District 3 Tuesday

Elmer powers past Pennsville for first tournament win; East Vineland shakes up standings by blanking Franklin Twp.

AMERICAN	REC	RUNS	NATIONAL	REC	RUNS
c-E. Vineland	3-1	38-20	x-S. Vineland	2-0	14-6
a-Franklin Twp.	2-1	25-15	x-Buena	2-0	25-1
b-Woodstown	2-1	24-19	S. Cumberland	1-2	23-15
Elmer	1-2	18-25	N. Vineland	0-3	3-43
Pennsville	0-3	24-50

Top two in each division advance to double-loss finals; a-owns tiebreaker on Woodstown, b-owns tiebreaker on East Vineland, c-owns tiebreaker on Franklin Twp.; x-clinched playoff spot

TUESDAY’S GAMES
East Vineland 2, Franklin Twp. 0
Elmer 10, Pennsville 6
South Vineland 4, South Cumberland 3
Buena 14, North Vineland 0
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Franklin Twp. at Elmer, 7 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
South Vineland at Buena, 7 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – It hasn’t been a good tournament for either of the two teams playing on McLaughlin Field Tuesday night, but at least somebody was going to go home with something to hang their batting helmets on.

Fortune favored the Elmer All-Stars on this night. Roman Allen homered and drove in four runs and Elmer looked like a team that was starting to put it together in a 10-6 win over host Pennsville in a battle of teams that fell off the division chase in the District 3 Little League Tournament.

“Finally,” Elmer manager Ray Harding said. “It took a little bit, but we’re kind of clicking a little bit. They figured it out.

“Yesterday, the first inning was bad. Today, it was not as bad. It’s good to get a win. It should’ve been us last night, but that’s all right. You live and learn. Figure it out.”

The winners banged out their tournament-high 16 hits in the game, 10 from the first four spots in the lineup. Allen went 3-for-3 and each of his hits drove in at least one run. He capped the night with a two-run homer in the fifth punctuated with an exaggerated bat flip that almost went as high as the ball when it left the bat.

“I was looking to hit a home run,” he said. “My uncle in center field said if I hit one I’d get like 20 dollars. (Uncle said it would’ve been 100 if the slugger hit his truck). That was probably one of my best one. I knew it was going right off the bat.”

And that’s probably why he launched the bat about as high into the sky as he did after he hit it. The bat came down about halfway up the third base line.

“That’s the first time I’ve done that,” he said. “I watch a lot of videos and stuff of baseball. I see other people do it and it’s pretty cool.”

“It could’ve been a lot worse,” Harding said. “I’ve seen some crazy bat flips. I don’t want to say by him, but, you know.”

Allen described getting a win in the tournament as “pretty cool.”

“We were struggling the last few games, so it’s pretty nice to win a game,” he said.

Taking an aggressive approach at the plate that included first-pitch swinging on Pennsville starter Lachlen Tighe, Elmer scored three runs in the first inning to answer Pennsville’s three-run breakout in the top of the inning and tacked on five more in the third.

Their seven batters in the first inning saw only 11 pitches. The first four all had hits with Allen delivering an RBI double, Brody Emigholz an RBI single and Connor Harding a sacrifice fly.

Mirocco Pierce-Stevenson got the five-run eruption in the third going with a leadoff double down the left-field line. Before the inning was over, Cash Williams, Allen, Harding and Sam Tighe all had RBI singles and Emigholz drove in a run with a ground out.

Pennsville took advantage of Elmer starter Williams’ early wildness to score its three runs in the first. They had one hit – Tyler Colony’s leadoff single – three walks and two hit batsmen. They scored three more in the fifth with Colomy and Mason Seaver producing hits.

Both teams play their final tournament games at home Wednesday. The games have been pushed back to 7 p.m. in hopes of escaping the worst of the day’s high temperatures.

Pennsville	300	030-	6	6	0
Elmer	305	02-	10	16	3

WP: Cash Williams. LP: Lachlen Tighe. 2B: Luca Codamo (P), Roman Allen (E), Mirocco Pierce-Stevenson (E). HR: Roman Allen (E)

EV scrambles the standings

FRANKLINVILLE – Jace Oliveri hit his fifth homer of the tournament and pitched a three-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts as East Vineland blanked Franklin Twp. 2-0 to throw the District 3 American Division standings into an uproar.

With the win, East Vineland completed its pool play 3-1 and tied in the loss column with Franklin Twp. and Woodstown, both of whom play their final pool games Wednesday. If the teams finish in a three-way tie at 3-1, the run-ratio will determine which two teams that advance from the pool to the double-loss district finals.

Going into the final day, Franklin Twp. has allowed 15 runs in three games, Woodstown has allowed 19 in three games and East Vineland has allowed 20 in four games. That means, if Franklin Twp. beats Elmer and holds it to four runs or less, Woodstown would have to hold Pennsville to one run or less to overtake East Vineland even though they beat the Cumberland County team head-to-head.

“At this level it’s hard to hold teams to one run or less,” said Woodstown manager Dave Murnane, whose team was idle Tuesday night. “All it takes is an error here, a string of a couple batters hitting the ball there, and you have given up three. Any team can do that. However, we have the team that can definitely step up defensively between our pitching and gloves in the field. First things first, we have to win.

“Elmer certainly earned my respect on Monday. They have 9, 10 players who are solid at the plate. It wouldn’t surprise me if they score a little. If they get pitching anything is possible. I wouldn’t count us out yet.”

Led by the most dynamic player in the tournament, East Vineland did what it had to do. All it can do now is wait for the final day’s results to come in.

Oliveri gave his team a 1-0 lead with a one-out solo homer in the home first and then made it stand from the mound as he battled with Luke Hudson in an old-fashioned pitching duel.

Oliveri gave up three singles, walked one and faced just five batters over the minimum as his defense, manager Dan Lonzi said, “was darned near perfect behind him.” Hudson, meanwhile, also gave up three hits and struck out nine, but walked four.

East Vineland added an unearned insurance run in the fifth when Carter Suarez scored on a dropped third strike passed ball that would’ve been the third out of the inning. Oliveri then struck out the side in order in the sixth to close out the game.

