem 7
SCHALICK 13, GLASSBORO 3: The Cougars erased a 2-1 deficit with 10 runs in the third inning and sealed up back-to-back division titles for the first time in school history. Jamari Whitley and Evan Glaspey had three hits apiece, Evan Sepers had three RBIs and Whitley struck out nine in a five-inning complete game. Sepers (99) and Ricky Watt (94) are closing in on 100 career hits.
WOODSTOWN 12, PENNS GROVE 0: Luke Fraley went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs, Walker Battavio went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and Colton Williams pitched a five-inning one-hitter striking out seven. Josh Widen had the Red Devils’ lone hit.
WILDWOOD 17, SALEM 7: The Warriors were out front 15-0 to offset Salem’s seven-run outburst in the fourth. Trevor Troiano went 4-for-4 with five RBIs and is 8-for-8 with seven RBIs against Salem County foes the last two days. He’s 10-for-13 in his last three games overall. Jovanni Rios hit a three-run triple in the Rams’ big inning and was out at plate trying to stretch it into a homer.
VINELAND 12, PENNSVILLE 9: The Eagles trailed 9-2 after two innings, but battled back and brought the tying run to the plate in a seventh-inning rally but ran out of steam. Logan Streitz went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Mason O’Brien and Dante Cummings had two hits apiece.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Timber Creek
TENNIS
Delsea 3, Woodstown 2
Pennsville 3, Pitman 2
DELSEA 3, WOODSTOWN 2
Zeph Kell (D) def. Drew Stengel, 6-3, 6-0
Eli Croce (D) def. Mason Shimp, 7-5, 6-2
Zach Natalie (D) def. Luke Shaw, 6-1, 6-3
Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Jacob Bramble-Jude Thompson, 6-3, 6-4
Josh King-Connor Miller (WO) def. Seth Bui-Thomas Maronski, 6-0, 6-2
Records: Delsea 17-2, Woodstown 12-7
PENNSVILLE 3, PITMAN 2
Nolan Russell (PI) def. Sawyer Humphrey, 6-4, 6-2
Lucas Cooksey (PV) def. Liam Etter, 6-0, 6-1
Ben Williams (PI) def. Carter Willis, 6-3, 6-3
Jacob Cheeseman-Coen Rinnier (PV) def. Spencer Bianchini-Jonah Raymer, 6-4, 6-4
Matthew Forino-Lucas Thomas (PV) def. Ayden Epley-Ezra Ralph, 6-1, 6-0
Records: Pennsville 15-6, Pitman 13-7
Scrappy baseball
Pennsville uses grit, luck to get past Glassboro; includes scores, details from Tuesday’s Salem County sports calendar
BASEBALL
Pennsville 4, Glassboro 1: Eagles take lead with four in fortuitous fifth inning; full story below..
Wildwood 12, Penns Grove 2: Trevor Troiano goes 4-for-4; Wildwood holds Penns Grove to one hit through five innings while opening 7-0 lead. Bristol Scott, Tim Zamorano drove in Penns Grove’s runs in sixth.
Piscataway Magnet 15, Salem Tech 7: NJTAC Group 1/2 Tournament semifinals. Chargers led early, but Piscataway (21-2) pulled away from a 9-7 game with six in home sixth..
SOFTBALL
Woodstown 11, Deptford 1: Karly Spears and Macie Moore combine for four hits, four runs and three RBIs from bottom of Wolverines’ lineup. Leah Clark allows two hits, none after the first inning, and struck out eight to surpass 200 in her career (201).
Millville 16, Pennsville 2: Thunderbolts put Eagles back on their heels with seven in top of the first inning. Pennsville’s Graillyn Weber ties Kylie Harris’ single-season school doubles record (15), Harris hits her 49th career double.
Buena 12, Salem Tech 11: Chiefs score three runs on passed balls in home seventh to walk it off. Izzy Roberts had three hits and Carmen Mott three RBIs for the Chargers
GOLF
Schalick 161, Cumberland 196: Schalick’s Anthony Sepers posts 2-over 38 at Centerton CC for medalist honors. Teammate Jaxson Weber shot 39.
