Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 15-20; all events 4 p.m. unless noted
Monday
BASEBALL Penns Grove at Collingswood Woodstown at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m. SOFTBALL Buena at Schalick Ocean City at Woodstown Pennsville at Paulsboro GOLF OLMA vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Woodstown vs. Sterling, Town & Country GL, 3:30 p.m. Pennsville vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:45 p.m. Wildwood boys vs. Schalick, Centerton CC BOYS TENNIS Pennsville at Kingsway, 3:45 p.m. Deptford at Schalick GIRLS LACROSSE Eastern at Woodstown BOYS VOLLEYBALL Triton at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Bergen CC
Tuesday
BASEBALL Clayton at Salem Penns Grove at Schalick Pennsville at Wildwood Woodstown at Overbrook SOFTBALL Overbrook at Woodstown Pennsville at Wildwood Salem at Clayton Schalick at Penns Grove COLLEGE BASEBALL Luzerne County CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m. GOLF Schalick girls vs. Delsea, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Woodstown vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Salem Tech girls vs. Clayton, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m. BOYS TENNIS Woodstown at Cumberland, 3:45 p.m. Pitman at Penns Grove Schalick at Glassboro BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at Williamstown BOYS VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Williamstown, 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday
BASEBALL Pennsville at Millville COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Ocean CC (2), 1 p.m. SOFTBALL Pennsville at Salem Williamstown at Woodstown GOLF Kingsway girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC Woodstown vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:45 p.m. TRACK Overbrook at Pennsville Penns Grove at Schalick Woodstown at Glassboro BOYS TENNIS Delran at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Vineland at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Kingsway at Woodstown
Thursday
BASEBALL Glassboro at Woodstown LEAP at Penns Grove Pitman at Pennsville Schalick at Overbrook SOFTBALL Overbrook at Schalick Pennsville at Pitman Woodstown at Glassboro BOYS TENNIS Pennsville at Wildwood, 3:45 p.m. Penns Grove at Schalick GOLF Overbrook vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:45 p.m. TRACK Pitman at Salem BOYS VOLLEYBALL Highland at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Egg Harbor Twp., 5:30 p.m.
Friday
BASEBALL Gloucester City at Schalick Wildwood at Woodstown Williamstown at Pennsville SOFTBALL GCIT at Salem Schalick at Gloucester City Woodstown at Wildwood COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Camden CC, 3 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Delaware Tech at Salem CC (2), noon BOYS TENNIS Woodstown at Overbrook, 3:45 p.m. Cumberland at Schalick Pennsville at Millville GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Egg Harbor Twp.
Saturday
BASEBALL Schalick at Eastern, 10 a.m. Pitman at Woodstown, 11 a.m.
Hedelt Tournament, Oakcrest Pennsville vs. Buena, noon Pennsville vs. Oakcrest, 3 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Camden CC at Salem CC (2), noon COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Lackawanna (2), noon BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at Lower Cape May, 10 a.m. TRACK Penns Grove, Pennsville, Salem, Schalick at Woodbury Relays, 9 a.m.
Salem CC’s Mecham comes within a leadoff walk of a perfect game, her no-hitter, sophomores take spotlight in softball sweep of Morris
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Saturday was the day for Salem Community College to celebrate the softball sophomores who helped restart the program and those upperclassmen played big roles in helping the Mighty Oaks score an historic sweep of County College of Morris 8-0, 10-0 guaranteeing them a winning regular season.
MECHAM
The Mighty Oaks recognized nine sophomores after the nightcap. The group combined for 10 hits, 10 runs and seven RBIs in the doubleheader and spun two shutouts, including Morgan Mecham’s near perfect game in the nightcap.
The group has been part of 40 wins since they helped revive the program last year.
“I’m getting emotional again,” coach Angel Rodriguez said. “They’re awesome. As we’re sitting there honoring them, we started reflecting back on the zoom calls and the conversations we had, having them on campus for the first year.
“They’re a great group. We wouldn’t be here today without them. They had a lot of hard work, dedication, sacrifices they made from their families. Seeing them giving me the opportunity in my first year and theirs, seeing the growth that they’ve had, I couldn’t be any prouder. Seeing where they were a year ago to now is incredible. Hats off to them for putting in the work and choosing us.”
Mecham pitched a five-inning no-hitter in the nightcap. She walked the game’s leadoff hitting on a 3-2 pitch, then retired the next 15 hitters in a row. It is believed to be the first no-hitter in the program’s history.
