Category: SALEM

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 13-18; games start at 4 p.m. unless noted

APRIL 13
BASEBALL
Salem at Clayton
Salem Tech at Mastery Charter
Schalick at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Schalick
Pennsville at Wildwood
BOYS GOLF
Schalick vs. Woodstown, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Clayton, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
Schalick vs. OLMA, White Oaks CC, 3:30 p.m.
TRACK
Gloucester Catholic, Wildwood at Salem
TENNIS
Highland at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Millville, 3:45 p.m.
Clayton at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Schalick
BOYS LACROSSE
Kingsway at Woodstown
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Kingsway
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Ocean (2), 2 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Harford, 1 p.m.

APRIL 14
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Ocean at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 15
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Pitman at Schalick
Salem at Woodstown
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Woodstown at Salem
Schalick at Pitman
BOYS GOLF
Schalick vs. West Deptford, River Winds, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic, Westwood GC, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
Schalick vs. Delsea, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Timber Creek at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pitman
Pennsville at Schalick
TRACK
Schalick at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pitman at Salem
GIRLS TRACK
Pennsville at Glassboro
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Mainland

APRIL 16
BASEBALL
Bridgeton at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Millville
SOFTBALL
Sterling at Schalick
TENNIS
Cumberland at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
Woodstown at Lenape, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS GOLF
Schalick vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Highland, Town & Country, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Mainland at Woodstown
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Mercer at Salem CC, 3 p.m.

APRIL 17
BASEBALL
Cumberland at Woodstown
Middle Twp. at Salem
Salem Tech at Atlantic City
SOFTBALL
Cape May Tech at Salem
Woodstown at Cumberland
TENNIS
Pitman at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Delsea, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove
BOYS GOLF
Salem Tech vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick vs. Lower Cape May, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Millville
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Camden, 3 p.m.

APRIL 18
BASEBALL
Schalick at Haddon Twp., TBD
Salem at Gloucester, 10 a.m.
Sterling at Woodstown, 11 a.m.
TRACK
Woodbury Relays
Woodstown girls at Penn Wood Invitational, 9 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Camden at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Sussex, noon

Track titleists

Schalick girls, Woodstown boys win division titles in West Deptford Relays, for Wolverines it’s a first; Schalick’s boys win their division in Bridgeton

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WEST DEPTFORD – The wildfire that was raging on the other side of the interstate wasn’t the only thing blazing around the West Deptford Relays Saturday.

The Schalick girls and Woodstown boys both raced to team titles in their respective divisions that carried some historical significance.

The Cougars won it for the second year in a row, scoring 73 points and edging county rival Salem by three for the Division I girls crown. The Wolverines won their first West Deptford Relays title in school history, scoring 93 points to win by a comfortable margin over Glassboro for the Division II boys title.

And in some ways the victories were as surprising as they were historic.

The Cougars won with a squad reduced in half due to college visits and other spring break obligations.

“To be honest, I don’t know how (they pulled it off) going into it,” Schalick girls coach Missy Pine said. “We’re on spring break so I’m very short-staffed … so I don’t know how we pulled this off. The girls who showed up stepped up and just did an amazing job.

“In talking to the coaches from Salem, they were in a similar situation, so I think we were actually both shocked it was so close at the end. I wasn’t like oh my God you’ve got to beat that girl from Salem or they weren’t saying that to their athletes either. We were just wanting our girls to do the best that they could today under the circumstances.”

Sophomore Naveah Robinson won the girls javelin outright with a throw of 101-5 and the Cougars had the best 4000 DMR in Division I with Sarah Torpey, Karlie Bakley, Ava Melnick and Emma Wilbur running 15:39.50. They also finished second in the 4×1600, 400 Hurdles Relay, 800 SMR and discus, and third in the high jump and shot.

The Salem girls, meanwhile, kept it close by winning five events within their division and finishing second in one other. Ramiyah Jones won the individual long jump at 15-4. 

“It was a nice surprise,” Pine said. “Going into it I had the mindset that we don’t have a chance on earth of this at all – I just don’t have enough people with me. I just couldn’t believe it.”

Woodstown’s boys, meanwhile, got a nice surprise from an atypical source. The Wolverines have been built around their middle and long distance runners and were locked in a tight battle until the field events posted. The points they got from their throwers and jumpers put them way over the top.

“We scored across the board, but it was the throwers and jumpers who really put the butt-whippin’ in,” new Woodstown boys coach Tom Mason said. “I’m the happiest for them. They and the hurdlers I needed to work to get production out of them and we’re talking 38 points 

Aidan Taulane won the shot (45-1.25) and discus (145-7). Andrew White (5-10) and Elijah Caesar (5-6) went 1-3 in the high jump and 4-3 in the triple jump. White finished third in the long jump and Noah Chiu was third in the javelin. Put together for a relay, they won the high jump, second in the long jump and triple jump.

The runners, meanwhile, gave their typically strong performance. They won the 4×800 outright, were tops in Division II in the 4×1600 and finished second in the distance medley and shuttle hurdle relays. They were actually running second after the first two legs of the 4×800, but Karson Chew handed anchor Josh Crawford the baton with a 100-yard lead and then Crawford proceeded to nearly lap the field.

“For me, it brought back the tension of a close meet,” said Mason, who came out of retirement to help advance the program. “When all those points came in, it was like, phew. It’s good for the kids, it’s good for the school, they’re going to get their first title.” 

The meet was staged in the backdrop of a raging brush fire across the interstate from the school that prompted some parents to call the meet “The Campfire Relays.” Heavy smoke could be seen rising above the area and debris from the blaze fell in the venue.
“I don’t know if it affected anybody,” Pine said. “My athletes knew it smelled and were putting their shirt over their nose, but none of my athletes got dramatic about it. I really didn’t see anybody, but it may have affected somebody’s performance.”

Salem’s boys and Woodstown’s girls both were solidly second in their respective divisions.


WEST DEPTFORD RELAYS
DIVISION ONE
GIRLS
Team scores: SCHALICK 73, SALEM 70, Pitman 62, Florence 46, PENNSVILLE 43, Clayton 42, Buena 30
EVENTS
(Event winners and Salem County scorers)
4×1600: 1. Pitman 26:06.84; 2. Schalick 29:57.38 (Ava Melnick, Emma O’Neill, Emmalynn Robinson, Brooke Lubek) 
400 Hurdles: 1. Buena 2:32.0; 2. Schalick 2:40.22 (Brooke Valentine 1:15.27, Paetyn Wallace 1:24.55)
800 SMR: 1. Salem 2:02.68 (Raniyah Parsons-Smith, Dayana Jones, Amaia Massengill, Brooklynn Jackson); 2. Schalick 2:04.00 (Phoebe Alward, Karlie Bakley, Jaelynn Jarmon, Brooke Valentine)
400 DMR: 1. Schalick 15:39.50 (Sarah Torpey, Karlie Bakley, Ava Melnick, Emma Wilbur)
4×200: 1. Salem 1:48.07 (Raniyah Parsons-Smith, Amaia Massengill, Anyzha Williams, Dynastie Tucker); 4. Pennsville 2:04.09 (Aubrey Manorowitz, Annabella Manning, Polina Wright, Molly Gratz); 6. Schalick 2:10.77 (Angelia Deaver, Lailani Hernandez, Emilia Kachai, Willow Davis)
4×100 SHR: 1. Buena 1:19.87; 2. Salem 1:21.60 (Kiani Taylor-Gresham, JiYonna Seals, Tahirah Davenport-White, Jaryn Weathers)
4×800: 1. Pitman 11:13.24
4×100: 1. Salem (Raniyah Parsons-Smith, Amaia Massengill, Anyzha Williams, Dynastie Tucker) 49.97; 4. Schalick (Karlie Bakley, Phoebe Alward, Jaelynn Jarmon, Brooke Valentine) 56.17; 5. Pennsville (Laura Tamberella, Sophie Bohn, Polina Wright, Molly Gratz) 57.16
Shot Put: 1. Clayton 61-2.75; 2. Pennsville 61-2 (Tatiyonna Crawford 32-8.5, Rolande Delva 28-5.5); 3. Schalick 53-4.25 (Olivia Lunemann 28-3.25, Sebrina Bradford 25-1); 4. Salem 52-9 (Ava Rodgers 29-5, MarJziah Bundy 23-10.5)
Discus: 1. Pennsville 200-8 (Tatiyonna Crawford 113-7, Rolande Delva 87-1), 2. Schalick 198-0 (Sebrina Bradford 110-4, Olivia Lunemann 87-8)
Javelin: 1. Schalick 181-11 (Navaeh Robinson 101-5, River Wojcik 80-6); 4. Salem 142-4 (MarJziah Bundy 71-11, Gabriella Johnson 70-5); 5. Pennsville 121-11 (Devon Sebell 71-0, Izzy Saulin 50-11)
Long Jump: 1. Salem 29-6.75 (Ramiyah Jones 15-4, Jaryn Weathers 14-2.75); 2. Pennsville 26-0.25 (Sophie Bohn 13-0.25, Annabella Manning 13-0); 4. Schalick 22-2 (Emma O’Neill 11-3, Lailani Hernandez 10-11)
Triple Jump: 1. Salem 63-0.75 (Ramiyah Jones 32-11.5, Brooklynn Jackson 30-1.25)
High Jump: 1. Florence 9-2; 2. Pennsville 9-0 (Kallie Morrison 4-8, Aubrey Manorowitz 4-4); 3. Schalick 8-6.25 (Navaeh Robinson 4-4.25, Jillian Wriggins 4-2); 4. Salem 8-6 (Zyonnah Forman 4-4, Carlysia Pierce 4-2)