GIRLS GOLF
OLMA 214, Schalick 225: OLMA’s Eva Acerba and Schalick’s Lena Virga shared medalist honors (48) at Centerton CC
TENNIS
Middle Twp. 5, Schalick 0: See below
Pennsville 4, Washington Twp. 1: See below
GIRLS LACROSSE
Holy Cross 13, Woodstown 12: The Lancers scored twice in the final 1:31 to win. Caroline Tobin and Brielle Mosteller scored six goals each for Holy Cross. Delaney Walker scored four (217) for Woodstown, Emma Morgan scored three for her 200th career point.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Middle Twp.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at West Tech
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – At least one time every year Pennsville’s home field becomes a true advantage to play at home.
It certainly was Tuesday when the skin infield of Ed Rieger Field that the Eagles have come to love played a key role in the inning that propelled them to a 4-1 come-from-behind victory over Glassboro.
The game carried some serious implications for the South Jersey Group i playoff bracket and it very much played like a playoff game. The Eagles trailed 1-0 going to the home fifth of a tight pitching duel between aces Jude Dempster and Gavin Spears, but they came out of the inning with a 4-1 lead thanks in part of the subtleties of the infield.
The inning started when Spears reached on a one-out dropped third strike and escalated into a bases-loaded situation on Mason O’Brien’s single and Jeff Wagner getting hit by a pitch. Logan Streitz followed with a fly ball to the gap in left center that centerfielder Jimmy McMahon had in his glove and couldn’t hold allowing the tying run to score.
With the bases still loaded, Stevie Fatcher lofted a high pop behind first that was circled under by first baseman Aidan Evangelisti but eventually fell between three fielders. The Bulldogs thought it should have been an infield fly rule out, but the umpires didn’t see it that way and the Eagles had a 2-1 lead.
Then came the play that makes the skin infield both feared and famous. Grady Sanders hit a routine grounder to the right side. It looked like it would be the third out of the inning, but at the last instant it took a wicked hop into second baseman Kody Harrell’s upper body. The sophomore infielder recovered the ball, but in his haste to get the out his throw to first was wide and two insurance runs raced home.
“We’ve been talking a lot lately about just finding a way,” Eagles coach Matt Karr said. “Ugly, pretty, whatever, just find a way. And that starts with just putting the ball in play and doing your job. Heads up play there by Gavin. Instead of standing there feeling sorry for himself he finds his way on base. Everything we’ve been preaching this season and always here, just give the guy behind you a shot. Whatever your job is at the moment go to the plate and do it and trust that the guy behind you is gonna pick you up and finish it off.
“Another thing I talk about all the time is luck. I really believe that part of the baseball game is creating some of your own luck. Some of those things that happened that inning, we had to put ourselves in situations for it to be capitalized on. Could’ve been nobody on and that pop up happens and falls and doesn’t mean anything. but we had guys on and we were fighting, so we created our luck in that situation. When you’re facing a pitcher like (Dempster) you have to almost ugly it up a little bit, fight, claw and find a way.”
Spears calls it “scrappy baseball … that’s what we symbolize around here.”
A similar scenario took place here 51 weeks ago when the Eagles scored a one-run extra-inning victory over Pitman. They fell behind that day 1-0 in the first, tied it in the seventh on a ball that got away from the catcher and won in it the eighth with the help of two fielding errors by two normally sure-handed infielders.
“We’re becoming one of the far and few between fields where it’s a skin infield; I don’t know how many of them are left in South Jersey, I would guess not many,” Karr said. “Here, as dry as the weather’s been, this field hardens up and our guys get the luxury of practicing and playing on it every single day. We were watching them take I/O and I told the guys, half-heartedly joking, Ed Rieger’s hardening up, you know what that means. Put ‘er in play and see what happens. It always finds a way. We love the home-field advantage.”