She threw 64 pitches, 44 for strikes. She got five ground outs and four fly outs. Only two balls made it to the outfield. It was her ninth shutout and reduced her ERA to 1.57 for the season.
“I might be the worst statistical coach in America; we didn’t even know it (was a no-hitter) until after the game,” Rodriguez said. “When we got in the huddle I said I think she had a no-hitter. Then it was announced over the speaker and we were like, yeah, we were right.
“She’s been hot all year. Today she just went out and did her thing. Sophomore Day. Parents were there. It was awesome to see it all come together. She was zoned in. I don’t even know if she knew it, either. She was kind of shocked herself.”
Sophomore Vaye Savage was the big hitter in the opener. She went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer in the second inning and a double. Freshman Ella Hayes went 3-for-3 in the nightcap with a two-run homer. Hayes, second in the nation in batting entering the doubleheader, is now hitting .628 (54-for-86) with 51 RBIs for the season.
The sweep ran the Mighty Oaks’ record to 24-6 on the season. With 44 games on the schedule, they are now guaranteed the first winning regular season in school history.
“It was definitely one of our goals from last year, just to keep improving as a group and we definitely did that,” Rodriguez said. “As I say all the time we just keep it going each week. Our goal was set to get more than 16 (wins) so we did more than the first year.
“We’ve gone back and dug up some records. For us, those are just things you can take in and be proud of, but we’re just trying to do whatever we can to keep just being good and improving. Obviously, it feels good when you win.”
The Mighty Oaks were scheduled to return to Watson Field Sunday against Cecil College, but the doubleheader has been canceled. Their next games now are Friday at home against Delaware Tech.
Salem CC baseball make strides on multiple fronts in scoring first doubleheader sweep since February 2022
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – The Salem Community College baseball team and two of its pitchers trying to find their way all took big steps forward Saturday afternoon.
KELBY
Starting pitchers Sean Kelby and Aiden Ewe both pitched historically into the seventh inning of their games and behind them the Mighty Oaks scored their first doubleheader sweep since February 2022 in beating Bergen CC 12-3 and 4-2.
The Mighty Oaks had won two games in one day during their trip to Myrtle Beach in March, but their two wins over the Bulldogs was their first true twinbill takedown since sweeping Rockingham (N.C.) CC on Feb. 20, 2022. They have won three in a row.
“It’s a step forward,” Oaks coach John Holt said. “These guys are growing up as a team. We’ve got a lot of young guys here and they’re buying in. They’re buying into playing like a team. It’s a good time to start coming together.”
Kelby, a well-traveled freshman left-hander, pitched into the seventh inning for the first time in as near as he figures six years in the opener. His teammates rewarded him by batting around in the fifth and sixth innings to break open a close game.
Ewe, a hard-throwing sophomore right-hander and converted catcher, worked the longest outing of his career. He had a no-hitter with 10 of his 11 strikeouts over the first 4 2/3 innings. His longest outing previously was 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Lehigh Carbon CC on March 26.
“We needed those guys to step up and they did,” Holt said. “They both wanted the ball today. There’s something to be said when guys want to put the team on their back and they did. With what we’ve got this week, we needed to get length out of our guys and they gave us that length today.”
“I thought today was a big step for the team,” Kelby said.
Perhaps for no one in particular as much as him.
Kelby’s old enough to be finishing a college career much less start one. He went to Towson out of high school, then Delaware, fell out of baseball after tearing ligaments in his pitching elbow and foregoing Tommy John surgery, worked for a couple years, but missed the game and in 2022 had the operation before landing on Salem’s doorstep this winter.
Holt gave him a shot because he throws hard. He’s a 23-year-old with freshman eligibility, which means he could be a 27-year-old senior somewhere down the road, but that’s not his path. His plan is to hook on with an independent league team after this season to get his timeline back on track.
“I wanted to do a lot this year and as you’ve seen through the games there’s been a lot of stuff I have to acclimate to for the past 5-6 years of not playing,” he said. “Today was a big step. I was kind of learning how to pitch again while I was out there.
“That was a big thing when I was going earlier. I’d get so worked up for the game you go out too hard and by that second or third inning it’s wearing down on you.”
He hears the clock is ticking, but he’s determined to keep playing.
“I’m still young,” he said. “You see guys in the major leagues making their debuts at 29, 30, 31 years old. For me, if I’m making that progress as I’m seeing it, I know what I’m capable of.”
Kelby gave up a home run in the second inning, but that really was his only mistake as he and Bergen starter Luixander Polanco were locked in a pitcher’s duel for four innings.