BOYS
Team scores: Audubon 130, SALEM 86, Clayton 47, Florence 44, Pitman 42, Bishop Eustance 29, PENNSVILLE 12, Buena 8
4×1600: 1. Audubon 19:47.64; 4. Salem 22:05.72(Jean-Pierre Pozo IV, Gavin Cronrath, Andrew Dale, Dominic Finfinger)
400 Hurdles: 1. Evan Calhoun, Audubon 59.45; 2. Timoth Gregory, Salem 1:02.42; 3. Jerry Seals, Salem 1:02.54
800 SMR: 1. Audubon 1:38.72
4000 DMR: 1. Audubon 11:30.11; 3. Salem 12:47.08 (Andrew Dale, Gavin Cronrath, Joshua Gilbert, Jean-Pierre Pozo IV)
4×200: 1. Salem 1:32.39 (Xavier McGriff, Timothy Gregory, RaShar Stevenson, Jameek Clayton); 5. Pennsville 1:40.60 (Marcus Forman, Danny Knight, Carter McGlinn, Lyriq Turner)
4×110 SHR: 1. Audubon 1:12.98; 2. Salem 1:13.77 (Gradin Buzby, Jerry Seals, Pierre Taylor-Gresham, Timothy Gregory)
4×800: 1. Audubon 8:46.12; 4. Salem 9:45.94 (Joshua Gilbert, Gavin Cronrath, Andrew Dale, Dominic Finfinger)
4×100: 1. Clayton 44.58; 2. Salem 44.78 (Jameek Clayton, Timothy Gregory, Xavier McGriff, RaShar Stevenson); 5. Pennsville 49.08 (Carter McGlinn, Chase Johnson, Marcus Forman, Willie Forman)
FIELD EVENTS
(Top individual finishers)
Shot Put: 1. Jailon Fletcher-Wilson, Salem 45-11; 2. Connor Wariwanchik, Pennsville 42-2; 4. Jermiah Robinson, Salem 38-9
Discus: 1. Dylan Hoff, Audubon 121-5; 2. Giovanni Traini, Salem 106-7
Javelin: 1. Noah Battillo, Audubon 114-7; 5. Javion Sydnor, Salem 99-5; 6. Jacob Kimani, Pennsville 94.5
Long Jump: 1. Leaire Williams, Florence 19-8.75; 5. Jerry Seals, Salem 18-9
Triple Jump: 1. Jeremiah Carroll, Florence 42-1.50; 3. Donovan Weathers, Salem 37-5.75; 4. Jerry Seals, Salem 35-7
High Jump: 1. Donovan Weathers, Salem 6-0; 3. Kaden Robinson, Salem 5-8
Pole Vault: 1. James Moran, Audubon 10-6

DIVISION TWO
GIRLS
Team scores: West Deptford 102, WOODSTOWN 86, Glassboro 46, Gloucester City 44, Eastside Camden 35, Gateway 30, Camden 26, Camden Catholic 12
4×1600: 1. Woodstown (Annika Dubler, Kiera Porch, Arianna Mott, Abby Marino) 25:27.09
400 Hurdles: 1. Woodstown 2:35.17 (Lia Covely 1:13.09, Abby Marino 1:22.08) 
800 SMR: 1. West Deptford 1:55.76; 5. Woodstown (Kamiyah Brunson, Maria Holmes, Annabel Laford, Krysten Dussault) 2:15.08
400 DMR: 1. West Deptford 14:49.38; 2. Woodstown (Annika Dubler, Arianna Mott, Kiera Porch, Abby Marino) 14:51.06
4×200: 1. Eastside Camden 1:52.14; 4. Woodstown (Krysten Dussault, Kamiyah Brunson, Maria Holmes, Lia Covely) 1:59.51
4×100 SHR: 1. Gateway 1:16.28; 4. Woodstown (Lia Covely, Kami Casiano, Kailyn Kennedy, Arianna Mott) 1:24.75
4×800: 1. Camden Catholic 10:48.64; 3. Woodstown (Kyrsten Dussault, Arianna Mott, Lia Covely, Abby Marino) 11:28.38
4×100: 1. West Deptford 53.54; 5. Woodstown (Kamiyah Brunson, Maria Holmes, Kyrsten Dussault, Annabel Laford) 57.00
Shot Put: 1. Glassboro 70-11.75; 3. Woodstown 51-0.25 (Sara Lodge 28-6.75, Nathalia Lopez 22-5.5)
Discus: 1. Glassboro 267-6, 3. Woodstown 148-4 (Sara Lodge 98-2, Nathalia Lopez 50-2)
Javelin: 1. Eastside Camden 154-3; 4. Woodstown 122-3 (Autumn Yates 68-5, Elliana Norman 53-10)
Long Jump: 1. Glassboro 28-10.75; 2. Woodstown 27-2 (Kami Casiano 13-9.50, Kailyn Kennedy 13-4.50)
Triple Jump: 1. Gateway 58-0.25; 2. Woodstown 57-0.50 (Kailyn Kennedy 28-6.50, Kami Casiano 28-6)
High Jump: 1. Woodstown 9-4 (Kami Casiano 5-0, Kailyn Kennedy 4-4)
Pole Vault: 1. Glassboro 14-6

BOYS
Team scores: WOODSTOWN 93, Glassboro 68, Gloucester City 61, Gateway 51, West Deptford 48, Overbrook 41, Camden 36, Haddon Heights 24, Camden Catholic 12.
EVENTS
4×1600: 1. Woodstown 19:40.03 (Jacob Marino, Torsten Duva, Pacey Hutton, David Farrell).
400 Hurdles: 1. Zacchaeus Harrigan, Glassboro 1:01.04
800 SMR: 1. Overbrook 1:34.51; 2. Woodstown 1:34.87 (Kyle Reitz, Ricky Watts, Karson Chew, Josh Crawford)
4000 DMR: 1. Glassboro 11:13.87; 2. Woodstown 11:33.86 (Michael Turner, Pacey Hutton, Nicholas Law, Matthew Melniczuk)
4×200: 1. Camden 1:31.52; 3. Woodstown 1:33.10 (Anthony Costello, Kyle Reitz, Ben Lippincott, Elijah Caesar)
4×110 SHR: 1. Glassboro 1:11.60; 5. Woodstown 1:27.03 (Riley Smith, Lucas Whitacre, Jackson Perry, Michael Turner)
4×800: 1. Woodstown 8:16.00 (Jacob Marino, Daniel Farrell, Karson Chew, John Crawford)
4×100: 1. Camden 43.89; 4. Woodstown 45.54 (Ricky Watts, Anthony Costello, Ben Lippincott, Kyle Reitz)
FIELD EVENTS
(Top individual finishers)
Shot Put: 1. Aidan Taulane, Woodstown 45-1.25
Discus: 1. Aidan Taulane, Woodstown 145-7; 6. Patrick Patterson, Woodstown 112-1
Javelin: 1. Greg Harris, Gloucester City 138-9, 3. Noah Chiu, Woodstown 128-4
Long Jump: 1. Jaiden Mitchell, Overbrook 21-4; 3. Andrew White, Woodstown 20-0
Triple Jump: 1. Marley Crowl, Glassboro 40-7; 3. Elijah Caesar, Woodstown 37-9.75; 4. Andrew White, Woodstown 37-8
High Jump: 1. Andrew White, Woodstown 5-10; 3. Elijah Caesar, Woodstown 5-6
Pole Vault: 1. Greg Harris, Gloucester City 10-0

