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.
Central Jersey champions end Pennsville’s season, title dream in Group 1 semifinals, keeps own hopes alive
GROUP 1 SEMIFINALS Bound Brook 7, Pennsville 2 Dayton 1, Indian Hills 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE — Two teams looking to make some program history played for their first trip to the state championship game in in generations Monday and the one that came the farthest both literally and logistically came out on top.
Bound Brook, the Central Jersey champions that had come 100 miles down the turnpike for a chance to reach their first state final since 1997, scored four runs in the eighth inning after Pennville tied the game in the seventh, to win the state semifinal 7-3. The Crusaders (16-12) will play Dayton (18-12) for the Group 1 state softball title 11 a.m. Friday at Ivy Hill Park.
“My pitcher (Isabella Marusiak) got injured in the middle of the season and she was out for a few weeks so then we’re thinking we’re never going to get there,” Bound Brook coach Shannon DeLuca said, “but she came back stronger than ever and she literally leads us here.”
The Eagles (18-8) were looking to return to the state finals for the first time since they won it all in 2008 and they gave themselves a chance rallying from two runs down in the last inning to keep those hopes alive.
They were down to their last strike in the seventh inning when the heart of their order tied the game and forced extra innings. Avery Watson doubled home Kylie Harris to make it 3-2 and Kenzie Widener doubled home Watson to the tie game.
Up until that point the Eagles struggled to deliver with runners in scoring position. They collected 12 hits and threatened in virtually every inning, getting a runner to second with one out six times, but each time Marusiak rose to the challenge and got out of the jam. They left six runners in scoring position over the first six innings, eight in the game and 10 total, including bases loaded (with one out) in the fourth.
“We couldn’t get that hit,” Pennsville coach Beth Jackson said. “We made contact. A couple hits here and there, maybe hold them, it might be a different story.”
Marusiak said he doesn’t change anything in her approach when teams put runners in scoring position. She just rises to the occasion.
“She’s a fighter,” DeLuca said. “It doesn’t matter who’s at the plate, she’s gonna battle. She goes right at them.”
“I enjoy playing under the pressure,” Merusiak said. “I think the pressure adds so much excitement and I just own it and play my game.”
The Crusaders are now 9-2 and have won seven in a row since Marusiak returned from a back issue in mid-May.
“She pitched an amazing game, she kept us on our toes all game – they all did,” Eagles catcher Kylie Harris said. “They had a great defense and they did what they were supposed to do, so we all just have to tip our hats.”
Pennsville’s game-tying rally didn’t deter the Crusaders in the least. They’ve been in this situation before. They won the Central Jersey title by by answering in the eighth and tenth innings after Florence took the lead in the top of each inning.
They reached Pennsville pitcher Graillyn Weber for five hits in the eighth, seeing her for the fourth time in the game. The first batters of the inning delivered singles, Ava Dedousis singled home the go-ahead run, Lily Caprara followed with an RBI single and Brianna Gurczeski broke it open with a two-run single.
“That was a mood killer,” Harris said, “but I think they were just making contact. Graillyn can only pitch so many innings without them knowing what she throws and that’s not on her. They did a great job adjusting to what she was throwing and did what they were supposed to do.”
The Eagles tried not to go quietly. Taylor Bass opened their eighth by reaching second when the Crusaders threw away her infield single. But as had been the case all game, she was left there.
“The girls have nothing to hang their heads about; I’m proud of them,” Jackson said. “It’s been 18 years since we won South Jersey. It’s going to hurt now, be upsetting – they had high hopes and they were so close – but in the overall scheme of things they should be very proud of themselves, because I am.”
Pennsville pitcher Graillyn Weber runs Bound Brook’s Lili Caprara back to the bag during a fourth-inning rundown between third and home.
Pennsville centerfielder Lily Edwards reaches up to show the umpires the ball after making a run-saving catch on a sinking liner to end the fourth inning. Top photo: Shortstop Avery Watson prepares to relay a throw home to nail Bound Brook’s Isabella Marusiak (11). (All photos by Michelle Pedrick)
Pennsville puts all the elements together to walkoff Woodstown 10-0 for its first softball sectional title since 2008; Group 1 final four set
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Clean defense and sharp pitching are keys to survival in post-season play.
Pennsville got both Thursday, on top of its usual solid hitting, and now is a South Jersey Group 1 softball sectional champion for the first time since 2008 after blanking county rival Woodstown 10-0.
The Eagles (18-7) now host Central Jersey champion Bound Brook (15-12) in the Group 1 state semifinals Monday at 4 p.m. The Crusaders beat Florence 4-3 with two runs in the bottom of the tenth.
“Oh, this is fantastic,” centerfielder Lily Edwards said after the celebration died down. “The last time it happened was (a month before) when I was born. It’s fantastic.”
“I don’t even know what to say I’m so happy; this doesn’t even feel real,” catcher Kylie Harris said. “We came in today all nervous and worried because this is obviously a big game but then we saw our entire community come out and support their girls team. Having the community behind us and being in Pennsville, that’s what makes it so special.”
Graillyn Weber pitched a shutout in the circle and delivered the walk-off double in the sixth inning. She gave up three hits and struck out four, including the side in order in the fifth. She didn’t allow a hit and only one base runner after Ellie Wygand’s single (her second hit of the game) with one out in the third inning.
She has allowed only one run in 25 playoff innings.
“I threw pretty well,” Weber said. “I don’t think I threw actually my best game but I think I was avoiding the middle of the strike zone and not making every pitch so hittable.”
Pennsville’s Graillyn Weber pitched a complete-game three-hit shutout and has allowed just one run in 25 playoff innings. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Interestingly, Weber wasn’t a pitcher until recently and really wasn’t certain she was going to be the Eagles’ main pitcher this season. She was one of three options they were considering before the season started. But there she was, pitching in the sectional championship game, something she never could have imagined just a few years ago.
The Eagles weren’t sure how the rotation would look this season and used their two scrimmages to figure it out. On a cold and miserable day at Absegami, coach Beth Jackson gave Weber a shot and she grabbed it with both hands.