Polanco’s first time through the Salem order was easy with a pickoff and double play allowing him to face the minimum through three innings. The second time wasn’t so kind. Demetrius DeRamus’ RBI single tied the game in the fourth, then the Mighty Oaks erupted for five in the fifth and six in the sixth.
Matt Murphy and Cole Dawson had two-run singles in the fifth inning. Yen Rodriguez highlighted the sixth when he hit a bases-loaded triple to right field and scored when the relay throw to get him at third got away. DeRemus and Murphy both had two hits in the game.
Kelby gave up just three more hits after the homer through the sixth and while he wasn’t overpowering every time the Bulldogs tried to put something together he grinded through to turn them away. He wanted to go the distance, but came out after loading the bases in the seventh.
“I felt better (as the game went on),” he said. “I don’t know if it’s jitters or just getting comfortable, but usually that third or fourth inning I start feeling loose with the arm. At that point today it was like let’s go all the way here.”
EWE
Ewe, meanwhile, came to the Oaks as a catcher. He grew up catching, loved the position and that’s all he wanted to do. Then one day last year he starting throwing off the mound and was hitting “some pretty high numbers” on the radar gun, so he figured he’d give pitching a shot. Once he did, he said, “it just started to take off.”
Holt put him in three games last year, but never for more than an inning.
He always threw it hard, but his command was lacking. He had 37 walks in 19 innings coming into Saturday’s game. He changed his approach against the Bulldogs – he didn’t rely on the fastball, he gave up the hitch in his windup and he stopped looking at the radar gun – and had only three walks in six innings. He struck out the side in order in the first.
“Today he pitched,” Holt said.
“I made a few adjustments,” Ewe said. “I realized I was kind of all over the place just throwing it rather than being a pitcher. I usually go up on my toe, but I got rid of it today. I figure why not try something new. I feel like I need to be more accurate and it turned out definitely a lot more accurate.
“I’m fired up. I’m locked in now. I feel like that’s all I needed to do was make a little adjustment and it’s go time now.”
Ewe needed to be sharp because the second game was close throughout, but the Mighty Oaks used the long ball to prevail.
Rodriguez hit a leadoff homer in the first and it stayed 1-0 until DeRamus’ two-run homer in the fifth. Bergen made it 3-1 in the sixth, but the Mighty Oaks got the run back in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back doubles by Lee Rodriguez and Dane Thomas.
Salem travels to Bergen Monday to complete the series. Woodstown’s Ben Foote is expected to draw the start.
Pennsville LL Senior Softball World Series team immortalized with billboard on clubhouse Wall of Fame
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Bella Rappa was a rock during Pennsville Little League’s run to the Senior Softball World Series last summer, but when it came to unveiling the sign that commemorated the feat during the league’s opening ceremonies Friday night she didn’t mind saying she was a little nervous.
Rappa was called on to pull the bright yellow cord to reveal the billboard that will forever immortalize the team on the clubhouse wall, and it was all she could do to keep a steady hand.
“I didn’t want to pull it and the whole thing come down, but I think I did a pretty good job,” she said.
The dark blue sign is affixed at the far right of a row that carries similar signs from 1985, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2006 and 2022. It reads, “2023 Senior League Softball Eastern Region Champs” and contains the names of each player, manager and coach.
Here is the sign that immortalizes the 2023 Pennsville Little League Senior Softball All-Stars.
Eagles manager Chris Watson wasn’t sure as late as Thursday who was going to help him pull down the blue sheet covering the sign, but as the time drew closer everyone sensed it was so appropriate for Rappa to do the honors. “It was very cool, actually, the way it worked out,” Watson said.
Rappa lost her dad, Nick, a big supporter of the program, two days after the team won the Section championship and the first baseman dedicated playing the rest of the tournament program for him.
The team rallied around her. They swept the district and sectional tournaments in Pennsville, then swept the state tournament in North Jersey and the regionals in Massachusetts. They advanced to the World Series in Delaware where they went 2-4, beating teams from Puerto Rico and The Philippines in pool play, and ultimately finishing tied for seventh in the 10-team field.
They were welcomed home with a parade down Broadway riding atop a Pennsville fire truck and led out by a Pennsville police cruiser. Unveiling the sign, much like raising the pennant on opening day, was the last official act of a championship season.
“(Seeing the sign) was really nice just because this year there was a lot on the line, especially with the passing of my dad,” Rappa said. “The girls all thought that was our main goal, to get farther than we did last year, so to win East Regions and then be up there back-to-back is something that’s really special to all of us.”
