The 12 newest members of Woodstown soccer elite enshrined onprogram’s Wall of Fame; brings total to 146 inductees
CLASS OF 2025
CLASS OF 2026
Adrian Ibarra
Blake Bialecki
Benjamin Stengel
Bryce Ayars
Dante Holmes
Delaney Walker
Erich Lipovsky
Ellie Wygand
Grant Prater
Emma Morgan
Talia Battavio
Emma Perry
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – The Woodstown soccer program welcomed the latest group into its Wall of Fame and it includes some of the most prolific scorers and staunchest defenders in its history.
Twelve players from the last two graduating classes were enshrined earlier this week, bringing the total number of inductees on the Wall to 146.
The inductees from the Class of 2025 are Adrian Ibarra, Ben Stengel, Dante Holmes, Erich Lipovsky, Grant Prater, and Talia Battavio. The inductees from the Class of 2026 are Blake Bialecki, Bryce Ayars, Delaney Walker, Ellie Wygand, Emma Morgan and Emma Perry
“They were the most balanced as far as scoring and also defending so our goal differential was good, but most importantly is that they were great teammates,” Wolverines boys coach Darren Huck said. “They played the game the right way and they enjoyed playing for each other and for the programs. They weren’t selfish and that group, the both of them, boys and girls, won a lot of games.
“(It was a) great combination of leadership and skill and passion for the boys and girls soccer programs.”
Inclusion to the Wall takes in numerous factors that reflect a commitment to excellence and teamwork, and celebrates the lasting impact the honorees have made on the program. In addition to various career statistical categories, other criteria includes individual postseason honors and team achievements.
The Class of 2025 boys went 51-26-2 during their careers. Ibarra scored 49 goals, including a class-record 26 as a junior, and had 123 points. Holmes was part of a defense that allowed two goals or fewer in 19 of 21 games his senior year
The 2026 boys were 47-23-8 and left the program five wins shy of 500 all-time. Ayars scored 37 goals in his career, 27 the last two seasons, and finished with 95 points. With his control of the midfield, the defense allowed more than two goals only once in 19 matches.
The Class of 2025 girls went 47-25-3. Battavio scored 64 career goals and had 153 points. The 2026 girls were 50-22-4. Wygand made 291 career saves in 62 games and was part of 29 shutouts.
“Being inducted into the Soccer Wall of Fame is something that I never would have imagined being part of but it is truly something special,” Bryce Ayars said. “It was also a special moment for my family for me to be able to share the Wall of Fame with my father (Don, Wall Class of 2001).
“Getting the chance to receive that type of award recognizes how much of an impact you made on and off the field. None of this would be possible without Darren Huck, by making me the player I am today and especially with creating the Wall of Fame.”
Bialecki also was appreciative of being included in the induction class.
“I’m grateful that Coach Huck would induct me into the Wall of Fame,” he said. “It’s a recognition of years of hard work, but also a reflection of great teammates that I’ve had over the years.”
Here are the members of the 2025/2026 Woodstown Soccer Wall of Fame Class who were on hand for Monday’s induction ceremonies. (Top row, from left) Dante Holmes, Blake Bialecki, Erich Lipovsky, Bryce Ayars and Ben Stengel. (Bottom row, from left) Delaney Walker, Ellie Wygand, Emma Perry, Emma Morgan.
TCC/Cape Atlantic softball stars grab early lead in Carpenter Cup title game, but SOL/BAL rallies in late innings to win
By Riverview Sports News
PHILADELPHIA – The Tri-Cape softball all-stars’ bid to win a third Carpenter Cup title in four years Wednesday got off to a grand start, but the all-stars from Suburban One/Bicentennial came from behind twice to steal a 9-6 victory and claim the crown
Tri-Cape, with two Salem County players and one coach on the roster, opened a 5-0 lead after two innings and went back up 6-5 in the fourth after SOL/BAL tied it with five runs in the third. SOL/BAL took the lead for good with three in the fifth when Kiera Fadden ripped a go-ahead two-run triple and later scored on a wild pitch.
Pennsville’s Graillyn Weber and Woodstown’s Talia Guardascione were infielders on the Tri-Cape roster. Pennsville head coach Beth Jackson was one of the team’s assistant coaches.
Weber, the primary pitcher in Pennsville’s run to this year’s South Jersey Group I title, got the defending champions’ four-run first inning started with a leadoff single. She also singled in the second and broke the 5-5 tie with an RBI ground out to the right side of the infield in the fourth.
Weber played in all six games and went 9-for-22 with seven RBIs and three stolen bases. She went 3-for-3 with three RBIs in their tournament opener at Penn.
Guardascione went hitless in four at-bats, but scored a run in the opener and stole a base in Wednesday’s first game.
