Schalick sophomore right-hander throws masterful complete-game in longest outing of his career, likely to start in Cougars’ playoff opener; Woodstown pair no-hits Pitman; includes SJ baseball playoff pairings
TUESDAY BASEBALL Schalick 12, Pennsville 3 Woodstown 8, Pitman 0 Clayton at Penns Grove Gloucester at Salem Tech Salem at Glassboro
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Matt Karr flat-out said Schalick pitcher Mason Sanchez played truth or dare with his Pennsville hitters Tuesday afternoon.
The sophomore right-hander threw it up there, dared the Eagles to hit it and the truth was they never did, or simply couldn’t.
The Cougars’ projected first-round playoff starter looked like a righthander version of another pitcher named Sanchez in the Philadelphia market – Phillies’ left-hander Christopher Sanchez – especially in the late innings of a masterful 12-3 complete-game victory over the Eagles,
“That’s what they call me in school, actually,” the slender sophomore said with a smile.
The Schalick Sanchez, who still plays Little League baseball and is proud of it, allowed just three hits, no earned runs, walked one and struck out three. He was especially sharp late in the game, retiring the last 15 batters he faced after throwing away Mason O’Brien’s bunt single leading off the third inning. He threw 94 pitches, 64 for strikes.
“We got our butts kicked – period,” Karr said. “He threw well, shoved it. Threw the ball right down the middle and played truth or dare. Said I dare you to hit it and we couldn’t. Just an absolute, awful, poor, no effort. It’s just … embarrassing.”
It was the longest outing of Sanchez’ career and clearly the most effective. He had never gone more than three innings in any outing before. The Cougars are 7-3 in the games he pitches.
“I was thinking before the season even started what do I want to be this season, a starter, reliever, a starter, reliever,” the pitcher said. “They’ve been talking about it and now we decided on starter. My goal coming into this game was to get at least three strikeouts and keep it under four hits, because that’s just my goal for every game. I’m not a big guy who goes up there and strikes everybody out like Jamari (Whitley) and Cole (Hartley). I’m a guy who goes up there and tries to (get them to) hit the ball. I know my defense is really good, the guys behind me.”
“I wanted him to challenge them,” Schalick coach Sean O’Brien said. “We don’t want to walk guys. You saw what happened yesterday where we give free passes and teams will hurt you. Limit the walks and challenge guys to give you weak contact is kind of what we want to do. He did that, embraced that, and did a great job. If you compete and you’re not walking guys ,hitters are going to get themselves out. You just make the right pitch and you just have to trust your fielders behind you to make the plays and he did a good job doing that today.”
Offensively, it was a complete 180 from what both teams experienced the day before. Pennsville kept the meter running and crushed Penns Grove 28-8, while Schalick was lethargic in a 13-5 loss to Haddon Heights.
The Cougars (17-7) answered Pennsville both times the Eagles (14-9) scored in the first three innings. They finally took the lead for good on Jamari Whitley’s two-run single in the fourth, then broke it open with seven in the fifth on a combination of hard-hit balls, soft or seeing-eye liners and poor Pennsville defense. Ricky Watt had a chance to walk it off with his 100th career hit in the sixth, but flew out to center for the final out of the inning and leave him sitting on 99.
Five Cougars had at least two hits in the game. Evan Glaspey had three hits and three RBIs.
“The good thing about having a bad game and then you get to play the next day is then you can kind of quickly forget about the day before,” O’Brien said. “We did a good job of settling into the game, Mason did a good job settling into the game. We started a little slow, we were making some errors behind him, but we picked it up there and then offensively we finally started to pick things up. One through nine we were hitting the ball hard and we didn’t do that consistently yesterday.
“I just want our guys to just be playing good baseball when next week comes around. Playing good teams and beating good teams is playing good baseball. I think that helps us going forward.”
WOODSTOWN 8, PITMAN 0: Blake Rodriguez and Stone Hassler combined on a seven-inning no-hitter, facing the minimum 21 batters. The only base runner they allowed was a third-inning walk to Payton Miller by Rodriguez and Miller was erased on a double play.
Rodriguez worked the first 5 2/3 innings, coming out after 73 pitches. Hassler threw 16 pitches to get the final four outs.
