Author: almusky

Finished business

Pennsville picks up where it left off the night before, completes 10-2 District 3 Senior Softball win over Franklin Twp.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

FRANKLINVILLE – It may have taken another day and another trip down U.S. 40, but the Pennsville Senior Softball stars finished what they started the day before, saved themselves a game and will play for a district title Thursday night on their own field.

Pennsville put the finishing touches on a 10-2 victory over Franklin Twp. Wednesday that started Tuesday and was suspended for weather after only 14 pitches in the top of the first inning. By completing the victory, they eliminated Franklin Twp. from championship contention in the District 3 Tournament and will now host Elmer in a potential championship doubleheader at 5:45 p.m. Thursday.

Had Franklin Twp. won, Pennsville would have had to play their final pool game against Elmer Thursday with the potential of tiebreakers determining the two championship teams in a title round starting Friday. If Pennsville and Elmer split Thursday, the winner-take-all “if” game will be played Friday.

The Section 4 Tournament starts Sunday in Pennsville.

“I’m relieved,” Pennsville manager Chris Watson said. “This was a huge game because if we did not win this then we’re probably playing on Friday … and nobody wants to play on Friday.”

Pennsville took a 3-0 lead into the restart, but it took them a little while to get started. Their first five batters of the day all struck out against Franklin Twp.’s Iris Chapman and Watson admitted he was “concerned,” but once they got to the top of the order again they started to pull away.

The first four batters in their lineup went a combined eight for 14 with seven runs and eight RBIs. Leadoff hitter Lily Edwards was 4-for-4 with three runs and two stolen bases. Kylie Harris went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the third inning and four RBIs. Pitcher Jess Bretz had a two-run single and three RBIs and Bella Rappa hit a homer before Tuesday’s suspension of play.

“I guess that’s just how the top of the order sparks us,” Watson said. “It’s like we need Lily to lead off a night. With all the home run hitters we have on this squad, and there are a lot of them, Lily is like our biggest weapon. She gets on base, she scores.

“We’ve been working on it (the top of the lineup) for years. We put Lily at leadoff three years ago playing Franklin Twp. in sectionals and she took them apart then, too.”

The restart wasn’t without a little drama. Franklin Twp. leveled a protest that the game should be restarted from scratch instead of resuming at the point of suspension. District 3 officials called the Little League Eastern District office for clarification and it was ruled the game would resume from the point of suspension.

It didn’t much matter. Pennsville outscored their hosts 7-2 in the innings that were played Wednesday. They broke it open in the third on Harris’ two-run homer and a two-run double by Savannah Palverento, taking a 7-0 lead.

“It was really important to jump on them early from the start, make sure we get that lead and maintain it,” Harris said. “It shuts the other team down right away so you can back them up more (and) go home early.”

Bretz was strong in the circle. She pitched all seven innings with a pretzel rod in her back pocket, but didn’t go to it once, although she was tempted. Last year during Pennsville’s 17-inning day in the Sectionals, the coaches brought her chicken tenders in the circle to keep her energy up.

Her energy and velocity was up plenty Wednesday. She allowed five hits, nine base runners and struck out 15. She threw 115 pitches, 77 for strikes. Ten of her first 12 outs were strikeouts and she had at least two strikeouts in six of the seven innings.

“The last two years we’ve been here I haven’t been nervous, but today was different because it’s a new team, we have a few new players this year,” Bretz said. “It helped my game today because I knew what I had to do and I had a job.

“I’m feeling this because we have expectations because we went so far last year and for some of the girls it’s their last year so we want to go as far if not farther this year.”

DISTRICT 3 LL SENIOR SOFTBALL
Pennsville       304 201 0 – 10 10 1
Franklin Twp. 000 110 0 –   2  5  2
WP: Jess Bretz. LP: Iris Chapman. 2B: Avery Watson (P), Kylee Harris (P), Savannah Palverento (P), Iris Chapman (FT), Laney Vecchio (FT). HR: Bella Rappa (P), Kylee Harris (P), Riley Hunter (FT). 