2026 CARPENTER CUP Tri-Cape All-Stars Monday’s Games Philadelphia PCCAF, W 17-0 Mid Penn, W 13-2 Delaware North, T 1-1 Wednesday’s Games Lehigh Valley, W 5-4 Berks, W 8-0 SOL/BAL, L 9-6
Here is the list of Salem County softball players with 100 career hits, 100 career strikeouts (since 2011); note: stats source does not include seasons prior to 2011 in player totals, so some qualified may be omitted
Here is the list of Salem County baseball players with 100 career hits, 100 career strikeouts (since2011); note: stats source does not include seasons prior to 2011 in totals. Softball coming soon.
Point Pleasant Beach uses grand slam, big inning to pull away from Woodstown in Group 1 semifinals
GROUP 1 SEMIFINALS Pt. Pleasant Beach 15, Woodstown 6 Pompton Lakes 3, Cedar Grove 2
By Riverview Sports News
POINT PLEASANT BEACH – If history has taught Woodstown baseball anything in the playoffs the last six years it’s that Point Pleasant Beach is a tough out.
The Wolverines twice answered Garnet Gulls attempts to pull away from Monday’s Group 1 state semifinal game – once to take a lead and once to get back within one – but a third time proved to be too much.
Carson Pfeifer’s grand slam highlighted a seven-run fifth inning that lifted the Gulls to a 15-6 win. They’ll now meet Pompton Lakes in a rematch of last year’s state final, 4 p.m. Sunday at Rutgers. Woodstown finishes at 21-9
“We really couldn’t stop them,” Wolverines coach Marc DeCastro said. “I counted 16 hits, we walked them six times, they had 22 base runners in six innings, so you’re really not going to win games like that.
“They’re a talented hitting team. They’re difficult to get out. We tried to throw a bunch of people at them in different looks to see if one stuck, but none really did.”
Beach (19-6) scored three in the home first to take an early lead, but the Wolverines rallied for four in the second to go ahead 4-3. Talyn Priore had a two-run single, Noah Williams doubled home the tying run and Walker Battavio’s RBI single gave them the lead.
But the Gulls answered with three in the bottom of the inning and added a single run in the third to go up 7-4, but the Wolverines pulled within one in the fifth when Luke Fraley and Ty Coblentz scored after the Gulls misplayed Drew Sutton’s single. Priore, Sutton, Battavio and Blake Rodriguez all had two hits apiece for the Wolverines.
“I told them at the end of the game if a 15-6 loss can be indicative of why they got where they got, then this was it,” DeCastro said. “All year long they kept answering. There was never really a game where they didn’t show up when things got rough.
“As much as that was the case during the year, in the playoffs when they were playing their best ball, they weren’t losing at any point in the four games in the South Jersey tournament. There was never a time they were down, they played all four games at home, and then they go on the road, they’re down 3-0 in the blink of an eye and they fight back to 4-3 the next inning. If there’s a reason that you can point to a loss and say this is why you won (during the year), the 3-0 to 4-3 and 7-4 to 7-6 is pretty indicative of that.”
Dante Spina got the Wolverines out of the third inning and pitched a clean fourth. They had hoped he could give them another good inning before going to Sutton down the stretch, but the Gulls got to him like no one has in his previous five outings.
The Gulls sent 11 batters to the plate in their big inning. They loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, then Mason Sesny sent a one-out floater into short left field to score the first two runs. The Wolverines changed pitchers after intentionally walking Danny Lubach to reload the bases, Brody Powers hit a sharp single to short off Sutton that scored another run and then Pfeifer launched his slam. Sesny had four RBIs in the game, Pfeifer had five.
“We went into the second inning down 3-0, but knowing we were going to have to hit in order to stay in the game,” Coblentz said. “Almost everyone in the lineup understood that and it was a great feeling taking the lead.
“We gave our pitching a shot to keep it close again and again. Can’t blame it on them, though. There were many mistakes and missed opportunities through the entire game. We were battling as much as we possibly could. I could not be more proud of this team and how we ended even though it didn’t look good on the scoreboard.”