The Wolverines took control of this one early, scoring four runs in the first inning. Luke Fraley had two hits and two RBIs. Drew Sutton and Sol Elmer also had a pair of hits. Tommy Tucci went 1-for-3 to collect his 50th career hit and Ty Coblentz went 1-for-4 to move within nine of 100.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I PLAYOFFS Wednesday’s First-Round Games (16) Cape May Tech at (1) Schalick (9) Gateway at (8) Audubon (12) Paulsboro at (5) Wildwood, Tuesday (13) Riverside at (4) Maple Shade (14) LEAP at (3) Haddon Twp. (11) Pitman at (6) Pennsville (10) Buena at (7) Glassboro, 2 p.m. (15) Clayton at (2) Woodstown
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 2 PLAYOFFS Wednesday’s First-Round Games (16) Collingswood at (1) Haddonfield (9) Manchester Twp. at (8) Middle Twp. (12) Lower Cape May at (5) Seneca (13) Gloucester at (4) Sterling (14) Pleasantville at (3) Cedar Creek (11) Medford Tech at (6) West Deptford (10) Salem Tech at (7) Barnegat, 3:45 p.m. (15) Mastery Camden at (2) Haddon Heights
Here are scores and highlights from Tuesday’s Salem County sports calendar; detailed stories will be posted on the website soon
BASEBALL Schalick 12, Pennsville 3: Mason Sanchez looked like another pitcher named Sanchez in Philly market with masterful complete game win. Woodstown 8, Pitman 0: Blake Rodriguez and Stone Hassler combined seven-inning no-hitter, facing the minimum 21 batters. The only base runner they allowed was a third-inning walk and he was erased on a double play. Clayton at Penns Grove Gloucester at Salem Tech Salem at Glassboro
SOFTBALL Clayton 26, Penns Grove 8: The Clippers erased an early 7-0 Penns Grove lead with 17 runs in the second inning. Woodstown 5, Pitman 3: Ellie Wygand collects her 100th career hit in her first at-bat. Schalick 6, Pennsville 5: Paige Sparks, down to her team’s last strike, hits go-ahead three-run homer in seventh, drives in five runs.
GOLF Schalick 180, Cumberland 186: One day after beating the Colts in a three-way card playoff for the Salem/Cumberland Challenge team title, the Cougars edge them in a match to claim a share of the TCC Diamond Division title (with Woodstown).
TENNIS Clayton at Penns Grove
BOYS LACROSSE Bishop Eustace 9, Woodstown 7: The Crusaders outscored three goals in the fourth quarter to win. Connor Haney and Bob Waddington each scored three goals for Woodstown. Bryce Downer made 15 saves, finishing his Woodstown career with 731.
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.
Baseball
100 HITS
TOTAL
GRAD
Matt Dineen, Pennsville
162
2018
Luke Pokrovsky, Schalick
139
2025
Chase Burchfield, Pennsville
119
2025
Jarrett Pokrovsky, Schalick
118
2022
Brent Williams, Woodstown
112
2024
Luke Wood, Pennsville
109
2025
Andrew Pedrick, Woodstown
105
2024
Staus Pokrovsky, Schalick
105
2019
Josh Shimp, Pennsville
105
2014
Peyton Sorrells, Pennsville
104
2015
Harry Padden, Schalick
102
2019
x-Evan Sepers, Schalick
101
2026
ON THE CUSP: Ricky Watt, Schalick 97; Ty Coblentz, Woodstown 90
Woodstown senior scores career-high 12 goals, moves within three of breaking school’s all-time goals record; mark might not come until the playoffs
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
HADDON HEIGHTS – Delaney Walker didn’t try to break the Woodstown all-time goal scoring record all in one game Monday, it just looked that way and after a while she just went for it.
The Wolverines’ senior scored a career-high and school-record 12 goals in a 21-8 win over Haddon Heights. It left her with 234 career goals, three shy of tying the school’s all-time career goals mark.
“Today I just really wanted it,” the UMass-Lowell signee said. “I’m like I guess I’m just going to go for it today, get as many as I can.
“I wasn’t counting at first, but then I started to, but I started to lose a little track of how many I actually scored. I couldn’t tell if I scored 12 or 11. We might have to go back on the film.”
Upon further film review, it was determined she had scored 12 goals in the game.
Her first crack at the record might not come until the playoffs. The Wolverines were scheduled to play Timber Creek at home Wednesday in their final regular season game, but the Chargers have canceled the game and are playing at Delran Tuesday, the day of the power points cutoff. With prom coming up on the weekend and unless they can find a last-minute replacement, their next game won’t be until the South Jersey playoffs.
The Wolverines are currently seventh in the South Jersey Group I power points standings. They are likely to get a home game, but the stakes will be higher when they play.
“It was rumored (Timber Creek was canceling) and we found out on the bus after the game that we weren’t going to (play), so I’m like I’m just going to go for it,” she said. “I’m just going to go crazy and go for it, take as many shots as possible so I can get there. It is do-or-die, so if I really want this I have to do it. I want one more win at least, to get to second round at least, but getting the goals along with it would be nice.”
Walker has scored at least four goals in each of her last eight games. Her previous single-game high for goals was eight, last year in a 17-12 win at West Deptford, and a 14-11 loss to Haddon Heights in 2024.
Sterling’s Caitlin Claybourn scored 12 goals in a win over Delran in April.