“This field is probably the worst I’ve ever seen in my life,” Sanders said. “On this infield, there’s been many black eyes that I’ve seen; I got hit over the forehead last year. Especially over there (waving to the right side), that’s one of the hardest spots in the infield. It’s great to play here. This is the most challenging place to play. Everywhere else feels like a joy ride. I love playing here. It makes me a better defender. It makes everybody here a better defender.”
“Basically anything that’s hit hard on the ground (is) guaranteed a base hit here,” Spears said. “It’s not the best place to play but for us I’d say it is. Any team coming in here is going to have a hard time fielding the ball. We get to work out here every single day, so we’re kind of used to it. This is just our home.”
Once the Eagles grabbed the lead, Spears had to go out and defend it. He went out and gave them a shutdown sixth, working the corners to retire the Bulldogs on a soft liner to second and two strikeouts. He allowed five hits and struck out eight in going the distance for his longest outing of the season. The Bulldogs scored their run in the first inning – on back-to-back walks to open the game, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly – then were blanked the rest of the game.
“We went up to Cherry Hill West for the Diamond Classic and threw him out there against one of the top teams in the state and he went out and battled his butt off,” Karr said. “We told the boys after the game I don’t know if you guys knew that we needed an ace or had an ace, but you’ve got a guy. We know when 10 toes the rubber we’re going to have a shot to win. Every start he’s been on the mound we’ve been right there or we’ve won. Our guys feel that. When they’ve got their guy on the mound they come out feeling different that day. He gives us that shot in the arm.”
“I never really considered myself an ace; I always feel like there’s things to work on, even in this game,” Spears said. “It’s good to know they have trust in me. I know my fielders have my back. I know they’re going to make every play that’s out there.”
Dempster was equally impressive for the Bulldogs. He held the Eagles to four hits over five innings and struck out 11.
The win allowed the Eagles to switch places with Glassboro in the SJ Group I power points standings. Glassboro was sixth and Pennsville seventh to start the day, but they flipped after the game. Schalick is No. 1, Woodstown No. 3. The power point window closes after Saturday’s games.
| Glassboro | 100 | 000 | 0- | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Pennsville | 000 | 040 | x- | 4 | 5 | 2 |
SJ GROUP 1 POWER POINTS STANDINGS
Top 16 through May 12
1. Schalick (14-6), 2. Haddon Twp. (12-8), 3. Woodstown (13-8), 4. Wildwood (15-7), 5. Maple Shade (11-8), 6. Pennsville (12-6), 7. Glassboro (9-11), 8. Audubon (8-9), 9. Buena (10-10), 10. Gateway (11-8), 11. Paulsboro (5-13), 12. Riverside (6-10), 13. Pitman (7-12), 14. LEAP (8-9), 15. Cape May Tech (5-12), 16. Palmyra (4-12).
On the bubble: Clayton (5-11), Burlington City (5-8), Penns Grove (3-13).
TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 4, WASHINGTON TWP. 1
William Minchin (WT) def. Sawyer Humphrey, 6-2, 6-3
Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Steven Pisano, 6-3, 6-4
Carter Willis (P) def. Aaron Negin, 6-1, 6-3
Coen Rinner-Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Josh To-Leo Yang, 6-3, 6-3
Lucas Thomas-Matthew Forino (P) def. Ben Steinberg-Ravi Patel, 6-3, 6-3
Records: Pennsville 14-6, Washington Twp. 5-13.
MIDDLE TWP. 5, SCHALICK 0
Michael Ratchford (MT) def. Gabe McFeeley, 6-0, 6-2
Miles Stafford (MT) def. Reece Loatman, 6-0, 6-3
Michael Zuzulock (MT) def. Tyr Brattlie, 6-1, 6-2
Kenny Martin-Dante Duca (MT) def. Cooper Halperin-Jack Genievich, 6-2, 6-2
Dylan Jenkins-MJ Murnagham (MT) def. Angelo Boston-Gavin McGrath, 6-2, 6-0
Records: Middle Twp. 17-1, Schalick 7-10.
