Here is the sports schedule for Salem County teams and the NJSIAA Final Four for the week of March 4-9
MARCH 4
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Cairn JV at Myrtle Beach, 9 p.m.
MARCH 5
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Penn State Kensington (MB), 7:30 p.m.
NJSIAA BASKETBALL
Boys Final Four
Group IIRamsey vs. Arts, Elizabeth, 7 p.m.
Camden vs. Manasquan, Central Regional, 7 p.m.
Group IV
Ridgewood at Elizabeth, 5 p.m.
Lenape vs. Montgomery, Central Regional, 4:30 p.m.
Girls Final Four
Group II
Jefferson vs. Madison, Bloomfield, 4:30 p.m.
Middle Twp. vs. Manasquan, Monroe, 7 p.m.
Group IV
Morristown vs. Hillsborough, Bloomfield, 7 p.m.
Lenape vs. Howell, Monroe, 5 p.m.
MARCH 6
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Rochester C&T (MB), 2 p.m.
Salem CC vs. DuPage (MB), 6:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC vs. Southeastern (2) (MB), 1 p.m.
NJSIAA BASKETBALL
Boys Final Four
Group I
Paterson Charter vs. Newark Tech, Bloomfield, 7 p.m.
Pitman vs. College Achieve, Monroe, 7 p.m.
Group III
Colonia vs. Ramapo, Bloomfield, 4:30 p.m.
Mainland vs. Freehold Borough, Monroe, 4:30 p.m.
Girls Final Four
Group I
Park Ridge vs. University, Ramapo, 4:30 p.m.
Wildwood vs. Shore, Deptford Twp., 5 p.m.
Group III
Teaneck vs. Chatham, Ramapo, 7 p.m.
Mainland vs. Ewing, Deptford Twp., 7 p.m.
MARCH 7
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Muskegon CC (MB), 3 p.m.
Salem CC vs. Bay (MB), 6 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC vs. Fayetteville (2) (MB), noon
MARCH 8
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Rays Collegiate (MB), 11 a.m.
Salem CC vs. Manhattanville (MB), 4 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC vs. Harford (MB), 3 p.m.
Salem CC vs. Henry Ford (MB), 5 p.m.
MARCH 9
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Westmoreland County (2) (MB), 9 a.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC vs. Madison (MB), 9 a.m.
Salem CC vs. USC-Sumter (MB), 11 a.m.
NJSIAA BASKETBALL
at Rutgers
Group II Boys Championship, noon
Group II Girls Championship, 2 p.m.
Group IV Boys Championship, 4:30 p.m.
Group IV Girls Championship, 6:30 p.m.
Category: BASEBALL
Opening Day fireworks
Salem CC opens its baseball season with a loss, but top of the lineup, three late hard-throwing relievers impress
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT — A lot of baseball players when they enter into a circumstance for the first time, whether it’s a new career, a new team, a new season, they’re secretly hoping to make a big splash with the first opportunity they get to impress.
It’s more a dream, but it’s magical when they pull it off.
Salem CC freshman Yen Rodriguez lived the dream Friday in the Mighty Oaks’ 7-5 season-opening loss to Ocean.
The highly prized signee from Vineland couldn’t have dreamed for a better start to his college career. The first chance he had to make a play in the outfield, he helped gun down a runner at the plate to end the top of the first inning. Then he led off the bottom of the first with an inside-the-park home run, a feat to open the season Oaks coach John Holt said he hadn’t experienced in 30 years in the game.
“It’s amazing, I don’t see a different way to start it off,” Rodriguez said. “I got a lot of love from my teammates. They trusted me when I went up to the plate. I did my job; they trusted me. Once I got that ball in right field, threw the guy out, they loved me and I love them, and that’s our job.”
Most of the time, the dream of hitting a homer in your first at bat entails driving a ball far over the fence. Think of what it meant to the Phillies’ Weston Wilson last year or any of the other 135 guys who homered in their first at bats in the big leagues. Only three were inside-the-park homers and probably none of those outside of Heinie Mueller – a Phillie in the late 1930s – led off their team’s season.
Rodriguez, whose high school career started with a walk, did hit three over-the-fence homers in the fall, but with the way the wind was blowing straight into the Carneys Point Rec field Friday, it was doubtful anyone was going to get one out of the park on this day.
A switch-hitter batting righty to open the season, he sent a ball into left centerfield that Eli Santiago got a late jump on. Centerfielder Tom DeMarco tried to bail out his leftfielder, but couldn’t get to the ball and when he finally did retrieve it, his throw to the plate was well up the line and Rodriguez easily ran under it.
“It was a half-swing and I see a fly out that’s probably 200 feet high,” he said. “I’m going to second hustling as hard as I can thinking that’s a fly out and as soon as the left centerfielder dove for it and didn’t get it, I was like I’ve got to hustle even faster to get to home plate.
“Hitting it out of the park is one thing, hitting it inside is way harder. As soon as I got to the field today my teammates were like ‘we trust you, you’re going to hit a home run first pitch.’ I was like ‘I don’t think I’ve got that power.’ As soon as I hit it, they all came up to me and said you hit it and I was like I appreciate that, guys; you trust me.”
He had a full head of steam coming into third and there was no way Holt stopping him.
“He busted it out of the box; that’s the only reason that happened,” Holt said. “If he doesn’t hustle, it’s a double. We preach going hard out of the box. He bought in.”
He ended up going 3-for-5 with a homer, double, three runs and two RBIs in his first college game.
The Oaks never led in the game, but threatened in the eighth and got Rodriguez to the plate with another chance to deliver. He came up with two outs and bases loaded, a triple short of the cycle, with the go-ahead run at first. There was every expectation in the dugout he was going to deliver again.
Even if Rodriguez only kept the line moving and didn’t clear the bases, Nick Ciesielka, who had three hits in his first three at-bats, was right behind him with similar expectations. Batting left-handed for the first time in the game against a right-handed reliever, the freshman struck out chasing a high 3-2 changeup to end the threat.
“He got me,” Rodriguez said. “All props to the guy. It was a great pitch.”
Later in the game, the last three pitchers Holt used in relief – Aiden Ewe, J.D. Wilson and Sean Kelby – impressed with their velocity and command.