Before Walker’s 12th oal was confirmed on film, Arianna Hyman and Blair Baldi were credited with three goals each, while Isabella Lindenmuth, Emma Morgan, Lauren Hengel and Emma Perry all had one apiece.
Here are scores and highlights from Monday’s Salem County sports calendar; this report will be updated
BASEBALL Haddon Heights 13, Schalick 5 Pennsville 28, Penns Grove 8 Camden Academy Charter 10, Salem 8 SOFTBALL Pennsville 17, Salem 0 Haddonfield 13, Salem Tech 2 BOYS VOLLEYBALL Triton 2, Salem Tech 0 (27-25, 25-18) GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown 21, Haddon Heights 8 TENNIS Pennsville 5, Penns Grove 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – A division title and the number one seed in the South Jersey Group I baseball playoffs may be firmly in Schalick’s back pocket, but the Cougars know there’s a lot more work to be done.
The Cougars have three games between now and the start of the playoffs – starting with Monday’s 13-5 loss to Haddon Heights – and while the games might not count for power points they still carry a lot of weight.
“These are games we need to try to get heading in that right direction, where we’re playing our best baseball heading into next week,” Schalick coach Sean O’Brien said. “There’s a week gap between the games so I think if we end on a positive note it just sets us up nicely for that first round. So, we’re trying to get playing good baseball before we start next week.:
It didn’t start the way they wanted. The Garnets (15-6), the No. 2 seed in the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs, led for the entirety of the 3-hour, 12-minute marathon. They reached Schalick starter Jamari Whitley for two runs in the first inning, extended the lead to 5-1 in the third and then broke it open with seven in the fifth to threaten to run-rule their hosts.
The Cougars (16-7) scored in the home half of every inning the Garnets did, but it was never enough.
“The three aspects of the game – pitching, hitting and fielding – we didn’t do any of them well,” O’Brien said. “It’s hard to beat a good team when you don’t do those things well. They’re a scrappy team, they find ways to get runs, and we just didn’t do our job overall today. That’s what it came down to.”
The Cougars did manage to avoid the run rule by scoring just enough in the home fifth to keep the game going.
“I think offensively we’re too good to be held down for that long, so I knew we could still get some runs; it was just our mentality,” O’Brien said.
The Cougars just couldn’t get that timely hit to spark a big inning. They left the bases loaded in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings. The only production they got out of those situations was RBI singles by J.T. Fleming and Whitley in the fifth and Wyatt Cushane getting hit by a pitch in the sixth. They left 14 runners on base, 10 in scoring position.
“We’ve gotten better with less than two outs and bases loaded, but now with bases loaded with two outs it’s like a new challenge that we have to deal with,” O’Brien said. “We’re getting guys on, we’re just not getting them in, and you can’t do that against good team. You have to capitalize to stay in games and win games.”
Garnets leadoff man Ryan Govito had a big day. He singled in each of his first five at-bats and had a chance in the seventh to go 6-for-6, but Bo Schalick, the Cougars’ fourth pitcher, got the sophomore shortstop to line softly to second.
“Five is a lot, six would’ve been nice, but I did the job,” said Govito, who had a four-hit game earlier this season. “The last at-bat I was just trying to keep the approach simple, middle of the field, same thing as before. I was trying to get a fastball, but I didn’t; maybe swung at a bad pitch.”
Ricky Watt got the Cougars on the board with his eighth homer of the season in the first inning.
“I saw five or six sliders before and then I finally got a fastball and got the barrel to it,” he said.
Watt had a double later in the game. He now has 97 career hits.
“I want to get it before playoffs hit,” he said. “I hadn’t really thought about (100 career hits) a whole lot; it’s not the No. 1 thing on my mind. But I’m excited about it.”
PENNSVILLE 28, PENNS GROVE 8: Jeff Wagner hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, Mason O’Brien homered and Steve Fatcher and Logan Cowperthwait each had four RBIs. The Eagles scored 10 in the third to break it open and 11 in the fourth.
CAMDEN ACADEMY CHARTER10, SALEM 8; The Cougars answered Salem’s six-run fourth with five in the bottom of the inning to tie the game, then pushed across runs in the fifth and sixth to win. Andry Placencia scored the go-ahead run on a ball that got away at the plate and Lenox Angeles singled home the insurance run. Austin Davis had two hits and three RBIs for the Rams, Troy Carey had two RBIs.
SOFTBALL PENNSVILLE 17, SALEM 0: The Eagles scored 10 runs in the first inning and Savannah Guglielmo pitched a four-inning no-hitter.
HADDONFIELD 13, SAEM TECH 2: The Bulldogs pulled away from a 3-2 lead with seven runs in the fifth inning. Shelby Drummond had two hits for the Chargers and scored their first run on a steal of home.