DIVISION THREE
GIRLS
Team scores: Kingsway 136, Cherry Hill West 64, Millville 53, Highland 49, Seneca 25, Bridgeton 24, Atlantic City 17, Pleasantville 14
BOYS
Team scores: Highland 97, Millville 86, Kingsway 72, Washington Twp. 64, Seneca 46, Cherry Hill West 45, Pemberton 20, Camden Tech 2

Bridgeton Relays

BRIDGETON – Schalick’s boys used their deep balance and an MVP performance by David Stewart’s to win the Division I title in the historic Bridgeton Relays.

The Cougars won one overall race and four Division I events to score 88 points and edge Woodbury by four.

“It’s always hard to gauge where you stand since field events don’t fully update until the end,” Schalick coach James Turner said. “Our focus was just making sure we had someone in every event to give ourselves a shot. Even in events where we finished fourth or fifth we still picked up key points. Those points ended up being the difference.

“I told the guys carry yourselves like you’ve been here before. We expect to win and we wanted to show the rest of the field that we’re still the team to beat.”

At the top, the Cougars won in the 1600 shuttle medley relay with Stewart (400), Dezyun Purnell (200), Jacob Carter (200) and Steve Chomo (800) hitting the tape in 3:46.65. Chomo closed a 20-meter gap down the stretch to nip Mainland Region (3:46.70) at the wire.

The Cougars also were the top Division I team in the triple jump and 110 shuttle hurdle relay. In addition to running legs on the SMR and SHR, Stewart was second overall in the 400 hurdles and fourth overall in the long jump.

Among their other top individual performances in the field events, Caleb Jenkins finished second in the pole vault and Jack Benfer was third in the discus.

BRIDGETON RELAYS
Division I team scores: SCHALICK 88, Woodbury 84, Cedar Creek 70, Middle Twp. 55, Sterling 40, Pleasantville 40, Haddon Twp. 38
Division 2 team scores: Winslow 58, Cumberland 45, Bridgeton 38, Mainland 29, Triton 22, Vineland 18.

EVENT WINNERS
(Overall race winners, Schalick in top 6)
4×1600: 1. Sterling 20:48.85; 6. Schalick 23:22.48
400 Hurdles: 1. Elijah Deanley, Winslow 57.49; 2. David Stewart, Schalick 58.50
4×100: 1. Winslow 43.09
4000 DMR: 1. Sterling 11:11.39; 6. Schalick 12:16.90
4×110 SHR: 1. Winslow 1:08.21; 2. Schalick 1:08.84
4×200: 1. Winslow 1:30.71
4×800: 1. Woodbury 8:43.55
1600 SMR: 1. Schalick (David Stewart, Dezyun Purnell, Jacob Carter, Steve Chomo) 3:46.65
4×400: 1. Pleasantville 3:29.06
Shot Put: 1. Kyle Stephens, Haddon Twp. 47-2.25; 5. Ethan McLean, Schalick 40-10
Discus: 1. Jayden Barnett, Bridgeton 199-10; 3. Jack Benfer, Schalick 117-9
Javelin: 1. Terrance Washington, Winslow 162-01; 5. Gary Simonini, Schalick 137-05
High Jump: 1. Andrew Kratee, Winslow 6-4
Long Jump: 1. Dallas Rowell, Mainland 21-11.5; 4. David Stewart, Schalick 21-5.5
Triple Jump: 1. Dereon Johnson, Cumberland 41-10
Pole Vault: 1. Bobby McIlvaine, Haddon Twp. 11-6; 2. Caleb Jenkins, Schalick 11-6

Danger, high Wattage

Red-hot Schalick catcher’s walk-off homer in tenth lifts Cougars over Overbrook; includes scores and highlights of Thursday’s Salem County sports action

THURSDAY’S SCORES
BASEBALL
Schalick 11, Overbrook 8, 10 inns.
Pennsville 16, Clayton 2, 5 inns.
Pitman 11, Salem 0, 5 inns.
Pleasantville 10, Penns Grove 0
SOFTBALL
Glassboro 21, Penns Grove 0
Pennsville 18, Clayton 1
Pitman 17, Salem 4
Schalick 13, Overbrook 4
BOYS GOLF
Woodstown 172, Cumberland 210
TENNIS
Delsea 5, Pennsville 0
Overbrook 3, Schalick 2
Timber Creek 3, Penns Grove 2
Woodstown 4, Haddon Heights 1
TRACK
Glassboro 75, Woodstown 66
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Penns Grove
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Triton 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-13, 25-13)
BOYS LACROSSE
Holy Spirit 5, Woodstown 4
GIRLS LACROSSE
Holy Spirit 13, Woodstown 9

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE — It is not “normal baseball” they play when Overbrook and Schalick get together on the diamond, but one thing that is normal is the way Ricky Watt has been delivering for the Cougars this season.

The teams have played some of the craziest games their coaches can remember since they’ve been involved in the series, a series that has had triple plays, big plays, big hits and walk-offs – and they added another crazy chapter to it Thursday.. 

Schalick walked it off 11-8 on Watt’s three-run homer with none out in the bottom of the tenth, but not before Overbrook rallied twice to force extra innings and cut down the game-winning run at the plate to complete a ninth-inning-ending double play to extend the game or the Cougars made two nice plays in the infield late to keep the Rams at bay.

Is that crazy enough for you?

“At our place it’s usually not as crazy, but at their place it’s … never a normal game, let’s put it that way,” Schalick coach Sean O’Brien said. “Luckily we’ve come out on top.

“The games are always tight, especially at their place. It’s always a back and forth. There’s always one team that’s up and the other team comes back. It’s not normal baseball I would say. Because the games are always tight, I can’t even say we’ve won this many games (in the series). I don’t even know, but I know the games are always competitive.”

Wyatt Cushane led off the Cougars’ winning rally by reaching on an error and leadoff man Evan Sepers drew a walk. Overbrook coach Greg Himes passed on the idea of putting Watt on to load the bases because there were equally dangerous hitters behind him. Jamari Whitley already had two hits and Bo Schalick was 4-for-5 with four RBIs.

Watt fouled off the first pitch, then brought the game to a dramatic close with his homer to center.

“I was just trying to hit the ball hard,” he explained. “There were guys in scoring position, I was just trying to put a ball in play. I got a little jammed, I didn’t get all of it. We’ve got a pretty big field. I didn’t think it was going to go out, but I guess I just got enough of it.

“I’d say my home run against Woodstown last year (in the Elmer Classic), that was probably my favorite one so far, but this one’s coming a close second.”

The energy Watt brings to the Cougars is, well, electric. The latest blast was his fourth homer in five games this season (in 16 at bats) and the third game in a row he’s gone yard. The junior catcher, who wears No. 5, had five hits and five RBIs in the game – both career highs – and is now batting .812 for the season (13-for-16) with 14 RBIs and a slugging percentage of 1.750.

The Cougars are 7-1 all-time in games Watt homers.

“It’s funny, last year he would get overlooked because we had Luke (Pokrovsky) last year,” O’Brien said. “People don’t realize how good of a player Ricky really is. 

“He’s come into the season locked in. He’s looked good all preseason, during practices, during games; he’s just consistent. He was already a good player, but he just worked so much harder to be where he’s at. I’m kind of surprised how hot he is, I thought he might cool down a little bit, but he’s such a good player I think he’s going to be pretty consistent this year.”