Pennsville leadoff hitter Lily Edwards went 4-for-4 with three runs scored in Wednesday’s win. Top photo: Pennsville battery Jess Bretz (L) and Kylie Harris battered Franklin Twp. Bretz struck out 15 in the circle and had three RBIs at the plate, Harris homered and drove four runs home.

Girls tennis schedule

Here is the 2023 girls tennis schedule for Salem County high schools; will be updated when schedules become available

Sept. 5
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.

Sept. 6
Woodstown at West Deptford, 4 p.m.

Sept. 7
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Sept. 11
Glassboro at Salem, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pitman, 4 p.m.

Sept. 13
Pennsville at Salem, 4 p.m.

Sept. 15
Woodstown at Cumberland, 4 p.m.

Sept. 18
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Sept. 19
Woodstown at Overbook, 4 p.m.

Sept. 20
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

Sept. 22
Pennsville at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Sept. 25
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Sept. 27
Pennsville at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

Sept. 28
Our Lady of Mercy at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.

Sept. 29
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Oct. 2
Kingsway at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Oct. 3
Schalick at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Oct. 6
Woodstown at Delsea, 4 p.m.

Oct. 9
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.

Oct. 10 
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Wildwood, 4 p.m.

Oct. 12
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.

Oct. 16
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.

Oct. 17
Pennsville at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.

Oct. 18
Overbrook at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Wildwood, 4 p.m.

Girls soccer schedule

Here is the 2023 girls soccer schedule for Salem County high schools; will be updated when schedules become available

Sept. 7
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Deptford Twp., 4 p.m.

Sept. 8
Woodstown at Deptford Twp., 4 p.m.

Sept. 11
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

Sept. 13
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Salem at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Sept. 15
Gateway at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Cherry Hill West, 4 p.m.

Sept. 16
Schalick at Delsea, 10 a.m.

Sept. 18
Salem at Bridgeton, 7 p.m.

Sept. 19
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Sept. 21
Overbook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

Sept. 22
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Sept. 25
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.

Sept. 27
Pennsville at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.

Sept. 28
Highland Regional at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Sept. 29
Salem at Pennsauken Tech, 3:45 p.m.

Oct. 3
Overbrook at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.

Oct. 5
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

Oct. 7
Schalick at Our Lady of Mercy, 4 p.m.

Oct. 9
Schalick at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Audubon, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11
Overbrook at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Clayton, 4 p.m.

Oct. 13
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m.

Oct. 16
Gloucester City at Salem, 4 p.m.

Oct. 17
Glassboro at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m.

Oct. 19
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Oct. 20
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.

Oct. 23
Ocean City at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.
Salem Co. Vo-Tech at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.

Boys soccer schedule

Here is the 2023 boys soccer schedule for Salem County high school teams; will be updated as schedules become available

Sept. 7
Overbrook at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pittman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.

Sept. 9
Gateway at Schalick, 10 a.m.

Sept. 11
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

Sept. 13
Clayton at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

Sept. 15
Buena at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Sept. 18
Salem at Pennsauken Tech, 3:45 p.m.

Sept. 19
Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m.

Sept. 21
Glassboro at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbook, 4 p.m.

Sept. 22
Audubon at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Haddon Heights at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Sept. 25
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.

Sept. 27
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Schalick, 4 p.m.

Sept. 29
Pennsville at Paulsboro, 4 p.m.
Salem at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Palmyra, 4 p.m.

Oct. 3
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.

Oct. 5
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

Oct. 7
Schalick at Woodstown, 5 p.m.

Oct. 9
Gateway at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
Paulsboro at Salem, 4 p.m.
Washington Twp. at Schalick, 4 p.m.

Oct. 11
Clayton at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Oct. 13
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Oct. 16
Salem at Gloucester City, 6 p.m.
Woodstown at Sterling, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17
Overbook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

Oct. 19
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 4 p.m.

Oct. 20
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.

Oct. 23
Salem Co. Vo-Tech at Pennsville, 7 p.m.

Field hockey schedule

Here is the 2023 schedule for the Salem County high schools; will be updated as schedules become available

Sept. 7
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Sept. 8
Pennsville at Gateway, 4 p.m.

Sept. 12
Pennsville at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Deptford Twp., 4 p.m.