TENNIS PENNSVILLE 5, PENNS GROVE 0 Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Anthony Pacheco, 6-0, 6-0 Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Juan Ortiz, 6-0, 6-0 Carter Willis (P) def. Jesus Arredondo, 6-3, 6-0 Jacob Cheeseman-Coen Rinnier (P) def. Jordan Hernandez-Fernando Palacios Lima, 6-0, 6-0 Lucas Thomas-Matthew Forino (P) def. Alan Lopez-Jeremy TeJada, 6-2, 6-0 Records: Pennsville 17-6, Penns Grove 5-8.
Haddon Heights’ Ryan Gavin had five hits in his first five at-bats Monday against Schalick. The Cougars finally got him out in the seventh. Top photo: Schalick’s Ricky Watt crosses the plate after hitting his eighth homer of the season in the first inning.
Cumberland’s Tarquinio medalist of Salem/Cumberland Challenge after historic playoff with Schalick’s Nelson; Schalick wins team title in three-way scoreboard playoff with Woodstown, Cumberland
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CENTERTON — Nicole Tarquinio answered a lot of questions for herself Monday at Centerton Golf Club.
The Cumberland Regional senior won medalist honors after the longest playoff in the history of the Salem/Cumberland Challenge. It was a co-ed mash-up and anyone was open to win,
Tarquinio did it with a birdie on the fourth hole of a sudden death playoff, surviving a spirited battle with Schalick’s Mikey Nelson, who played what he called “definitely the best round of my life” to get there. Both players shot 7-over-par 78 in regulation.
Schalick won the team title, surviving a three-way match-of-cards with Woodstown and Cumberland. All three teams came in with 330 when the counting was done and the Cougars were declared the champions with the best aggregate on the most difficult hole.
For Tarquinio, winning the tournament showed she could hold up over 18 holes (and then some) when nine is the norm, she had the wherewithal to win a tournament and she could play with (and beat) the boys. She had been trying for four years to win this tournament and while she has been the low girl over the years and was in the hunt to the last few holes last year this was the first time she beat ’em all.
“It feels so good to beat the boys because a lot of boys try and show that they’re better than me, they don’t worry about girls being better than me, it’s like nice to finally show it,” the York College signee said. “I’m also happy for myself not just beating everybody else in the tournament, but shooting my personal best, because for a while, in the past couple tournaments, I’ve been struggling to shoot good and this feels like I finally was able to break that.
“This made me feel a lot better playing. Winning this tournament boosted my confidence a lot more, because the last couple tournaments I just wasn’t playing well and I feel like this showed me I can do it, especially against boys, too. It shows me I can do it and gives me confidence as we go on.”
Tarquinio won the playoff with a 20-foot putt on the par-3 third, very similar to a putt she made for birdie on 12 to take her round to 2-over before a tough closing stretch brought her back to the field. She had the same putt on 3 in regulation that didn’t go in, but the feel gave her confidence in the playoff she could get it close.
Nelson had chances to win on each of the first three playoff holes, with putts of par or better on each green inside five feet, but couldn’t get them to drop. He hit a 56-degree wedge from 80 yards to four feet left of the pin on the second playoff hole – with Tarquinio looking at a 10-foot uphill putt for birdie – and ran it past the hole. He got in contention with a one-putt eagle on the 485-yard par-5 14th.
“If I had taken more time, just concentrated on that putt, I would’ve had it,” Nelson said. “After the drive on the second playoff hole I just went back to my soccer roots playing in high intensity. Just keep it calm. I was chill about it. I kept getting calmer and calmer as it went on. Maybe I got too calm on Hole 3.”
Finally, on the fourth playoff hole, Tarquinio, playing from the red tees all round, hit a 6-iron on the green, while Nelson sliced his 7-iron off to the right. He had a firm bare lie and tried to coax his ball over the bunker onto the green, but he found the bunker instead. He got out with his third, but still wasn’t on the green.
Tarquinio had two putts for the win, but only needed one to become the tournament’s first female medalist.
“Credit to Nicole,” Schalick coach Sean Collins said. “She earned it today, but she really earned it over the last four years.”
The team playoff went to an aggregate match-of-cards on the 430-yard, par-4 16th, the No. 1 handicap hole of the course. Schalick played the hole in 3-over, Cumberland in 4-over and Woodstown in 5-over. Jaxon Weber and Anthony Sepers both parred the hole for the Cougars. Nelson bogeyed it and Seth Fisher made 6.
“We tied with Woodstown the last two years for the division, we still have to win a match this year to tie them again, we were at Carl Arena we tied, we beat them at states pretty good,” Collins said. “It’s a fun rivalry we’ve had with them the last couple and the kids all know each other, especially this group of kids, the four seniors who have been through a lot of battles with Woodstown in the county so I’m glad that they won. Albeit a match of cards in the end they’re the champs.”