Ewe, a sophomore right-hander from Pitman, threw 31 pitches in two innings with 26 of his 27 fastballs topping 90 mph and maxing out at 95. Wilson, a freshman right-hander from Pennsville, threw a 16-pitch eighth and hit 90 with 13 of his fastballs. Sean Kelby, a 6-foot-5 freshman lefty from Delaware coming off elbow surgery, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.
Ewe is a converted catcher learning how to pitch and as he continues to learn his role on the mound will expand. Wilson will be an end-of-game guy. Kelby figures to be a starter.
The Oaks and Vikings were scheduled to conclude their series with a doubleheader at Ocean CC Saturday – with Kelby starting Game One – but the games were postponed due to advancing weather. The next time the Oaks take the field will be Monday to open their 10-game trip to Myrtle Beach. Sophomore right-hander Ryan Silnik will draw the Monday night start against Cairn University JV.
Last year, they opened their season on the Myrtle Beach trip and went 4-5. They were 3-5 there the year before. There is no set target record for this year’s swing.
“We just want to come back better than we are right now,” Holt said. “Continue to compete, continue to work on things, continue to get those innings under our belt so when we come back we’re ready for conference play.”
OCEAN CC 7, SALEM CC 5
| Ocean (1-0) | 201 | 211 | 000 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| Salem (0-1) | 101 | 010 | 200 | 5 | 10 | 3 |
Cover photo: Salem CC baseball coach John Holt explains the grounds rules at the Carneys Point Rec Field during the lineup card exchange before Friday’s season opener against Ocean CC
This week’s schedule
Here is this week’s sports schedules for teams in Salem County for the week of Feb. 25-March 2
Sunday
WRESTLING
NJSIAA Girls Regionals, Pennsauken
Tuesday
BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Girls
No. 8 Pennsville at No. 1 Woodbury, 4:30 p.m.
No. 12 Penns Grove at No. 4 Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
No. 6 Audubon at No. 3 Maple Shade, 5:30 p.m.
No. 7 Glassboro at No. 2 Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Boys
No. 9 Penns Grove at No. 1 KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy, 5:15 p.m.
No. 5 Audubon at No. 4 Wildwood, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Glassboro at No. 3 Salem, 5 p.m.
No. 10 Paulsboro at No. 2 Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday
BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Girls
Pennsville-Woodbury vs. Penns Grove-Woodstown
Audubon-Maple Shade vs. Glassboro-Wildwood
Boys
Penns Grove-KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy vs. Audubon-Wildwood
Glassboro-Salem vs. Paulsboro-Pitman
WRESTLING
NJSIAA State Championship, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
Friday
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Ocean CC at Salem CC (Carneys Point Rec), 3 p.m.
WRESTLING
NJSIAA State Championship, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
Saturday
BASKETBALL
Girls
South Jersey Group I championship
Boys
South Jersey Group I championship
WRESTLING
NJSIAA State Championship, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Ocean CC (2), noon
Salem County spring
Here is the day-by-day 2024 spring sports schedules for high school and college teams in Salem County; to include or update your schedule, email al.muskewitz@gmail.com; all games 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage
SALEM COUNTY DAY-BY-DAY
MARCH 1
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Ocean CC at Salem CC, 3 p.m.
MARCH 2
BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Girls Championship
South Jersey Group I Boys Championship
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Ocean CC (2), noon
MARCH 3
INDOOR TRACK
NJSIAA Meet of Champions
MARCH 4
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Cairn JV at Myrtle Beach, 9 p.m.
MARCH 5
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Penn State Kensington (MB), 7:30 p.m.
MARCH 6
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Rochester C&T (MB), 2 p.m.
Salem CC vs. DuPage (MB), 6:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC vs. Southeastern (2) (MB), 1 p.m.
MARCH 7
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Muskegon CC (MB), 3 p.m.
Salem CC vs. Bay (MB), 6 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC vs. Fayetteville (2) (MB), noon
MARCH 8
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Rays Collegiate (MB), 11 a.m.
Salem CC vs. Manhattanville (MB), 4 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC vs. Harford (MB), 3 p.m.
Salem CC vs. Henry Ford (MB), 5 p.m.
MARCH 9
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Westmoreland County (2) (MB), 9 a.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC vs. Madison (MB), 9 a.m.
Salem CC vs. USC-Sumter (MB), 11 a.m.
MARCH 10
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC vs. Prairie (MB), 9 a.m.
Salem CC vs. Potomac State (MB), 11 a.m.
MARCH 12
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Delaware County CC, 3 p.m.
MARCH 14
Pi Day
MARCH 15
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Northampton CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Northampton CC at Salem CC (2), noon
MARCH 16
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Cecil (2), noon
MARCH 18
BOYS TENNIS
x-Mainland at Woodstown
MARCH 19
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Lehigh Carbon CC (2), 3 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
x-Schalick at Cumberland
x-Pennsville at St. Augustine
MARCH 20
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
SUNY-Orange at Salem CC (2), 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
x-West Deptford at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
x-Millville at Schalick
MARCH 21
BASEBALL
x-Woodstown at Clearview, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL
x-Cedar Creek at Schalick
x-Woodstown at Gloucester City
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland (2), 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Woodstown vs. Triton, Valley Brook CC
BOYS TENNIS
x-Woodstown at Palmyra
MARCH 22
BASEBALL
x-Pennsauken Tech at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
x-Kingsway at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Brookdale CC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
x-Millville at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
MARCH 23
SOFTBALL
x-Pennsville at Buena
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Brookdale CC at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Delaware Tech at Salem CC (2), noon
MARCH 24
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Northampton at Salem CC (2), noon
MARCH 25
BASEBALL
x-Cumberland at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
x-Millville at Schalick
SOFTBALL
x-Pennsville at GCIT
BOYS TENNIS
x-St. Augustine at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
x-Woodstown at OLMA
BOYS LACROSSE
x-Millville at Woodstown
MARCH 26
BASEBALL
x-Pleasantville at Penns Grove
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Lehigh Carbon CC, 3 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC (2), 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Schalick at Gateway
x-Woodstown at Millville
TRACK
Camden Co. Tech at Pennsville
MARCH 27
BASEBALL
x-Cumberland at Schalick
x-Deptford at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL
x-Cumberland at Schalick
x-Deptford at Woodstown
x-Paulsboro at Pennsville
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Lehigh Carbon CC at Salem CC, noon
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Westwood GC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
x-Pennsville at Delsea, 3:45 p.m.