Monday sports report
Here are the scores and details from games on Monday’s Salem County sports calendar
BASEBALL
Woodstown 3, Clayton 1: Chase Harding scored on a passed ball with Ty Coblentz batting to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead and Coblentz completed the at-bat with a sacrifice fly. Three Woodstown pitchers scattered five hits and struck out 11.
Schalick 19, Salem 0: Mason Sanchez went 2-for-2 and pitched the first two shutout innings with five strikeouts. Cole Hartley had three RBIs.
SOFTBALL
Deptford 8, Salem Tech 6: Molly Bulger and Soph McGuire (3 RBIs) both went 4-for-4 for the Spartans
Woodstown 5, Clayton 1: Talia Guardascione singled home the first run in a four-run first inning that got Woodstown going.
Pennsville 7, Glassboro 4: Kylie Harris’s leadoff homer broke a 4-4 tie and kicked off a three-run eighth inning for Pennsville. Savannah Guglielmo threw two innings of no-hit relief for the win. Lily Edwards scored her 99th career run.
Schalick 6, Salem 0: The Cougars won for the second time this year at the Elmer LL complex.
GIRLS GOLF
Williamstown 195, Schalick 206: Williamstown’s Kaci Adams was medalist (45). Cali Fisler posted the low round for Schalick (48)
VOLLEYBALL
Washington Twp. 2, Salem Tech 0: 25-7, 25-8
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown 16, Triton 3: Delaney Walker (5 goals) now at 213
BOYS LACROSSE
Millville at Woodstown
TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 5, SCHALICK 0
Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Gabe McFeeley, 6-0, 6-0
Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Reece Loatman, 6-1, 6-0
Carter Willis (P) def. Tyr Brattlie, 6-1, 6-0
Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Cooper Halperin-Jack Genievich, 6-0, 6-0
Ian Peacock-Lucas Thomas (P) def. Angelo Boston-Gavin McGrath, 7-5, 6-0
Records: Schalick 6-8, Pennsville 12-6
WOODSTOWN 5, TIMBER CREEK 0
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Kyle Clark Blanding, 6-4, 6-1
Luke Shaw (WO) def. Derek Sarpong, 6-1, 6-1
Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Adam He, 6-1, 6-3
Vincent Merendino-Josef Hummel (WO) def. Gabriel Castro-Keenan King, 6-0, 6-0
Josh King-John Hood-McGinley (WO) def. Stephen Fehon-Shawn Allen, 6-1, 6-1
Records: Woodstown 12-6, Timber Creek 3-11
Pitman at Penns Grove
TRACK
SPARTAN SPRINT NIGHT
GIRLS
4×100: 1. Kingsway 47.98
400: 1. Noemi Haller, Kingsway 55.72
100 Hurdles: 1. Nyla Jackmon-Smith, Clearview 14.62
100: 1. Talia Griscom, Kingsway 12.22
800: 1. Savannah Freeland, Camden Catholic 2:21.07
400 Hurdles: 1. Kenya Nobles, Kingsway 1:05.05
200: NiaLeila Cuascut, Washington Twp. 25.69
BOYS
4×100: 1. Cherry Hill West 42.94
400: 1. Elijah Capra, Highland 48.72
110 Hurdles: 1. Jasiah Gibbons, Williamstown 14.48
100: 1. Joshua George-Oyewole, Williamstown 10.94
800: 1. Zacchaeus Harrigan, Glassboro 1:58.01
400 Hurdles: 1. Zacchaeus Harrigan, Glassboro 56.44