BOYS GOLF WOODSTOWN 166, DEPTFORD 168: Just a few hours after competing in the Salem/Cumberland Challenge, where they finished third in a three-way card playoff, the Wolverines were back on their home course, Town & Country, and took a tight match from the Spartans.
The Wolverines trailed by four after each team’s top three scorers were posted, but they had a choice of the 45s from Austin Wood or Blake Bialecki to overtake Deptford’s fourth score (51). Deptford’s Austin Tennyson was medalist (2-over 37), one shot ahead of Woodstown’s Lucas Fulmer, who played a clean round with the exception of a triple-bogey on the par-3 fourth at Town & Country.
The Wolverines will now keep a keen eye on Tuesday’s Schalick-Cumberland match at Running Deer Golf Club. If Schalick wins, the Cougars are TCC Diamond Division co-champions. If Cumberland wins, Woodstown wears the crown.
Salem/Cumberland Challenge
TEAM SCORES: x-Schalick 330, Woodstown 330, Cumberland 330, Vineland 425, Salem Tech 447. x-Declared winner on aggregate scorecard playoff.
INDIVIDUAL SCORES
x-Nicole Tarquinio, Cumberland
78
Mikey Nelson, Schalick
78
Jaxon Weber, Schalick
79
Nate Valente, Woodstown
79
Joseph Nolan, Cumberland
81
Logan Jones, Woodstown
81
Maahishee Patel, Cumberland
84
Alejandro Vazquez, Woodstown
85
Jack Bucksar, Woodstown
85
Seth Fisher, Schalick
86
Manntram Patel, Cumberland
87
Anthony Sepers, Schalick
87
Anthony Kaskabas, Vineland
88
Trevor Hann, Pennsville
97
Sophia Conto, Salem Tech
104
Artur Kovch, Vineland
105
Makenna Minguez, Pennsville
106
Hailey Hillegass, Vineland
107
Abigail Bohn, Pennsville
109
Hannah Kormann, Salem Tech
110
Thomas Conto, Salem Tech
115
Daniel Atanasio, Salem Tech
118
Ava Caruso, Vineland
125
x-wins on fourth hole of sudden-death playoff
Schalick survived a three-way scorecard playoff to win the Salem/Cumberland Challenge team title. Top photo: Playoff medalist Nicole Tarquinio is flanked by runners-up Mikey Nelson (L) and Jason Weber.
Here is a list of Salem County’s all-time leading scorers in basketball; documented additions/updates should be sent to al.muskewitz@gmail.com
Boys
PLAYER
SCHOOL
TOTAL
YEAR
Paul Gause
Schalick
3144
2005
Keith Jackson
Salem
1940
1986
Richard Brokenbaugh
Penns Grove
1730
1989
Marcus Robinson
Salem
1726
1990
Joe Hickman
Woodstown
1726
1972
Zach Manorowitz
Pennsville
1679
2020
Mike Holloway
Schalick
1634
2015
Rashan Holloway
Schalick
1622
2014
Kavon Lewis
Penns Grove
1600
2020
Dominique Roy
Penns Grove
1574
2008
Mike Wright
Penns Grove
1551
1988
Derrick Parsley
Salem
1532
2008
Greg Frith
Schalick
1532
1990
Fred Drains
Woodstown
1444
1989
Jawan Roane
Penns Grove
1424
2018
Jerry Dickerson
Salem
1416
1963
Sean Collins
Schalick
1393
1996
Geshawn Davis
Penns Grove
1393
2013
Melvin Allen
Schalick
1355
2014
Ron Michael
Salem
1350
2002
Bradley Rowand
Woodstown
1346
2000
Tyler Lunsford
Schalick
1345
2016
James Rowe
Salem
1300
1997
Dan Feruck
Pennsville
1284
1980
Lowell Fortune
Salem
1255
1989
Brian Sye
Salem
1227
1978
Ralph Kowalkowski
St. James
1220
1955
Josh Hedgeman
Schalick
1219
1989
Luke Wood
Pennsville
1198
2025
William Barnes
Salem
1192
2005
Jamar D. Johnson
Penns Grove
1189
2020
Anthony Farmer
Salem
1175
2024
Jim Shivers
Woodstown
1170
1973
George Seager
Pennsville
1158
1989
Michael Moore
Penns Grove
1147
1991
Gage Ausland
Salem
1144
2020
Butch Karr
Pennsville
1143
2009
Scott Powers
Woodstown
1134
1993
Joe Cassidy
St. James
1117
1983
Clifton Shaw
Penns Grove
1111
1996
Blake Bialecki
Woodstown
1107
2026
Billy McMackin
Woodstown
1105
2003
Joe Mecholsky
Pennsville
1103
1992
Mike Driscoll
Woodstown
1100
1968
Brandon Bermudez
Salem Tech
1097
2023
Tim Buzby
Pennsville
1093
1987
Jim Brown
Salem
1085
1985
Ramon Roots
Salem
1080
2016
Mike Harrell
Schalick
1075
1986
Brian Booker
Woodstown
1068
2002
Keith Robinson
Penns Grove
1065
2019
Troy Johnson
Schalick
1062
2017
x-Tymear Lecator
Salem
1061
Lew Ridgeway
Salem
1058
1975
Eric Spencer
St. James
1054
1990
Tom Summiel
Salem
1050
1971
Clint Hitchner
Woodstown
1050
1996
Jamy Thomas
Pennsville
1048
1994
DeAndre Solomon
Schalick
1044
2014
Charles McNeil
Penns Grove
1040
1956
Jim Smith
Woodstown
1038
1955
Charles Haines
Penns Grove