Pt. Pleasant Beach 15, Woodstown 6
WOODSTOWN
PP BEACH
Walker Battavio, p
3021
Tommy Conroy, cf
2320
Luke Fraley, 3b
2100
Mason Sesny, 2b
4334
Ty Coblentz, c
3100
Daniel Lubach, c
3222
Drew Sutton, rf
4021
Brody Powers, lf
5133
Tommy Tucci, ss
2100
Carson Pfeifer, 3b
3115
Blake Rodriguez, 1b
2120
Antonio Acevedo, ss
4110
Talyn Priore, cf
2122
Thomas Slobiski, dh
4120
Noah Williams, lf
2111
Dylan Ryan, 1b
4120
Colton Williams, lf
1000
Davin Marquez, rf
4121
Chase Harding, dh
3000
Woodstown
040
020
0-
6
9
0
PP Beach
331
071
x-
15
18
0
2B: Mason Sesny (P), Daniel Lubach (P), Brody Powers (P), Thomas Sloiski (P). HR: Carson Pfeifer (P)
Woodstown’s Chase Swain is looking to make an impression, increase draft stock, playing in the MLB Draft League
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
TRENTON – All Chase Swain has ever wanted since he was an 8-year-old swinging away in the local Little League is a chance to play in the big leagues. He’s closer to that dream today than he has ever been before, and with a productive next couple of weeks and a little good fortune he could be even closer still.
The former Woodstown standout just completed his first week with the undefeated Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft League where prospects already on the radar of major-league scouts put their skill on display in the run up to next month’s amateur draft.
Swain has played summer league ball before, but not with stakes this high. As an older prospect he doesn’t have as much leverage as the kids coming out of high school, but he just wants a shot.
“The competition is definitely a bit of a step up,” he said. “It’s kind of cool because everybody’s got the same goal. In summer leagues prior I feel like some guys are trying to kind of sharpen their tools and get ready for school, but these guys are trying to be seen to get a call in July. It’s a step up in competition but at the end of the day it’s just baseball. It’s the same game. You can’t make it more than it is because once you start making it more than it is and start thinking about July you kind of forget what you’re doing it for.
“Of course I want a call in July like anybody else. I’m doing it for the 8-year-old kid of me that was dreaming of things like this. Looking up in the crowd last night, it was Little League Night and they had a ton of promotions and there were kids when I was there age I was walking around the outfield and now I’m one of those guys. I dreamed of being in that position. I’m really blessed to be in the position that I am now and forever comes comes. It’s God’s plan. It’s really cool.”
The clock, of course, is ticking. His contract with the Thunder expires July 5. That’s 29 games to make a final impression.
Woodstown’s Chase Swain (C) is flanked by his dad Jack and uncle, Reg Williams, after a recent game with the Trenton Thunder. (Submitted photo)
If Swain does go in the draft, the guess is between Rounds 10 and 20, depending on how well he does here. If he doesn’t, there’s always the free agent route. He’s already had invites for private workouts from a couple undisclosed teams. If he is drafted, he’ll be the first player from Salem County to go since Pennsville’s Max Dineen was taken in the 35th round by the Reds in 2018.
Until then, it’s wait and hope and continue to work.
“I can’t predict the future, but as long as I continue to do what I’ve done the last four years of my career I think a back-end draft of a free agent signing is totally in my cards,” he said. “Professional baseball is what I want to do. I don’t want to go get a ‘real’ job, but at the same time I’ve put a very, very strong college career together and I’m throwing it all the wall right now.”
He’s off to a slow start at the plate – just 1-for-11 going into Tuesday’s first road game at the West Virginia Black Bears – but he hasn’t seen live pitching since the end of his college season at LaSalle. Still, he continues to put in the work at the ballpark as if he’s hitting .400 – he had 250 hits in his college career — and even though his average is down he’s shown his versatility by playing multiple positions in the field and done some neat things on and off the field every night to endear himself to his new team and its fans.
He led off the Thunder’s season opener with a walk, quickly stole second and scored their first run of the season. The next night he delivered a go-ahead two-run single that put the Thunder up 3-2, was named Player of the Game and then spent time after the game visiting with fans and signing autographs until they closed the gates. He has three stolen bases.
“I haven’t seen live pitching in a little while, but I’m trusting what I’ve got works,” he said. “At the end of the day it’s baseball. I know I’m going to get going, just trust what I got and enjoy the moment.
“You’re not guaranteed tomorrow. You’re not guaranteed a spot in July, so I’m just being where my feet are and enjoying the moment. I’m not trying to make this more than it is. I’m not trying to feel all the pressure, even though pressure is a privilege, at the same time I’m just trying to have fun, be with my teammates and work hard.
“I can’t be mad at myself if I feel like I did everything I can to prepare for tonight’s game. All I can control is if I’m going in there competing and that’s what we’re going to go do. I’m going to the yard to compete tonight.”