Sept. 14
Clayton at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Deptford Twp., 4 p.m.
Schalick at Clearview, 4 p.m.

Sept. 15
Cumberland at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Sept. 18
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Sept. 20
Overbook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Deptford Twp., 4 p.m.

Sept. 22
Bridgeton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.

Sept. 25
Timber Creek at Schalick, 4 p.m.

Sept. 26
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.

Sept. 28
Deptford Twp. at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.

Oct. 2
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.

Oct. 4
Deptford Twp. at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Oct. 5
Cumberland Reg. at Schalick, 4 p.m.

Oct. 6
Salem at Audubon, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Williamstown, 4 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Delsea at Total Turf, Pitman, 5:45 p.m.

Oct. 9
Our Lady of Mercy at Schalick, TBD
Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.

Oct. 10
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 4 p.m.

Oct. 12
Schalick at Glassboro, 4 p.m.

Oct. 13
Salem at Gloucester Co. Tech, 4 p.m.

Oct. 16
Deptford Twp. at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Oakcrest, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbook, 4 p.m.

Oct. 18
Oakcrest at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Salem at Glassboro, 4 p.m.

Oct. 20
Clayton at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.

Thunder and lightning

Rappa’s homer highlights Pennsville’s fast start, but District 3 senior softball opener suspended in first inning; play resumes Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

FRANKLINVILLE – Imagine driving an hour to play a game, getting 14 pitches and four productive at bats, then having the bottom fall out and calling it a night.

That’s what happened to the Pennsville senior softball stars Tuesday night in their District 3 tournament opener at Franklin Twp. 

Pennsville opened a 3-0 lead with its first four batters before their game was suspended with one out in the top of the first due to weather. Forecasts called for rain well into the night. The game will pick up at that point whenever it resumes.

District officials announced late Tuesday evening the teams would reconvene in Franklinville Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. to resume play. If Pennsville hangs on to win Franklin Twp. would be eliminated and Pennsville’s home pool play game with Elmer Thursday becomes a 5:45 doubleheader for the district championship.

“Everybody will tend to cancel pretty quickly,” Pennsville manager Chris Watson said. “The players and coaches wanted to play; we would’ve waited until 8 or 9 o’clock tonight to play that game. The girls were fired up. Each one of them wanted to be there and wanted to play, even if it was going to take all night.

“It’s in everybody’s interest to wrap this thing up by Thursday, including the district, because they want to send a strong team to sectionals and we need to wrap it up because sectionals (at Pennsville) start on Sunday.”

Nevertheless, it was a pleasant ride back for the Pennsville players, especially Bella Rappa. The rising Pennsville senior hit her first over-the-fence home run ever to highlight the abbreviated first inning.

Rappa had hit many balls off the top of the fence that bounced back into play before and did have an inside-the-park homer in last year’s regional tournament in Massachusetts, but the rising 0-1 pitch she hit to center Tuesday night was the first time an umpire waved his hand signaling her to touch ‘em all.

“I really didn’t think it was going to go over because it didn’t hit the full barrel of the bat,” Rappa said, “but it was kind of really cool when the umpire started waving his little finger around. To be able to trot the bases and know I just hit a solo home run was pretty cool.

“It’s always been on my mind like I would really like to hit a home run, but it’s not something I always strived for because we don’t always need it. I like to say small ball is more important than hitting the long ball. But it’s a nice feeling when you finally hit a long ball.”

One pitch to Bella Farina after Rappa brought the thunder, the umpires brought the teams off the field for lightning. Usually, it’s the other way around – the lightning, then thunder.

Pennsville came ready to play. Lilly Edwards led off with a single and scored on Kylie Harris’ double. Harris went to third on the throw to the plate and scored on Jess Bretz’ sacrifice fly. Rappa followed with her homer to make it 3-0.

Bella Farina came to the plate and drew a first-pitch ball before the Franklin Twp. coaches informed the umpires of lightning in the area and the game was halted.

“It was everything I would have hoped to start off a game,” Watson said. 

“The whole team had really good energy,” Rappa said.

Three teams will come to Pennsville for the Section 4 tournament. The District 3 winner draws a first-round bye while the District 15 and 16 winners play. The Section winner also draws a first-round bye at the three-team state tournament.