The Cougars thought they had the winning run an inning before Watt’s heroics. Courtesy runner Will Sieminski was on third with one out after he was sacrificed over following Cole Hartley’s leadoff double. Mason Hollywood lofted a fly to a drawn-in outfield that Chase Terramagra caught in medium centerfield. Sieminski tagged, but Terramagra’s throw came straight through without a relay and catcher Connor McNally reached back up the line to tag the runner for the final out of the inning.

“We were selling out on that right there,” Himes said. “That was a do-or-die situation. We brought them up in that situation. If you look at the book before that, he’s the kid who lined out to end that inning. He’s young and I thought what a good learning experience for him. He was in his feels a little bit and we told him you’d have to make a play. What a good learning experience for him to know I did what I could do, the kid made a great play, now I have to go make a better one. That’s gonna pay dividends for us in the long run. It’s about the playoffs.”

Cushane robbed Terramagra of a potential go-ahead RBI in the top of the inning with a lunging snag to the glove side to end the inning with runners at first and second. 

The Rams, who suffered a late-inning loss at Pennsville earlier in the week, rallied twice to tie the game. They were down 6-2 when Schalick starter Whitley left the mound, then scored four in the sixth to tie it the first time. Whitley gave up two hits and struck out 10 in his five innings.

The Cougars retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth on Whitley’s sacrifice fly and Bo Schalick’s third RBI hit of the game, then Overbrook retied it with two from the bottom of the lineup off Hartley in the seventh. The Rams scored the tying run on a squeeze bunt by Frank McLaughlin the looked like it might go foul, but hit a bump in the skin infield and stayed in play.

“That’s Overbrook baseball,” Himes said of his team’s resiliency. “Since I’ve been here seven years it’s the way that we like to play. It’s who we are as a town, it’s who we are as a personality.

“We have a young group. The past couple years we had a playing group that played together since they were probably 8 years old. This playing group is really figuring out the speed of the game. It’s great to see us executing on stuff early on.”

Hartley didn’t allow another run and only one hit after McLaughlin’s game-tying squeeze. That’s the element that stands out to the game’s hero.

“I wouldn’t have hit that ball if Cole didn’t keep us in the game,” Watt said. “I think that’s probably the biggest highlight.”

Overbrook catcher Connor McNally (lower photo) reacts after putting the tag on Schalick’s Will Sieminski to deny the potential winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. (Top photo) Ricky Watt celebrates his winning three-run walk-off homer in the tenth.

PENNSVILLE 16, CLAYTON 2: Logan Streitz had a pair of two-run doubles in a 10-run first inning and Jeff Wagner hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs. Dante Cummings went 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

Logan Cowperthwait started and gave the Eagles (4-0) four shutout innings before giving way to Grady Sanders in the fifth. Cowperthwait gave up one hit, a first-inning single, and struck out five.

PITMAN 11, SALEM 0: Liam Bailly spun a five-inning one-hitter, striking out seven and facing three batters over the minimum. After giving up a walk in the first inning, Bailly retired nine in a row until Troy Carey singled to right with two outs in the fourth.

The Panthers took control with an eight-run second inning, capped by Steven Clifford’s two-run double. Clifford had two hits and three RBIs.

PLEASANTVILLE 10, PENNS GROVE 0: Joseph DeLaCruz and Edriarlyn Caraballo held Penns Grove to two singles. Liam Irvin and Angel Maldonado had the Red Devils’ two hits.

Softball

PENNSVILLE 18, CLAYTON 1: The Eagles erupted for 10 runs in the first inning and cruised to their second straight win. The heart of the Eagles’ lineup — Graillyn Weber, Kylie Harris, Avery Watson and Kenzie Widener — were a combined 10-for-12 with 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored. Weber and Watson both had three hits. Three Pennsville pitchers combined to hold the Clippers to five hits.

SCHALICK 13, OVERBROOK 4: The Cougars overcame a 2-1 deficit with six runs in the fourth inning to remain undefeated. A Seven players had multiple hits and three had multiple RBIs as the Cougars remained undefeated. AAAA Lauglin led the assault with three hits, including a pair of RBI singles in the fourth-inning rally. Liv VanAcker, Paige Sparks, Khloe McGrath, Alex Shimp, Emma Cain and Kassidy Sickler had two hits apiece.

PITMAN 17, SALEM 4: The Panthers took control with 13 runs in the second inning. Emery Sharpnack had three hits and two RBIs, while Kendall Bennett had two hits and three RBIs.

GLASSBORO 21, PENNS GROVE 0: Scarlett Saicic went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two Glassboro pitchers combined to hold the Red Devils to one hit.

Tennis

DELSEA 5, PENNSVILLE 0
Zeph Kell (D) def. Sawyer Humphrey, 6-2, 6-1
Eli Croce (D) def. Lucas Cooksey, 6-3, 6-3
Zach Natalie (D) def. Carter Willis, 6-1, 6-0
Jacob Bramble-Jude Thompson (D) def. Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman, 6-1, 6-2
Marcus Salgueiro-Thomas Maronski (D) def. Ian Peacock-Matthew Forino, 2-6, 7-5, 10-6
Records: Delsea 5-0, Pennsville 3-4

OVERBROOK 3, SCHALICK 2
Connor Kustera (O) def. Gabe McFeeley, 6-1, 6-0
Gabe Martinez (O) def. Reece Loatman, 6-4, 6-1
Colin Campbell (O) def. Tyr Brattlie, 6-1, 6-2
No doubles reported.
Records: Overbrook 3-1, Schalick 3-2

TIMBER CREEK 3, PENNS GROVE 2
Kyle Clark Blanding (TC) def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-3, 6-1
Adam He (TC) def. Anthony Pacheco, 6-2, 6-2
Juan Ortiz-Adam Gonzalez (PG) def. Gabriel Castro-Keenan King, 6-2, 6-4
Jesus Arredondo-Rene Ruiz (PG) def. Shawn Allen-Stephen Fehon, 6-0, 6-0
Only matches reported.
Records: Timber Creek 2-1, Penns Grove 1-1

WOODSTOWN 4, HADDON HEIGHTS 1
Owen Peakes (HH) def. Drew Stengel, 6-2, 6-2
Mason Shimp (WO) def. Gavin Ewing, 6-1, 6-1
Luke Shaw (WO) def. Cameron Wilson, 6-1, 6-1
Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Joe Foster-Andrew D’Amelio, 6-1, 6-0
Connor Miller-Josh King (WO) def. Michael Fitter-William Zetusky, 6-2, 6-0
Records: Woodstown 4-2, Haddon Heights 1-4

Golf

WOODSTOWN 172, CUMBERLAND 210: Woodstown’s Greyson Hyland won medalist honors with a 42 that included back-to-back birdies on Holes 6 and 7 at Town & Country Golf Links. Teammates Jack Bucksar and Logan Jones both shot 43.

WOODSTOWN: Jack Bucksar 43, Greyson Hyland 42, Nate Valente 44, Logan Jones 43; Alejandro Vazquez 46, Lucas Fulmer 46.
CUMBERLAND: Cristian Godinez 52, Joseph Nolan 45, Giuseppe Impellizzeri 55, Thomas Marguglio 58; Brian Feliciano 60

Boys lacrosse

HOLY SPIRIT 5, WOODSTOWN 4: Connor Haney and Bob Waddington scored two goals apiece, but the Wolverines fell to remain winless. Nehemiah Carter was credited with two assists.

Girls lacrosse

HOLY SPIRIT 13, WOODSTOWN 9: Taylor Lyons scored five goals and Grace Marczyk had four to hand Woodstown its first loss of the season.





Venturing out

Salem Rams get board approval to open 2026 football season in Ohio; also scores and highlights from Wednesday’s Salem County sports schedule

WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
BASEBALL
Penns Grove 21, Salem 4
Woodstown 3, Glassboro 0
SOFTBALL
Salem 23, Penns Grove 0
Woodstown 10, Gloucester Catholic 7
TENNIS
Kingsway 3, Woodstown 2
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Westhampton Tech at Salem Tech
BOYS GOLF
West Deptford 164, Woodstown 194
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Cecil 5-1, Salem CC 0-11

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – Kemp Carr is the type of coach who will play any team, anytime, anywhere, so when he came up empty going through New Jersey trying to find a Week Zero game for his Salem High School football team he went searching.