1030
1953
Bruce Spencer
St. James
1023
1983
Colin Rieger
Pennsville
1014
2015
Terrence Sorrell
Salem
1014
1988
Darryl Gause
Schalick
1007
2001
Dan Yucis
Pennsville
1003
1999
Matt Kates
Schalick
1002
2008
Woodrow Furbush
Salem
1002
2011
x-active
Girls
PLAYER
SCHOOL
TOTAL
YEAR
Katie Kline
Pennsville
2110
2004
Amanda Young
St. James
1762
1995
Sharias Hill
Penns Grove
1661
2009
Brittany Smith
Salem
1623
2007
Talia Battavio
Woodstown
1620
2025
Megan Donelson
Woodstown
1588
2025
Tia Furbush
Schalick
1574
2021
Tori Smick
Woodstown
1566
2013
Shayla Llanos
Salem
1436
2008
Crystal Bailey
Schalick
1406
1984
Stephanie Owen
Woodstown
1381
1993
Marley Wood
Pennsville
1362
2026
Dawn Curry
Pennsville
1288
2008
Tamara Watkins
Penns Grove
1276
2005
Charlie Baldwin
Woodstown
1275
2020
Shaqui Coppage
Salem
1265
2010
Vynette Miller
Salem
1255
1985
Kelli Griffith
Pennsville
1248
1989
Paige Caldwell
Woodstown
1237
2017
Taylor Bass
Pennsville
1237
2026
Shanann Gavin
St. James
1234
1997
Ryane Wood
Pennsville
1224
2022
Carly Lane
Penns Grove
1217
2001
Shaniece Banks
Penns Grove
1205
2008
Elizabeth Hudock
Salem
1203
2019
Marie Patrick
Salem
1186
1995
Hannah Cooksey
Pennsville
1168
2019
Lindsey Minch
Pennsville
1163
2010
Riley Fulmer
Woodstown
1163
2022
RaNiyah Wilson
Penns Grove
1156
2025
Nora Ausland
Pennsville
1144
2025
Tiasia Tatem
Salem
1139
2015
Che’Na Thompson
Salem
1130
2009
Ashley Hansen
Schalick
1124
2008
Bethany Humenik
Woodstown
1120
2009
Kelly Thompson
Woodstown
1115
1990
Latika Ross
Salem
1102
2001
Lindsay Rivell
Salem
1081
2001
Caitlin McCaffery
Pennsville
1080
2003
Natrice Reed
Penns Grove
1065
2018
Meely Horace
Penns Grove
1063
2024
Kayla Mayers
Woodstown
1041
2015
Shannon Pollock
St. James
1037
1993
Christy Britton
St. James
1037
1989
Ashley Engel
Woodstown
1012
2007
Susanne Daly
St. James
1002
1991
Sandy Alston
Penns Grove
1983
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There are a lot of points in this picture of 1,000-point scorers (L-R) Woodstown’s Talia Battavio and Pennsville’s Marley Wood, Ryane Wood, Luke Wood, Nora Ausland and Jamy Thomas. There were more than 7,100 points represented here at the time this photo was taken.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of May 18-23
MONDAY, MAY 18 BASEBALL Haddon Heights at Schalick Penns Grove at Pennsville Salem at Camden Academy Charter SOFTBALL Pennsville at Salem Haddonfield at Salem Tech, 4:15 p.m. BOYS GOLF Salem/Cumberland Championship, Centerton CC, 8 a.m. Woodstown vs. Deptford, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS GOLF Salem/Cumberland Championship, Centerton CC, 8 a.m. TENNIS Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. BOYS VOLLEYBALL Highland at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Haddon Heights
TUESDAY, MAY 19 BASEBALL Clayton at Penns Grove Gloucester at Salem Tech Pennsville at Schalick Pitman at Woodstown Salem at Glassboro SOFTBALL Penns Grove at Clayton Woodstown at Pitman Schalick at Pennsville at Pennsville LL, 6 p.m. GOLF Schalick vs. Cumberland, Running Deer, 3:30 p.m. TENNIS Clayton at Penns Grove BOYS LACROSSE Bishop Eustace at Woodstown VOLLEYBALL Clearview at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. TRACK Nike Elite Meet, Delsea
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 BASEBALL LEAP at Penns Grove Salem Tech at Wildwood Catholic Schalick at Collingswood SOFTBALL Glassboro at Salem Schalick at Middle Twp. Atlantic Tech at Woodstown, 4:15 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Timber Creek at Woodstown
THURSDAY, MAY 21 BASEBALL Mainland at Pennsville Salem Tech at Gloucester County Christian SOFTBALL Pennsville at Kingsway Salem Tech at Camden Co. Tech
Schalick’s Stewart scores fourth win in this year’s South Jersey Group I track meet; county athletes win 4 more titles, grab 30 more state qualifying spots
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
MEDFORD – Schalick’s David Stewart completed a four-event sweep, two winning throwers surpassed personal benchmarks in big ways and overall Salem County athletes had another field day on the final day of the South Jersey Group I sectional track meet Saturday.