District 3 12U LL Baseball

Some games did get played to completion Tuesday night. Millville American eliminated Elmer 4-2 and clinched the No. 2 seed in the American Division.

Salem and Buena, meanwhile, had their game suspended and they’ll resume Thursday at 8 p.m. in Buena. Before that, however, Salem will be out to keep its playoff chances alive with a 5:45 p.m. Wednesday home game against winless South Cumberland.

A Salem victory Wednesday would make that Thursday game with Buena for the No. 2 seed in the National Division. South Cumberland lost both of its first two games 15-0.

Pennsville and Elmer will play out their pool schedule Thursday 5:45 p.m. in Elmer.

So, the District 3 12U double-loss finals look like this:

Friday at Elmer
East Vineland vs. National No. 2 (Buena or Salem), 5:45 p.m.
South Vineland vs. Millville American, 8 p.m.

EV completes sweep

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – No one wanted to see Monday night’s District 3 Little League Tournament game go the distance more than East Vineland manager Scott Perkins.

His team was playing to clinch the No. 1 seed in the American Division and was leading Pennsville when the umpires stopped play in the third inning because of the weather. There was no guarantee the rain would stop and a suspension was the last thing Perkins wanted.

If they had sent the teams home for the night, play would have resumed Tuesday and Perkins might not have been there. He was catching a plane at 5 o’clock in the morning for a business trip to Atlanta.

Fortunately, the rain did stop, diamond dry was spread all around and play resumed – and East Vineland went on to post a 13-1 victory in four innings.

“It all started earlier today,” Perkins said. “I’m watching the news, I’m watching the radar throughout the entire day, really just crossing my fingers because the weather over the past five days has been so unpredictable that it just leads us right into this.

“Then we see sunshine just a couple miles away and downpours coming straight down. Now, I’m nervous because then you see lightning strikes, sweat is definitely coming down because I knew I had a big thing tomorrow for work and this is where I needed to be.”

The game went through three stoppages and two abbreviated restarts for about 45 minutes in delays. If the game had gone to the next day, Perkins probably would have changed his plans.

“I probably would have canceled my trip, actually,” he said. “I love these boys, I love these coaches and I love this team. This is a once-in-a-lifetime (event). Two of the players are my own kids so I didn’t want to miss that for the world. Work will be there forever.”

Now, he doesn’t have to make that call. East Vineland is done with pool play and will now play the No. 2 seed from the National Division in the double-loss finals round at 5:45 p.m. June 30 in Elmer.

Perkins’ team was good before the delay, opening a 5-0 lead with aggressive base running and solid fielding, but was even better coming back. They scored eight runs in the two innings once play resumed. They scored five runs on pitches that had gotten away at home plate.

“This is our third game and they’ve been building momentum each time,” Perkins said. “We had momentum going into the rain, so you’re questioning whether they’re going to be in the game and focused (once play resumed), but actually they were laser-focused coming out of that because they wanted to play so bad. Because the rain started it made them want to play more.”

East Vineland starting pitcher Enzo Candelario came to play. He pitched three innings of no-hit ball and barreled a pitch up in the zone for a three-run homer in a six-run fourth inning.

The right-hander threw 43 pitches in his first tournament start, faced two batters over the minimum and got a lot of help from his defense to keep the gem alive. He walked the first two Pennsville batters he faced, but both were erased on fielder’s choices to third base. He also had a runner thrown out at first from right field.

“I had no idea I had a no-hitter,” Canderlario said. “After I sat down my coach told me no-hitter. I was happy.”

His home run gave East Vineland a 13-1 lead. It was his eighth homer of the Little League season and first of the all-star tournament. He also had an RBI double and sacrifice fly for five total RBIs.

Liam Luciano broke up the no-hitter with a sharp single up the middle off reliever Wesley Perkins leading off the fourth. He scored Pennsville’s first run of the tournament on Greyson Robbins’ two-out single to right.

“We’re better than what we’ve played, for sure, the last two games,” Pennsville manager Phil Todd said. “It hurts. We’re better than that.”

Pennsville will play its final pool game Thursday at Elmer. The approach will be to play all the 12s because it will be their final game at this level.