MARCH 28
BASEBALL
x-Clayton at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
x-Penns Grove at Clayton
GOLF
Schalick vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL
MARCH 29
BASEBALL
x-Paulsboro at Schalick
SOFTBALL
Millville at Pennsville
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Sussex (2), 1 p.m.
GOLF
Woodstown at Delran, Golden Pheasant GC
MARCH 30
BASEBALL
x-Woodstown vs. GCIT, Deptford MS, 10 a.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
x-Washington Twp. at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
x-Woodstown at Absegami, 10 a.m.
APRIL 1
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Schalick at Woodstown
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Schalick at Woodstown
GIRLS GOLF
Delsea vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown
APRIL 2
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Clayton
SOFTBALL
Clearview at Woodstown
OLMA at Schalick
Pennsville at Clayton
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Mercer County CC, 3 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Mercer County CC (2), 3 p.m.
GOLF
Washington Twp. girls at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick boys vs. West Deptford, River Winds GC
Pennsville vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove
BOYS TENNIS
Cunberland at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 3:45 p.m.
APRIL 3
BASEBALL
Schalick at Millville
SOFTBALL
Ocean City at Woodstown
TRACK
Pennsville at Glassboro
Schalick at Woodstown
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Paul VI, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Clearview at Woodstown
BOYS TENNIS
Middle Twp. at Pennsville
APRIL 4
BASEBALL
Salem at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Pitman at Schalick
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Salem
Woodstown at Penns Grove
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC (2), 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick boya vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC
Pennsville vs. West Deptford, Riverwinds GC, 3:30 p.m.
TRACK
Schalick at Pennsville
BOYS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
APRIL 5
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Schalick at Clearview
COLLEGE BASEBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Penns Grove, Sakima GC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Delsea at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Haddon Heights
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Paul VI
APRIL 6
BASEBALL
Schalick at Gloucester City, 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Cedar Creek, 11 a.m.
SOFTBALL
Camden Catholic at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Raritan Valley at Salem CC (2), noon
TRACK
Pennsville at Deptford Twp. Relays, 9 a.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Washington Twp. at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
APRIL 7
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Middlesex (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Bucks (2), 1 p.m.
APRIL 8
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Salem
Schalick at Clayton
Woodstown at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Schalick
Pennsville at Woodstown
Salem at Penns Grove
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Scotland Run GC
Overbrook vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL, 3:30 p.m.
Pennsville boys vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Glassboro, 3:45 p.m.
Triton at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Clayton at Penns Grove
Delran at Schalick
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Cedar Creek, 2:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Haddonfield
APRIL 9
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Clayton
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Northampton (2), 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Clayton, Pitman CC, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Clearview, Westwood GC
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.
TRACK
Overbrook at Woodstown
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Schalick at Glassboro
APRIL 10
BASEBALL
Gloucester at Woodstown
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Schalick at Glassboro
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Montgomery County CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Bucks at Salem CC (2), 4:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 3:45 p.m.
Cumberland at Pennsville
Schalick at Overbrook
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at West Deptford
APRIL 11
BASEBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Woodstown at Cumberland
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Vineland, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Millville
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Mainland
APRIL 12
BASEBALL
Delsea at Pennsville
Schalick at Haddon Heights
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Delsea
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Bergen CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Millville vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Pitman at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Delsea, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Schalick at Clayton
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
APRIL 13
BASEBALL
Woodstown at West Deptford, 10 a.m.
Schalick at Paulsboro
SOFTBALL
West Deptford at Pennsville
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Bergen CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Morris at Salem CC (2), noon
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Egg Harbor Twp., 10 a.m.
TRACK
Pennsville at West Deptford Relays, 9 a.m.
APRIL 14
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Cecil at Salem CC (2), noon
APRIL 15
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Buena at Schalick
Pennsville at Paulsboro
GOLF
OLMA vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
Wildwood boys vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Kingsway, 3:45 p.m.
Deptford at Schalick
GIRLS LACROSSE
Eastern at Woodstown
APRIL 16
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Schalick
Wildwood at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Woodstown
Pennsville at Wildwood
Schalick at Penns Grove
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Luzerne County CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Woodstown vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown at Cumberland, 3:45 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove
Schalick at Glassboro
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Williamstown
APRIL 17
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Millville
SOFTBALL
Williamstown at Woodstown
GOLF
Kingsway girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
Schalick boys vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC
Woodstown vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:30 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
APRIL 18
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
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
Penns Grove vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL, 3:30 p.m.
Overbrook vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:45 p.m.
APRIL 19
BASEBALL
Gloucester City at Schalick
Wildwood at Woodstown
Williamstown at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Gloucester City
Woodstown at Wildwood
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Camden CC, 3 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown at Overbrook, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Millville
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Egg Harbor Twp.
APRIL 20
BASEBALL
Schalick at Eastern, 10 a.m.
Pitman at Woodstown, 11 a.m.
Pennsville in Oakcrest Tournament
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.
APRIL 21
BASEBALL
Pennsville in Oakcrest Tournament
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Ocean at Salem CC (2), noon
APRIL 22
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Glassboro
Pitman at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Clayton
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Pitman
Woodstown at Clayton
GOLF
Williamstown girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
Overbrook boys vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 3:30 p.m.
TRACK
Overbrook at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Clayton at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Deptford Twp., 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Schalick at Pitman
BOYS LACROSSE
Oakcrest at Woodstown
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Clearview, 6 p.m.
APRIL 23
BASEBALL
Schalick at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Hammonton
West Deptford at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Luzerne County CC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Kingsway at Woodstown
TRACK
Woodstown at Pennsville
APRIL 24
BASEBALL
Clayton at Pennsville
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Audubon
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Glassboro
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Montgomery County CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Washington Twp., Wedgewood CC
Woodstown vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Wildwood at Schalick
APRIL 25
BASEBALL
Delran at Woodstown, 4:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Camden CC at Salem CC (2), 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Triton, Valleybrook CC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Bridgeton at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Sterling
APRIL 26
BASEBALL
Mainland Coaches vs. Cancer
Schalick vs. Cape May Tech
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Union at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Bergen (2), 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Haddonfield at Woodstown
APRIL 27
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Haddonfield, 10 a.m.