“She went out and started that (scrimmage) and it went from there,” Jackson said. “We talked about it and she said, yeah, give me the ball. She wanted it so I said let’s go for it and see how it goes. She wanted to do it for her team. She’s an athlete, you can put her anywhere, but that’s where she is and that’s where she’s done her job this year by far.”
“It kind of started maybe in Upper Little League, 12U going up,” Weber said. “I never pitched for my travel team and probably never will. I like it a lot now. I definitely got a lot better.
“I was definitely like the second or third (option), but as soon as I got to high school I knew I’d have to pitch a little bit more and really got it going and learned how to do some spins myself. I was prepared. I think I was ready for it. I wasn’t super nervous or anything. My first game I was definitely more nervous than I should’ve been, but I ended up doing pretty good.”
Good enough to pitch in 19 games this season, nine of which she’s given up fewer than two earned runs.
The Eagles played a relatively clean game behind her, fielding all 12 chances in the infield that are typical of Weber’s outings. They made one error on a tailing fly ball that glanced off Edwards’ outstretched glove. They’ve made only two errors in the playoffs. The Wolverines, meanwhile, were charged with five errors in the game, all of which either wound up scoring or led to a run being scored
“Graillyn’s been our primary pitcher for most of our games and we always need to be there to back her up because everyone feels it when an error is made in the field and we need to keep each other up,” said Avery Watson, who flawlessly fielded four grounders at her shortstop position. “I put a lot of work in just so I can support my pitchers because I love ’em and they always do a great job.”
“We always talk about those controllables and that’s what you control, making those plays,” Jackson said. “If you make those plays you support your pitchers. She doesn’t have to throw as much and everybody just comes together and you get those 21 outs that you need. That’s key. You only need one run to score (to win) a game if you play good defense.”
Pennsville’s Kylie Harris reacts to her RBI double in the Eagles’ five-run fifth inning against Woodstown. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
So the Eagles played good defense and got more than one run. They led wire-to-wire. They scored a run in the first when Edwards raced home from third on a pitch that got past the catcher. They added another in the third on Edwards’ RBI single, two in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Watson and Kenzie Widener and a run-scoring ground out by Taylor Bass, and broke it open with five in the fifth.
They walked it off in the sixth when Gracie Mease reached second on a leadoff error, Edwards was intentionally walked and Weber powered a game-ending double to the left centerfield gap.
“The last time we played them they scored three (in the first) and we had to battle from behind (to win),” Edwards said. “Playing from in front gave us a lot more confidence.”
The loss snapped Woodstown’s 10-game winning streak. The Wolverines beat county rival Schalick in the first round of the playoffs, then allowed only one run in their two playoff games. They were playing in their first sectional final since 1979.
“We’re a better team than Pennsville, but today they were a significantly better team, I’ll just say that,” Woodstown coach Rob Hilderbrand said. “Today they outplayed us and beat us in every facet of the game. Do I think we’re still at better team at heart, yeah, but they just beat us today.”
After the immediate celebration and all the pictures, the team retired to the side of their storage trailer where coach Beth Jackson removed tape from a banner that revealed the newest year of an Eagles sectional title. She then got the traditional water bucket shower courtesy of Edwards and Bass.
“We just kind of thought about it in the moment,” Edwards said. “You watch like the big moments on the TV and it’s like, ‘Oh, shoot, let’s do this. She deserves it.”
The coach certainly appreciated it on such a hot day and gave a little shimmy at the end to show it.
GROUP 1 SECTIONAL FINALS Thursday’s games SOUTH: Pennsville 10, Woodstown 0, 6 inns. CENTRAL: Bound Brook 4, Florence 3, 10 inns. NORTH I: Indian Hills 2, Midland Park 0 NORTH II: Dayton 5, Whippany Park 4
GROUP I FINAL FOUR Monday’s games Bound Brook (15-12) at Pennsville (18-7), 4 p.m. Dayton (17-12) at Indian Hills (20-8)
Pennsville second baseman Reagan Wariwanchik cleanly fields a grounder during Thursday’s South Jersey Group I championship game. Solid defense has been one of the keys to the Eagles’ playoff success. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Once facing an uncertain future due to staff cuts, Jamie Blessing returning to teaching and coaching as a softball assistant at Pennsville
By Brian Tortella Special to Riverview Sports News
Jamie Blessing sat in her usual seat behind the left side of the fence.
With a typical focused look in her eyes and a white notepad in her hand, the GCIT head softball coach arose from her stool to direct her players at third base.
BLESSING
Under her guidance on that beautiful May evening, the Cheetahs overcame a two-run deficit and upended Williamstown in a Tri-County Royal Division matchup.
Business went as usual. The players lined up for postgame handshakes, and Blessing caught up with Braves coach Dan Torcasio, a longtime divisional rival and friendly foe, at home plate. Afterward, senior night was celebrated.
In Blessing’s eyes, this year’s GCIT program was one of the best, “if not the best,” she has ever coached, and it was her responsibility to guide the Cheetahs to achieve their maximum potential.
But as she walked off the field with husband Kyle and their 7-month-old son Braxton that night a dire reality loomed.
Blessing, who just completed her third year teaching health and physical education at the Sewell-based school, received a Reduction in Force letter two days before the game, official notice that her teaching position has been slashed for the upcoming 2026-27 school year.
The RIF letter came less than two months after Blessing received a Rice Notice on March 16, just a month after she returned from maternity leave. In New Jersey, a Rice Notice is a required 48-hour advance notification sent to public employees, such as school staff, when a Board of Education intends to discuss their specific employment, performance or termination in a closed, private session.
“I started school in September and I had my son Braxton on October 5, so I literally worked up until the day,” Blessing said. “So, I’ve been out on maternity leave from October until the first week of February. I’m grinding, doing my job, doing everything I need to do, and then I received a notice that my job was up in discussion for next year.
“I was extremely shocked. It made myself sick, I was sick. I had to literally ask, ‘What is this Rice letter?’ Everyone was like ‘Oh, don’t worry about it, they give them out when they’re discussing anything about your job, don’t worry about it, don’t worry about it.’”
But the following morning, she realized it wasn’t just a normal notice given to the majority of staff.