“It was huge,” Lonzi said. “Not all the kids are real dedicated ballplayers like Jace is, so for them to be around somebody like him, somebody who is so dedicated, I think elevates our whole league and, really, regionally he’s elevated things. The kids are trying to live up to him and play well for him and kind of match his level of play. To bring pride to my kids and our league and for himself was just tremendous.

“And to go 3-1, we went 0-3 two years ago, we went 2-2 and missed it with run differential last year. This year we have a chance to move on. We don’t know if we’re going to, but I think we have a good chance to. Everybody’s just so happy to be part of this ride that they’re on. The whole run that they’ve had right now has been something to watch. ”

The four-team district finals start July 6. The district champion will open Section 4 tournament play against the District 15 winner July 17 in Hammonton, then play either the District 16 winner or the 13-14 loser in their second game July 18.

Franklin Twp.	000	000-	0	3	0
East Vineland	100	01x-	2	3	1

WP: Jace Oliveri. LP: Luke Hudson. HR: Jace Oliveri (EV).

Jace’s jacks lift EV

East Vineland slams Pennsville in District 3 LL Tournament behind 2 Oliveri homers; Woodstown hangs on to edge Elmer to remain in hunt for Final Four spot

AMERICAN	REC	RUNS	NATIONAL	REC	RUNS
a-Franklin Twp.	2-0	25-13	S. Vineland	1-0	10-3
b-Woodstown	2-1	24-19	Buena	1-0	11-1
East Vineland	2-1	36-20	S. Cumberland	1-1	20-11
Pennsville	0-2	18-40	N. Vineland	0-2	3-29
Elmer	0-2	8-19

Top two in each division advance to double-loss finals; a-owns tiebreaker on Woodstown, b-owns tiebreaker on East Vineland

MONDAY’S GAMES
East Vineland 21, Pennsville 10
Woodstown 9, Elmer 8
South Cumberland 19, North Vineland 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Hitters want to hit. East Vineland’s Jace Oliveri wanted to hit in the first inning, even if it meant giving up a free base. He got his chance after a little bit of a question and it couldn’t have turned out better for him.

For the Pennsville All-Stars, they’d no doubt have preferred Oliveri took one for the team.

After drawing a walk in his first at-bat of the inning, the 12-year-old EV shortstop unloaded a grand slam to cap an 11-run first inning that carried his team to a 21-10 win over Pennsville in the District 3 Little League Tournament Monday night.

The slam, the first of two homers the rising eighth-grader hit in the game, was impressive enough, but it was the circumstances that brought it about that made it especially noteworthy.

The first pitch he saw from Pennsville’s second pitcher of the inning came in high and tight and hit up on the handle of the bat. The plate umpire initially said the ball hit Oliveri on the hand and was prepared to give him first base, but the slugger immediate turned and said it hit the bat. He was convincing enough to get the call overturned and two pitches later he launched his slam into the second row of cars beyond the right centerfield fence.

“It actually hit the bat; it hit like right there (above the top hand),” Oliveri said positioning his hands on an imaginary bat. “I didn’t think he was going to say yes, honestly, and I’m like, all right, I’ll just take the base, fine. (Then when he homered) it felt really nice. It felt like a gift … from God. I really wanted to hit today. I’ve been working on my swing a lot … and I wanted to see how it would work out.”

East Vineland manager Dan Lonzi thought his slugger was hit by the pitch because of the dull sound it make.

“I didn’t hear a metal sound, but my hearing’s not that great, either,” he said. “And I’ll tell you what, he’s an honest kid so if he comes in and says it doesn’t hit the bat, I believe it. He’s a true hitter. He wants it.”

From the other dugout, Pennsville manager Vinnie Cascaden said he should’ve argued more for the hit batsman.

It was just one of the things that went wrong for the game’s hosts in the first inning. East Vineland sent 14 batters to the plate. Ten straight batters reached safely after the initial out. There were three hits in the inning, including Oliveri’s slam, six walks and two hit batsmen.

The next time Oliveri came to the plate Pennsville chose to pitch to him with a base open, a development that surprised both the hitter and his coach, and he sent a three-run homer over the centerfield fence to make it 15-0. Pennsville paid him the ultimate respect when he batted in the fifth, intentionally walking him with the bases loaded to take them deeper over the run-rule threshold (17-6).

If you’re scoring at home, that’s 2-for-2, two homers, four runs scored and eight RBIs.

“I just felt real good today,” Oliveri said. “I came in feeling a little bit tired and whenever that happens usually something gets me going and keeps me rolling.”

“Obviously you didn’t have your normal warmup,” Lonzi, standing nearby, interjected. “But when you hit the game, it was you.”

In three tournament games so far Oliveri is 5-for-7 with 15 RBIs, seven runs scored and four home runs. He hit seven home runs during his EVLL season. He is scheduled to start on the mound in Tuesday’s showdown with undefeated Franklin Twp. that could go a long way towards determining the American Division’s two championship round qualifiers.

An East Vineland win Tuesday would leave three teams with one loss and open the door for the qualifiers to be determined by tournament’s run ratio. A Franklin Twp. win would set the stage for Woodstown to clinch the second playoff spot with a win at Pennsville Wednesday.

“He’s the complete package,” Lonzi said. “Not only is he a leader on the field, he pitches, he plays a mean shortstop, he’s a power hitter and he’s a leader in the clubhouse. They all look up to him, they really do. We go as he goes. Even personality-wise: If he’s upbeat, they’re upbeat.”

Cascaden said he considered putting Oliveri on in the third inning with a base open, but while the coaches discussed it, Oliveri he already had a pitch thrown to him and they decided to let fate run its course.

To their credit, Pennsville didn’t roll over after East Vineland opened the big lead and did all they could to avoid getting run ruled until a six-run fifth finally put it away. When it was 15-0, Pennsville got four in the third to extend the game. When it was 15-4, they got two more in the fourth to keep it under the 10-run threshold.

Even after East Vineland stretched the lead to 21-6 in the fifth, Pennsville kept scoring, with Connor McGovern delivering a three-run homer. McGovern had two extra-bases in the game for Pennsville. Mason Seaver, Drew LaPalomento and Luca Codamo all had a pair of hits as well.