Wednesday night, the Salem City school board overwhelmingly approved a trip that will have the Rams opening their 2026 season in southwest Ohio, playing a historically strong program in a stadium that once was home to a team that would become a seminal NFL franchise.

The Rams will open their season Aug. 29 against Ironton, Ohio. The town is on the Ohio River, about eight hours from Salem, in the wedge between Kentucky and West Virginia.

The game will be played in Tanks Memorial Stadium, the original home of the Ironton Tanks, the legendary independent pro team (1919-30) that evolved into the Detroit Lions.

“I’m extremely excited for the kids having the opportunity to play other schools outside the state,” Carr said, “but also an opportunity for folks to see how we represent and play football for the state of New Jersey coming out of Salem as well as being able to give them some exposure to two colleges … so it’s a recruitable moment.”

Kemp sought out “several” in-state teams to complete the Rams’ schedule, but nothing materialized. He thought he had a game in West Virginia, but it fell through, too. He dropped an inquiry into the Ohio scheduling portal and said six responded positively within 30 minutes. He said he chose the Fighting Tigers because they were the first to respond.

The trip also will include an educational component as the team will make visits to Marshall University and Ohio University while there.

“The biggest thing for us, and it’s not just athletics, we really try to get our kids exposed to things that are outside of Salem County and outside of New Jersey and this is just another example of us being able to do that for our students,” retiring Salem principal John Mulhorn said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for them.”

The Rams are trending upward after falling on some tough times the last couple years. They had their first winning season since 2022 last year, going 6-5 and reaching the second round of the South Jersey Group I playoffs after going winless the year before.

The last time they played out of state was 2023 when a late-developing scheduling snafu had them opening the season against Allentown’s Executive Education Charter in Lafayette College’s Fisher Stadium. They hosted Conwell-Egan (Pa.) in 2018.

“We’re glad we’re going to have a Week Zero game,” Carr said. “Last year we basically got Pleasantville at the last minute. Knowing that you’re going to have a Week Zero game in April feels a lot better than you getting that game in July or the end of May. This is good stuff.

“This is something that’s happening all over the state; we’re not the only ones. There are multiple teams that are going to be playing out of state. There are some New Jersey teams going to Florida and going to Texas. We’re just happy to get on a bus and go to Ohio.”

Ironton will give them a test. The Fighting Tigers have gone 60-8 since 2021 and produced 14 Division I players the last three years, but in 2026 they will be looking to bounce back from sanctions related to what the Ohio High School Athletic Association called “serious and pervasive” recruiting violations spanning 2018-25. Among its penalties were a ban from defending the 2024 Division V state title it retained, a fine, probation (three years) and coach suspensions for 2026..

District superintendent Sommer McCorkle told Huntington, W.Va., television station WSAZ in a statement last fall there would be “systemic changes” to local policies on enrollment and transfers following the OHSAA’s investigation and findings. Trevon Pendleton was retained as the Fighting Tigers’ head coach but the school board eliminated the athletics director position he held.

Last season they were officially 8-2, but won nine games on the field before having their final game forfeited. They put up 42 points in eight of their nine wins and 55 or more in all four of their games after the loss with a single-game high of 70. They played teams from New York, Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania as well as Ohio.

The Fighting Tigers will have one game under their belt when they play the Rams. Their season opener takes place the same week Salem plays Camden in its preseason scrimmage.

“We don’t duck no smoke,” Carr said. “Iron sharpens iron and it can’t do anything but make us better one way or the other, no matter what the outcome is. We’re going to learn from it. We’re going to have an opportunity for a get-better moment. This is what you want to do. They’re extremely excited about it over there and so are we.”

SALEM RAMS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Week 0: at Ironton, Ohio
Week 1: Paulsboro
Week 2: Audubon
Week 3: at Schalick
Week 4: Overbrook
Week 5: Woodstown
Week 6: at Clayton
Week 7: at Burlington City
Week 8: at Pennsville

Baseball

WOODSTOWN 3, GLASSBORO 0: Drew Sutton’s two-run single to right in the sixth inning extended the lead and two pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout as the Wolverines avenged a walkout loss to the Bulldogs in their last game and snapped a two-game losing streak.

Sutton’s hit, his second of the game, came after Ty Coblentz and Luke Fraley opened the inning with singles. The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead in the second on Noah Williams’ two-out RBI single.

Walker Battavio pitched the first five innings of the shutout for the Wolverines. He allowed three hits, walked none and struck out seven. Freshman Talyn Priore worked the last two innings, giving up a hit and striking out one.

PENNS GROVE 21, SALEM 4: Liam Irvin had two doubles and six RBIs and was the winning pitcher as the Red Devils picked up their first win of the season.

Softball

WOODSTOWN 10, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 7: Senior Ellie Wygand’s first career homer, a two-run shot to left field, capped a five-run seventh inning that broke a 5-5 tie and lifted the Wolverines to victory. The homer came in her 188th career at-bat.

Lila Bowling got the winning rally started with a one-out double. Leah Clark singled home the go-ahead run. Another run scored on an error and Macie Moore singled home another run, setting the stage of Wygand’s homer.

SALEM 23, PENNS GROVE 0: Julliana Love hit an inside-the-park home run and Avah Brown pitched a four-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts as the Rams scored their first win of the season.

Love went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs. Her homer came in a seven-run second inning. MMMMM Johnson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Tennis

KINGSWAY 3, WOODSTOWN 2
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Aidan Shoemaker, 4-6, 6-4, 15-13
Nate Bradley (K) def. Mason Shimp, 6-2, 6-0
Jimmy Wilkes (K) def. Luke Shaw, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Shiven Shah-Nolan Steurer (K) def. Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro, 7-5, 7-5
Connor Miller-Josh King (WO) def. Aiden Barnes-Aiden Totten, 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 10-1
Records: Kingsway 4-0, Woodstown 3-2

Boys golf

WEST DEPTFORD 164, WOODSTOWN 194: Brady Cobb parlayed his local knowledge of Riverwinds Golf Club into two birdies and a 1-under-par 35 to win medalist honors and lead the Eagles to victory. Greyson Hyland posted Woodstown’s low round (42).
WEST DEPTFORD: Brady Cobb 35, Ben Perticari 39, Grayson Ryer 43, Chase Dunda 47.
WOODSTOWN: Nate Valente 50, Alejandro Vazquez 51, Greyson Hyland 42, Lucas Fulmer 51; Blake Bialecki 51, Austin Wood 56.

College softball

NORTH EAST, Md. — The Salem CC softball team split its doubleheader at Cecil College with each team’s winning pitcher delivering a gem.

Jordyn Busch threw a one-hitter as the Mighty Oaks won the nightcap 11-1 to earn the split. Cecil won the opener 5-0 with Taylor Stapleford spinning a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts

The only hit Busch allowed in the five-inning nightcap was a one-out single in the second inning. She gave up an unearned run, walked three and struck out six.

Lilly Peverelle, J.J. Aguirre and Emme Witter all had a pair of hits for the Mighty Oaks. Aguirre and Sawyer Simmons both drove in a pair of runs.

The no-hitter in the opener was Stapleford’s second of the season. The only balls the Mighty Oaks put in play against her were Peverelle’s ground out in the sixth inning and Savannah Palverento’s bunt to the pitcher in the seventh. She retired the last 13 batters she faced.