Salem County athletes won four more individual titles and secured 30 more spots in the state meet on a gorgeous day at Lenape High School. That brought their collective haul for the weekend to 11 sectional titles and 60 spots in the state meet. To break it down further, nine of the 18 boys events were won by Salem County athletes.
“Their performances to me, it was one of the best performances at sectionals in Salem County history,” Woodstown coach Tom Mason said, and he’s been coaching track and cross country in the county 46 years. “And you’ve got to understand track and field in Salem County has historically had the most state champions and state championship teams. I was very, very proud of Salem County.”
Stewart won his fourth event of the meet when he took the boys open 400 in a PR of 48.64 seconds, leading a 1-2-3-4 Salem County finish across the line. He won the triple jump Wednesday on the last jump of the event and the 400 hurdles and long jump Friday. He was the only athlete at Lenape – boy or girl, Group 1 or Group 4 – to win four individual events and edged out Eastern’s Natalie Dumas for overall high-point scorer.
“I had three gold medals so today it was really like I might as well go for the fourth and then I ended up getting the fourth, so it just felt really good,” Stewart said. “There was definitely pressure because going into the 400 I wasn’t seeded first, so I was running out of Lane 2. I was definitely a little nervous, but once I got in the blocks, all the adrenaline took over and it was just like another race and I ran it.”
Actually, running out of Lane 2 helped him because he could see the competition. The plan was to quickly close the stagger and take the lead, making the competition run harder on the backstretch to keep up and then kick it into another gear in the final 100 to pull away. That’s exactly what happened and he won the race by more than a full second.
“That was a great run for him,” Schalick coach James Turner said. “It was exciting for him to finally go ahead and get four sectional championships and move on to the state in two weeks and he’s excited about it.”
The plan is for him to run all four events at the state meet, where another four-way sweep is possible as he’ll be seeded first in the hurdles, 400 and triple jump.
“The thing I’m most impressed with is I can’t ever remember a time David had a negative attitude or was worried or had doubt,” Turner said. “He’s always very positive, he’s very determined and every day he goes out there and he’s competing, he just always has this very positive attitude about him (that) he’s going to do good, he’s going to be great, and that’s the one thing I don’t think I’ve ever had an athlete to have.
“He was always thinking positive and was confident in what he could do. Even today with his hamstring. He’s not injured he’s just sore. He was like I’ve got this, I’m good. He’s always confident. He’s always positive.”
Among the day’s other winners, Woodstown’s Aidan Taulane completed a double when he put the shot put title with the discus crown he won Friday, Schalick’s Gary Simonini won the javelin and Salem sprinter Raniyah Parsons-Smith won the girls 200.
The two winning throwers had been chasing specific benchmarks all year and both cleared them in the finals of their event with room to spare.
Simonini has been chasing 170 feet all year. The junior got there Saturday, winning the event with a school-record throw of 176 feet, 8 inches, clearing the old record, set by Pat McCann in 2019, by a foot. The winning throw, on his final attempt with the new “gold standard” implement he started gaming at the Salem County Meet, was actually the second time he crossed the threshold on the day. He threw it 171-6 on his first attempt in the finals.
“My goal since freshman year was always to break the school record,” he said. “Today, I had some good warmups. I came into the finals seeded first. My first throw in the finals I hit 171, my first time in the 170s. By the time I got to my third throw – I was the last to throw so I knew I won – so I just had a smile on my face, went out there and had fun.
“I had some back issues during the week and today was like one of my first full throw days of the week and it ended up being a great day. I’m just happy I could do it for my school. Schalick just has done so many great things for me. I’ve had a great high school experience. Just to be able to get the name of Schalick out there like one of the top track schools, like a force in Group 1, that’s probably my favorite part about today.”