“We always instruct them to play the full six innings,” Cascaden said. “We want to be out here six innings. It’s fun hitting the baseball.

“We as coaches instill in them to keep playing, keep going, don’t have our heads down, keep chanting, keep being themselves. This is how they played all season, even when we were playing each other in our Little League games, that’s all they do all year.”

East Vineland	(11)13	06-	21	8	2
Pennsville	004	24-	10	10	3

WP: Karter Golestaneh. LP: Michael Genna. 2B: Connor McGovern (P). 3B: Drew LaPalomento (P). HR: Jace Oliveri 2 (EV), Connor McGovern (P),

WOODSTOWN 9, ELMER 8: Woodstown opened a big lead early, then had to hold off a spirited Elmer rally to win a one-run game and keep their hopes alive for one of the two American spots in the Final Four.

The winners jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning behind Grant West’s two-run triple and RBI singles by Xander Shimp, Logan Roback and Ryan Garton and extended it to 8-1 in the third on a two-run single by West and a bases-loaded passed ball.

But then their bats went silent until the sixth when West walked, stole second and third, and rode home with what wound up being the winning run on Pax Arno’s fielder’s choice grounder to third. West went 2-for-2 with two runs and three RBIs in the game.

Meanwhile, Elmer started mounting a comeback. Cash Williams’ two-run single and a run-scoring single by Roman Allen drew them within 8-4 in the third inning. Kip Trembley’s run-scoring ground out and Sam Tighe’s steal of home made it 8-6 in the fourth.

“When it got to 8-4 I could feel it tightening up a little bit,” Woodstown manager Dave Murnane said.

Tighe’s two-run double with one out in the sixth got Elmer within 9-8. The throw to get Tighe at third was in time, but the ball got knocked out of third baseman’s glove, but on appeal Tighe was ruled out for a head-first slide into the bag. Arno then made a nice play on Trembley’s grounder to second to get the final out of the game.

“I saw it but I didn’t realize it at first that it was a head first slide,” Murnane said. “I appealed because everybody said ‘head-first slide.’ That set up the last play. (Trembley) hit a heater to Pax Arno. He snatched it out of the air and made the final out. It was pretty hairy there. I guess the sixth inning was the inning of the Arnos.”

The win left Woodstown tied with East Vineland for second in the American Division. EV plays division-leading Franklin Twp. Tuesday. An EV win would leave three teams with one loss and open the possibility for the division to be decided by the standings’ run-ratio. With one game left on their respective pool play schedules, Woodstown has allowed one less run than EV. A Franklin Twp. win would set the stage for Woodstown to earn a playoff spot Wednesday with a win over Pennsville and Franklin win over Elmer.

“I think from the standpoint of going into Wednesday hopefully being able to control our own destiny, I feel good about that,” Murnane said.

The four-team district finals start July 6. The district champion will open Section 4 tournament play against the District 15 winner July 17 in Hammonton, then play either the District 16 winner of the 13-14 loser in their second game July 18.

Woodstown	503	001-	9	10	2
Elmer	013	202-	8	10	2

WP: Xander Shimp. LP: Connor Harding. 2B: Sam Tighe (E). 3B: Grant West (WO).

REMAINING POOL PLAY SCHEDULE
(All games 5:45 p.m. unless noted)
Tuesday’s games
East Vineland at Franklin Twp.
Elmer at Pennsville
South Vineland at South Cumberland
North Vineland at Buena
Wednesday’s games
Franklin Twp. at Elmer, 7 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
South Cumberland at Buena, 7 p.m.

Woodstown bounces back

District 3 LL Tournament Day Two: Woodstown bounces back after opening night disappointment, big inning dooms Pennsville in its high-scoring tournament opener

NJ LITTLE LEAGUE DISTRICT 3

AMERICAN	REC	RUNS	NATIONAL	REC	RUNS
Franklin Twp.	2-0	25-13	S. Vineland	1-0	10-3
Woodstown	1-1	15-11	Buena	1-0	11-1
East Vineland	1-1	15-10	S. Cumberland	0-1	1-11
Pennsville	0-1	8-19	N. Vineland	0-1	3-10
Elmer	0-1	0-10

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Woodstown 10, East Vineland 5
Franklin Twp. 19, Pennsville 8
Buena 11, South Cumberland 1

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Most managers would have some concern about the prospects of their young team bouncing back after a gut-wrenching loss just 24 hours earlier. Not Dave Murnane or his Woodstown Little League All-Stars.

Woodstown lost a game it probably should have won in the bottom of the sixth inning Friday night. But between the quick turnaround, the chaos of getting the field ready after an all-day rain and just his general confidence in the players on his team, the Woodstown manager had no doubt they would rebound. That last-inning loss at Franklin Twp. in their District 3 Little League Tournament opener might as well have been last year as last night.

There was no sign of fatigue or fatalism when they returned to the field Saturday at Marlton Park. They scored early and often, two pitchers held the opposition to four hits and they turned back an East Vineland team that was impressive in its tournament opener the night before, 10-5.

“The quick turnaround helped us, but to be honest, I think the chaos here helped us because we weren’t even thinking about last night,” Murnane said. “By the time this game started it felt like last night was a week ago. I didn’t feel like they would have an issue bouncing back.”

“I didn’t have any concerns,” starting pitcher Ashton Wadman said. “I feel like we played pretty good last night, so I felt we probably could’ve come back into this game and hit the ball and pitched pretty good, and we did.”

“When we play and lose we don’t let it affect our next game,” third baseman and reliever Logan Roback added. “We just clean it up and go.”

They didn’t waste any time showing the previous night’s loss was behind them. They scored three runs in the first on Wadman’s two-run double and Roback’s RBI single. Wadman gave Woodstown the lead Friday with a two-run homer in the first.

“Whenever you play the Vineland teams you know you’re playing a big Little League that pulls from a lot of kids, so you know they’re going to come with a pretty good team,” Murnane said. “So the fact we were able to get three on them and then get through the first inning 3-0 I thought we were in a pretty good spot.”

“It kind of set the mood that we’re not going to lose and we just kept rallying and rallying and rallying,” Roback said.