SOFTBALL
Woodstown at Williamstown, 9 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Union (2), noon
APRIL 28
BASEBALL
Mainland Coaches vs. Cancer
Pennsville vs Cedar Creek, 9 a.m.
APRIL 29
BASEBALL
Wildwood at Schalick
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Wildwood
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Delaware County CC at Salem CC, 3 p.m.
GOLF
Clearview girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Clearview vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 4:15 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Washington Twp. at Schalick
APRIL 30
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Anne Arundel CC (2), 2 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Delsea, White Oaks CC
BOYS TENNIS
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Wildwood at Schalick
MAY 1
BASEBALL
Bridgeton at Schalick, Elmer LL, 6 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Cumberland
BOYS TENNIS
Schalick at GCIT
TRACK
Penns Grove at Woodstown
MAY 2
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Pleasantville
GOLF
Pennsville, Schalick, Woodstown in Carl Arena Tournament, Valleybrook CC, 8 a.m.
MAY 3
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Cedar Creek vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
MAY 4
COLLEGE BASEBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC (2), noon
TRACK
Pennsville in SJTCA Meet, Rancocas Valley, 1 p.m.
MAY 6
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Woodstown at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Glassboro
GOLF
GCIT vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Glassboro at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Triton, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Bridgeton
MAY 7
SOFTBALL
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic
GOLF
Schalick boys vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Schalick, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Haddon Twp., 6:30 p.m.
MAY 8
BASEBALL
Overbrook at Woodstown
Pennsville at Wildwood
Schalick at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Schalick
Wildwood at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook
GOLF
Cumberland girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Northern Burlington boys vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 4:15 p.m.
Middle Twp. vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 4:30 p.m.
TRACK
Salem County Championships, Pennsville, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Delsea at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 3:45 p.m.
Clayton at Schalick
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Kingsway, 6 p.m.
MAY 9
BASEBALL
Woodstown vs. Schalick, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Woodstown vs. Schalick, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick vs. Deptford, Pitman GC
BOYS TENNIS
Clearview at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
Williamstown at Penns Grove
MAY 10
BASEBALL
Haddon Heights at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Clayton
Woodstown at Salem
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Overbrook
Pitman at Schalick
Salem at Woodstown
Wildwood at Penns Grove
GOLF
Woodbury vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. OLMA, White Oaks CC
BOYS LACROSSE
Clearview at Woodstown
BOYS TENNIS
GCIT at Pennsville
MAY 11
BASEBALL
Lee Ware Tournament
Woodstown vs. Cherry Hill East
Paulsboro vs. Camden Catholic
GIRLS LACROSSE
Lower Cape May at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
MAY 13
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Salem
Schalick at Cumberland
SOFTBALL
ACIT at Schalick
Salem at Pennsville
Woodstown at Cinnaminson
GOLF
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick
BOYS TENNIS
Cinnaminson at Schalick
Pennsville at West Deptford
Woodstown at Clearview
BOYS LACROSSE
Egg Harbor Twp. at Woodstown
MAY 14
BASEBALL
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Pitman
Woodstown at Glassboro
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Overbrook at Schalick
Pitman at Pennsville
BOYS TENNIS
Buena at Woodstown
Glassboro at Schalick
GIRLS LACROSSE
Mainland at Woodstown
MAY 15
BASEBALL
Buena at Woodstown
GOLF
Schalick vs. Kingsway, River Winds GC
BOYS TRACK
Tri-County Showcase, Delsea, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Schalick at Triton
Woodstown at Pitman
MAY 16
BASEBALL
Overbrook at Pennsville
Salem at Schalick
Wildwood at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Salem
GOLF
Schalick vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC
BOYS TENNIS
Wildwood at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove
MAY 17
BASEBALL
Cumberland at Pennsville
Woodstown at Penns Grove
Delran at Schalick, 4:15 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Woodstown
GOLF
Pennsville at Delran, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Overbrook at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
MAY 18
GIRLS LACROSSE
West Deptford at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
MAY 20
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at West Deptford
GOLF
Salem-Cumberland County Tournament, Centerton CC, 8 a.m.
Haddon Heights vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Deptford Twp. at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Williamstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick
MAY 21
TRACK
Pennsville at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.
MAY 23
BASEBALL
NJSIAA Round 1
MAY 28
GOLF
Tri-County Conference Showcase, Pitman GC, 8 a.m.
MAY 29
BASEBALL
NJSIAA Round 2
MAY 31
BASEBALL
NJSIAA Round 3
TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals, Pennsauken
Woodstown signings
UPDATED: 2 Wolverines sign to play at the next level, softball’s Mingin to East Stroudsburg, baseball’s Williams to Goldey-Beacom
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – When the Woodstown softball team gets things going, it’s usually Tulana Mingin who gets it started. Not in a Kyle Schwarber kind of way, but more like get ‘em on, get ‘em over, get ‘em in.
After next season she’ll be looking to do the same on the next level.
Mingin, the Wolverines’ standout shortstop, signed a national letter of intent to play her college softball at East Stroudsburg Wednesday.
“I always wanted to play college softball since I was little and signing that paper actually makes it official,” Mingin said. “Even when I committed, that’s official, but that’s a decision. Once you make it official that’s when the real hard work starts.”
She’s not averse to that and it shows by the results. As a sophomore she set the school record with a .597 batting average and 43 hits. She followed it up last season by hitting .471 with 40 hits and a .541 on-base percentage. She needs three hits for 100 in her career and has the school record for hits in her sights.
And it shows in the results. As a sophomore she set the school record with a .597 batting average and 43 hits. She followed it up last season by hitting .471 with 40 hits and a .541 on-base percentage. She needs three hits for 100 in her career.
This past offseason she led her championship-winning Tri-Cape Carpenter Cup team in virtually every offensive category.
A left-handed slap hitter who usually bats second in the Wolverines’ lineup, there’s a possibility she’ll hit leadoff this coming spring. It’s just a chance for her to get things going a little earlier.
“She’s just a very hard worker, dedicated, committed to her game of softball,” Wolverines coach Dave Wildermuth said. “She plays as much softball as she possibly can. She’s just a very committed player.”
“She gets hits, she gets on base, she’s super fast. If she puts the ball on the ground you’d better get it over to first base because she’s going to beat it out. She’s just a great all-around player.”