According to Blessing, she was just one of five teachers that received notice, which was certainly not what she initially expected. Among others, head boys tennis coach Jeff Ferraino’s health and physical education position was also slashed.
The elimination of numerous positions seemingly appears to be sweeping school districts across the Garden State during this grueling budget season. According to media reports, many school districts are facing layoffs just to stay afloat.
Part of the strain stems from changes to New Jersey’s school funding law. In 2018, the state revised its school funding formula to shift aid toward districts considered historically underfunded. But that left other districts scrambling to replace millions of dollars in lost revenue, according to NJ Advance Media.
Blessing’s board meeting was held March 18 in the GCIT Theater. There were 150 students in the audience, she said, for a meeting that lasted two and a half hours.
“Softball girls were there and students were there, and they weren’t just fighting for me, they were fighting for all five of the teachers,” Blessing said.
Upon graduating from Rowan University in 2012, Blessing started her teaching career at Highland Regional High School, where she also served as the head softball coach until she left for GCIT in 2023.
“I was going to get the opportunity to coach better athletes with a lot of talent,” she said. “You’re grabbing kids from all over the county. I have Delsea kids, Williamstown kids, and Kingsway kids. So I knew when the head coaching position and the teaching position was open, I knew I had to take the leap of faith to give myself an opportunity to better myself in a career, but also as a coach.”
Progressive growth was shown over the last three years. Blessing directed the Cheetahs to 14-8 and 11-8 records in her first two seasons and guided them to a 17-11 mark this spring, earning the sixth seed in the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs and falling to Egg Harbor Township. This 17 wins were her single-season high as a head coach.
But with her GCIT teaching position going away, she won’t be out of coaching or teaching long. She has accepted and been board approved as a new health and physical education teacher at Pennsville Memorial High School, effective Sept. 1. And she’ll be filling the upcoming assistant varsity softball coach vacancy, succeeding longtime assistant Lisa Doran.
“I grew up playing softball every weekend. We balanced out having softball and family, and everyone’s different priorities,” Blessing said of still deciding to coach with a toddler at home. “Being involved in a sport is something I’m used to. I’m not ready to give it up yet.”
It may be in a different role, but the same goal for Blessing next spring.
“Having to adapt to not being a head coach and running a program after 14 years is challenging,” she said. “Having the potential to take that program over when the time is right … if the opportunity comes to me and they want me to coach, I would love to take over a program like that.”
Beth Jackson has been Pennsville’s head softball coach since 2009. She picked up her 250th career win earlier this season and most recently guided the Eagles to a stunning 3-1 victory over top-seeded defending champion Audubon in the South Jersey Group 1 semifinal. The Eagles host Woodstown for the sectional championship today.
Pennsville athletic director Jamy Thomas said Blessing would be the perfect fit as a potential successor.
“She’s going to bring a lot,” Thomas said. “She comes with a wealth of knowledge already having been a head coach. Right now the plan is with coach Doran retiring, she’ll step into that spot with coach Jackson next year and we’ll go from there.
“She definitely has the drive and the want to be a head coach and to be successful. She’s seen our program and knows what we offer at Pennsville, especially in the softball area. I’m sure she’s ready to step in whenever Beth is ready to step aside. At this point, we’re going to have an awesome combo next year with the two of them, and I’m excited for both of them.”
Whether it’s a big school or small, head coach or assistant, Gloucester County or Salem, the approach remains the same.
“Guess what, there’s 21 outs and seven innings a game whether you have 20 kids come out to play or 50,” Blessing said. “The game is the game. I’m excited for the opportunity to bring the passion I have for the game to Pennsville for my new future career path.”
Salem County athletes score 4 Top Ten finishes at Meet of Champions; Woodstown’s 4×800 finishes second, Schalick’s Robinson sixth
By Riverview Sports News
PENNSAUKEN – Josh Crawford, one of the most decorated runners in Salem County track history, ran the final three NJSIAA races of his high school career Wednesday, finishing with two personal bests and a big finish to bring Woodstown’s 4×800 relay team a second-place finish at the Meet of Champions.
The 13-time state champion qualified in four events for the MOC, but ran the 800 and the two relays. He ran a PR 1:52.56 in the 800 out of the second-fastest heat to finish eighth and turned a blistering 1:51.70 anchor leg in the 4×800 to complete a team 7:49.09 that was second to Shabazz’ winning 7:46.06. The 4×400 team finished 15th.
“I’m really happy with how the day went,” Crawford said. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t in the fastest heat (in the 800) because I think I could’ve definitely put up a better time, but I can’t complain with how my season wrapped up at all.”
The Sacred Heart signee ran splits of 52.59 and 59.11 in the 4×8 to bring the Wolverines from seventh when he took the baton to second in the relay. They were ninth in the standings at one point in the race. The rest of team included Karson Chew, Jacob Marino and David Farrell.
Crawford and the 4×8 weren’t the only Top 10 performances turned in by Salem County athletes at the MOC.
Schalick’s Naveah Robinson finished sixth in the girls javelin. Her top throw of 120 feet, 9 inches was just one inch off her second-place throw in the sectional meet.
Woodstown’s Kami Casiano was tenth in the girls high jump at 5-4.
Among the top 20 finishers, Pennsville’s Danny Knight was 13th in the long jump with Penns Grove’s Group 1 champion Will Roy 19th; Schalick’s Gary Simonini was 18th in the javelin and Salem’s Ramiyah Jones was 20th in the girls triple jump with a 36-2.25 that was better than her jump at the sectionals.