East Vineland  232 6 – 13 9 2
Pennsville        000 1 –   1 2 2
WP: Enzo Candelario (1-0). LP: Caleb Fontaine (0-1). HR: Enzo Candelario (EV).

District 3 LL Tournament

AMERICANWLRATIO
x-East Vineland300.3333
Millville Am.110.6667
Elmer011.0000
Pennsville022.0000
NATIONAL
x-South Vineland300.2222
Buena110.4167
Salem010.6667
South Cumberland022.5000
x-Clinched playoff spot; top two teams in each division advance to double-loss district finals

Monday’s Games
East Vineland 13, Pennsville 1
South Vineland 15, South Cumberland 0
Tuesday’s Games
Elmer at Millville American, 5:45 p.m.
Salem at Buena, 5:45 p.m.
Wednesday’s Game
South Cumberland at Salem, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday’s Game
Pennsville at Elmer, 5:45 p.m.

Photo: The East Vineland LL All-Stars escort Enzo Candelario (orange brim) to the dugout after celebrating his three-run homer in the fourth inning Monday night.

District 3 Senior Softball

DISTRICT 3WLRATIO
Elmer100.285
Pennsville000.000
Franklin Twp.010.428
Top 2 teams advance to district finals at Pennsville, June 29 (30, if necessary); district champion advances to sectionals at Pennsville, July 2

Monday’s Game
Elmer 3, Franklin Twp. 2
Tuesday’s Game
Pennsville at Franklin Twp., 5:45 p.m.
Wednesday’s Game
Elmer at Pennsville, 5:45 p.m.

Elmer rally falls short

ELMER – The Elmer Little League 12U All-Stars put together a sixth-inning rally but just came up short and dropped their District 3 Tournament opener to East Vineland 6-5 Sunday.

Playing on its home field as the visitors, Elmer jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, but East Vineland used a five-spot in the fourth to take a 6-2 lead. Elmer scored three in the sixth to get within 6-5 but fell one run short.

Pennsville hosts East Vineland Monday night. East Vineland can clinch a spot in the district championship tournament with a victory.

Elmer 200 003 – 5 7 2
E. Vineland 001 50x – 6 7 0

District 3 LL Tournament

AMERICANWLRATIO
East Vineland200.4167
Millville Am.110.6667
Elmer011.0000
Pennsville011.8333
NATIONAL
South Vineland200.3333
Buena110.4167
Salem010.6667
South Cumberland012.5000
Top two teams in each division advance to double-loss championship tournament.

Sunday’s Game
East Vineland 6, Elmer 5
Monday’s Games
East Vineland at Pennsville, 5:45 p.m.
South Vineland at South Cumberland, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday’s Games
Elmer at Millville American, 5:45 p.m.
Salem at Buena, 5:45 p.m.
Wednesday’s Game
South Cumberland at Salem, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday’s Game
Pennsville at Elmer, 5:45 p.m.

Game of inches

Penns Grove jumps out early in title game, but Woodbury rallies to win; 4 Salem County teams compete

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

VOORHEES — Coaches will tell you all the time it’s not about winning and losing in these off-season 7-on-7 passing tournaments, just about getting better.

Still, you couldn’t help feel this one stung Penns Grove a little.

The Red Devils lost to Woodbury in the finals of the Adam Taliaferro Foundation Larry Ginsburg 7-on-7 Classic Saturday 21-12 in a championship game they were within inches of putting away.

They opened a 12-0 lead on the defending Group 1 state champions and appeared to take an 18-point lead when freshman Ka’Ron Ceaser raced into the end zone to complete a long pass play from Romello Erickson.

But although it looked from many angles and both sidelines Ceaser had scored, he was ruled down at the 1 on a touch by Woodbury linebacker Jasir Hawkins.

Caesar thought he was in. Penns Grove coach John Emel thought Ceaser got in — and so did Woodbury coach Anthony Reagan, leaving him to believe his Thundering Herd had a big mountain to climb with little time to do it.

But that’s where the game turned.

With the touchdown denied, on the next play Herd linebacker and tournament MVP Kahsir Nesmith intercepted Erickson in the end zone.