Mingin wasn’t the only Wolverines spring athlete to put pen to paper Wednesday. Baseball player Brent Williams signed to play at Division II Goldey-Beacom College.
A second baseman and pitcher, Williams hit .380 and led Wolverines in hits (30), and RBIs (26) last season. On the mound he sported a 4.40 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings. The Wolverines were 6-2 in games he pitched last year.
Legends of the Hall
Pennsville inducts eight luminaries with strong ties to the community into the high school’s Athletic Hall of Fame
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Dawn Curry never was the kind of player who’d get all excited about personal records. She was more into winning the championships and the winning experiences with her teammates than any numbers that went on the scoreboard.
Even now, 15 years after finishing a brilliant high school playing career with one of the most unique statistical lines you’ll find in sports, she’s unfazed by it all.
But the record is clear. The former Pennsville High School multi-sport star, Class of 2008, is a card-carrying member of the exclusive 100-1000-100 Club.
That would be more than 100 career goals in soccer, 1,000 points in basketball and 100 hits in softball. She was only three soccer assists shy of adding that jewel to the crown.
“When I playing in high school you took it game-by-game,” Curry said Thursday night prior to being inducted into the PMHS Athletic Hall of Fame. “Coming in my freshman year I didn’t expect that, that wasn’t my goal at all. And even when I got close to the milestones I would tell people just don’t tell me because it’s just more pressure.
“I’m a very modest person. I don’t really like talking about it too much. People would talk to me about it and I used to joke with them saying, ‘that’s my twin sister, Fawn, not me.’ I just didn’t like all the spotlight even though a lot of people do say stuff to me about that.
“I’m not saying I take these milestones for granted or anything, but it’s just my work ethic in high school and even prior to that is kind of reflected in my accomplishments.”
Curry had the spotlight shown on her one more time Thursday night as one of five former Pennsville players, two former coaches and a team for the ages in the fifth class of Hall inductees.
She was joined on stage by Lou Berge Jr. (Class of ’82), Judy Cafaro Bradford (’74), John Doran Jr. (’88), Mike Wariwanchik (’95), former coaches Horace Carl and John Maniglia, and the undefeated 1993 softball team. The unique aspect of this year’s induction class is all of the honorees still have active connections to the community.
“It’s just an honor and privilege to be sitting on stage with this group of people here,” said coach Herb Bacon, who accepted the induction on behalf of “Team of the Century” softball team and an inaugural member of the Hall. “And I have kind relationships with everybody seated here. Great memories.”
For the record, Curry scored 113 goals in her soccer career, 1,288 points in her basketball career and 117 hits in his softball career. Bacon called her “the Cal Ripken of Pennsville softball,” because she never missed a day of work in the four years she played.
She remembers getting her 100th goal at Salem, her 1,000th career point on a free throw at Salem in a Christmas tournament (and was confused why they stopped the game to recognize it) and believes her 100th hit came against Clayton. .
When she allows herself to think about it, the milestone that gives her the most pride is the one in soccer because that was “my baby” in high school and the hardest one to achieve. She went on to play college soccer at Holy Family in Northeast Philly.
“You see people score 1,000 points in basketball, 100 hits in softball (of which her team had four), which is great as well, but I just don’t think you see (100 goals) as much and I definitely put more work into the soccer than I did any other sport,” she said. “But it wasn’t just about what I did or how I performed during my games. It was a joint effort. I was surrounded by greatness.
“It takes a village in sports, like it takes a village in life, and even though I would trade in my individual accolades for more state championships, I hope that my hard work along my journey inspires some little girl like those before me inspired me when I was just a little girl.”
Here are the 2023 inductees
Lou Berge Jr.
Whether it was on the football field, as a manager for the boys basketball team or on the baseball field, Berge gave his all to his teammates and coaches. During the course of his four years in high school he earned nine varsity letters.
He was an all-county, all-conference and all-South Jersey Group II offensive tackle as a junior on an 8-1 football team. His senior year the football team was undefeated, conference champs and SJ Group II champs and he was all-county, all-SJ and all-state. He also was named the Brooks-Irvine Club’s SJ Offensive Lineman of the Year and at that time his No. 72 jersey was retired at PMHS.
If not for an eagle-eyed assistant coach, his legacy as a standout lineman might never have been materialized.
“The first day of practice my sophomore year (the coaches) said I want all the backs there, all the receivers over here and all the linemen over there by the blocking sleds,” Berge said. “I started my job over to the ends and receivers, I get about halfway there and I hear coach say “Berge, where the hell you going? Get over here, you’re a lineman.
“I was an offensive tackle for three years and played linebacker. I spent a lot of time blocking and tackling that seven-man sled instead of catching passes.”
His 1980 baseball team went 20-3 and was conference champs and he was named to the All-Delaware Valley Team by the Philadelphia Inquirer after batting .419 as the team’s catcher. The next year the team went 25-0 and swept all the titles.
Baseball went 20-3 again in 1982. Louie batted .614 and he made all the “all” teams. He also was named the Salem County Player of the Year.
Judy Cafaro Bradford
While many would consider her to be a “natural-born athlete” Judy used her time in school to develop many skills. She played tennis as well as lettering in three sports.
She played three years of varsity field hockey. She was a co-captain for two years, team MVP for two years and three times all-conference first team. As a basketball senior she was team MVP, second team all-conference, second team all-county and honorable mention all-state. Then, she was the MVP of the school’s first varsity softball team.
At the 1974 Win or Lose Dinner, she was awarded the Girls PTA Sportsmanship Award in addition to three MVP honors.
She went on to make an immediate impact at Cumberland County College, earning MVP honors in field hockey and basketball and was a starter on the softball team.
In her professional life she devoted more than 40 years before her passing in February 2022 to the Pennsville Recreation Department, making sure the department served many children and families in many ways. She also helped take care of Riverview Beach Park to make sure it remained the “Jewel of the Township.”
“First of all, I’d like to say thank you, they recognized her character and her heart,” husband Skip Bradford said. “It always stood out to other people as well as her humility. Even now I smile just thinking of how she would respond to achieve such an award today.
“She never wanted to be in the spotlight no matter how much she deserved it and I know she would be so humbled but honored to be acknowledged for her achievements today.”