Chase Swain heads back to the dugout after being interviewed as the Trenton Thunder’s Player of the Game. (Photo by Jack Swain)
Caught in the Draft
Here is a list of Salem County players taken in the MLB Draft over the years
YEAR
PLAYER
TEAM
RD
LEV
2018
Max Dineen, Pennsville
Reds
35
2016
Mike Shawaryn, Carneys Point (Maryland)
Red Sox
5
MLB
2016
Troy Sieber, Salem (St. Leo)
Astros
24
A
2013
Mike Shawaryn, Carneys Point (Gloucester Cath)
Royals
32
2000
Mark Freed, Pennsville (Miss. State)
Cubs
24
AAA
1996
Mark Freed, Pennsville
Pirates
24
1984
Lex Bleckley, Pennsville (Delaware)
Expos
18
A
1981
Lex Bleckley, Pennsville
Royals
13
1969
Bobby Gallagher, Pennsville
Reds
8
AA
1968
Lee Ware, Salem (Rowan)
Twins
31
A
Top photo: Chase Swain draws a walk in his first at-bat of the season with Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft League. He later stole second and scored the team’s first run of the season. (Photo by Michael Olechowski)
Central Jersey champions end Pennsville’s season, title dream in Group 1 semifinals, keeps own hopes alive
GROUP 1 SEMIFINALS Bound Brook 7, Pennsville 2 Dayton 1, Indian Hills 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE — Two teams looking to make some program history played for their first trip to the state championship game in in generations Monday and the one that came the farthest both literally and logistically came out on top.
Bound Brook, the Central Jersey champions that had come 100 miles down the turnpike for a chance to reach their first state final since 1997, scored four runs in the eighth inning after Pennville tied the game in the seventh, to win the state semifinal 7-3. The Crusaders (16-12) will play Dayton (18-12) for the Group 1 state softball title 11 a.m. Friday at Ivy Hill Park.
“My pitcher (Isabella Marusiak) got injured in the middle of the season and she was out for a few weeks so then we’re thinking we’re never going to get there,” Bound Brook coach Shannon DeLuca said, “but she came back stronger than ever and she literally leads us here.”
The Eagles (18-8) were looking to return to the state finals for the first time since they won it all in 2008 and they gave themselves a chance rallying from two runs down in the last inning to keep those hopes alive.
They were down to their last strike in the seventh inning when the heart of their order tied the game and forced extra innings. Avery Watson doubled home Kylie Harris to make it 3-2 and Kenzie Widener doubled home Watson to the tie game.
Up until that point the Eagles struggled to deliver with runners in scoring position. They collected 12 hits and threatened in virtually every inning, getting a runner to second with one out six times, but each time Marusiak rose to the challenge and got out of the jam. They left six runners in scoring position over the first six innings, eight in the game and 10 total, including bases loaded (with one out) in the fourth.
“We couldn’t get that hit,” Pennsville coach Beth Jackson said. “We made contact. A couple hits here and there, maybe hold them, it might be a different story.”
Marusiak said he doesn’t change anything in her approach when teams put runners in scoring position. She just rises to the occasion.
“She’s a fighter,” DeLuca said. “It doesn’t matter who’s at the plate, she’s gonna battle. She goes right at them.”
“I enjoy playing under the pressure,” Merusiak said. “I think the pressure adds so much excitement and I just own it and play my game.”
The Crusaders are now 9-2 and have won seven in a row since Marusiak returned from a back issue in mid-May.
“She pitched an amazing game, she kept us on our toes all game – they all did,” Eagles catcher Kylie Harris said. “They had a great defense and they did what they were supposed to do, so we all just have to tip our hats.”
Pennsville’s game-tying rally didn’t deter the Crusaders in the least. They’ve been in this situation before. They won the Central Jersey title by by answering in the eighth and tenth innings after Florence took the lead in the top of each inning.
They reached Pennsville pitcher Graillyn Weber for five hits in the eighth, seeing her for the fourth time in the game. The first batters of the inning delivered singles, Ava Dedousis singled home the go-ahead run, Lily Caprara followed with an RBI single and Brianna Gurczeski broke it open with a two-run single.
“That was a mood killer,” Harris said, “but I think they were just making contact. Graillyn can only pitch so many innings without them knowing what she throws and that’s not on her. They did a great job adjusting to what she was throwing and did what they were supposed to do.”
The Eagles tried not to go quietly. Taylor Bass opened their eighth by reaching second when the Crusaders threw away her infield single. But as had been the case all game, she was left there.
“The girls have nothing to hang their heads about; I’m proud of them,” Jackson said. “It’s been 18 years since we won South Jersey. It’s going to hurt now, be upsetting – they had high hopes and they were so close – but in the overall scheme of things they should be very proud of themselves, because I am.”
Pennsville pitcher Graillyn Weber runs Bound Brook’s Lili Caprara back to the bag during a fourth-inning rundown between third and home.