East Vineland cut margin back to 3-2 in the top of the third, but Woodstown responded with three more in the bottom of the inning highlighted by Roback’s two-run single. They made it 9-2 with three in the fifth. All three of the three-run innings came when the top of the order led off the frame.

The top six hitters in their lineup were a combined 7-for-16, reached base 15 times and scored nine runs. Wadman, Mason Fackler and Nolan West all reached base three times. Wadman and Fackler each scored three runs.

East Vineland made it interesting in the sixth when Jace Oliveri hit a three-run homer to bring the final margin.

Murnane said he was “humbled” by all the help and work he received to get the field ready to play. When he arrived at the park two hours before scheduled first pitch and saw the condition of the skin infield he thought there was “no way” there would be a game played Saturday. But with the help of neighboring Little Leagues and about a half-dozen volunteer workers, they got the field in shape and the game started about a half-hour later than scheduled.

Woodstown	303	031-	10	8	1
East Vineland	002	003-	5	4	5

WP: Ashton Wadman. LP: Lorenzo Lonzi. 2B: Ashton Wadman (WO), Logan Roback (WO). HR: Jace Oliveri (EV).

**Woodstown starter Ashton Wadman gave his team 3 2/3 innings of two-hit ball on the mound and got the offense going with a two-run double in the first inning.**

FRANKLIN TWP. 19, PENNSVILLE 8: Pennsville answered everything Franklin Twp. threw at it in the first two innings of their tournament opener in Franklinville, but it just couldn’t recover from what came at them in the third.

Franklin Twp. broke away from a 5-5 tie with 10 runs in the third inning and took a command position as the only undefeated team in the tournament’s American Division.

“It was a long two-our rally by them,” Pennsville manager Vinnie Cascaden said. “Their batters put it in spots where (his fielders) couldn’t make the play; that was as simple as it was. It falls either a couple feet left or right we’re out of the inning.”

The winners’ big inning came all with two outs. Think of it like the Phillies big ninth-inning rally against the Nationals earlier this week without the drama. They sent 15 batters to the plate. Eleven in a row reached safely after Pennsville starter Dante DiMarco got the second out.

“I guess you could say that; I like it,” Franklin Twp. manager Andrew Myers said of the comparison.

Most of the damage was inflicted against Tyler Colomy as DiMarco was pulled before reaching his pitch limit so he’d be available later in the week. There were six hits, three walks, two errors and a hit batsman.

“I thought our kids wanted it,” Myers said. “Even with two outs they didn’t get down. They went after it and they got it, and I’m proud of them.”

To its credit Pennsville didn’t lie down after the big inning. They scored three more runs, including Michael Genna’s solo homer in the third, and left the bases loaded in the fourth and sixth. Earlier in the game they had matched Franklin Twp.’s four in the first and one in the second. Colomy and DiMarco both had three hits at the top of the lineup to lead Pennsville’s offense.

“I was really proud of the team,” Cascaden said. “They fought back every time they came down. Even after that long inning the boys still went up there, battled, fought, the pitchers still came out here and pitched their heart out. That last inning, I felt like if Ryan (Lucas) got that one over that right fielder (that wound up being caught for the final out) we might have had a chance to do the same thing to them.”

The win left Franklin Twp. 2-0 in the division and clearly with the upper hand for a spot in the Final Four, but Myers is taking nothing for granted.

“We can’t take our foot off the pedal,” he said. “Have to make sure we stay focused and not look ahead, just what’s in front of us. One game at a time.”

Pennsville’s post-game message, meanwhile, was simply to stay positive. They’re still alive for a spot in the district Final Four.

“I just told the boys keep their heads up high and come back and win the next three,” Cascaden said.

Franklin Twp.	41(10)	004-	19	14	4
Pennsville	411	101-	8	10	3

WP: Lucas Capecci. LP: Dante DiMarco. 2B: Lucas Capecci 2 (FT), Luke Hudson (FT), Stoshu Ronczka (FT), Connor McGovern (P). HR: Michael Genna (P).

REMAINING POOL PLAY SCHEDULE
(All games 5:45 p.m. unless noted)
Monday’s games
East Vineland at Pennsville
Elmer at Woodstown
South Cumberland at North Vineland
Tuesday’s games
East Vineland at Franklin Twp.
Elmer at Pennsville
South Vineland at South Cumberland
North Vineland at Buena
Wednesday’s games
Franklin Twp. at Elmer
Woodstown at Pennsville
South Cumberland at Buena

Tough night for the locals

Woodstown, Elmer fall in opening games in the District 3 LL Tournament; Franklin Twp. walks off Woodstown, East Vineland one-hits, run-rules Elmer

NJ LITTLE LEAGUE DISTRICT 3

AMERICAN	REC.	RF-RA	NATIONAL	REC.	RF-RA
East Vineland	1-0	10-0	S. Vineland	1-0	10-3
Franklin Twp.	1-0	6-5	Buena	0-0	0-0
Pennsville	0-0	0-0	S. Cumberland	0-0	0-0
Woodstown	0-1	5-6	N. Vineland	0-1	3-10
Elmer	0-1	0-10

FRIDAY’S GAMES
East Vineland 10, Elmer 0, 5 inns.
Franklin Twp. 6, Woodstown 5
South Vineland 10, North Vineland 3

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

FRANKLINVILLE – Manager Andrew Myers knew how much Luke Hudson wanted to win Franklin Twp.’s opener in the District 3 Little League Tournament from the mound Friday. It didn’t quite work out that way for the right-handed pitcher, so instead he won it at the plate.

By all accounts Hudson was having a rough night. He was the starting pitcher and gave up five runs in the first four innings before reaching his pitch limit. It wasn’t going much better at the plate, either, as he was hitless in his first three at-bats.

But he wound up salvaging the day in a big way when he ripped a bases-loaded single into left field with none out in the sixth inning driving home Liam Lippenger with the winning run in Franklin Twp.’s 6-5 victory over Woodstown.

“When I was up to bat, I didn’t have the highest hopes,” Hudson said. “I wasn’t feeling good. I pitched terrible. I gave up a home run in the first inning and then I was 0-for-3 up to that point. With bases loaded, I just hit a hard line drive over the third baseman’s head. I kind of think of it kind of like redemption. Even though I played bad at start I played good at the end, so it evens out in the my mind.”