Dawn Curry
Curry was an outstanding athlete in a career that spanned four years in three varsity sports. Among her most impressive feats is joining the unique 100-1000-100 Club.
Inspired by the players who came before her, she scored 113 goals in soccer and assisted on 97 others (almost a 100-100). She scored 1,288 points in basketball. She completed the unique trifecta with 117 hits in softball.
Her 2007 soccer team was declared South Jersey Group I champs. To cap off her senior year she was named Salem County Female Athlete of the Year and was a Wendy’s High School Heisman State Finalist.
John Doran Jr.
A wrestler through and through, John used his first year in high school to start making his name. He was undefeated as a freshman on the sub-varsity and that was the springboard to another undefeated year and state title in 1986. In 1988, wrestling at 119, he was runner-up in the district and region tournament and finished sixth at the state. His high school record was 89-6.
He went on to post a 32-3 record at Gloucester County College.
Doran cites his successes with the Pennsville Youth Program and Seagull Wrestling Club as highlights of his career and adds that winning the state title in 1986 was his most memorable moment. He went on to coach at the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Wrestling Academy for three years.
He was inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2022.
Mike Wariwanchik
A bear of a man, Wariwanchik starred in football and wrestled for the Eagles and threw the discus and shot in track until his senior year.
On the football field he was an all-conference offensive tackle in 1993 and an all-conference offensive and defensive tackle and the all-South Jersey defensive tackle in 1994.
He was just as dominating on the mat as a wrestler. As a heavyweight you wouldn’t think this would be an issue, but he often found himself having to shed pounds to go from 300-pound lineman to make the weight limit.
No problem. As a junior he was the district runner-up and third-place finisher at regionals. He was a state champion as a senior, going 28-0 (with 21 pins) to move his career record to 68-18, and was South Jersey Wrestler of the Year. He will inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame next month.
Coach Horace Carl
Carl came to Pennsville in 1962 from Spring City, Pa. Three years after his arrival he was offered a position as assistant football coach under Lou D’Angelo. At the same time he was an NJSIAA registered high school basketball official and on the IABBO board until 1980.
He was the Eagles’ head football coach from 1979 through 1984. His 1981 team won the South Jersey Group II championship. He was named Coach of the Year by the Philadelphia Inquirer and South Jersey Football Club. Carl retired from teaching in 1992 and now lives near Baltimore.
Coach John Maniglia
Maniglia was a “Penns Grove guy” who came to Pennsville in 1979 and influenced a lot of students and athletes in his 35 years teaching and coaching in the district.
He was the head track coach from 1980-2014, then transitioned to assistant coach through 2021. He also coached basketball, cross country and winter track. He helped coach the cross country team when it won the 2006 Group I state title.
The spring track program won a combined three Salem County Championships and five conference crowns. During that time, the program produced 98 individual county champions, 69 conference champions, 33 South Jersey champions and eight state titleists. The school named its track in his honor in 2022.
“I know there are a lot of people out there who probably should be in before I got in, but I think it’s quite an honor to be inducted in 2023 with all these other people,” Maniglia said. “When I first started teaching here I’d always come over from the middle school and hang out in the high school faculty room with … all the Mount Rushmore people here at the school and I learned a lot just by sitting there and listening. It was quite an experience.
”When you start coaching, you don’t think about getting these kinds of awards. You think about the love of the sport, you think about trying to teach the kids about the love that you have you want to work hard out there every day. That’s what we tried to do out here for 40-some years, trying to instill the love of track in these kids out there. Our program was successful because of the student-athletes that we had, a bunch of great kids, that’s for sure. You couldn’t be successful without them.”
1993 Softball Team
The team is being inducted on the 30th anniversary of one of the greatest seasons in state history. The record says it went 26-0, but it was revealed Thursday night it actually was 27-0 after Woodstown wanted to make up a rain-out after the state tournament and it swept through their division, conference, sectional, the prestigious Hammonton Tournament, and, ultimately, the Final Four. Bridgett McCaffery O’Brien was the state Pitcher of the Year.
“I think I can speak for everyone up here, we expected to win every game that year,” O’Brien, a 2021 PMHS Hall of Famer, said. “That season was truly special. We so wanted to make Pennsville proud that year.”
The team was a consensus No. 1 by the state softball media and later was voted “Team of the Century” by the Courier Post. Ten players from that team were at the induction ceremony and they presented Bacon with two pieces of coach-themed wall art each player signed before heading into the auditorium.
“Everybody asks me, ‘Who was your greatest team?’ and I say I’m not answering that,” Bacon said. “(Emcee) Liz Pappas just read comment I tell people: If they’re voted the ‘Team of the Century,’ I guess they’re pretty good.”
PMHS Athletic Hall of Fame
2018: Lou D’Angelo, Ed Rieger, Herb Bacon, David Salberg, Betsey Salberg, 1982 Field Hockey team.
2019: Olaf “Butch” Drozdov, Carrie Foster McIntosh, Irvine Eugene “Gene” Foster, Robert “Bob” Gallagher, Leigh Garrison, Kimberly Griffin Hudson, John “Jack” Harford, John “Jack” Meyers Sr., Howard Wilbraham Sparks, Sophia Stavru, Gregzie L. White, Michael Jon Widger.
2021: Patricia Chance, David Hall, Bill Hyatt, Chris Widger, Bridgett McCaffery-O’Brien, Jeff Litherland (special recognition), Coach Greg Greenzwieg, 1960 Football team.
2022: Donna Martin Duber, Mark Freed, Ron “Boo” Bennet, Mark T. Jones, Kelli Griffith, Katie Kline.
2023: Lou Berge Jr., Judy Cafaro Bradford, Dawn Curry, John Doran Jr., Mike Wariwanchik, Horace Carl , John Maniglia, 1993 softball team.
‘One of those days’
Salem silenced in 12U baseball, Middle Twp. senior softball swamps Monroe to set up championship rematch with Pennsville
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
VINELAND – The Salem Little League 12U All-Stars’ dream of reaching this year’s state tournament ended Wednesday night under the weight of a 6-0 loss to East Vineland.
They had beaten East Vineland and pitcher Luca Buono in the first round of the double-loss elimination portion of the District 3 tournament, but it was a different story this time around.
Buono pitched a complete-game two-hit shutout and struck out eight. Salem had scored 24 runs in their three tournament wins, but in each of their last two games they couldn’t deliver a timely hit.