Pennsville centerfielder Lily Edwards reaches up to show the umpires the ball after making a run-saving catch on a sinking liner to end the fourth inning. Top photo: Shortstop Avery Watson prepares to relay a throw home to nail Bound Brook’s Isabella Marusiak (11). (All photos by Michelle Pedrick)
Hassler provides 4 1/3 innings of one-hit, shutout relief, locks down Woodstown’s 2-0 win over Maple Shade for Wolverines’ first South Jersey Group 1 baseball title since 2022 state title; play at Pt. Pleasant Beach in state semis
GROUP I SECTIONAL FINALS Friday’s games SOUTH: Woodstown 2, Maple Shade 0 CENTRAL: Pt. Pleasant Beach 9, Shore 1 NORTH I: Pompton Lakes 3, Waldwick 0 NORTH II: Cedar Grove 11, Hanover Park 5
GROUP I FINAL FOUR Monday’s games Woodstown (21-8) at Pt. Pleasant Beach (18-6) Pompton Lakes (21-7) at Cedar Grove (20-9)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME June 14, 4 p.m., at Rutgers
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – In the playoffs it’s never too early to get a second pitcher ready. The only sin is waiting until it’s too late.
Stone Hassler was sent down to the Woodstown bullpen four batters and a mound visit into Friday’s South Jersey Group I championship game against Maple Shade. It’s not that Blake Rodriguez was pitching badly, a little tight maybe, but Wolverines coach Marc DeCastro just wasn’t comfortable with what he was getting from his starter.
So Hassler was off. It was a hasty dash from his bench, behind home plate, past the Wildcats’ bench and on down the left field line. Once he got to the pen he was up throwing every time the Wildcats got a man on base.
DeCastro eventually brought him in with two out and two on in the third inning, and stayed with him the rest of the game.
The sophomore right-hander was as sharp as he’s ever been since returning from a mid-season elbow issue. He gave up only one hit the rest of the game – a leadoff single in the seventh inning – and finished off a 2-0 win that gave the Woodies (21-8) their first sectional baseball crown their state title year of 2022.
They will play at Point Pleasant Beach in the state semifinals Monday. The Garnet Gulls (18-6) beat Shore Regional, 9-1.
“It’s all hands on deck,” DeCastro said. “I didn’t love the way that Blake threw early and I wanted to make sure we didn’t spot them anything. It’s hard to come back in these games.
“I’m pretty sure before Clayton we had (Hassler) down there before Pitch One. I say this to these guys all the time: There is no room in these games to hope that it gets better; you have to find someone to shut the door. When you’re down 3-0 in a state tournament game the first inning it feels insurmountable. If I don’t like the way things are going I’ll treat the first inning like it’s the sixth and make sure that we stay there and figure out the rest of the game later.”
Feeding the Wildcats a steady diet of fastballs, Hassler struck out six and walked two in the longest outing of his career; he had gone four innings three times before, once this year. He faced only two batters over the minimum thanks to a pair of inning-ending double plays – a nifty 3-6-3 between first baseman Drew Sutton and shortstop Tommy Tucci in the fourth and an around-the-horn variety in the sixth. Hassler said he was in the groove the minute he entered the game and after that 3-6-3 double play completed his first full inning he was “ready to shut that team down.”
“I’ve never seen Stone more locked in in my life,” catcher Ty Coblentz said. “He proved himself today. He proved to himself he could be a great varsity pitcher and can lead us through a South Jersey final.”
“I wouldn’t have said he would have thrown that much if you would’ve asked me before the game,” DeCastro said. “The whole day I was trying to figure out who’s going to get the last three outs if we got there. I had different people in mind for their lineup and different people I wanted. Honestly, I probably should’ve gone to the lefty. I was riding Stone until I felt uncomfortable.
“He was coming out for the kid he got out in the end. I rolled the dice a little bit there. If I had to do that 10 times I probably would make a sub six times, but he hasn’t thrown that much in a long time. Going into the year I was hoping I could count of him and he got a little bit injured and has fought his way back. He’s been ready for this for a while, he just hasn’t had the opportunity.”
Stone Hassler celebrates coming off the mound after getting the final out in Woodstown’s 2-0 win for the South Jersey Group I baseball title. Top photo: The Wolverines rally around the championship trophy. (Photos by Michelle Tucci)
While Hassler was putting up zeroes, the Wildcats weren’t giving up anything easily, either. Tucci gave the Wildcats the lead with a solid RBI single in the third – to make Hassler the pitcher of record – and Chase Harding hit his third homer in four playoff games in the fourth to add some insurance.
It may have been only one run, but once Tucci broke the ice, it “opened up the game a lot. It took a lot of pressure off everyone’s shoulders.”
They really were loose after Harding’s homer, although he doesn’t remember a lot about it.
“I was just hunting fastball,” he said. “I got it and took it for a strike outside; kind of beat myself up. The second pitch I got a fastball inside and fouled it off and third pitch was just a blur.”