“When it comes down to the game, he wants the ball,” Myers said. “He didn’t want to come out of the game pitching; he wanted to finish it. He wanted to be the one to bring home the win on the mound, but lucky for him he got the chance to do it at the plate and he did it.”

Lippenger started the winning rally by legging out a bunt single and used his speed to reach second when Caden Goodwin’s bouncer came up on Woodstown shortstop Ashton Wadman. Lucas Capecci singled into right field to load the bases and Hudson won it by lacing a 2-2 pitch from reliever Mason Fackler past the third baseman Daulton Hawk into left field. Several runners came home, but Franklin Twp. only needed one to win.

Woodstown had a chance to break the tie in the top of the inning. They got two runners on with two outs and clean-up hitter Wadman, who homered earlier in the game, coming to the plate, but field umpire called out lead runner Fackler for leaving second base too soon ending the inning.

Woodstown had leads of 2-0, 4-3 and 5-3 in the game. Wadman, one of three players from the Salem LL on the combined roster, gave them a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a long two-run homer. Franklin Twp. answered with three in the home first, but Woodstown retook the lead in the second when Grant West poked a two-run opposite-field single into right. They extended the lead to 5-3 in the fourth on Logan Roback’s RBI double.

“We had some big hits in big situations,” Woodstown manager Dave Murnane said. “Obviously, they did, too. Things could have literally went either way. It didn’t go our way, but it could have.”

Franklin Twp. tied the game 5-5 in the fourth on Vincent Coia’s two-out, two-run double.

“I like the fight in them; they battled back,” Myers said. “There were times where they got upset, they were ready to check out, but, guess what, they checked back in and they brought the win.”

Both teams are back in action Saturday. Franklin Twp. hosts Pennsville in the Eagles’ tournament debut and Woodstown looks to bounce back at home against East Vineland.

“We’ve got to, at this point, probably to advance, we’ve got to run the table,” Murnane said. “That’s our attitude, but I think we can probably beat anybody on our schedule. It was very encouraging (Friday) because you go into these games not knowing what you’re going to get from the opponent, from your own team. The main thing is it was fun.”

EAST VINELAND 10, ELMER 0: Elmer was holding its own for four innings against East Vineland just waiting for its bats to come around. They never did and East Vineland erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning to bring an early end to the game.

Two East Vineland pitchers held Elmer to one hit and struck out 13 in the five-inning game. Jace Oliveri pitched the first 3 1/3 innings, gave up the Elmer’s only hit and struck out 10. He also hit a two-run homer in the break-out inning.

Cash Williams had Elmer’s only hit, an infield single that put two on with none out in the first inning, then Oliveri retired the next eight in a row before issuing a walk to Damon Houchins. Telmer put the tying runs on with one out in the top of fifth, but couldn’t bring them home.

East Vineland’s big inning started with three straight walks and a two-run single to make it 4-0. Williams and Connor Harding retired the next two batters, then the next five reached, including Oliveri’s homer and the two-run double that closed it out.

“We held them for a while,” Elmer manager Ray Harding said. “We were in it and then all of a sudden that one inning really took its toll. We just needed the ball to get hit. It’s like one of those deals where you’re waiting for this one to hit, that one to hit, to get that momentum going. We just needed a couple hits and all of sudden things start clicking. We’re hoping Monday we can hit.”

Woodstown	220	100-	5	5	4
Franklin Twp.	300	101-	6	6	2

No outs when winning run scored. WP: Caden Goodwin. LP: Mason Fackler. 2B: Vincent Coia (FT), Logan Roback (WO). HR: Ashton Wadman (WO).

Elmer	000	00-	0	1	0
East Vineland	101	08-	10	8	0

REMAINING POOL PLAY SCHEDULE
(All games 5:45 p.m. unless noted)
Saturday’s Games
East Vineland at Woodstown, 5 p.m.
Pennsville at Franklin Twp., 7 p.m.
Buena at South Cumberland, 7 p.m.
June 29
East Vineland at Pennsville
Elmer at Woodstown
South Cumberland at North Vineland
June 30
East Vineland at Franklin Twp.
Elmer at Pennsville
South Vineland at South Cumberland
North Vineland at Buena
July 1
Franklin Twp. at Elmer
Woodstown at Pennsville
South Cumberland at Buena

‘Interesting’ describes District 3

N.J. Little League Tournament: All 3 Salem County entries playing in same division; if they dominate the division one will be odd-man out

NJ LITTLE LEAGUE DISTRICT 3

AMERICAN DIV.	W-L	RF-RA	NATIONAL DIV.	W-L	RF-RA
East Vineland	0-0	0-0	Buena	0-0	0-0
Elmer	0-0	0-0	N. Vineland	0-0	0-0
Franklin Twp.	0-0	0-0	S. Cumberland	0-0	0-0
Pennsville	0-0	0-0	S. Vineland	0-0	0-0
Woodstown	0-0	0-0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

All three Salem County teams in this year’s District 3 Little League Tournament – the one that ultimately sends teams to Williamsport – are assigned to the same division, which could create some interesting dynamics come the end of next week.

The teams representing the Pennsville, Woodstown and Elmer LLs are all together in the five-team American Division, along with East Vineland and Franklin Twp.

In a best-case scenario the Salem County entries dominate the division, but leaves someone in the group the odd-man out for the double-loss district finals. Or, with East Vineland a heavy favorite, they could be three teams battling it out for one spot. The top two teams in each division after pool play advance.

“I think it’s kind of cool, but then it’s like, ugh, who’s the odd-man out,” Elmer manager Ray Harding said.

“It’d be great if we can get two representatives from Salem County,” Woodstown’s Dave Murnane agreed.

The tournament gets underway Friday with three 5:45 p.m. games: Elmer at East Vineland, Woodstown at Franklin Twp. and North Vineland at South Vineland. The full schedule is listed below.

Two of the three county teams are combo clubs with other leagues, which makes for some interesting dynamics as those managers try to blend the talent of the incoming players with the players they’re more familiar. Elmer has joined forces with West Cumberland, and Woodstown has incorporated players from Alloway and Salem into its roster.