“Offensively, it was one of those days,” Salem manager Brian Dolbow said. “We saw the same pitcher last week, got him under some pressure and he kind of cracked a little. Unfortunately, tonight we just didn’t get any base runners, weren’t getting walks. He pitched well. We just didn’t make a lot of contact and when we did it was weak contact, so credit to the pitcher.
“That’s how baseball goes. Unfortunately, the past two games our bats just went quiet at the wrong time. Nothing to be ashamed of, it’s just sometimes how baseball goes, the bats kind of go quiet. Every team goes through those kinds of things, you’ve got to work your way out of it, but tonight we weren’t able to get any big hits when we needed them.”
Trailing 3-0, Salem threatened to get a run back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ben Parkell led off with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball, but was cut down at the plate on a grounder to the left side of the infield.
Noah Blunt got Salem’s first hit on a bunt single in the third inning. He went to second on a one-out passed ball and to third on a two-out wild pitch, but was stranded there.
Salem finished third in the district, one win shy of playing for the championship. East Vineland now hosts undefeated South Vineland for the district title 7 p.m. Thursday. An “if necessary” game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at East Vineland.
“After last year with the run Alloway and Salem made I went into it with the expectations that we’re just as good as those other teams,” Dalbow said. “One thing, East Vineland and South Vineland, those kids play travel together, they play Little League together, they work together all year. Our team, literally, we’re three towns, five different Little League teams, coming together.
“When we started on June 1 we had kids who didn’t even know each other. The way they came together and put this run together, for me, it was fun to be a part of, it was great to watch, and credit to them for being able to do that.
“The fact these kids came together and were able to get basically the third team left that says a lot about the work they’ve put in. It was a good accomplishment for us just based on the way we’re set up and organized versus the teams we’re playing. I thought our kids showed really well.”
East Vineland 020 121 – 6 8 1
Salem 000 000 – 0 2 4
WP: Luca Buono. LP: Drew Sutton. 2B: Anthony Abrams (EV), Enzo Candelario (EV), Aiden Knowles (EV); Ben Parkell (S).
Section 4 Senior Softball
MIDDLE TWP. 24, MONROE TWP. 1: Middle decided this one early, erupting for 10 runs in the top of the first inning, setting up a championship game with undefeated host Pennsville Thursday night.
Middle sent 16 batters to the plate in the first. They faced 66 pitches, drew eight walks and had two hit batsmen. Sophia Nemeth had two of their three hits in the inning – a leadoff triple and an RBI double.
Eight of the nine starters had at least one hit and 10 of their 11 batters had at least one RBI. Nemeth went 3-for-4, Charlotte Romberger had two hits and four RBIs, and K.J. Schaffer had two hits and two RBIs. Monroe pitchers issued 18 walks and hit four batters in the four-inning game.
Grace Hall, who got roughed up by Pennsville in their game Monday night, worked the first two innings, facing seven batters. She allowed two hits and struck out three before Brynn Brophy closed.
The Section 4 champion will play the winner of the Morris County-Roberto Clemente LL game in their state tournament opener July 15 in Parsippany.
Middle Twp. (10)74 3 – 24 11 1
Monroe Twp. 000 1 – 1 3 4
WP: Grace Hall.
The road gets tougher
Salem LL 12U All-Stars will have to battle through the loser’s bracket after falling to South Vineland in District 3 winner’s bracket game
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
MILLVILLE – Life in the District 3 Little League Tournament has been pretty good for the Salem 12U All-Stars up to this point, but the other shoe dropped Sunday and it caught them squarely in the sliding pad.
After four good showings, they laid one of those eggs that arise every now and then. Their bats produced hits but didn’t deliver in big situations, the defense let them down and they wound up losing to South Vineland 13-3 in the winner’s bracket of the district finals.
“It was like we talked about out on the field there, it was the worst effort we’ve put forward so far this tournament,” Salem manager Brian Dolbow said. “The boys didn’t really come to play today. They’re not going to make excuses about it and neither are the coaches. We weren’t ready to play.
“As coaches we were all surprised at the performance there on the field. Walks (10) and errors (five) just beat us up in some critical spots, which has not been happening so far in the tournament. We’ve been making the plays in the big spots and today we just didn’t do it.”
Salem will now play East Vineland Wednesday 5:45 p.m. at South Vineland to stave off elimination. South Vineland will play for the championship 7 p.m. Thursday at East Vineland.
“Now it’s a tougher path,” Dolbow said. “It’s going to be more difficult, for sure, and they know that, but we told them when we show up on Wednesday forget about what happened tonight, we’ve got a game to play and we’ll come ready.
“We battled back in all the games so far this season so it’s nothing we can’t do. It’s still there for us.”
The Salem All-Stars fell behind 2-0 and 6-0 and just couldn’t overcome it. And South Vineland pitcher Laivion Hubbard didn’t make it any easier for them. The right-hander turned back two big threats in the first two innings to set the tone.
Salem got its first two hitters of the game on base looking to answer South Vineland’s opening salvo with the heart of the order coming to the plate, then Hubbard struck out the side. They got their first two batters in scoring position in the second and then Hubbard struck out the side again. Hubbard struck out 10 before reaching his 85-pitch limit in the fifth.
“He’s very mentality tough and he’s good in adversity,” South Vineland manager Abraham Heredia said. “He’s been here before. He’s been in this kind of pressure. He’s great in pressure. That’s why he’s pitching this game.”
“I just love the game, think confident, saying I got this and get them out,” Hubbard said. “I prepare in practice for pressure situations.”
A playable two-out ground ball that got underneath an infielder’s glove scored two South Vineland runs in the first. A similar play in the third chased home two more in a four-run inning that pushed the lead to 6-0. Salem starting pitcher Gabe Parsons reached his 85-pitch limit at the end of the third inning.
Salem did get something going in the fifth. They scored three runs on RBI singles by Ben Parkell and Drew Sutton and Parkell scored when relief pitcher Isaac Torres threw Talyn Priore’s nubber in front of the plate up the line.
Torres avoided further damage by getting Parsons, who had homered in each of the last three games, to ground into the final out of the inning. And then South Vineland broke it open with six runs in the top of the sixth.