The Wolverines showed the character of their program before the game. Shortly after Maple Shade arrived at the field, Coblentz went over to the Wildcats bench on behalf of Wolverines and handed their coaches an envelope containing a card signed by all the players and a small amount of cash as a token of support for Xavier Taylor, the Maple Shade 12-year-old who was critically injured after being struck in the neck with an errant throw in May.
It was a purely player-driven initiative. DeCastro had no idea they were going to do that, but said the gesture “says a lot about who these kids are.”
“I texted the (team) chat and told them it’d be really nice if we got a card and gave them a little bit of help,” Coblentz said. “It might not be much but I feel like anything helps at this point.”
Woodstown designated hitter Chase Harding (L) is about to jump into the arms of his jubilant teammates after hitting a solo homer in the fourth inning Friday. Top photo: Stone Hassler delivers a pitch in the longest outing of his career.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I CHAMPIONSHIP
MAPLE SHADE (0)
WOODSTOWN (2)
Luke Voiro, cf
3000
Walker Battavio, cf
2010
Anthony Schafer, lf
2000
Luke Fraley, 3b
2100
Cole Mulcahy, ss
2000
Ty Coblentz, c
3000
Chase Blum, 2b
2010
Drew Sutton, 1b
3010
Aaron Wells, c
2000
Tommy Tucci, ss
2011
Nick Stanton, dh
2000
Sol Elmer, rf
2010
RJ Bozarth, p-3b
3000
Colton Williams, rf
1000
Eddie Leahy, 1b
3020
Blake Rodriguez, p
0000
Michael Smith, rf
3000
Stone Hassler, p
1000
Braydon Morgano, 3b
0000
Ray Denham, cr
0000
Chad Blum, p
0000
Noah Williams, lf
3000
Chase Harding, dh
3111
Talyn Priore, 2b
0000
Maple Shade
000
000
0-
0
5
0
Woodstown
001
100
x-
2
3
0
2B: Eddie Leahy (MS). HR: Chase Harding (WO).
Maple Shade
IP
H
R
ER
BB
K
R.J. Bozarth (LP)
5
5
2
2
3
2
Chad Blum
1
0
0
0
1
2
Woodstown
Blake Rodriguez
2.2
2
0
0
3
2
Stone Hassler (WP)
4.1
1
0
0
2
6
Tommy Tucci is congratulated by his Woodstown teammates after driving in the first run of the game with an RBI single in the third inning. (Photo by Michelle Tucci)
Pennsville puts all the elements together to walkoff Woodstown 10-0 for its first softball sectional title since 2008; Group 1 final four set
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Clean defense and sharp pitching are keys to survival in post-season play.
Pennsville got both Thursday, on top of its usual solid hitting, and now is a South Jersey Group 1 softball sectional champion for the first time since 2008 after blanking county rival Woodstown 10-0.
The Eagles (18-7) now host Central Jersey champion Bound Brook (15-12) in the Group 1 state semifinals Monday at 4 p.m. The Crusaders beat Florence 4-3 with two runs in the bottom of the tenth.
“Oh, this is fantastic,” centerfielder Lily Edwards said after the celebration died down. “The last time it happened was (a month before) when I was born. It’s fantastic.”
“I don’t even know what to say I’m so happy; this doesn’t even feel real,” catcher Kylie Harris said. “We came in today all nervous and worried because this is obviously a big game but then we saw our entire community come out and support their girls team. Having the community behind us and being in Pennsville, that’s what makes it so special.”
Graillyn Weber pitched a shutout in the circle and delivered the walk-off double in the sixth inning. She gave up three hits and struck out four, including the side in order in the fifth. She didn’t allow a hit and only one base runner after Ellie Wygand’s single (her second hit of the game) with one out in the third inning.
She has allowed only one run in 25 playoff innings.
“I threw pretty well,” Weber said. “I don’t think I threw actually my best game but I think I was avoiding the middle of the strike zone and not making every pitch so hittable.”
Pennsville’s Graillyn Weber pitched a complete-game three-hit shutout and has allowed just one run in 25 playoff innings. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Interestingly, Weber wasn’t a pitcher until recently and really wasn’t certain she was going to be the Eagles’ main pitcher this season. She was one of three options they were considering before the season started. But there she was, pitching in the sectional championship game, something she never could have imagined just a few years ago.
The Eagles weren’t sure how the rotation would look this season and used their two scrimmages to figure it out. On a cold and miserable day at Absegami, coach Beth Jackson gave Weber a shot and she grabbed it with both hands.
“She went out and started that (scrimmage) and it went from there,” Jackson said. “We talked about it and she said, yeah, give me the ball. She wanted it so I said let’s go for it and see how it goes. She wanted to do it for her team. She’s an athlete, you can put her anywhere, but that’s where she is and that’s where she’s done her job this year by far.”