Catcher Kylie Harris was emotional when she unveiled last year’s sign for a team that won the state and were thwarted in the regional final and she was trying not to cry this time.
“Being up there for the second time with the people that I love the most and are closest with, it’s definitely a tear-jerker,” she said.
Since this team has been together it has won district titles six times across various age groups, South Jersey four times and the state championship twice. Watson said the newest sign recognizes one of the best teams in the local LL’s 72-year history.
“It puts them up there at the top, one of the greatest teams to ever play down here at Pennsville Little League,” he said. “I’m very proud of that, that they were able to do it two years in a row. They were knocking at the door for so long, too, and then to finally get over the hump those last two years and win the state championship and go dominate the East Regional is huge. We’ll remember all that a long time.”
“It was pretty cool seeing my name up there two times,” infielder Bella Farina said. “It’s really fun to see all our hard work paid off and be on the side of a building. It’ll be really freaky to see my name up there in like 15-20 years. It’ll be crazy. I don’t know how I would feel.”
Although the championship run didn’t end the way the players would have liked, it provided them a lifetime of memories – memories that no doubt will come rushing back when the players, years from now, perhaps with daughters playing in the league themselves, return to the complex and look up to the clubhouse’s second story.
Rappa will remember “that I did it for my dad and made my dad proud.”
“I’m very proud of myself and my team for fighting through our personal battles and being able to come out on top, even if it is just a sport, but it’s more than just a sport to all of us,” Savannah Palverento said. “I know Little Me would probably be freaking out because these names … I don’t know who they are but just the fact they’re up there is like wow, that’s just amazing, and now my name’s up there twice, so wow, I’m amazing for being up there.”
The Pennsville LL was founded in 1952. Helping with this year’s opening ceremonies were Delaware Blue Rocks mascot Rocky Bullwinkle and the Pennsville Eagle, with Farina under the hood. The mascots threw out ceremonial first pitches.
This year, the league has more than 30 teams for children from 4 to high school age. Among the highlights of this year’s schedule are Pitch, Hit and Run competitions for softball (May 13) and baseball (May 17) and a Home Run Derby (June 1).
Cover photo: Pennsville LL first baseman Bella Rappa pulls off the cover (L) and then embraces manager Chris Watson after unveiling the sign that commemorates the team’s 2023 run to the Senior LL Softball World Series Friday night.
The Pennsville LL Senior Softball All-Stars stand in front of the signs on the clubhouse that commemorate their success the past two seasons.
The weather took out most of Friday’s Salem County high school sports schedule, but in an event that did get played Pennsville tennis lost a tight battle with Pitman 3-2 for early supremacy in the Tri-County Classic Division.
Pitman took the early division lead while handing the Eagles their first loss of the season. No. 3 singles Brody Wiggins and No. 1 doubles Noah Bohn and Noah Flitcraft won matches for the Eagles.
The key match was Chase Rollins’ 7-6 (8-6), 6-0 win over Pennsville’s Maddox Efelis at No. 2 singles. Efelis led the first set 5-2 and 6-5 before Rollins rallied.
PAULSBORO 17, SALEM 8: The Rams scored twice in the first inning, but Paulsboro matched it in the bottom of the inning and scored in every inning thereafter to win its first game of the year. Andrew May, Caleb Clair, Chase Davis, Ethan McDonnell-Longo, Chase Popper and Ryan Timmons had hits for the Rams. May, Davis, Robinson, Terrell Robinson, Colin Finney, McDonnell-Longo, Bryce Harris and Popper had RBIs.
Pennsville gives one of state’s best teams a battle for seven innings before falling 8-5; Woodstown falls to Paul VI
THURSDAY BASEBALL Gloucester Catholic 8, Pennsville 5 Paul VI 8, Woodstown 4
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – It had been a pretty good week for the Pennsville baseball team as it was. To beat one of the top teams in the state Thursday would have made it a downright historic one.
it didn’t happen as the Eagles came up short against Gloucester Catholic 8-5, but if nothing else the week served as a good measuring stick for a team with high aspirations in the Tri-County Classic Division and South Jersey Group I.
Earlier in the week the Eagles (3-2) knocked off two of South Jersey’s premier teams – county rival Woodstown and Delsea – giving a program with 22 total players a ton of confidence going into a game a team loaded with Division I prospects.