Of the players on his roster Harding knows best, Jameson Hughes gives Elmer consistent production at the top of the lineup and speed on the bases, Roman Allen has a grand slam, Brody Emigholz provides speed on the bases and Connor Harding and Cash Williams look for extra bases out of the box. Connor Harding “won us a lot of games” during the regular season and will be among their top pitchers.

“It’s been interesting,” the elder Harding said. “It’s kind of like we’re going to have to see when we get there. We’ll get the kinks worked out with Vineland and then win or lose we’ll shoot for Monday (at Woodstown) and go from there.”

Woodstown manager Dave Murnane is a little uncertain of what lies ahead as well, but it’s more related to the competition than his roster.

Among the pitchers, Mason Fackler works quickly and has been “very efficient hitting the strike zone” for Murnane’s Woodstown league team. Ryan Garton has been a top pitcher in Alloway with a good mix of pitches and Ashton Wadman has been an ace in Salem.

“With four games in six days, you’ve got to be very strategic with your pitch counts and everything like that,” Murnane said. “I’m very interested to see what the pitchers do.”

Wadman, Breslin Murnane and Alloway’s Logan Roback are among the team’s top hitters and Woodstown 10-year-olds Nolan West and Pax Arnold are said to be sharp with the glove.

“I’m excited,” said Murnane, the Woodstown league president. “It’s like I said to my coaches: We could get killed or we could win every game. I have no idea what to expect. I have a pretty good idea what to expect from us, but I have no idea what to expect from the other teams, so it’s going to be fun to see how we do.”

Unlike their county counterparts, Pennsville has the luxury of a roster that has played 12 regular-season league games against each other and gone through the whole school year together. But it also has the most demanding schedule of the three, playing four games in five days, which with pitch counts and all could challenge their pitching strategy, especially if they start ace Dante DiMarco in Saturday’s tournament opener.

“You could see it early on,” Pennsville coach Aaron Stafford said of the natural bond between teammates. “The kids are all in school together, they know each other, they playfully pick on each other, so some of that team camaraderie was already there we didn’t have to do.

“They’re familiar with each other, with how they play, how they hit. They already had that stuff where they’re able to cheer each other on and know how to talk to each other. They’re really comfortable and familiar with themselves. I think it makes for a great team dynamic that way.”

In addition to DiMarco, Pennsville will be looking to get some good innings from Ryan Lucas, an 11-year-old with multiple pitches in his arsenal.

DiMarco also brings some punch to a deep lineup built on speed and hard contact. Their top hitters are expected to be leadoff man Tyler Colomy, Michael Genna, Connor McGovern and Mason Seaver.

“We have some potential,” Stafford said. “We are looking at this where we are expected to move on. That’s what we want to have in our heads and our message to the boys that we’re hoping to win every game that we play.

“We don’t know the other teams, we know some of the names (from other competitions). The biggest thing in the back of the coaches’ minds is that four games in five days. It’s going to be interesting. I definitely think we have the team – hitters, fielders and pitchers. If we had it spread out a little more – if we had it spread out a little bit more I’d feel a lot better (but) we’re expecting good things out of them.”

NJLL DISTRICT 3 (10-12) TOURNAMENT
POOL PLAY SCHEDULE
(All games 5:45 p.m. unless noted)
Friday’s Games
Elmer at East Vineland
Woodstown at Franklin Twp.
North Vineland at South Vineland
Saturday’s Games
Pennsville at Franklin Twp., 7 p.m.
East Vineland at Woodstown, 5 p.m.
Buena at South Cumberland, 7 p.m.
June 29
East Vineland at Pennsville
Elmer at Woodstown
South Cumberland at North Vineland
June 30
East Vineland at Franklin Twp.
Elmer at Pennsville
South Vineland at South Cumberland
North Vineland at Buena
July 1
Franklin Twp. at Elmer
Woodstown at Pennsville
South Cumberland at Buena

DISTRICT FINALS
July 6
at Buena LL
Game 1: American 1 vs. National 2
Game 2: National 1 vs. American 2, 8 p.m.
July 7
at North Vineland LL
Game 3: Winner G1 vs. Winner G2
Game 4: Loser G1 vs. Loser G2, 8 p.m.
July 9
at Pennsville LL
Game 5: Loser G3 vs. Winner G4, 7 p.m.
July 10
at South Vineland LL
Game 6: Winner G3 vs. Winner G5, 7 p.m.
July 11
at South Vineland LL
If necessary, 7 p.m.
Winner advances to Section IV Tournament at Hammonton, July 17

SALEM COUNTY ENTRIES
PENNSVILLE
Manager: Vinnie Cascaden
Gamechanger: 12u Pennsville Allstars
Roster: (0) Michael Genna, (3) Dante DiMarco, (6) Drew LaPalomento, (7) Mason Seaver, (8) Tyler Colomy, (13) Ryan Lucas, (15) Kolton Karr, (17) Luca Codamo, (24) Gauge Hill, (23) Maddox Stafford, (88) Connor McGovern, (97) Lachlan Tighe.

WOODSTOWN
(Combined with Alloway, Salem)
Manager: Dave Murnane
Gamechanger: 2026 Woodstown Majors AllStars
Roster: Breslin Murnane, Grant West, Jacob Buggy, Mason Fackler, Nolan West, Pax Arnold, Logan Roback, Robert Phelon, Ryan Garton, Ashton Wadman, Daulton Hawks, Xander Shimp.

ELMER
(Combined with West Cumberland)
Manager: Ray Harding
Gamechanger: 12U All Stars 2026 Elmer And West Cumberland
Roster: (1) Austin Waller, (27) Brody Emigholz, (16) Cash Williams, (41) Connor Harding, (44) Damon Houchins, (24) Jameson Hughes, (9) Kip Trembley, (13) Lane Hymer, (2) Levi Rugenus, (7) Mirocco Pierce-Stephenson, (3) Roman Allen, (86) Sam Tighe.

Summertime switcheroo

A month after landing at Pennsville, Blessing returning to GCIT after board finds funding to restore her former teaching, coaching posts

By Brian Tortella
Special to Riverview Sports News

It has been less than a month since Gloucester County Institute of Technology head softball coach Jamie Blessing was approved as the new health and physical education teacher and assistant softball coach at Pennsville Memorial High School after she was forced to search for a job when her position was slashed at the Group 4 school due to a lack of funding.