“It kind of started maybe in Upper Little League, 12U going up,” Weber said. “I never pitched for my travel team and probably never will. I like it a lot now. I definitely got a lot better.
“I was definitely like the second or third (option), but as soon as I got to high school I knew I’d have to pitch a little bit more and really got it going and learned how to do some spins myself. I was prepared. I think I was ready for it. I wasn’t super nervous or anything. My first game I was definitely more nervous than I should’ve been, but I ended up doing pretty good.”
Good enough to pitch in 19 games this season, nine of which she’s given up fewer than two earned runs.
The Eagles played a relatively clean game behind her, fielding all 12 chances in the infield that are typical of Weber’s outings. They made one error on a tailing fly ball that glanced off Edwards’ outstretched glove. They’ve made only two errors in the playoffs. The Wolverines, meanwhile, were charged with five errors in the game, all of which either wound up scoring or led to a run being scored
“Graillyn’s been our primary pitcher for most of our games and we always need to be there to back her up because everyone feels it when an error is made in the field and we need to keep each other up,” said Avery Watson, who flawlessly fielded four grounders at her shortstop position. “I put a lot of work in just so I can support my pitchers because I love ’em and they always do a great job.”
“We always talk about those controllables and that’s what you control, making those plays,” Jackson said. “If you make those plays you support your pitchers. She doesn’t have to throw as much and everybody just comes together and you get those 21 outs that you need. That’s key. You only need one run to score (to win) a game if you play good defense.”
Pennsville’s Kylie Harris reacts to her RBI double in the Eagles’ five-run fifth inning against Woodstown. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
So the Eagles played good defense and got more than one run. They led wire-to-wire. They scored a run in the first when Edwards raced home from third on a pitch that got past the catcher. They added another in the third on Edwards’ RBI single, two in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Watson and Kenzie Widener and a run-scoring ground out by Taylor Bass, and broke it open with five in the fifth.
They walked it off in the sixth when Gracie Mease reached second on a leadoff error, Edwards was intentionally walked and Weber powered a game-ending double to the left centerfield gap.
“The last time we played them they scored three (in the first) and we had to battle from behind (to win),” Edwards said. “Playing from in front gave us a lot more confidence.”
The loss snapped Woodstown’s 10-game winning streak. The Wolverines beat county rival Schalick in the first round of the playoffs, then allowed only one run in their two playoff games. They were playing in their first sectional final since 1979.
“We’re a better team than Pennsville, but today they were a significantly better team, I’ll just say that,” Woodstown coach Rob Hilderbrand said. “Today they outplayed us and beat us in every facet of the game. Do I think we’re still at better team at heart, yeah, but they just beat us today.”
After the immediate celebration and all the pictures, the team retired to the side of their storage trailer where coach Beth Jackson removed tape from a banner that revealed the newest year of an Eagles sectional title. She then got the traditional water bucket shower courtesy of Edwards and Bass.
“We just kind of thought about it in the moment,” Edwards said. “You watch like the big moments on the TV and it’s like, ‘Oh, shoot, let’s do this. She deserves it.”
The coach certainly appreciated it on such a hot day and gave a little shimmy at the end to show it.
GROUP 1 SECTIONAL FINALS Thursday’s games SOUTH: Pennsville 10, Woodstown 0, 6 inns. CENTRAL: Bound Brook 4, Florence 3, 10 inns. NORTH I: Indian Hills 2, Midland Park 0 NORTH II: Dayton 5, Whippany Park 4
GROUP I FINAL FOUR Monday’s games Bound Brook (15-12) at Pennsville (18-7), 4 p.m. Dayton (17-12) at Indian Hills (20-8)
Pennsville second baseman Reagan Wariwanchik cleanly fields a grounder during Thursday’s South Jersey Group I championship game. Solid defense has been one of the keys to the Eagles’ playoff success. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Once facing an uncertain future due to staff cuts, Jamie Blessing returning to teaching and coaching as a softball assistant at Pennsville
By Brian Tortella Special to Riverview Sports News
Jamie Blessing sat in her usual seat behind the left side of the fence.
With a typical focused look in her eyes and a white notepad in her hand, the GCIT head softball coach arose from her stool to direct her players at third base.
BLESSING
Under her guidance on that beautiful May evening, the Cheetahs overcame a two-run deficit and upended Williamstown in a Tri-County Royal Division matchup.
Business went as usual. The players lined up for postgame handshakes, and Blessing caught up with Braves coach Dan Torcasio, a longtime divisional rival and friendly foe, at home plate. Afterward, senior night was celebrated.
In Blessing’s eyes, this year’s GCIT program was one of the best, “if not the best,” she has ever coached, and it was her responsibility to guide the Cheetahs to achieve their maximum potential.
But as she walked off the field with husband Kyle and their 7-month-old son Braxton that night a dire reality loomed.