Now, not only did the Red Devils not have an 18-0 lead with a chance to add more, Woodbury cut the deficit to 12-3 and had the ball, which it promptly turned into a touchdown and two-point conversion to make it a one-point game.

“We’re up 12-0 and they call him down on the one-inch line in a touch league; very close,” Emel said. “The game’s over if it’s 18-, 19-nothing. Instead of 18-, 19- or 20-nothing it’s 12-3 and they have the the ball. Winning and losing, what do they say, a game of inches, there’s a good example.

“We had the game won, but I told (his team) in the huddle and I’ll tell them again, we’ll see them a couple more times. We’ve got them in the regular season and we’ll see them in the playoffs. They’re the defending state champs. To be the man you’ve got to beat the man. We’ll see them again.”

The Herd stopped Penns Grove on the possession after their touchdown to take the lead and then extended it on the following offensive possession with a touchdown from Marquis Taylor. A defensive stop on the final possession capped the 21 consecutive points and brought the final margin.

Ceaser thought he was “definitely in” on the play. He admitted feeling a touch, but it was after he was in the end zone. Reagan had to say it had him worried, which made the comeback all the more satisfying.

“It showed the guys’ grit,” Reagan said. “That’s one of the things we talk about (as) the Woodbury way, always welcome competition. Early on, we were up on Woodstown in pool play and they came back to win. We talked about when you have a chance to get ahead of somebody you’ve got to learn how to finish.

“That’s the first time we really got behind and had to claw back and come back on top. The biggest thing it showed there was their grit.”

Penns Grove won its bracket in a three-team tiebreaker with Timber Creek and Eastern “by playing good defense” and then beat Woodstown in overtime in the semifinals to reach the tournament finals for the first time. Woodbury made the semifinals as the wildcard and won a close one over Oakcrest to reach the finals.

The Red Devils held two of their pool opponents to fewer than 10 points and gave up 37 total. They beat Collingswood in their opener 10-7, lost to Eastern 24-17 when they couldn’t convert in the final minute and beat Timber Creek 7-6 with a goal-line stand.

“You want to learn how to win close games right now when it doesn’t count officially,” Emel said. “Nobody remembers your 7-on-7 record, nobody wins a scrimmage, it’s about getting better.

“That’s every big game I’ve ever seen. You watch the NFL, every game comes down to a team needing a score or a stop. We were able to get a stop there (against Timber Creek) and when the offense needed to get a score in the previous game and didn’t get it, we lost. That’s what this is about, getting experience.”

Pennsville coach Mike Healy (L) and Woodstown’s John Adams talk football during a break in the action Saturday.

Woodstown won its bracket with a three-game sweep that included come-from-behind wins over Schalick (13-10) and Woodbury (11-10) and a battle with Nottingham (22-16).

They led Penns Grove in the semifinals 12-2 and 15-5 with five minutes left before the Red Devils rallied with two defensive stops and a touchdown by Omarion Pierce. The Wolverines built their lead on Max Webb’s touchdown pass to Carter Orlandini and interceptions by Alex Torres, Anthony Mordell and Orlandini.

Penns Grove scored first in overtime on Bryce Wright’s touchdown catch and the Red Devils denied three straight passes when they went out on defense.

“We were just out here today; we don’t practice for 7-on-7,” Wolverines coach John Adams said. “We had about three practices and weight room sessions so far this year, so we just look at it as a day to come out, have fun, let the kids run around. It’s kind of whoever can make it can make it and we had some young guys today who may have had their first ever experience in 7-on-7.

“I said to them just now going 3-0 in pool play and making the semifinals is something we haven’t done since they started this tournament. We’ve always seemed to be 2-1 and that team outside of the semifinals and I said for some of you guys who have never played 7-on-7 before coming in and being able to go 3-0 and get to the semifinals is pretty good and something to build off of for our practices.”

Schalick coach Mike Wilson (dark shirt) watches his team during its first game in Saturday’s tournament.

Schalick is one of those teams that doesn’t focus on wins and losses in these 7-on-7s, just getting better. Their final game loss to Woodbury (29-0) notwithstanding, the Cougars are convinced they got better.