NJSIAA MEET OF CHAMPIONS Wednesday, Pennsauken H.S. Salem County results BOYS 800: 8. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 1:52.56 110 Hurdles: 23. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 15.39 4×800: 2. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, David Farrell, Josh Crawford) 7:49.09 4×400: 15. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Anthony Costello, Michael Turner, Josh Crawford) 3:23.34 Javelin: 18. Gary Simonini, Schalick 165-6 Discus: 27. Ethan McLean, Schalick 141-10 Long Jump: 13. Danny Knight, Pennsville 21-11.75; 19. Will Roy, Penns Grove 21-6.75
GIRLS Long Jump: 21. Ramiyah Jones, Salem 16-9.5 Javelin: 6. Naveah Robinson, Schalick 120-9 Triple Jump: 20. Ramiyah Jones, Salem 36-2.25 High Jump: 10. Kami Casiano, Woodstown 5-4
Woodstown sophomore delivers big hit, earns three-inning save to lead Wolverines past Pennsville in SJ Group I playoffs; Maple Shade upsets top-seed Schalick
SJ GROUP I SEMIFINALS Woodstown 6, Pennsville 3 Maple Shade 6, Schalick 4
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — Marc DeCastro and all his Woodstown teammates know the kind of hard-core competitor Walker Battavio is, but what the sophomore showed Wednesday took it to another level.
Battavio delivering a three-run double to give the Wolverines the upper hand in their 6-3 win over Pennsville in the South Jersey Group 1 baseball semifinals was impressive enough. What he did in the late innings — and what he had to endure to do it — approached legendary status.
He came in from centerfield with a three-run lead and earned a three-inning save. What made it even more courageous was he pitched the last two innings with cramps in his right leg that made every pitch painful.
But he endured and because he was bulldog-tough the Wolverines (20-8) are playing for the SJ Group 1 title for the fourth time in the last six years. They host Maple Shade Friday. The fourth-seeded Wildcats spoiled the anticipated 1-2 Salem County championship showdown when they upset top-seeded Schalick 6-4.
Battavio helped the Wolverines uphold their end in a big way in his longest outing since April 18.
“He has one of the biggest hearts in the game; he’s a dog,” said sophomore first baseman Blake Rodriguez, who gave his classmate a four-run cushion with his first career home run leading off the sixth inning. “He always puts his team first. He’s not a selfish guy. Unselfish person. He’ll do anything for the team. Puts his heart on the line.”
Battavio had been prone to cramping and Wednesday’s hot conditions didn’t make it any easier. The cramp really hit in the fifth inning when he ran the bases after putting the Eagles down in order in his first inning on the mound in the top of the inning. He came in there because starter Drew Sutton had thrown 27 pitches the previous inning and was started to go through the Pennsville lineup a third time.
He could feel the knot forming in his leg as he was stealing second base but continued on to the bag and when he got there safely was on the ground in pain. He received attention from the training staff and remained in the game, eventually scoring on Ty Coblentz’ RBI single that got Pennsville starter Gavin Spears out of the game. He spent the rest of the game drinking his hydration water and enduring the pain.
“Nothing’s bringing me out of the game,” Battavio said. “My mindset is playing no matter what.”
And DeCastro didn’t want to take him out, which meant he had to help push his pitcher through the pain.
“I worry about him cramping up every time I have to bring him in late because he gives every ounce of himself to everything he does; he exerts so much energy that at the end of games he has to fight through exhaustion,” the head coach said. “There’s no way he threw one pitch that didn’t hurt and he tried to fight as hard as he possibly could and he got through it, so he did everything he needed to do.”
Woodstown pitcher Walker Battavio (C) tries to stay hydrated in the late innings of the Wolverines’ 6-3 playoff win over Pennsville.
Battavio admitted cramping every time he threw a pitch – and he threw 52 of them — but he just tried to forget about it and focus on getting the next hitter.
“It was pretty hard, but I’ve got that dog, so I’ve gotta fight through it,” he said. “I felt it every pitch, but I dug deep and knew I had to get it done for our team so I just did it. Gotta do it. I knew I could do it and I just persevered through everything.”
The last two innings were sort of messy for Battavio, but he wound up allowing four hits, two runs and striking out one. The inning after he cramped on the basepaths, the Eagles reached him for three hits to score a run and loaded the bases with two outs, but he prevented it from becoming a big inning by getting the final out on pop to second.
The Eagles (16-10) also got a run off Sutton in the fourth inning and left the bases loaded there, too. They scored their third run in the seventh inning, but ran themselves out of another potential bases-loaded situation on the play that netted their run.
I feel like we beat ourselves today, I really do,” Pennsville coach Matt Karr said. “We had the bases loaded early, we’re right where we want to be, (and) back-to-back hits there it’s probably a tie game. … Haddon Twp. we dug ourselves a hole (but rallied to win). It’s hard to keep climbing out of these game. Today we spot them a 4-0 lead and were trying to climb out of this hole the entire game. It’s hard to play that way.”
The Wolverines got those first four runs in the second inning. Rodriguez drove the first run home when Spears’ threw high to the plate on his squeeze bunt. That left two on with one out. Noah Williams drew a walk to load the bases then Walker hit an opposite-field double just out of the reach of left-fielder Steve Fatcher to clear the bases.
As the leadoff man in the Wolverines’ lineup, it was only the second time in his last 10 games he drove in a run. The last time he had an RBI, he drove in four against Penns Grove.
“I saw the opportunity,” Battavio said. “They were playing up on me. They didn’t think I could hit it that far, so I had to show them what I can do, and I did it.”
“The reason that got over his head is because he’s a leadoff guy and he hit it the other way and they were playing him a little bit shallower to get anything in front of them,” DeCastro said. “He’s a strong kid. Hasn’t always known how to use his strength. He’s always been a little guy. A lot of times a little guy (is encouraged to) put a ball in play and run, so he got used to that. Now he’s becoming a man he’s strong and he’s learning not just to put a ball in play but drive balls in gaps.”
PITTSGROVE – Schalick had been a pretty good defensive team this season and even when it wasn’t the Cougars had the offensive firepower to overcome it. That wasn’t the case Wednesday and they the post-season price.
The top-seeded Cougars were charged with five errors and every time it seemed their opponent made them pay. It added up to a 6-4 Maple Shade win that ended Schalick’s season and sent the Wildcats to face Woodstown for the South Jersey Group 1 title Friday.
“We didn’t play very well,” Schalick coach Sean O’Brien said. “The funny thing is we turned three double plays, but then other routine things we just made mistakes. And when we made mistakes they blooped in a hit or they got a single here or there. They just made us pay for our mistakes.”