Keeping track

Here’s a report on former Salem County prep players playing baseball and softball on the college level; will be updated every Monday; anyone missing? send additional players to al.muskewitz@gmail.com

Baseball

PLAYERSCHOOLGPBAHHRRBI
Elijah Crespo, Penns GroveRCSJ-Cumb9.200303
Lucas D’Agostino, SchalickRCSJ-Cumb8.000001
Andrew Pedrick, WoodstownHarford CC17.40722223
Lucas Prendergast, WoodstownYork25.43839217
Jarrett Pokrovsky, SchalickPenn23.2762418
Terrell Robinson, SalemRosemont13.267805
Jackson Schalick, SchalickFrostburg30.42341434
Caiden Spinelli, WoodstownRosemont18.27815010
Connor Starn, PennsvilleKeystone7.000002
Rocco String, WoodstownSalem CC20.25016319
Chase Swain, WoodstownLaSalle32.35243427
Mike Valente, WoodstownSalem CC5.000200
Brent Williams, WoodstownG-Beacom16.23714212
PITCHERSCHOOLGPW-LERAIPK
Evan Biddle, SalemFrostburg61-08.536.14
Lucas D’Agostino, SchalickRCSJ-Cumb42-13.4321.020
Ben Foote, WoodstownCaldwell41-118.903.11
Jack Holladay, WoodstownNeumann30-15.147.05
Peyton O’Brien, PennsvilleHarford CC50-00.008.17
Luke Pokrovsky, SchalickPenn100-013.5012.012
Terrell Robinson, SalemRosemont20-06.754.02
Caiden Spinelli, WoodstownRosemont10-00.001.01
Rocco String, WoodstownSalem CC20-113.502.03
Mike Valente, WoodstownSalem CC42-17.8015.08
Luke Wood, PennsvilleMcDaniel73-15.8329.125
Frostburg’s Jackson Schalick (Schalick) was named MEC Player of the Week after batting .533 with three doubles and six RBIs during a 5-0 week.

Softball

PLAYERSCHOOLGPBAHHRRBI
Emily Holladay, WoodstownHartwick3.273301
Tulana Mingin, WoodstownEast Stroudsburg32.3213404
Ava Ortiz, SalemSalem CC10.286202
Savannah Palverento, PennsvilleSalem CC22.37518118
Lilly Peverelle, PennsvilleSalem CC24.52137324
Bella Rappa, PennsvilleSalem CC21.47225025
Cayla Sbrana, SchalickRCSJ-Cumb9.261604
Sawyer Simmons, PennsvilleSalem CC15.172615
NOTE: Tulana Mingin has 19 runs and is 15-18 in stolen bases
PITCHERSCHOOLGPW-LERAIPK
Savannah Palverento, PennsvilleSalem CC100-09.4513.116
Cayla Sbrana, SchalickRCSJ-Cumb41-310.3321.07
Raegan Wilson, SalemSalem CC116-36.5738.130

Top photo: Tulana Mingin (Woodstown) (4) is batting .321 with 24 runs and 15-of-18 in stolen base attempts for East Stroudsburg.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 6-11

MONDAY, APRIL 6
BASEBALL
Rancocas Valley at Schalick, 10 a.m.
GIRLS GOLF
Schalick vs. Cumberland, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Pennsville at West Deptford, 11 a.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Cinnaminson at Woodstown, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 7
BASEBALL
Schalick at Clayton, 10 a.m.
Overbrook at Pennsville
Winslow at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Glassboro
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Schalick, 10 a.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
BOYS GOLF
Cumberland at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Overbrook, Town & Country, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Pitman, Pitman GC, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
Schalick vs. Williamstown, Scotland Run GC, 2:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Mainland at Schalick, 10 a.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Clearview at Woodstown
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Clearview
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Brookdale, 3:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
BASEBALL
Clearview at Pennsville
Glassboro at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Salem
SOFTBALL
Salem at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic
TENNIS
Kingsway at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
BCIT at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS GOLF
Woodstown vs. West Deptford, RiverWinds, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Cecil, 2 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9
BASEBALL
LEAP at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Schalick
Pleasantville at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Clayton
Salem at Pitman
Salem Tech at Wildwood Catholic
SOFTBALL
LEAP at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Clayton at Pennsville
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Pitman at Salem
Schalick at Overbrook
BOYS GOLF
Schalick vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Cumberland, Town & Country, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Pennsville at Delsea, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Timber Creek
Schalick at Overbrook
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
TRACK
Overbrook at Schalick, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Glassboro
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Triton, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Holy Spirit at Woodstown
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Holy Spirit

FRIDAY, APRIL 10
BASEBALL
Haddon Heights at Pennsville
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Collingswood
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 10 a.m.
Glassboro at Woodstown
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Haddon Heights
Salem Tech at Haddonfield, 4:15 p.m.
TENNIS
Pennsville at Kingsway
Woodstown at Deptford
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Raritan Valley, 1 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 11
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Haddon Twp., 11 a.m.
BOYS TRACK
Pennsville, Salem, Woodstown at West Deptford Relays, 9 a.m.
Schalick at Bridgeton Relays, 9 a.m.
Woodstown at Univ. of Delaware
GIRLS TRACK
Woodstown at Univ. of Delaware
Pennsville, Salem, Schalick, Woodstown at West Deptford Relays, 9 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Middlesex (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Delaware Tech at Salem CC, noon

Confident Cougars find a way

Schalick ends four years of frustration against its archival, uses big inning, inspired play by freshmen to take down Woodstown

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Pennsville 5, Pitman 1
Gloucester Catholic 19, Salem 0
Schalick 9, Woodstown 6

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – The players on the Schalick softball team, veterans and newcomers alike, had been looking forward to Wednesday’s game with Woodstown for 10 months, ever since that bitter 3-1 loss in the South Jersey Group I quarterfinals.

In their offseason workouts. In their preseason practices. Even in the hallways during the school day, in the final hours before the game, the meeting with their rivals was on their minds.

With that singular focus guiding their play, the Cougars willed their way to an historic 9-6 win over the Wolverines Wednesday.

“I think me and a few of my teammates have been hyped this whole year, talking about it all year, how we were going to come back and get it and get revenge for how it ended last year,” infielder Liv VanAcker said. “Last year was such a good team and we were so close. And then talking to the previous graduates they were like you’ve gotta get this for us, and that motivated us even more.

“Throughout the school day we were hyped in the hallways, talking to each other, hyping each other us. The bus ride here was hype and when we got here we knew we were just going to get it.”

VanAcker, the second baseman in the middle of one of the biggest plays in last year’s playoff game, delivered two hits and three RBIs and freshman Kaylee Broglin provided seven strong innings in her first varsity start to lead the attack.

It was Schalick’s first win over the Wolverines in coach Rick Higinbotham’s four seasons and its first in the series since May 6, 2021, snapping a 11-game losing streak.

“It’s been a long time coming, but it feels good,” Higinbotham said. “It’s important because it’s a division win. I was telling the girls we need to stack division wins. Glassboro earlier in the week was a division win and then this one, so we need to keep stacking division wins. So it’s important. I wouldn’t say playoff-level important, but it’s important. Satisfying, very much.”

VanAcker had an RBI double in the third inning when the Cougars (2-0) took a 3-0 lead and a two-run single in the five-run fourth that gave them control of the game.

They sent 10 batters to the plate in the big inning. After a leadoff out, the next seven hitters all reached safely. Noelani Whitley single home the first run and kept the bases loaded. VanAcker cleared the bases with her single and accompanying error and she scored on Khloe McGrath’s single.

“I was looking for that pitch,” VanAcker said of her single. “I was ready for it and I saw it coming in.”

“I told the girls to go up with a plan and they all had a plan that inning,” Higinbotham said.

Broglin was told she was starting against the Cougars’ biggest rival the day before and responded by scattering six hits and striking out five. The first three hitters she faced reached to load the bases, but she got out of it with back-to-back strikeouts and an inning-ending ground out. The Wolverines threatened or scored in every inning but the sixth against her, but she never let it faze her.

“It was every opportunity,” she said. “I felt like (Higinbotham) really had faith in me that I could help them win. Especially because we hadn’t won against them in a while it just felt like a great opportunity for me to prove myself and show them that I’m capable of taking on teams like this.

“It made me think I really have to do good, I have to push myself and dig deep not just for me but for my team, too, because I know how much this means to everyone. It felt like I did really good and that I earned my spot.”

Broglin was one of four freshmen starters in the lineup who Higinbotham said “are contributing and doing well.” Designated hitter Noelani Whitley had three hits at the top of the order. Third baseman Paige Sparks had two hits and was one base three times. And second baseman Khloe McGrath had an RBI single and reached base twice. 