After giving the Rams all they could handle for seven innings – without their top three pitchers available or their only senior (injured) – they are convinced if they keep buying into what coach Matt Karr is selling and continue to play for each other and the next man in the lineup they can beat anyone.
“It’s a huge measuring stick,” Karr said. “I told those guys out there in left field the New Jersey media tells us that’s the best team the state has to offer right now … and if (that’s the case) any day we put our cleats on and come play baseball we’re going to compete with anybody no matter who we’re playing.
“We’ve got 22 guys in our whole program and we’re playing teams who have 25 guys in the dugouts and kids who just pitch. We just have to have that mindset next guy up and when it’s my turn to do something for the team I’ve got to find a way to do it. We preach selfless baseball. If you’re not going to be the guy who gets the big RBI, that’s fine, be excited for the guy who does. If we get 22 guys all buying into that idea, it’s limitless how far we can go.”
Mason O’Brien brought that next-man-up mentality to this windy, overcast day. Karr handed him the ball for the second time this season when the Eagles were down 7-1 and the freshman left-hander responded with four innings of solid relief to give his team a chance.
He gave up three hits, a run and struck out three. With O’Brien holding the Rams in check, the Eagles climbed back into it with four runs in the fifth inning.
“We put Mason in the leadoff spot and out on the mound today because of his approach to the game every day,” Karr said. “He is a guy who is not afraid of anything. He’ll step in the box against anyone. He has what we call that ‘dawg mentality.’ He’s just going to get in there and battle.”
O’Brien showed that from the very beginning when he laced the first pitch from Rams starter Henry Pancoast the opposite way past shortstop Noah Danza, a Virginia commitment who homered in the top of the inning, for the first of his two hits. He slater cored on Chase Burchfield’s single that sliced away from left-fielder Sal Marziani.
Burchfield finished with three hits and two RBIs. Luke Wood had two hits and Mason’s brother Peyton had two RBIs.
“My mindset out there was just trust my teammates, give my all,” Mason O’Brien said. “I didn’t really worry about who they were. I went out and tried to play my best ball and I think I did. We talk about it all the time, trust in each other; that’s how we become a good ball team. We just became a better team (this week).”
The Eagles easily could have folded in the second inning after the Rams squashed a threat by turning Wood’s scorching liner with bases loaded into an inning ending double play.
“If that gets through, it’s a whole new ballgame,” Karr said.
Instead of buckling, they stayed in the moment and eventually got back in the game with a four-run fourth inning that made it 7-5. Peyton O’Brien highlighted the rally with a two-run double and he scored on Burchfield’s second RBI single that chased Pancoast.
“Pennsville always gives us trouble, especially when we play down here,” Rams coach Dennis Barth said. “I told the kids we’re coming down there, they’re going to give it to you, they ain’t going to back down from you, they always play good. We’ve got to lead.”
Future opponents can expect the same treatment.
“Right now,” Mason O’Brien said. “If someone comes to play us … it’s gonna be really hard to beat us.”
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 8, PENNSVILLE 5
Gloucester Cath. (5-0)
403 001 0 –
8 10 3
Pennsville (3-2)
100 040 0 –
5 9 2
WP: Henry Pancoast. LP: Cohen Petrutz. HR: Noah Danza (GC).
PAUL VI 8, WOODSTOWN 4: Jack Petrillo went 4-for-4, Ryan Fayette had three hits and starter Anthony Ungaro pitched four shutout innings before the Wolverines got the on the board. Brent Williams and Andrew Pedrick both had a double and each drove in a pair of runs for the Woodstown.
PAUL VI 8, WOODSTOWN 4
Paul VI (4-1)
203 201 0 –
8 14 2
Woodstown (2-3)
000 013 0 –
4 5 1
WP: Anthony Ungaro. LP: Aaron Foote.
Cover photo: Gloucester Catholic shortstop Noah Danza (L) is greeted by his teammates after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning against Pennsville.
Thursday roundup
WOODSTOWN 13, CUMBERLAND 3: The Wolverines pulled away from a close game with an eight-run fourth inning and got back in the win column. Alyssa Baber had two hits and two RBIs, Kayla Brown had two hits, Johanna Way had three RBIs and Ellie Wygand had two RBIs.
GOLF WOODSTOWN 169, PENNSVILLE 169: Jeffrey Covely shot a medalist-winning 40 and Jacob Schermerhorn shot 41 to lead Woodstown in the match at Town & Country Golf Links. Jake Isaac was Pennsville’s low man (41).