Early on it looked like the Cougars were headed for the 1-2 Salem County showdown for the sectional title with Woodstown everyone anticipated. They broke a 1-1 tie with three in the third inning on Evan Glaspey’s two-run double and Travis Snodgrass’ sacrifice fly.
Then things started going south. The Cougars were late deciding where to go with a ball back to the box and all runners were safe. A grounder to the right side of the infield moved the runners up and Edward Leahy delivered a two-run single to center to cut Schalick’s lead to 4-3. The Wildcats took the lead on back-to-back RBI singles by Lucas Voiro and Anthony Schafer. They added another run on Aaron Wells’ RBI single in the seventh. Schafer had three hits and three RBIs and Leahy went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Maple Shade’s first five runs were all unearned.
The Cougars, meanwhile, managed only two hits and a walk after opening their 4-1 lead. The two hits were back-to-back singles by Bo Schalick and Glaspey with two outs in the fifth. They had the top of the order up in the seventh, but Wildcats reliever Braydon Morgano got through it with a two-out walk and three flyouts.
“They’re a tough team; they made us pay for our mistakes,” O’Brien said. “Their pitchers, all they did was pitch to contact and we had a lot of fly outs.
“We struck out twice the entire game. All (Morgano) did was he just pitched to contact. A lot of balls we hit in the gap just kind of stayed up in the air and they were able to run underneath them. He didn’t do anything spectacular, he just did his job. He did a good job of forcing us to make outs.”
The loss ended an otherwise big year for the Cougars. They finished 19-8, won 10 of their last 13, won the TCC Diamond Division for the second year in a row, and were the No. 1 seed in the sectional. Seniors Evan Sepers (105) and Ricky Watt (102) both collected their 100th career hits.
“We had a great season, there’s really nothing to be disappointed about,” O’Brien said. “When you don’t reach your goals at the end it’s a letdown because we know we potentially could have done it. Unfortunately in the playoffs if you don’t have your best game and don’t do what you need to do as you get deeper in the playoffs good teams will just make you pay.”
Maple Shade
010
202
1-
6
8
0
Schalick
103
000
0-
4
7
5
WP: Braydon Morgano. LP: Cole Hartley. 2B: Evan Glaspey (S)
GROUP I SECTIONAL FINALS Friday’s games (Records, power points in parenthesis) SOUTH: Maple Shade (16-9, 21.490) at Woodstown (20-8, 23.697) CENTRAL: Shore (21-8, 27.805) at Pt. Pleasant Beach (17-6, 28.914) NORTH I: Waldwick (16-13, 23.307) at Pompton Lakes (20-7, 25.319) NORTH II: Hanover Park (18-8, 24.783) at Cedar Grove (19-9, 25.754) Power points to determine home team in state semifinals
Pennsville rally from close calls, early deficit to beat top-seeded Audubon for a spot in South Jersey Group I softball finals; hosts Woodstown Thursday
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
AUDUBON — Two years ago Pennsville softball coach Beth Jackson stood in foul territory at the Audubon Little League complex fighting back tears. She was brought to tears in just about the same place Tuesday, but for an entirely different and much happier reason.
That first time her Eagles were on the very wrong end of a one-sided South Jersey Group 1 semifinal loss to Audubon. On this day, the tears were borne of pride and joy after the Eagles came from behind both physically and emotionally to knock off the top-seeded Green Wave, 3-1 for a spot in the sectional finals.
“I am just so proud of them,” Jackson said, her words cracking with emotion. “So proud of them for being frustrated and coming back, and being frustrated at the umpires and coming back.
“They make their calls. We talk about all the time about being human and having the controllables and stuff. They rose above that and came out and had a couple hits strung together and they played good defense and Graillyn (Weber) did a great job keeping them in the game. I’m very happy.”
The win sends the fifth-seeded Eagles (17-7) to their first SJ Group 1 title game since 2019. They will host county rival Woodstown Thursday at 3 p.m. The seventh-seeded Wolverines (19-8) blanked Palmyra 5-0 for their tenth straight win and first sectional final berth since 1979.
The Eagles overcame a couple difficult umpiring decisions early in the game that could have sapped their energy to win, but they kept their focus, rallied from a 1-0 deficit and took the lead in the sixth inning off Audubon’s best pitcher. They tied it on Kenzie Widener’s solo homer in the fourth and took the lead with two in the sixth.
Early in the game they had a runner called out for leaving first base too early on a missed bunt attempt. Then there was a confusing call in the third on a ball Weber appeared to foul off her foot – she said it went off her toe in the batter’s box and photo evidence seemed to back the claim — but the umpires huddled and said it did not. Weber was ruled an out and the runner on base was returned to first. The runner, Lily Edwards, was later called out at second despite sliding away from the tag trying to advance on a ball that got away at the plate.
Adding to the hurt was Audubon (19-10) scored in its half of the inning to take a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles got the run back when Widener took starter Addie Leahan deep with two outs in the fourth. It was her second home run of the season.
“I was 2-0 i9n the count, I was ahead, and I was thinking she’s got to throw a fastball right down the middle; it’s what’s coming,” Widener said. “I just thought fastball, fastball, fastball and I hit it. I think it pumped all of us up. I think it made our energy go up 10 what it was before. After I hit that home run I really wanted to win this one.”
Pennsville’s Graillyn Weber is all smiles after delivering the go-ahead double in the sixth inning. She also kept Audubon off balance in the circle, giving up just three hits and striking out 11. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
With both starting pitchers hard to hit, the game stayed tied until the sixth.
Audubon sent Alaina Copsetta to the circle to start the inning with the top of the Pennsville order coming to the plate. Edwards greeted the hard-throwing senior with a single to right center and Weber followed with the go-ahead RBI double to the short side of left field. The Eagles weren’t intimidated by Copsetta’s velocity and she faced only two batters.
“I was ready to get a hit,” Weber said. “I was kind of mad they missed that call on the ball that hit my foot but I was really ready to get a hit. I was like you know what, I’m due. I need to get a hit. I need to score Lily; I know she’s there waiting for me. I didn’t really feel much pressure. I was calm in the box. Even though I had two strikes I was ready to get a hit.”