Blessing, who just completed her third year teaching health and physical education at the Sewell-based school, received a Reduction in Force letter two days before the game, official notice that her teaching position has been slashed for the upcoming 2026-27 school year.
The RIF letter came less than two months after Blessing received a Rice Notice on March 16, just a month after she returned from maternity leave. In New Jersey, a Rice Notice is a required 48-hour advance notification sent to public employees, such as school staff, when a Board of Education intends to discuss their specific employment, performance or termination in a closed, private session.
“I started school in September and I had my son Braxton on October 5, so I literally worked up until the day,” Blessing said. “So, I’ve been out on maternity leave from October until the first week of February. I’m grinding, doing my job, doing everything I need to do, and then I received a notice that my job was up in discussion for next year.
“I was extremely shocked. It made myself sick, I was sick. I had to literally ask, ‘What is this Rice letter?’ Everyone was like ‘Oh, don’t worry about it, they give them out when they’re discussing anything about your job, don’t worry about it, don’t worry about it.’”
But the following morning, she realized it wasn’t just a normal notice given to the majority of staff.
According to Blessing, she was just one of five teachers that received notice, which was certainly not what she initially expected. Among others, head boys tennis coach Jeff Ferraino’s health and physical education position was also slashed.
The elimination of numerous positions seemingly appears to be sweeping school districts across the Garden State during this grueling budget season. According to media reports, many school districts are facing layoffs just to stay afloat.
Part of the strain stems from changes to New Jersey’s school funding law. In 2018, the state revised its school funding formula to shift aid toward districts considered historically underfunded. But that left other districts scrambling to replace millions of dollars in lost revenue, according to NJ Advance Media.
Blessing’s board meeting was held March 18 in the GCIT Theater. There were 150 students in the audience, she said, for a meeting that lasted two and a half hours.
“Softball girls were there and students were there, and they weren’t just fighting for me, they were fighting for all five of the teachers,” Blessing said.
Upon graduating from Rowan University in 2012, Blessing started her teaching career at Highland Regional High School, where she also served as the head softball coach until she left for GCIT in 2023.
“I was going to get the opportunity to coach better athletes with a lot of talent,” she said. “You’re grabbing kids from all over the county. I have Delsea kids, Williamstown kids, and Kingsway kids. So I knew when the head coaching position and the teaching position was open, I knew I had to take the leap of faith to give myself an opportunity to better myself in a career, but also as a coach.”
Progressive growth was shown over the last three years. Blessing directed the Cheetahs to 14-8 and 11-8 records in her first two seasons and guided them to a 17-11 mark this spring, earning the sixth seed in the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs and falling to Egg Harbor Township. This 17 wins were her single-season high as a head coach.
But with her GCIT teaching position going away, she won’t be out of coaching or teaching long. She has accepted and been board approved as a new health and physical education teacher at Pennsville Memorial High School, effective Sept. 1. And she’ll be filling the upcoming assistant varsity softball coach vacancy, succeeding longtime assistant Lisa Doran.
“I grew up playing softball every weekend. We balanced out having softball and family, and everyone’s different priorities,” Blessing said of still deciding to coach with a toddler at home. “Being involved in a sport is something I’m used to. I’m not ready to give it up yet.”
It may be in a different role, but the same goal for Blessing next spring.
“Having to adapt to not being a head coach and running a program after 14 years is challenging,” she said. “Having the potential to take that program over when the time is right … if the opportunity comes to me and they want me to coach, I would love to take over a program like that.”
Beth Jackson has been Pennsville’s head softball coach since 2009. She picked up her 250th career win earlier this season and most recently guided the Eagles to a stunning 3-1 victory over top-seeded defending champion Audubon in the South Jersey Group 1 semifinal. The Eagles host Woodstown for the sectional championship today.
Pennsville athletic director Jamy Thomas said Blessing would be the perfect fit as a potential successor.
“She’s going to bring a lot,” Thomas said. “She comes with a wealth of knowledge already having been a head coach. Right now the plan is with coach Doran retiring, she’ll step into that spot with coach Jackson next year and we’ll go from there.
“She definitely has the drive and the want to be a head coach and to be successful. She’s seen our program and knows what we offer at Pennsville, especially in the softball area. I’m sure she’s ready to step in whenever Beth is ready to step aside. At this point, we’re going to have an awesome combo next year with the two of them, and I’m excited for both of them.”
Whether it’s a big school or small, head coach or assistant, Gloucester County or Salem, the approach remains the same.
“Guess what, there’s 21 outs and seven innings a game whether you have 20 kids come out to play or 50,” Blessing said. “The game is the game. I’m excited for the opportunity to bring the passion I have for the game to Pennsville for my new future career path.”