BOYS LACROSSE MAINLAND 16, WOODSTOWN 3: Harrison LaMonica, Joe Eyde and Ty Pierce scored three goals apiece for Mainland. Laitton Roberts and Lucas Sperry scored goals for Woodstown.
Here are the results from Wednesday’s high school sports action around Salem County from reports available to Riverview Sports News
BASEBALL Schalick 14, Glassboro 2: The Cougars scored seven runs in the first inning, Luke Pokrovsky allowed one hit and struck out seven over four innings and Jake Siedlecki homered. Enrico Hatz had three hits and J.T. Fleming had two hits and three RBIs.
Overbrook 12, Penns Grove 0: Three Overbrook pitchers held the Red Devils to one hit, a single by Dylan Hyatt.
SOFTBALL Schalick 14, Glassboro 4: Taylor Sparks went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Alexis Shimp had two hits and two RBIs, and Addy Shimp gave up four hits and no earned runs in five innings in the circle.
Gloucester Catholic 9, Pennsville 6: The Eagles matched the Lions run-for-run over the first two innings, but didn’t have an answer for their hosts’ four-run sixth. Bella Farina had three hits, including a first-inning solo homer, and drove in three runs for Pennsville. Lilly Birney and Reagan Wariwanchik each had two hits.
Wildwood 16, Salem 11: The Rams scored 10 over the final three innings, but came up short. Juliana Love went 4-for-5 for Salem. Trysta-Marie Wilson and Morgan Johnson both went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Haddon Heights 14, Woodstown 6: The Garnets overtook the Wolverines with a three-run third and then broke it open with a six-run sixth. Woodstown catcher Lila Bowling hit a game-tying homer in the third homered and Cara Delia had two extra base hits and three RBIs. The Garnets also held Wolverines leadoff hitter Tulana Mingin (0-for-3) hitless for the first time this season.
Overbrook 21, Penns Grove 1
BOYS TENNIS WOODSTOWN 5, PENNS GROVE 0 Tim Schwienbacher def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-1, 6-0 Drew Stengel def. Angel Perez Herrera, 6-0, 6-0 Eric Lipovsky def. Gerald Vasquez Llorens, 6-1, 6-0 Trevin Plum-Wade Hubschmitt def. Ricardo Vichi-Anthony Pacheco, 6-4, 6-1 Kingst Khemiani-Josef Hummel def. Stuart Mondragon-Pablo Sanchez Correa, 6-1, 6-2 Records: Woodstown 4-0, Penns Grove 1-1.
PENNSVILLE 4, CUMBERLAND 1 Samuel Falk (C) def. Gabe Schneider, 6-2, 6-0 Maddox Efelis (P) def. Luke Fischer, 6-4, 6-3, 11-9 Brody Wiggins (P) def. Chase Sheppard, 6-3, 6-0 Noah Flitcraft-Noah Bohn (P) def. Josiah Jiminez-Joey Nolan, 6-2, 6-3 Luke Chamberlain-Sawyer Humphrey (P) dec. Angel Perez-Justin Nolan, 6-3, 6-0 Records: Pennsville 4-0, Cumberland 1-1. GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown 8, West Deptford 7: Emma Morgan and Delaney Walker scored three goals apiece and Jaime Deal had two as the Wolverines won for the first time this season.
GOLF Clearview girls 179, Schalick 221: Clearview’s Sarah Kaestner was medalist at Westwood GC (43). Cali Fisler posted Schalick’s low score (52).
BOYS VOLLEYBALL Triton 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-11, 25-7): Jose Ramos had five kills and Joe Phillips 12 assists for Triton.
Salem CC softball returns to winning ways in nightcap of doubleheader with RCSJ-Cumberland
By Riverview Sports News
VINELAND – All of a sudden, after weeks of winning, the Salem CC softball team was heading in the wrong direction, so they turned to Morgan Mecham to turn them around.
The Oaks lost their second game in a row after a 19-game winning streak in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader at RCSJ-Cumberland (8-4), but Mecham pitched a three-hit shutout in the nightcap to get them back on the winning track and salvage the split, 7-0.
The sophomore right-hander scattered three singles and allowed only six base runners. She struck out seven. She also shut out the Dukes on March 17
The Oaks (22-6) fell behind 6-0 after two innings in the opener, but were in complete control of the nightcap. They scored a run in the second inning on KC Garcia’s RBI single, made it 3-0 in the fifth on Courtney Hoggard’s two-run single and broke it open with four in the sixth.