Kylie Harris met Copsetta’s relief, Kylie Cannaday, with an RBI single to make it 3-1. It was Harris’ 166th career hit and 116th RBI.
“They were starting to really hit Addie, even the outs we had gotten were shots to the fence,” Audubon coach Erin Small said. “We knew the top of the lineup was coming back up. We’ve been using Copsetta for those last two innings throughout the playoffs. She’s a different look. She throws a screw-rise ball, Addie does not. We just were looking for a different look and they got on her right away and we just decided to bring in Kylie after that.”
Weber, meanwhile, didn’t yield in the circle. Working with a lead she retired the Green Wave over the final two innings with only one base runner to finish off the complete game. Leaving the frustration of the early umpiring calls in the dugout, she allowed only one hit after the Audubon scored its only run in the third. She retired 13 of the last 15 batters she faced. The Eagles have given up only one run in three playoff games.
“We were definitely reaching out for most of our at bats, not being patient, letting the ball get to us, and it was resulting in a lot of pop ups,” Small said. “We only had three hits, one double. We definitely did not have a great day at the plate. You’ve got to give her a lot of credit for what she did on the mound. We just couldn’t produce today.”
GROUP 1 SECTIONAL FINALS Thursday’s games (Records, power points in parenthesis) SOUTH: No. 7 Woodstown (19-8, 21.259) at No. 5 Pennsville (17-7, 22.191) CENTRAL: No. 8 Florence (15-5, 18.83) at No. 7 Bound Brook (14-12 21.005) NORTH I: No. 4 Indian Hills (19-8, 28.094) at No. 2 Midland Park (25-3, 32.675) NORTH II: No. 4 Dayton (16-12, 22.889) at No. 3 Whippany Park (19-7, 26.917) Power points to determine host team in state semifinals
Pennsville’s Kenzie Widener makes her approach to the plate after hitting a game-tying home run in the fourth inning. Top photo: The Pennsville players celebrate victory after the final out is recorded. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Kylie Harris shares a happy moment with first base coach Lisa Doran after the Pennsville catcher singled home an insurance run in the sixth inning. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Pennsville outfielder Taylor Bass is moments away from putting the squeeze on the final out of the Eagles’ 3-1 playoff win over Audubon. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Here are the Salem County qualifiers for Wednesday’s Meet of Champions and the result they posted in Saturday’s Group I state meet
NJSIAA MEET OF CHAMPIONS QUALIFIERS Wednesday, Pennsauken H.S. BOYS 400: Josh Crawford, Woodstown 50.24; 3. Kylee Goodson, Penns Grove 50.25 800: Josh Crawford, Woodstown 1:55.64 110 Hurdles: Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 14.90 4×800: Woodstown (Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, David Farrell, Josh Crawford) 8:05.23 4×400: Woodstown (Anthony Costello, Karson Chew, Michael Turner, Josh Crawford) 3:23.10; Penns Grove (Bryan Garlic, Tommy White, Luis Colon, Kylee Goodson) 3:27.28 Javelin: Gary Simonini, Schalick 168-11 High Jump: Tommy White, Penns Grove 6-2 Discus: Ethan McLean, Schalick 144-8 Long Jump: Will Roy, Penns Grove 22-10.75; Danny Knight, Pennsville 22-2.25
GIRLS Long Jump: Ramiyah Jones, Salem 17-8 Javelin: Naveah Robinson, Schalick 120-10 Triple Jump: Ramiyah Jones, Salem 35-11 High Jump: Kami Casiano, Woodstown 5-2
Woodstown 4×800, 4×400 relay teams win Group 1 titles on final day of state meet, Crawford becomes one of Salem County’s winningest state champions, Penns Grove’s Garlic wins 110 hurdles; Wolverines second in team standings, Penns Grove T-4
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SOMERSET – Woodstown’s “Four Horseman” boys 4×800 relay team that was making headlines and smashing records from the first day somebody got the bright idea three years ago to put them on the track together ran their final Group 1 race as a unit Saturday and went out on their terms – leaving the pack in their dust.
The celebrated quartet of Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, David Farrell and Josh Crawford won their third straight Group 1 4×8 title in 8:05.23. Not as fast as last year’s winning time, but a lot faster than when they won it for the first time in 2024. They led wire-to-wire, increased their lead after every leg and won by a whopping seven seconds.
But that wasn’t the end of it. The 4×800 lead and anchor – Chew and Crawford – helped bring the Wolverines a second state title on the second day of the Group 1 meet at Franklin High School, winning the 4×400 relay in the final event of the meet. They were joined on that relay by Anthony Costello and Michael Turner and turned in a 3:23.10, more than a full second ahead of runner-up Camden, the foursome they were second to here last year. Penns Grove was third.
“Everything went well this year,” Chew said. “The first day wasn’t too eventful for us, but we woke up on the second day with fire in our blood for a win. And that’s exactly what we did.
“Everyone did their job in both races to get us two championship titles. A big shout out to our juniors on the relay who really held it down. David (Farrell) and Michael (Turner) were absolutely key parts in each relay’s win. And all of us seniors went out there and made our last state championships as memorable as we could.”
“I’m very emotional about it for those guys because of the great careers that they’ve had,” Wolverines coach Tom Mason said. “I’m very proud of them. They’re going to be hard to replace, they really are.”
Woodstown’s relay teams weren’t the only Salem County state champions crowned Saturday.
Penns Grove’s Bryan Garlic was declared the winner of the boys 110 hurdles final after race winner Jaleel Dickerson-Dempsey of Camden was disqualified for going out of his lane and impeding another runner. Garlic ran a “relaxed and smooth” PR 14.90 to Dickerson-Dempsey’s 14.32.
The Penns Grove senior was going to Wednesday’s Meet of Champions anyway, but now he’s going, along with long jumper teammate Will Roy, as a state champion.
“At first I was confused because they said he was DQ’d but I didn’t really know if he was DQ’d or not because he was still on the list,” Garlic said. “At the end they said he was DQ’d, I took the first-place medal, I was happy. It didn’t feel right because he got DQ’d, but I’m still grateful to be in the position I am now.”