They opened the day with a close loss to Woodstown (13-10) after building an early 10-2 lead and then beat Nottingham (20-11).

“We wanted to compete today, we’re finding our way to win and that’s part of the process,” Cougars coach Mike Wilson said. “We had to learn to win. That’s why we do this.”

Pennsville didn’t win a game in pool play, but the Eagles got better the longer they played. They lost their opener to Oakcrest 28-2, fell to Paulsboro 30-22 and then earned a 16-16 tie with Kingsway in their final game, turning back a potential game-winning extra point to preserve the result. There was no overtime.

“I’m proud of what we did, but I would’ve loved another chance to win the game,” Eagles coach Mike Healy said. 

The Eagles just finished their first week of summer workouts, so they’re a work in progress. They brought only three senior skill-position players to the tournament and only had about eight pass plays in their offense.

“Our first game we played terrible, we just didn’t play with an aggressive strategy; we were a little unsure of ourselves,” Healy said. “But the second and third game we played with some more attitude and aggressiveness and we kind of got a roll going offensively and defensively, kids started stepping up and just played a lot better overall. We can take a lot of positives from the way we finished today.”

Adam Taliaferro Foundation
Larry Ginsburg 7-x-7 Classic

BRACKET IW-LBRACKET IIW-LBRACKET IIIW-L
Penns Grove2-1Woodstown3-0Oakcrest3-0
Timber Creek2-1Woodbury2-1Kingsway-x1-1
Eastern2-1Schalick1-2Paulsboro1-2
Collingswood0-3Nottingham0-3Pennsville-x0-2
x-Pennsville, Kingsway played to a 16-16 tie.

SEMIFINALS
Penns Grove 21, Woodstown 15 (OT)
Woodbury 11, Oakcrest 9
CHAMPIONSHIP
Woodbury 21, Penns Grove 12
Penns Grove quarterback Romello Erickson throws a pass in the Red Devils’ 7-on-7 semifinal game against Woodstown Saturday. Top photo: PG coach John Emel accepts the tournament’s runner-up trophy.

Red Devils rising

Penns Grove football: Red Devils have impact freshman, an all-name All-American and a budding entrepreneur on the roster

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – The game is coming at Ka’Ron Caesar fast. Really fast. But he’s confident in his abilities and ready to take it head on.

Last year around this time the Penns Grove freshman was getting ready to play another season of youth football. This week he was out on the field with the high school varsity preparing to play a big role in the Red Devils’ run for a West Jersey Football League Diamond Division title.

It’s not unusual for a freshman to play, but you have to go back a ways to find one at the positions Caesar will play – running back, wide receiver, corner and safety – having this big an impact this early. 

He’s already ticketed to be the Red Devils’ first opening day freshman skill position starter since Aaron Hayward in 2005. Hayward starred for the Red Devils for four years, then took his talent to Rutgers.

“He’s that high up on the board,” PG coach John Emel said. “We’ve had freshmen start by the end of the year, but we’ve never had a freshman this high on the depth chart. That’s a credit to where he’s at and the work he’s put in. 

“I think he’s a D-I scholarship player. He’s on that pace at a high level. A lot of times when you’re a freshman going somewhere you’re at the bottom because the other guys have been there more, but he’s been there as much as anybody. He’s prepared his way. He’s ready to go. I have no doubt.

“And he has six more weeks to train. He’ll be really ready by August, believe me.”

The freshman isn’t nervous about making the jump at all. He would watch the Red Devils play and remembers thinking “I can hang with them.”

“It’s not really like pressure,” he said. “I love this sport and I know what I can do. I’m ready.”

He showed it last week at a 7-on-7 camp where Emel said confidently the youngster had one of the top performances of the day with several catches and interceptions.

“If you ask me why I think he’s ahead of the curve it’s because a lot of guys will come in and aren’t as physically ready, but he’s physically ready,” Emel said. “He’s fast, put work in the weight room and he’s getting stronger. On top of that, he’s a good football player.

“A lot of guys come in and they have the football stuff down but they don’t have the speed and physicality. To me, he’s physically ahead of other freshmen you have come in and that’s what’s given him an opportunity to go right in.”