“When Gabe came up with two on I thought maybe if he pops one here it’s 7-6, we’re going to get in their heads a little bit and they’re going to start to say, ‘Oh oh, here we go,’” Dolbow said. “They know what we’ve done in this tournament; they’ve been watching our games.
“I was really hoping (for a bigger rally), but unfortunately we just didn’t come up with the big hits today. We stranded too many base runners, especially early in the game when we had a chance to keep it close.”
EAST VINELAND 4, MILLVILLE AMERICAN 2: East Vineland broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the fifth inning The go-ahead run scored on an error and Max Garton scored an insurance run on Luca Buono’s ground out. Carter Perkins went 2-for-2 from the leadoff spot. Brandon Daniels went the distance, throwing 81 pitches, giving up three hits and striking out eight.
Photo: South Vineland’s David Alvarez (55) slides into home with the first run of the third inning Sunday on a wild pitch. Salem pitcher Gabe Parsons awaits a throw back to the plate that never came.
DISTRICT 3 LITTLE LEAGUE FINALS
DOUBLE-LOSS ELIMINATION
Game 3
South Vineland 204 016 – 13 5 1
Salem All-Stars 000 030 – 3 7 5
WP: Laivion Hubbard (1-0). LP: Gabe Parsons (0-2). 2B: Dalton Sites (S).
Game 4
Millville American 010 100 – 2 3 2
East Vineland 020 02x – 4 4 1
WP: Brandon Daniels. LP: Lucas McCafferty. 2B: Aiden Fowler (M).
Wednesday’s game
At South Vineland
Salem vs. East Vineland, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday’s game
at East Vineland
South Vineland vs. Salem-East Vineland winner, 7 p.m.
Friday’s game
at East Vineland
If necessary, 7 p.m.
Sutton, Parsons power Salem LL
Resilient Salem will get another shot at South Vineland in District 3 winner’s bracket game Sunday
By Riverview Sports News
ELMER – The Salem Little League 12U All-Stars have been nothing short of resilient during this District 3 Tournament. They used the long ball Friday to put together their second dramatic win in as many nights, this time rallying to beat East Vineland 6-3 in the opening game of the district championship series.
Salem now plays South Vineland in a winner’s bracket game 5 p.m. Sunday in Millville. East Vineland and Millville American play in an elimination game at 7.
“That’s what we talked to them before the game about, that tonight was the most important one, get this one and set yourself on a path,” Salem manager Brian Dolbow said. “Sunday’s game is against the other winner and if we can pull that one out, we’re in the driver’s seat.
“We were just trying to lay it out in front of them and kind of challenge them a little bit. This is the path and the best, easiest, path is to stay in the winner’s bracket. If we can pull one out on Sunday we would be in a really good position.”
Salem lost to South Vineland 4-3 in eight innings in their first game of pool play.
Salem trailed twice against East Vineland, 1-0 in the first inning and 3-2 in the second, but rallied both times to take the lead.
Pitcher Drew Sutton hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give his team its first lead, 2-1. Gabe Parsons drilled a three-run shot in the third to snap a 3-3 tie and put his team up for good.
“These kids never quit,” coach Brian Sutton said. “They don’t ever give up, they keep fighting.”
Sutton pitched into the sixth inning before he reached his pitch limit. In 5 2/3 innings he allowed four hits, no earned runs and struck out eight. He’s only allowed two earned runs and struck out 31 in three tournament appearances (15 2/3 innings). He’s also 8-for-10 with two homers and six RBIs at the plate.
Taryn Priore got the final out, throwing three pitches. Sutton and Priore know what it takes to win here, having played on last year’s Alloway district championship team.
Parsons, who had the game-winning hit in Salem’s walk-off win over Buena Thursday to earn its spot in the playoffs, went 2-for-2 with three RBIs. He has homered in three straight games and is 6-for-11 with 12 RBIs in the tournament.
“He’s a special player for 12 years old, that’s for sure,” Dolbow said. “He’s just got lightning-quick hands. Super athletic. He’s a heck of a hitter. For a 12-year-old kid, he’s got a very good swing, good mechanics and, obviously, he’s super athletic. He can play anywhere. He’s very versatile, helps us out a ton that way.”
East Vineland took a 3-2 lead with two runs in the second. Salem tied it in the fourth when Ben Parkell scored on a passed ball. Parsons hit his game-winning homer two batters later.
“They’ve fought hard every game we’ve played,” Dolbow said. “These boys have got some mental toughness about them for 12-year-olds. They’re able to shake it off and get to the next play. That’s the kind of mentality we’re looking for as coaches.”
DISTRICT 3 LL PLAYOFFS
Game 1
East Vineland 120 000 – 3 4 2
Salem 204 00x – 6 4 3
WP: Drew Sutton (1-0). LP: Luca Buono. 2B: Wesley Perkins (EV). HR: Drew Sutton (S), Gabe Parsons (S).
Game 2
South Vineland 101 051 – 8 14 1
Millville American 000 200 – 2 8 0
Salem walks it off
Run in bottom of the sixth sends Salem 12U into District 3 championship round; Elmer no-hits Pennsville in their final game
By Riverview Sports News
BUENA — The Salem 12U Little League All-Stars scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to beat Buena 7-6 Thursday night for the final spot in the four-team District 3 championship series.
It was the completion of Tuesday’s game, suspended by weather in the bottom of the third inning with Salem leading 6-1.
Buena came out fast on the restart, tying the game with five runs in the fourth. It loaded the bases in the fifth but failed to score.
Salem scored the winning run with none out in the sixth on a hit batsman and a single that got through the outfield.
Salem now plays East Vineland in the first game of the double-loss District 3 finals Friday, 5:45 p.m. in Elmer. South Vineland and Millville American play in the other first-round game at 8.
In the final American Division pool play game, host Elmer no-hit Pennsville 9-0. Elmer pitchers walked four and struck out 15.
DISTRICT 3 LITTLE LEAGUE (12U)
Friday’s Games at Elmer
G1: East Vineland vs. Salem, 5:45 p.m.
G2: South Vineland vs. Millville American, 8 p.m.
Sunday’s Games at Millville American
G3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
G4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 7 p.m.
July 5 at South Vineland
G5: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser, 5 p.m.
July 6 at East Vineland
G6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m.
July 7 at East Vineland
G7: If necessary, 7 p.m.
Riverview Sports News 