The Wolverines, meanwhile, might have been in a hole after Schalick’s big inning, but they kept fighting. It was 9-4 going to the bottom of the seventh but it wasn’t over. Lila Bowling’s one-out triple made it 9-5 and courtesy runner Ella Winchell raced home on Ava White’s grounder. 

Kendall Young kept the inning alive when she beat out an infield single, allowing the tying run into the on-deck circle. But Broglin ended the threat with a game-ending pop to second.

PENNSVILLE 5, PITMAN 1: The Eagles scored three runs in the third inning with a squeeze bunt, sacrifice fly and RBI single to take the lead and Graillyn Weber scattered five hits and struck out five.

Lily Edwards, Weber and Kenzie Widener all had two hits for the Eagles (2-0). Edwards and Weber got the third-inning rally started with a single and double, respectively. Kylie Harris squeezed the first run home, Weber rode home on Avery Watson’s sacrifice fly and Widener singled home Harris.

They extended the lead with two in the seventh. Weber had an RBI double and another run scored on an error.

Before the game, catcher Harris announced her commitment to Division III Shenandoah (Va.) University. She chose the Hornets over Salem CC and had offers from Ramapo and RCSJ-Cumberland.

“I think it was because the area and the coaches and the girls,” Harris said. “When I went on the phone and talked with coach (Olivia) Scarbrough, I could tell from the start she was someone I wanted to be coached by and wanted to be around for the next four years. When I went down to visit I had an opportunity to have lunch with all the girls. They’re so wonderful, so amazing.”

One of her travel ball teammates and the daughter of her travel team coach also are committed to play there.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 19, SALEM 0: The Rams bounced back from their loss at Pennsville with four-inning no-hitter by Shaili Monaghan. She walked one and struck out nine. Riley Friend drove in five runs to lead the offense.

‘First of many more’

Salem Tech scores its first baseball win in school history in rout of Lindenwold; includes reported scores and highlights from Monday’s Salem County sports calendar


BASEBALL
Salem Tech 24, Lindenwold 2
Schalick 5, Glassboro 0
Wildwood 26, Salem 2
Woodstown 15, Penns Grove 2
GOLF
Gloucester Catholic 170, Salem Tech 208
Woodstown 187, Pennsville 222
Schalick 164, Wildwood 245
Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Penns Grove 4, Glassboro 1
Pennsville at Wildwood
Schalick 3, Clayton 2
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Highland 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-19, 25-15)
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at St. Joseph
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown 18, Cedar Creek 11

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

LINDENWOLD — Sometime during the course of the day Tuesday, the players on the Salem Tech baseball team are going to pass around a shiny new baseball that each will sign his name until there’s no space for another. When the last player has signed one of them is going to take that baseball and run it back up to the school where it will be set in a place of honor for posterity.

The Chargers made history Monday afternoon. They won the first game in their baseball program’s history, routing Lindenwold 24-2.

“Being the first coach is an honor and getting the first win’s an honor,” head coach John Helsel said. “I’m so happy for all the kids and for Mr. Swain (superintendent Jack Swain) because I know he really loves baseball. I’m glad I could get us our first of many more to come, I believe.”

Jaxon Raymond was credited with the inaugural win. He pitched the first four innings, giving up one hit and striking out 10. Jack Beal pitched the fifth, giving up one hit and striking out the side.

Raymond didn’t give up a hit until the fourth, faced only two over the minimum through the first three innings and struck out the side twice.

“I would say (he pitched) good, just from the amount of strikes I threw (43 in 82 pitches) and how fast I got out of innings,” Raymond assessed. “JI felt I wasn’t going to do good and started a little flat, (but) halfway through the first inning just more strikes were coming through the zone.”

“He was a little shaky in the beginning, but once he got his command down he was good,” Helsel said. “He had a little trouble with that mound – it was a little rough where they were landing – but once he got used to it, he was all right.”

The Chargers (1-1), who lost their inaugural game 13-0 at Cumberland, were as prolific in this game as they were in winning their two preseason scrimmages. They banged out 14 hits and took advantage of 12 walks and seven Lion errors. Cooper Coles went 3-for-5 with five RBIs. Chase Pompper had two hits and three RBIs. Lucas Clement had two hits and two RBIs, and Shamus Smith and Raymond had two hits apiece.

Take away the 10-run first inning of the Cumberland game and the Chargers have outscored their opponents 24-5 over their last nine innings.

“They showed me they bounced back and didn’t let that (Cumberland) game bother them,” Helsel said. “We played well. We had some real good hits. We were sound defensively.”

Pompper scored the first run in school history when he raced home on Coles’ inaugural RBI single after reaching on an error and going all the way to third on a passed ball. Coles scored on Clement’s RBI single. Clement scored on a wild pitch and Harris’ sacrifice fly made it 4-0. They added four more in the second and then broke it open with 11 in the third.

The Chargers also gunned down their first runner attempting to steal when freshman catcher Logan Hearn nailed Julius Hammond trying to steal second in the second inning.

This Chargers play their first home game in school history Thursday against Wildwood Catholic.

Salem Tech (1-1)44(11)05-24141
Lindenwold (0-3)10010-227
WP: Jaxon Raymond. LP: Aidan Ryan.

SCHALICK 5, GLASSBORO 0: Ricky Wattt went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and starting pitcher Jamari Whitley threw 3 2/3 innings of no-hit ball with eight strikeouts to lead Schalick over Glassboro, 5-0, Monday.

Cole Hartley broke a scoreless tie with a two-run single in the third. Watt doubled the lead with a two-run double in the fourth. Evan Glaspey’s grounder to short produced the Cougars’ fifth run. Evan Sepers had two hits for the Cougars.

Three Schalick pitchers held the Bulldogs to two hits and struck out 13. Whitley faced 15 batters and threw 66 pitches in his first start of the year. Mason Hollywood went the next 2 1/3, giving up one hit and striking out three. Mason Sanchez pitched the seventh, giving up a hit and fanning two.

The defending South Jersey Group 1 champs have given up just one run in their first two games.

Schalick (2-0)0022010-5100
Glassboro (0-2)0000000-021
WP: Jamari Whitley. LP: Ryan Newell.

WOODSTOWN 15, PENNS GROVE 2: Talyn Priore went 4-for-4 in his varsity debut, three pitchers scattered two hits and the Wolverines pulled away from a one-run game with an 11-run third inning.

Drew Sutton came on after starter Cole Begley struggled out of the gate and gave the Wolverines 2 2/3 innings of no-hit relief with five strikeouts. Stone Hassler went the final two innings without allowing a hit and fanning six of the seven batters he faced.

Eighteen Wolverines got at least one plate appearance and 14 reached base. Priore was their only batter with multiple hits. Ty Coblentz, Luke Fraley and Tommy Tucci drove in two runs apiece.

Woodstown (1-0)21(11)10-1590
Penns Grove (0-1)20000-220
WP: Drew Sutton. LP: Liam Irvin.

WILDWOOD 26, SALEM 2: Nolan Mawhinney had a two-run double and Owen Bannon a two-run single to highlight an 11-run second inning that broke the game open. The first three runs in the inning scored on bases-loaded walks.

Bannon had five RBIs in the game. Gianni Troiano went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and Trevor Triano scored six runs.

Three Wildwood pitchers held Salem to three hits, two by Jonathan Bower. The Rams scored both their runs in the fifth inning. Bower led off with a triple and scored on Izaiah Santiago’s ground out. Cole Sayers scored on a double steal.

Wildwood (2-0)2(11)643-26152
Salem (0-2)00002-2310
WP: Will Auly. LP: Rudulfo Perez.

Tennis

PENNS GROVE 4, GLASSBORO 1
Andrew Miller (G) def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-4, 7-5
Stuart Mondragon (PG) def. James Pence, 6-4, 6-4
Anthony Pacheco (PG) def. Seth Taylor, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
Juan Ortiz-Adan Gonzalez (PG) def. Nico Tsoukalis-Vincent Pasquarello, 6-0, 6-0
Jesus Arrendondo-Rene Ruiz (PG) won by forfeit
Records: Penns Grove 1-0, Glassboro 0-1
NOTE: It’s the fourth year in a row the Red Devils have won their season opener.