Garlic didn’t really see what happened in the race until he watched it on video. As the fifth seed in the final he was running in Lane 2 and the incident occurred in the middle of the track. Dickerson-Dempsey was in Lane 4 as the top seed, hit a hurdle and it moved into the adjacent lane and interfered with New Milford’s Luke Johnson in Lane 5.
The ruling wasn’t immediate. Race officials conducted an inquiry, talked with Dickerson-Dempsey about what happened and handed down a decision after several minutes had elapsed. Garlic said he spent his time trying to find an official to get a better understanding of the situation. Johnson got to re-race against the clock and ran a 15.26 in the do-over to finish second behind Garlic.
Woodstown’s relay wins were a bit more clear cut.
Chew led the 4×800 out with a 2:00.84 leg, good for a one-second lead. Marino stretched to three seconds when he passed baton and Farrell, who replaced graduated Cole Lucas this season, extended it to six seconds with splits of 57.14 and 1:04.02. Crawford brought it home against a brutally gusting headwind, posting splits of 56.58 and 1:02.13.
“To be honest with you, after Farrell’s (leg), in my head they’re going to be state champions because no one is going to catch ‘The Machine,’” Mason said, referring to Crawford. “I don’t care what town they’re front, they’re not catching The Machine with a 25-meter lead, and they didn’t. They powered through, man. It was great.”
The Wolverines were equally impressive in pulling off the 4×400, a race they really wanted after Camden took them down last year.
Anthony Costello started it off with 51.46 that had them third behind Camden and Penns Grove, but Chew got them back in front with a 49.32. They were running second when Turner passed the baton to Crawford after a PR lap. The Wolverines’ anchor was a back-and-forth battle with Camden’s Jaiden Steele down the stretch. Once he got the lead he steadily pulled away and won by more than a second to give Mason his first-ever 4×400 state title in 127 seasons of coaching track.
“The last race was something I had to prove to myself but also to other people,” Crawford said. “Not doing what I wanted to in the previous races I needed a confidence booster and prove to myself that I’m still a part of that team. I ran a 48 against Camden who we’ve gone back and forth with two years now and last year them stealing the state title by a long shot shows that our entire team had a goal in mind, we practiced consistently and we made it happen.”
With his two wins, Crawford became one of the all-time winningest state championship in Salem County history. He has now 13 indoor and outdoor state titles in his career.
“It definitely surprised me,” he said. “It’s kind of bad to say but they kind of blur together. I never thought I would even get one. I thought I would be a one event person, like the 4-x800 was my event and I didn’t see myself being a multi-event athlete winning state titles in not just the 4×8 multiple years but other events for multiple years as well.
“I think it shows that anyone can do it. I was once a 2:20 800 meter runner and barely got under 60 seconds my first time running the 400, but when you’re surrounded by the right coaches, the right teammates, any of that can come through if you have discipline and the mindset to make it happen.”
The Sacred Heart signee also qualified for the MOC with a second-place finish in the 400, but isn’t expected to run it. Saturday third-place finishers Kylee Goodson (Penns Grove 400, 0.01 behind Crawford), Gary Simonini (Schalick boys javelin) and Ramiyah Jones (Salem girls long jump) among others are expected to receive MOC wildcard spots.
The Wolverines’ Saturday showing helped them bounce back from a tough opening day to finish second in the team standings to Glassboro. They started the day in fifth place, with 14 points, 12 behind Glassboro.
“They battled after yesterday,” Mason said. “We scored 24 points within 40 minutes today. That brought us back into it.”
Garlic’s bump to the hurdles win gave Penns Grove enough points to finish tied for fourth. Metuchen claimed the girls title, winning a do-or-die 4×400 to edge Glassboro by two points.
NJSIAA GROUP I TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday’s Results BOYS TEAM SCORES: Glassboro 63, WOODSTOWN 52, Camden 45, PENNS GROVE 40, New Milford 40, New Providence 26, Manville 26, Wallington 20, Woodbury 19, Boonton 17, Bound Brook 16, Dayton 16, SCHALICK 15, Newark Tech-Essex 13, Shore 12, Wallkill Valley 12, Haddon Twp. 11, Kinnelon 10, Waldwick 10, Hasbrouck Heights 10, Whippany Park 9.5, PENNSVILLE 9, Florence 8, Buena 8, Midland Park 7, Indian Hills 6, Mountain Lakes 4.5, Burlington City 4, Audubon 4, McNair 4, Butler 4, Pequannock 4, Thrive Charter 3, Metuchen 2, Botoga 2, SALEM 1, Gateway 1, Highland Park 1, Empowerment 1, Verona 1, Eagle Academy 1, Saddle Brook 1. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Winners, Salem County point scorers (top 6)) (Top 2 finishers guaranteed spots in Meet of Champions, x-projected MOC wildcard) 400: 1. Noah Seveland, Waldwick 49.87; 2. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 50.24; 3. x-Kylee Goodson, Penns Grove 50.25; 4. Karson Chew, Woodstown 50.89 110 Hurdles: 1. Jaleel Dickerson-Dempsey, Camden 14.32; 2. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 14.90 4×800: 1. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, David Farrell, Josh Crawford) 8:05.23 200: 1. Ivan Bempah, New Milford 21.79 1600: 1. Jayran Rodriguez, Manville 4:22.61 4×400: 1. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Anthony Costello, Michael Turner, Josh Crawford) 3:23.10; 3. Penns Grove (Bryan Garlic, Tommy White, Luis Colon, Kylee Goodson) 3:27.28 Shot Put: 1. Patrick Szabo, Wallington 50-6.5; 3. Aidan Taulane, Woodstown 49-0; 4. JaKai Ingram, Penns Grove 48-6; 6. Connor Wariwanchik, Pennsville 48-2.5 Javelin: 1. Brady Shine, Hasbrouck Heights 192-4; 3. x-Gary Simonini, Schalick 168-11 Triple Jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 47-8.5 High Jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 6-4; 4. x-Tommy White, Penns Grove 6-2
GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Metuchen 56, Glassboro 54, Audubon 47, Shore 39, Verona 33, Haddon Twp. 31, Delaware Valley 25, Whippany Park 22, Hasbrouck Heights 20, Roselle Park 20, Maple Shade 16, Hawthorne 15, SALEM 12, Burlington City 12, Mountain Lakes 11, University 10, Henry Hudson 10, Cresskill 10, SCHALICK 9, Manville 9, Woodbury 8, David Brearley 8, Academy Charter 8, Midland Park 8, Waldwick 8, Indian Hills 9, Kinnelon 7, Buena 6, Wallkill Valley 6, Butler 5, WOODSTOWN 5, Paulsboro 4, Clayton 4, Pequannock 3, Bound Brook 2, New Providence 2, Florence 2, Dayton 1, Highland Park 1, Saddle Brook 1 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Winners, Salem County point scorers (top 6)) (Top 2 finishers guaranteed spots in Meet of Champions) 400: 1. Gwendolyn Neale, Verona 58.28 100 Hurdles: 1. Casey Birdwell, Haddon Twp. 15.05 4×800: 1. Haddon Twp. 9:41.69 200: 1. Makenna Bruns, Metuchen 25.35 1600: 1. Alexandra Klein, Shore 4:53.96 4×400: 1. Metuchen 4:03.64 Discus: 1. Sunny Moore, Glassboro 156-0 Long Jump: 1. Erika Townsend, Glassboro 17-9, 3. x-Ramiyah Jones, Salem 17-8 Pole Vault: 1. Cassara Yannarelli, Henry Hudson 10-6
Long jumper Will Roy (L) and hurdler Bryan Garlic brought state championships back to Penns Grove from the state Group I meet this week. Top photo: Woodstown’s three-time 4×800 state champion relay team.