Ella Hayes continued to swing a hot bat for the Oaks. She went 4-for-4 in each game with a homer and double in the nightcap, raising her average to .630 (51-for-81).
Haylee Pickrell had two hits in each game and Faith Penn had two in the nightcap.
Salem CC baseball rallies with four runs in each of the last two innings to snap a seven-game losing streak, Pennsville’s Vandersteur earns the save
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
BLUE BELL, Pa. – Salem CC scored four runs in each of the last two innings and then turned back a threat in the bottom of the ninth to beat Montgomery County CC 14-11 and snap a seven-game losing streak.
VANDERSTEUR
The Oaks (9-19) rallied four times to either tie the game or take a lead.
“The boys just kept battling today,” Salem coach John Holt said. “They kept competing. Showed a lot of heart.”
The Oaks fell behind 5-0, then scored five runs in the fifth inning to tie the game, but Montco reclaimed the lead with a run in the bottom of the inning.
The Oaks tied it 6-6 on Yen Rodriguez’ sacrifice fly, but the Mustangs (8-11) scored two in the bottom of the inning and another in the seventh to go up 9-6.
Salem took its first lead in the eighth. Nick Ciesielka’s two-run bases-loaded double drew the Oaks within 9-8 and they went ahead when the Mustangs misplayed Demetrius DeRamus’ fly to left and two runs scored.
Montco retied it with a run in the bottom of the inning, then the Oaks finally took the lead for good in the ninth.
Pennsville’s Jared Vandersteur got the rally started by reaching on an error. He was sacrificed to second and stole third. He scored the go-ahead run by beating the throw to the plate on Hunter Cohen’s grounder to third.
Rodriguez followed with an RBI single (12-10), DeRamus drew a bases-loaded walk (13-10) and Matt Murphy’s grounder to first brought the inning’s fourth run home.
Sophomore right-hander Inaki Hutchinson gave the Oaks 3 2/3 innings of relief on the back end (65 pitches), but needed help to close it out. Vandersteur came on in the ninth with the tying and later winning run at the plate and recorded a seven-pitch save – his first college save.
“(Starter John) McAllister pitched well; didn’t give up an earned run (in four innings),” Holt said. “Hutch wanted the ball. There’s a lot to be said about wanting to be the guy to pick your team up. We kept Vandy ready and hoped we didn’t have to use him, but he got the job done.”
Murphy stayed hot with two hits and three RBIs. Rodriguez, who left the field after Tuesday’s loss on crutches, also had two hits and three RBIs.
Catcher Angel Velez took a page out of Phillies’ catcher J.T. Realmuto’s book – or maybe it was vice versa.
Velez came out of Tuesday’s loss to Middlesex in the first inning after taking a pitch in the neck that bounced in the dirt. His status going forward wasn’t immediately known, but he returned to the lineup Wednesday and got hits in each of his first three at bats. Realmuto left the Phillies’ game in St. Louis Tuesday night after taking a pitch in the throat that bounced in the dirt, but he was back in the lineup Wednesday and played a big role in their win.
The Oaks return to action Friday when they open a three-game weekend series against Bergen CC at the Carneys Point Recreation Complex. The final two games of the series are at Bergen Saturday.
EDITORS NOTE: This is the latest in a recurring series of in depth interviews with athletes in Salem County. Coaches, if there is a player in your program with an interesting background or backstory the community would be interested in “Getting to Know …,” forward details in an email to Riverview Sports News at al.muskewitz@gmail.com.
SALEM – Pop Jackson is a man on the move. The multi-sport Salem athlete sat down with Riverview Sports News for a deep dive into all the things that drive him, but he had a schedule to keep. New Rams football coach Kemp Carr cautioned the junior only had 15 minutes before he needed to be in a peer counseling session for younger teammates for which he is a teacher-appointed mentor.
JACKSON
So his time was limited, but Jackson still answered all the questions with the focus he exhibits seeking the best route for a big gain when he runs the football.
But don’t pigeonhole him as just a running back – or a defensive player, for that matter. Carr is quick to call him a “football player,” a nod to Jackson’s versatility as a player and his own present noncommittal to the role the rising senior will play on his team this coming fall.
Before Jackson burst on the scene as a running back to build an offense around last fall he burst on the scene as a track athlete, excelling in the long and triple jump.
During his “15 minutes of fame,” Jackson talked about how he got his nickname, what rushing for 1,200 yards last year meant to him and his goals in both track and football going forward.
And then he was off. You know, a man on the move. – Al Muskewitz
RIVERVIEW SPORTS NEWS: How did you come to be called Pop?