200: 1. Micah Brown, Washington Twp. 22.67
Keeping track
Here is an update on former Salem County high school players on the next level through May 10
Baseball
| PLAYER | SCHOOL | GP | BA | H | HR | RBI |
| Elijah Crespo, Penns Grove | RCSJ-Cumb | 17 | .217 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Lucas D’Agostino, Schalick | RCSJ-Cumb | 26 | .274 | 17 | 1 | 26 |
| Andrew Pedrick, Woodstown | Harford CC | 33 | .398 | 39 | 3 | 39 |
| Lucas Prendergast, Woodstown | York | 41 | .403 | 62 | 5 | 28 |
| Jarrett Pokrovsky, Schalick | Penn | 38 | .297 | 46 | 2 | 21 |
| Terrell Robinson, Salem | Rosemont | 27 | .260 | 19 | 0 | 9 |
| Jackson Schalick, Schalick | Frostburg | 54 | .378 | 68 | 8 | 63 |
| Caiden Spinelli, Woodstown | Rosemont | 32 | .340 | 35 | 0 | 15 |
| Connor Starn, Pennsville | Keystone | 10 | .154 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Rocco String, Woodstown | Salem CC | 33 | .255 | 25 | 3 | 25 |
| Chase Swain, Woodstown | LaSalle | 51 | .389 | 79 | 9 | 39 |
| Mike Valente, Woodstown | Salem CC | 10 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Williams, Woodstown | G-Beacom | 37 | .292 | 40 | 3 | 25 |
| PITCHER | SCHOOL | GP | W-L | ERA | IP | K |
| Evan Biddle, Salem | Frostburg | 9 | 1-0 | 8.10 | 10.0 | 7 |
| Lucas D’Agostino, Schalick | RCSJ-Cumb | 11 | 5-2 | 1.88 | 52.2 | 53 |
| Ben Foote, Woodstown | Caldwell | 7 | 1-1 | 9.82 | 7.1 | 5 |
| Jack Holladay, Woodstown | Neumann | 8 | 0-3 | 9.43 | 21.0 | 16 |
| Peyton O’Brien, Pennsville | Harford CC | 7 | 0-0 | 1.74 | 10.1 | 12 |
| Luke Pokrovsky, Schalick | Penn | 12 | 0-1 | 12.89 | 14.2 | 15 |
| Terrell Robinson, Salem | Rosemont | 4 | 0-0 | 8.10 | 6.2 | 2 |
| Caiden Spinelli, Woodstown | Rosemont | 2 | 0-0 | 27.00 | 1.1 | 1 |
| Rocco String, Woodstown | Salem CC | 5 | 0-1 | 29.08 | 4.1 | 5 |
| Mike Valente, Woodstown | Salem CC | 9 | 2-1 | 5.84 | 24.2 | 12 |
| Luke Wood, Pennsville | McDaniel | 10 | 5-1 | 5.09 | 46 | 37 |
Softball
| PLAYER | SCHOOL | GP | BA | H | HR | RBI |
| Emily Holladay, Woodstown | Hartwick | 16 | .190 | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| Tulana Mingin, Woodstown | East Stroudsburg | 55 | .321 | 59 | 0 | 6 |
| Ava Ortiz, Salem | Salem CC | 15 | .474 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Savannah Palverento, Pennsville | Salem CC | 44 | .413 | 45 | 2 | 39 |
| Lilly Peverelle, Pennsville | Salem CC | 47 | .476 | 70 | 8 | 60 |
| Bella Rappa, Pennsville | Salem CC | 38 | .440 | 44 | 0 | 43 |
| Cayla Sbrana, Schalick | RCSJ-Cumb | 27 | .304 | 21 | 0 | 12 |
| Sawyer Simmons, Pennsville | Salem CC | 30 | .317 | 19 | 1 | 15 |
| PITCHER | SCHOOL | GP | W-L | ERA | IP | K |
| Savannah Palverento, Pennsville | Salem CC | 16 | 2-0 | 6.16 | 25.0 | 27 |
| Cayla Sbrana, Schalick | RCSJ-Cumb | 14 | 2-10 | 10.02 | 65.2 | 22 |
| Raegan Wilson, Salem | Salem CC | 23 | 11-6 | 5.80 | 89.1 | 51 |
Riverview Sports News 