Pennsville’s Streitz has a game for the ages, leads Eagles to come-from-behind road win over Haddon Twp. in SJ Group 1 quarterfinals
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WESTMONT – Matt Karr isn’t one prone to hyperbole, but after watching the performance from one of his most veteran players Friday afternoon there really was no other way the Pennsville baseball coach could describe it.
Senior Logan Streitz had a game for the ages – and they’ve had some ages in the Eagles’ baseball program. He put on clinic that encompassed all three phases of the game. He hit. He fielded. He pitched. He truly was The Man as the Eagles beat Haddon Twp. 13-7 in the second round of the South Jersey Group I playoffs.
“Logan Streitz may have just played the best game in Pennsville baseball history,” Karr said. “It was that good.”
He went 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBI doubles, the go-ahead three-run homer and seven RBIs. He made a diving catch at second base with the bases loaded and turned it into a game-saving, inning-ending unassisted double play. Then he went to the mound and pitched two innings of no-hit relief with four strikeouts to slam the door on the third-seeded Hawks.
“It was unbelievable,” Karr said. “He comes up in the sixth and launches a bomb to right field to gives us the lead. As he was rounding third I just pointed at him and said ‘You are the man.’ I had no other words.
“Pennsville baseball is a storied, storied program and I’m sure if you sat down and flipped through and really studied who had great games there’ve been masterful performances up and down our history … but he did all three phases of the game today about as good as you could do.”
Karr was awestruck just watching it. Streitz was living it and even he had a hard time describing it
“I would say I had a pretty good game,” he said. “This is definitely going to be the No. 1 game I remember from all my games in high school.
“As I was going around the bases after the home run I just kind of went into a blur. It didn’t feel real. Same with the diving play. It kind of hit me a little bit, but it just didn’t feel real.”
Streitz’ first double gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead in the third inning. His second drove in a run during a three-run rally in the fourth that tied the game. The Hawks took a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the inning and threated to blow it open loading the bases with one out, but that’s when Streitz let his defensive prowess shine. Shading up the middle with the infield in, he lunged to snare Kirby Rice’s liner, got to his feet and raced to the bag to complete the double play.
“That was game-saving right there,” Karr said. “Who knows the floodgates that open if that ball goes through and 7-6 turns into 9-6 and who knows what else. That was just an unbelievable athletic play, a headsy play. To be able to stay in the moment knowing he had to jump up and make another play was awesome.
But the heroics were far from over. Streitz came to the plate in the sixth after Jake Layfield and Mason O’Brien opened the inning with walks and gave the Eagles the lead for good with his long homer to right. He hit a third RBI double in seventh to make it 12-7.
“That’s a home run I won’t forget,” Streitz said. “He threw me a low fastball down the middle and I kind of got all over that. I would say (the walkoff against) Wildwood (was as big a homer as he’s hit), but this is a playoff game so I’d definitely have to say this was (the biggest).”
With starter Gavin Spears well past 100 pitches through five innings, Karr turned the mound over to Streitz in the sixth. The right-hander hit the first batter he faced, then settled in and picked up a six-out save without much drama.
“I just tried my best to stay calm and collected, because when I’m not it starts to get wild,” Streitz said. “I just feel a lot more comfortable coming in as a reliever close.”
He was so comfortable on this day he was having a running conversation with the umpire in the seventh inning instead of warming up.
“He was just in the zone, man,” Karr said.
The Eagles got gutsy performances throughout the lineup.
O’Brien hurtshis shoulder diving for a ball in the first inning, but stayed in the game. It looked to be getting worse with each swing at the plate, but he stuck it out and poked a double over the centerfielder’s head to set the stage for Streitz’ first RBI double. Catcher Mike McClincy throws a runner out in a key situation. Scott Streitz, Logan’s younger brother, gets an at-bat in the seventh and delivers his first varsity hit. It just went on and on
“It was just amazing the way everything worked out,” Karr said. “There were just so many guys who found a little way to contribute. It was such a team effort. For us to be down early, come back to take the lead and give it back up, it’s nice to see your guys really stick it out and kind of come together and put it all together.”
The Eagles now play Woodstown in the South Jersey semifinals Wednesday. They’ll have a lot of incentive for this one. The Wolverines knocked them out of the playoffs each of the last two years.
Top photo: Pennsville’s Logan Streitz (L) approaches the plate after hitting a go-ahead three-run homer in Friday’s South Jersey Group I playoff game at Haddon Twp. (Screenshot from Gamechanger video)
Riverview Sports News 