But the situation has changed.

Blessing confirmed Monday afternoon that she submitted her resignation to Pennsville athletic director Jamy Thomas after receiving the news earlier this week that her positions at GCIT were restored and she was hired back.

“I’m excited to keep my position and keep my day-to-day job,” Blessing said. “I enjoy working at GCIT. I love the kids, I have great coworkers, and athletes. I want to continue to be able to be a part of their successes and to continue to be able to build the program.

“I’m sincerely grateful for Jamy Thomas and the opportunity and the confidence he gave me throughout the hiring process. I appreciate him and Pennsville being understanding of my decision, and I wish them the best of luck.”

Blessing was one of five GCIT teachers notified their positions were being cut. It is believed four of the five teachers have been rehired.

There were rumors circulating over the last few months of the possibility that the school’s Board of Education would be able to save the positions that were cut, but without a contact, it was just hearsay. The tough situation forced Blessing, who previously held a health and PE position as well as the head softball coaching position at Highland for a decade before leaving for GCIT in 2023, to search for a new job.

Thomas extended well wishes to Blessing and said the school district will begin a search for her replacement immediately.

“While we were excited to welcome Jamie Blessing to our district as a High School Health and Physical Education teacher and Assistant Softball coach, she has made the decision to return to the Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT),” Thomas wrote in a statement to Riverview Sports News Monday. “Jamie had previously faced a reduction in force (RIF) at GCIT, but upon being offered her former position back, she chose to return.

“Although we are disappointed she won’t be joining our team this school year, we completely understand and respect that this decision is in the best interest of her career and her family. We wish her the very best. Our priority remains ensuring our students and athletic programs are fully supported. We will begin the search for her replacement immediately, and we are currently seeking qualified internal candidates for our open assistant coaching positions in both softball and basketball.”Now back at GCIT, Blessing will look to build off a strong 2025-26 campaign in which she led the Cheetahs to a 17-11 record and No. 6 seed in the South Jersey Group 4 tournament. The 17 wins were her single-season high as head coach.

Brian Tortella is a contributor to Riverview Sports News. He can be reached at btortreportssj@gmail.com

Countdown continues

Still much to do, but things moving along towards Salem CC football’s first camp, Rodriguez promoted to assistant AD, and more from the notebook

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT — The summer is supposed to be a time to unwind, relax and recharge, but when you’ve got a football program to get off the ground and opening day fast approaching there never seems to be enough time.

It’s 44 days before the opening of Salem Community College’s first fall football camp and 47 days before the first practice, and things are moving along.

Boxes of uniforms are all over athletics director Bob Hughes’ office, cartons of gear have been piling up in the field house, major practice equipment and storage containers have arrived, “mysteries” are being solved on the practice field, coaches still need to be hired and players are coming on board in droves.

“It’s still a work in progress,” head coach Jay Accorsi said. “There’s so much to do.”

During a conversation earlier in the week Accorsi said the Mighty Oaks have more than 70 players in the fold with the anticipation of hitting their minimum target of 80 during the weekend. He could have more than twice that many if he wanted with all the interest the program has received since it was announced in the fall and launched in January, but he’s trying to be “intentional” in the vetting process to “make sure it’s a quality operation.”

A stable of 110 players would have everyone feeling more comfortable going into camp, 80 gives them sufficient numbers to get underway.

“I was hoping we’d be done (on the player front), just selfishly, so I could get to football and everything else, but we’re going to go all the way into training camp in August; that’s just how it’s going to be,” Accorsi said. “I didn’t want it to be that way, the program’s just not there yet … We’re close, but we’re going to be doing it all the way through camp. It is what it is, but it just shows the numbers … We’re getting four or five emails, I’m getting three or four texts, every day.”

The program has announced more than 40 signees on its social media channels and that traffic is expected to increase as high school seniors are walking across the graduation stage still uncertain of their football plans and others are learning two potential JUCO landing spots in the region are moving up to the NCAA Division II ranks. The reach has gone into Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, where there is currently no NJCAA football.

The players who have committed/signed fill every position on the team except specifically kicker and punter, and Accorsi said they have players who can handle those specialties if the Mighty Oaks don’t land one in the signing class. Camp opens Aug. 3, with practices to start Aug. 6.

“When we hit the 80 mark it’ll be pretty big,” Accorsi said. “We’re close. We might hit it this week, and then that’ll be pretty big for me.

“That’s the one that’s kept me up. Not that I don’t think we could get to it – we will – it’s just getting there. We went from 60 to 70 just over the (previous) weekend. That’s the next hurdle. I think when we get to 80-85 I’ll feel good and when we get everything situated down on the practice facility then I’ll feel really good. And then when I get the coaches, for me, that’s probably the last piece.”

He hopes to add two to five more assistants over the next two weeks. Athletic department officials are expected to announced ticket prices and other game-day details around the Fourth of July. They took to social media this weekend to show New Jersey football’s newest jersey.

**Salem CC athletic directors Bob Hughes (R) and head football coach Jay Accorsi show off the Mighty Oaks’ new football jerseys.**

SUMMERTIME NOTES: Mighty Oaks softball coach Angel Rodriguez has been promoted to assistant athletic director where he’ll be responsible for, among other things in addition to his coaching duties, game management and sports information. Athletics director Bob Hughes said Rodriguez’ previous experiences in the athletic department “have made a tremendous impact on our programs” … The volleyball court has been installed in the field house in the run-up to that program’s maiden season in the fall … Men’s basketball has added depth to its roster in the offseason. The Mighty Oaks’ schedule is expected to have three JUCO Division II regular-season games, including Delaware Tech, no in-season tournament and scrimmages with Goldey-Beacom and Cheyney