He also had something else more personal motivating him. He missed making it to the state meet last year by one spot – 3.5 feet – when he threw it 136-9 that feels like a warmup toss these days.
“That was like 40 feet ago,” he said. “It really helped me throughout the summer with just my drive. I’ve been working for this since my freshman year. I’ve always wanted to break that record.”
That wasn’t just a story for Saturday. It truly has been an career-long pursuit.
“When he was a freshman I remember he laid out a four-year gameplan for himself,” Turner said. “I said I threw this much this year, by the end of next year I’m throwing 150. By the end of my junior year I’m going to be throwing a 170. By the time I’m a senior I’m going to be out there close to 200.
“I talked to him today afterwards and was like do you remember what you told me when you were a freshman about what you laid out and how you were going to progress over the years. He was like yeah I remember. Just laying it out for himself as a freshman and so far hitting all those goals is just exciting to watch. He’s so dedicated and determined to do exactly what he says he’s going to do, to see him win the sectional title and not just win the sectional title but break the school record as a junior that was so exciting to watch. It was such a beautiful throw.”
Taulane, meanwhile, has been creeping up on 50 feet in the shot put the past couple meets. The Rowan signee didn’t just clear it on this day, he left it in the rear view mirror. He finally broke through on the first time on his second throw of the prelims (50-2.5) and then turned it loose in the finals, throwing it 53-3 to win the event by 3 ½ feet. It was the 13th best throw in the state this season.
“Hitting 53 today was kind of crazy,” he said. “I still really don’t know how to feel; I feel good about it. It definitely was my best technical throw ever. Getting over the barrier (the first time) really helped to show me that there was more in the tank, how much more I could hit.”
Glassboro won the boys team title, Audubon won the girls crown. Woodstown made a push on the final day and edged Schalick for third in the boys standings; Penns Grove finished fifth. Salem and Schalick were fourth and fifth, respectively, in the girls standings.
The Woodstown boys entered the day in fourth place, 42 points out of first and 16 behind second-place Schalick, but they more than doubled their points production on the last day to pass the Cougars and finish 11 points out of second place.
“The young men, especially on the track, what warriors these kids were,” Mason said. “What Aidan did goes without saying, and we got a second place in the high jump from Eli Ceasar, but on the track what warriors these kids were. Karson takes a tumble (in the 4×100 Friday), he comes in with band-aids all over and gets second today in the 400. I was very proud of the kids today. They gave everything they had, battled, now let’s heal up and move on to states.”
Woodstown’s Aidan Taulane (C) soared past the 50-foot barrier to win the South Jersey Group I shot put title and become a double winner in this year’s sectional track meet. Top photo, four-event winner David Stewart (L) and Gary Simonini brought home gold for Schalick on Saturday’s final meet day.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I SECTIONALS Saturday Results Only Event winners, Salem County state qualifiers (top six)
BOYS Team scores: Glassboro 120, Camden 84, WOODSTOWN 73, SCHALICK 69, PENNS GROVE 47, Haddon Twp. 43, Woodbury 25, SALEM 24, Maple Shade 17, Clayton 12, Gateway 11, Burlington City 9, Audubon 8, Buena 8, PENNSVILLE 5, Palmyra 2, Paulsboro 1 400: 1. David Stewart, Schalick 48.64; 2. Karson Chew, Woodstown 49.70; 3. Kylee Goodson, Penns Grove 49.81; 4. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 49.84 4×800: 1. Woodbury 8:09.42; 3. Woodstown (Marino, Farrell, Hutton, Turner) 8:24.10; 6. Salem (Buzby, Gilbert, Pozo, Conrath) 8:45.81 110 Hurdles: 1. Jaleel Dickerson-Dempsey, Camden 14.69; 2. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 15.05; 4. Timothy Gregory, Salem 15.54 200: 1. Christian Braxton, Camden 22.22; 4. Kylee Goodson, Penns Grove 22.90; 6. Timothy Gregory, Salem 23.18 1600: 1. Joseph Saicic, Glassboro 4:27.87 4×400: 1. Camden 3:23.15; 2. Penns Grove (Garlic, White, Goodson, Colon) 3:23.42; 3. Woodstown (Chew, Costello, Crawford, Turner) 3:25.99 Shot Put: 1. Aidan Taulane, Woodstown 53-5; 4. Connor Wariwanchik, Pennsville 48-9.25; 5. JaKai Ingram, Penns Grove 48-7.25; 6. Ethan McLean, Schalick 46-11.5 Javelin: 1. Gary Simonini, Schalick 176-8 High Jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 6-2; T-2. Tommy White, Penns Grove 6-0; T-2. Elijah Caesar, Woodstown 6-0; 5. Donovan Weathers, Salem 6-0
Riverview Sports News 