Caesar isn’t the only player who has benefitted from his time in the Red Devils’ expanded weight room. Designed by Emel with the support of athletics director Anwar Golden, the room more than doubled in size from a cramped 1,500 square feet to a cavernous 3,500 with a full array of apparatus and weights. It was completed in September.

Freshman Ka’Ron Caesar (L), Bryce Wright (C) and Knowledge Young are all expected to play big roles for Penns Grove this football season.

Knowledge is power

If there’s one thing sportswriters have a lot of at this time of year it’s time on their hands. And that’s the fuel to create all kinds of clever offerings.

A lot of them has to do with the quirky things one can discover putting together the rosters of the high school football teams for the season ahead.

One of the more popular pursuits when time is aplenty is coming up with an all-name team, a compilation of the most intriguing names in the game.

Penns Grove has a player who definitely qualifies as a first-round all-name pick, a veritable all-name All-American – Knowledge Young.

His full name is equally unique – “the longest one in America” one of his teammates said overhearing the interview: Knowledge Born Reality Young.

Now if that’s not a name for the ages. And just when you thought the name game couldn’t get any better, his siblings have names just as interesting – Messiah, Savior and Precise.

People ask the Red Devils’ junior receiver/safety “all the time” the origin of his name. It’s actually a family legacy and rooted in, well, the book of knowledge.

“My name came from my dad; he actually has the same name as me,” Young said. “It’s his studies. He gets most of our names from that. All of our names come from his studies. He likes to be in books a lot.”

Don’t get the idea Knowledge is just another name on the Penns Grove roster. He’s an impact player, a returning all-conference pick capable of making something happen every time he touches the ball.

He caught 27 passes for a team-leading 337 yards and two touchdowns last season, had 600 all-purpose yards and made 48 tackles – fifth on the team and tops among DBs – with a fumble recovery and an interception.

“He’s got a good name because he’s a smart kid,” Red Devils coach John Emel said. “A good name like Knowledge, you’ve got to do well in school and have your head on straight.”

“You’ve got to hold up to it,” Knowledge agreed. “I prioritize school. You have to be a student first over an athlete, so I always have to keep my grades up. Four-point-oh. Gotta keep straight A’s.”

He’ll be in action Saturday when Penns Grove plays in the Coach Larry Ginsburg 7-on-7 Classic at Eastern High School. The Red Devils are one of four Salem County teams in the field.

The Iceman cometh

It didn’t take long for Jameel Clark to find a summer job after school let out.

He created one.

CLARK

Two weeks ago, the Penns Grove freshman wide receiver/defensive back started a water ice business – PG Ice – with his cousin Julian King out of their house on Penn Street. He saw it as an enterprise to bring something positive to the neighborhood, create some jobs and put a little spending money in his pocket.

“Our main thing is to bring more positivity to the community,” he said. “When I first moved here (from Southwest Philadelphia), I never saw any kids outside and when I did they were just going into the house or going to the store. There really was nothing fun to do.”

They’re not just a couple guys moving some water ice out of the house like some sidewalk lemonade stand. Clark says they have activities outside for the kids and they have a business license. 

Right now the business is working with about seven flavors they get from a distributor in Philadelphia, but in time they’d like to double the menu. Clark admitted he was nervous about launching at first because he was uncertain how the business would be received in his small town, but then he remembered what his grandmother told him – “Don’t ever be scared to try” – and he quickly warmed to the idea.

Their water ice has hit the spot. The icemen already have reordered three times to keep up with demand. Mango and strawberry lemonade seem to be the most popular flavors.

There’s a lot of competition in the water ice business, but these entrepreneurs aren’t frozen by the challenge of the establishment.

“We did say that,” Clark said. “We were going to be the next Rita’s.”

Red Devils coach John Emel only learned about his player’s business a couple days ago and has yet to sample their wares. But he’s all for his players embracing the entrepreneurial spirit. 

“I want them work,” he said. “That’s why we try to do workouts in the morning so they can work and we can give them off on the weekend so they can make some money because there’s so much they have to take care of on their own.”

A big cup of water ice sure is a nice treat to have after a hot day of August practice. He just might make some available. He isn’t sure if he’ll charge.

After all, he is a business man.