POP JACKSON: I’ve always been Pop since I grew up. I don’t know how it came about, but ever since I was little they called me Pop-Pop and then it just changed to Pop.
RSN: What did being a 1,000-yard rusher mean to you last year? You had 1,245 yards (1,090 of it in the final six games), Salem’s first 1,000-yard rusher in six years (Zaire Jones).
POP: I felt as though I could accomplish more. It felt good to rush for 1,000, but I’m just trying to elevate and get 2,000 this year.
RSN: It started late to you, like the fifth game of the year at Rutgers. What was the change that turned you into that guy?
POP: If nobody else is going to be the guy, I’ve got to be the guy. And when I’m running the ball I felt as though nobody wanted to tackle me. I’m about to start toting the ball.
RSN: Coach Carr is going to be your third head coach in three years. What’s that like for a player to keep going through change like that?
POP: To learn from him and learn from different coaches and how they coach it feels good because in college you don’t know what coach you might run into and what offense and defense you’ll play. It’s a good thing.
RSN: Can you tell yet how the change has impacted you? What do you like about Coach Carr and what do you think his plans are for you?
POP: Since he got here, I’m not going to lie, I’ve been more serious. He doesn’t let any of the guys slip up. It’s needed, so they’re not disrespecting themselves, their family and the team as a whole.
RSN: What are your personal goals for track and football going forward. I know you want to win games and go to the playoffs, but what do you want to get down in this important year?
POP: I want to get more recognized, rushing for a lot of yards and defense. Anything I can get recognized for will be a good thing.
RSN: What do you do when you’re not playing or practicing. Tell me something you do outside of sports?
POP: I just like being in my house. I don’t like going places a lot, but when I go places I like to walk my dog. Other than that, I just stay in the house watching YouTube and stuff. I need to recoup.
RSN: What is something you wish you could do again?
POP: I would have started football earlier. It would have given me more experience and I would have been way better than what I am now.
RSN: Are you an offensive guy or a defensive guy who found his place on offense?
It’s at this point, Carr interjected, “Football player, Pop.” Later in the conversation, after Jackson had left the room, Carr reserved commenting on his plans for the player this coming season.
CARR: I don’t know what I have. I know of what they did. I know some of the guys who are returning who play. I think quality coaches build their structure, their philosophies, their missions, their identity and what they’re trying to do according to your personnel then just trying to get the personnel to fit your identity.
That’s where guys get run into it. They get so accustomed to running one thing, but they don’t have the unit to run it and then they wonder why they pitfall. We know we’ve got a piece, but we need more than a piece. It’s a team sport. We’ve got 45 guys and all 45 play an intricate part of what we’re doing.
Are we going to be a team that has to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hand fast? Are we going to be a team that can hold onto it and do some play action? Is he going to be a decoy at times? Are we going to give him 30 touches? We don’t know that yet. I’ll identify that later down the road.
I knew Pop when he was a sophomore. I saw him play, not running the ball but just as an athlete. He was thrown to the wolves early as a freshman and he held his own. Made some plays. I just think that’s just going to get better for him. As he gets stronger, bigger, faster, more knowledgeable of what his assignments are, the dynamic only gets better for him. Not only that, it’s going to be a turnaround this year and I think he has a lot to do with it. He’s a catalyst of what we’re trying to do … You’re going to need to know where he is on the field at all times. He’s one of those guys.
RSN: Before you burst on the scene as a football player, you burst on the scene as a track guy. What do you like about running track?
POP: I’m on a team and we’re all competing together, but there are individual things you can do. It’s you versus this person, you versus this person. If I don’t do this, I lose because of myself, not because of someone else. If I don’t get it done, I’m mad at myself.
RSN: What’s the longest you stayed mad?
POP: I think a month. After losing the championship to Woodbury (in the 2022 Group I semifinals). We were the better team, but that’s in the past.
RSN: Last year you won the triple jump at the state meet and now you’re looking to win gold in the long jump, too. What’s the factor that’s held it back?
POP: Getting my mark down. I know my steps, my numbers, but when I’m approaching the runway and the board, I’m just passing the board and getting fouls. Then I get to thinking about it instead of just running and giving it my all.
RSN: What does your recruiting look like?
POP: I’ve been getting letters and things, but the top one (for track) is Liberty. For football, there’s Monmouth, Wagner and a couple others (to which Carr added, “but that’s all about to change.”)
I’m a hard working person. I would love to run for any college.
def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-1, 6-0