ANNOUNCED SALEM CC FOOTBALL PLAYERS

PLAYER	HOMETOWN/SCHOOL
Aiden Alexander	Kingsway/Kutztown
Rabiou Alidou	Philadelphia/Audenried
Jayden Ali-Ward	Lawnside/Sterling
Maxwell Batten	Wilmington, Del./St. Marks HS
x-DJ Binck	National Park/Gateway
Jerrell Burks	Bridgeton
Quyan Cade	Pleasantville
Zahir Cobbins	Jersey City/Delran
Robert Daly	Pittsbrove/Schalick
Sam DaSilva	Delran
Jayir Davis	Camden/Eastside
Jeremiah Days	Mount Laurel/Lenape
Jordan Dozier-Pinkett	Wildwood
Sean Ferebee	West Deptford/Williamstown
Sean Gresham	Fairfax, Va/Falls Church
Ryan Goodmond	Newark, Del./Newark
M.J. Hall	Woodstown
Jacob Hand	Pennsville
Aidan Hill	Wilmington, Del./Brandywine
Xavier Lee	Newark/William Penn HS
Jermar Jones	West Deptford/Chestnut Hill
Eric Jordan	Wildwood
Darion Joyner	Blackwood/Washington Twp.
Kahmaj Kearney	Smyrna, Del.
Ke-Marley Mason	Marlton/Cherokee
Lamar McCoy	Millsboro, Del./Cape Henlopen
Jamere Metts	Philadelphia/Clearview HS
Hayden Miller	Glendora/Triton
John Pettigrew	Bellmawr/Triton
Brian Pritchett	Bridgeton/Sussex CC
Jovanni Rios	Salem
Jack Robinson	Maple Shade
Kaleb Ross	Elkton, Md./St. Elizabeth HS
Jeremiah Russell	Bridgeton
Jayden Sanchez	Sewell/Washington Twp.
Ben Secouler	Cherry Hill
x-Brody Selfridge	Sewell/Clearview
Noah Shields	Blackwood/Highland
Charlie Shute	Newark, Del./Conrad HS
Jamar Smith	Glasgow
Raheem Tomoney	Philadelphia/Hudson Valley CC
Deven Tompkins	Bridgeton/Cumberland Reg.
William Torres	Willingboro
Tyler Walker	Manalapan/New Haven
Quaddi Walls	Clayton
Demere White	Millville
Demetris Williams	Clayton
Kielle Woodard	Bridgeton/Cumberland Reg.
Erik Worley	Sicklerville/Winslow HS

Track nationals

Schalick’s Simonini makes adidas Nationals jav finals, finishes ninth; Longo fourth in pole vault flight

By Riverview Sports News

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Gary Simonini has had better throws, but he certainly won’t sneeze at a top 10 finish at the nationals.

The Schalick junior made it to the finals of the boys javelin in the Adidas Track Nationals at North Carolina A&T Saturday and finished ninth in the standings, just missing out on All-America honors. He earned the last spot in the finals with a throw of 160 feet on his last throw of qualifying – one inch from eighth – and it stood as his high mark.

“It was very interesting throwing on a rubber track for the first time in a while and it was my first time throwing the new steel-tip jav,” Simonini said. “But, honestly, I had a great time. I made it to the final, met a lot of cool people – I’ve been talking to kids from all states, everyone was just so nice, so friendly. They made it a great overall experience.

“I was extremely frustrated with my mark. Top eight gets All-American, I got ninth. That kind of bummed me out, but it just leaves a lot to work towards.”

The way the day started he didn’t think he was even going to advance. He opened the competition with his lowest mark of the year (133-10), but found his rhythm and threw 150-10 and 160-0 to make the top nine. His best mark in the finals was 159-1.

“I couldn’t get over the hump; I was just stuck at 48 (meters),” he said. “At first I was very upset about it, then I really came to terms with it. Last year I’d be over the world to be in the 140s and now I’m angry about being in the 160s. In the grand scheme of things, there’s really nothing to be mad about.”

Schalick senior Sal Longo wrapped up a tough senior season by finishing fourth in his flight of the National Elite Boys Pole Vault. A hamstring injury he suffered at the indoor Meet of Champions kept him off the track until the sectionals, which he promptly won upon his return.

He jumped 12 feet, 9.5 inches Saturday, hitting the mark on his third attempt. None of the seven vaulters who advanced from the height cleared 13-3.5.

“I’m pretty happy with it with how my season went,” he said. “Getting to nationals was the main goal, but placing as high as I did in my flight was something I’m grateful for.”

A third Schalick athlete, Ethan McLean, finished 64th in the National Elite Boys Shot Put (44-2.75), one spot and less than an inch ahead of Penns Grove sophomore Ja’Kai Ingram (44-2).

Woodstown high jumper Kami Casiano competed in the New Balance Nationals at Franklin Field Saturday. She missed three attempts at her entry height of 5-3. Woodstown senior Josh Crawford runs in the Boys 800 Sunday.

Top photo: Schalick had three athletes compete Saturday in adidas Track Nationals. (From left) Gary Simonini (javelin), Sal Longo (pole vault) and Ethan McLean (shot put).

Top 20 finale

Woodstown 4×800 relay team posts top 20 finish at New Balance Nationals in final race together as a group

By Riverview Sports News

PHILADELPHIA – The Woodstown boys 4×800 relay team, looking to make one last splash in their final race together as a group, finished in the Top 20 at the New Balance Nationals today at Franklin Field.

The group, running as the Woodstown Track Club, ran a 7:50.85 to finish fifth in their heat and 20th overall in a 93-team field Racing City TC of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., won the heat (7:44.95). Herriman TC of Utah won the event (7:29.44).

Karson Chew ran a 1:56.80 opening split and briefly had the Wolverines in the lead of their heat before passing the baton in second place. Jacob Marino ran a 2:01.31 second leg and David Farrell ran a 1:59.48. Josh Crawford ran his customarily strong anchor (1:53.28), surging from eighth to third with 200 meters to go.

Diamond Division Golf

Here are the first and second team selections for the Tri-County Conference Diamond Division boys all-star team

FIRST TEAM	SCHOOL	SECOND TEAM	SCHOOL
Seth Fisher	Schalick	Nate Valente	Woodstown
Jaxson Weber	Schalick	Jack Bucksar	Woodstown
Anthony Sepers	Schalick	Alejandro Vazquez	Woodstown
Michael Nelson	Schalick	Braxton Gillis	Overbrook
Logan Jones	Woodstown	Trevor Hann	Pennsville
Joey Nolan	Cumberland	Manntram Patel	Cumberland