SCHALICK 3, CLAYTON 2
James Mai (CL) def. Gabe McFeeley, 6-2, 6-4
Tyr Brattlie (S) def. Jayden Sanchez, 6-0, 6-1
Michael Cummings (CL) def. Reece Loatman, 7-5, 7-5
Cooper Halperin-Christopher Chica (S) def. Robert Shultz-Malcolm Turpin, 6-4, 7-5
Angelo Boston-Gavin McGrath (S) def. Emmanuel Ansah-Bryne Contravo, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Schalick 2-0, Clayton 0-1.

Golf

WOODSTOWN 187, PENNSVILLE 222: The Wolverines counted three scores in the 40s at Sakima CC, led by medalist Nate Valente’s 44. Trevor Hann (49) posted Pennsville’s low round.

WOODSTOWN: Jack Bucksar 45, Nate Valente 44, Alejandro Vazquez 48, Lucas Fulmer 50; Julia Swierczynski 52, Blake Bialecki 52.
PENNSVILLE: Trevor Hann 49, Caden Thomas 52, Abigail Bohn 59, Keagan Kaminski 62; Makenna Minguez 63, Jack Haley 65.

SCHALICK 164, WILDWOOD 245: Senior Seth Fisher was bogey-free over his final six holes at Union League National and shot 2-over-par 38 to win medalist honors. Jaxon Weber and Anthony Sepers followed close behind with 41s. All six Schalick players posted rounds in the 40s.

SCHALICK: Jaxon Weber 41, Anthony Sepers 41, Seth Fisher 38, Reed Bucolo 44; Michael Nelson 44, Bradford Foster 49.
WILDWOOD: Angel Gonzalez 55, Jess Alamein 54, Sarai Salas-Lopez 66, Alex Vida’s 70, Kianely Velasquez 71.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 170, SALEM TECH 208: Medalist Chad Niederman birdied his first hole and went on to post a 2-over-par 38 at Sakima CC to lead the Lions. Teammate Zack Payne birdied his last hole and shot 41. Freshman Cohen Sutton (45) posted the Chargers’ low round.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC: Anthony Beach 44, Nicholas Kolodzey 47, Zack Payne 41, Chad Niederman 38; Emmit Kiniry 47.
SALEM TECH: Cohen Sutton 45, Thomas Conto 50, Hannah Kormann 56, Sophia Conto 57; Jonah Baynes 71.

Pennsville rallies

Eagles score 5 after a moment of reflection to rally past Gloucester Catholic in season opener, Weber fans career high 10; Woodstown no-hits Penns Grove

MONDAY SOFTBALL
Pennsville 8, Gloucester Catholic 5
Salem Tech 16, Lindenwold 5
Schalick 6, Glassboro 5
Wildwood 10, Salem 0
Woodstown 20, Penns Grove 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Between the top and bottom of the sixth inning Monday Pennsville catcher Kylie Harris, as she’s been known to do, called her teammates to a huddle in front of the dugout. Even though they trailed at the time, she told them with the ability she knows they have there still was time to pull out the game and they should try “any way you can” to make it happen, preferably in this next half inning they batted.

The Eagles answered her call, rallying for five runs in the home sixth to turn a day-long game of catch-up into an 8-5 season-opening win over Gloucester Catholic.

“We were definitely falling behind a little bit and I knew we had it in us to really get the ball rolling and after that we did,” Harris said. “I think that really gave us all a little push.”

Eagles coach Beth Jackson has been known to turn things over to her players once the game begins in recent years. She’ll give them words of encouragement and instruction in the pre-game and post-game huddles – and if anything needs to be added to the players’ moment – but once that first pitch is thrown she pretty much leaves it to them to provide the inspiration.

It’s not always the same player who delivers the message, and it doesn’t always happen in the sixth inning, but Harris, somehow, always seems to be in the middle of it.

“She does that a lot,” outfielder Kenzie Widener said. “It helps us get motivated and pumped up so we can get out of our heads and just keep firing at the ball. Even if we were down by one she would just give off this giant speech that would make us work together to win that game. I think that really got us together and helped us win.”

The Eagles needed something. They fell behind 3-0 in the first inning and trailed 5-3 going into the home sixth.

Reagan Wariwanchik got the rally started with a one-out single into right field. The Lions booted Gianna Evans’ double-play grounder to keep the inning alive and Gracie Mease loaded based with a bunt single. The next three hitters – the top of the Eagles’ talented lineup – all batted with the bases loaded and they all delivered.

Lily Edwards singled to make it 5-4. Graillyn Weber followed with a single to left to tie the game at 5. Harris gave them the lead with a sacrifice fly. And after Avery Watson walked to reload the bases, Widener, just looking to make contact to extend the lead, did just that and ripped a two-run single to make it 8-5. Widener went 3-for-4 in the game.

“It was a great comeback,” Widener said. “I think it was well deserved. We work our butts off out here. We did what we could to come back and win.”

“That’s the team I just know we are capable of being all the time and it was just so great to see the bats back,” Harris said. “I definitely think we had a little bit of nerves (because of the) first home game. I think we were just trying to get back in the groove, but that last inning, seeing that rally, it was so much fun.”

Now with a lead to protect, Weber finished off the Lions from the circle. And even when the visitors got a runner on in the seventh she didn’t flinch. Harris picked that runner off first to end the game.

Weber looked comfortable in her new role as the Eagles’ main pitcher. She gave up seven hits and hits and struck out 10, beating her career-high she established last year against the Lions (seven). After the Lions scored their three in the first, the junior struck out the side in the second and gave up just two runs and three hits the rest of the way – none over the final 2 1/3.

“I might have just thrown too much over the plate in the beginning,” she said, “but then I got used to the umpire and what his zone was and that helped.

“I’m definitely more confident this year, for sure. I’m excited to be pitching and I like it. I’m glad to be out there.”

Gloucester Catholic (0-2)3010100-562
Pennsville (1-0)010115x-8112
WP: Graillyn Weber. LP: Maddie McGinn.

SCHALICK 6, GLASSBORO 5: Freshman starting pitcher Noelani Whitley’s inside-the-park home run with one out in the sixth inning gave the Cougars a 6-4 lead and freshman Kaylee Broflin turned back Glassboro’s threat in the seventh inning after the Bulldogs put the tying run in scoring position with one out.

The Cougars broke a scoreless tie with five in the fourth. They scored the first three runs when the Bulldogs misplayed a grounder off Whitley’s bat and scored the other two on an error on a bad throw to thwart a stolen base.

“Our freshmen pitchers did a great job today,” Cougars coach Rick Higinbotham said. :They were throwing strikes and keeping the ball down in the zone. I was pleased with their performance.”

Glassboro (1-1)0000311-583
Schalick (1-0)000501x-653
WP: Noelani Whitley. LP: Gianna Askin. HR: Noelani Whitley.

WOODSTOWN 20, PENNS GROVE 0: The Wolverines opened their season by converting 14 walks and seven hit batsmen into 20 runs and three pitchers combined on a four-inning no-hitter. They already were leading 9-0 when they erupted for 11 runs in the third inning. Leah Clark, Madison Roback and Brianna Hitchner combined for the no-hitter, facing one batter over the minimum. The only two base runners they allowed reached on errors and one eventually got cut down at the plate.

Penns Grove (0-1)0000-003
Woodstown (1-0)54(11)x-2062
WP: Leah Clark. LP: Domari Torres Caraballo.

SALEM TECH 16, LINDENWOLD 5: The Chargers erupted for 10 runs in the first inning and coasted to their third victory. Shelby Drummond, Isabele Roberts and Rachel Reed drove in three hits apiece. Drummond and Roberts both had two-run doubles in the big first inning. Roberts pitched the first two innings and retired all six batters she faced, striking out five.

Lindenwold (0-1)0032-526
Salem Tech (3-1)(10)60x-1693
WP: Isabele Roberts. LP: Veronica Guardado.

WILDWOOD 10, SALEM 0: Addison Troiano went 4-for-4 with three extra-base hits and drove in five runs and Emma Contreras held the Rams to three hits while striking out 14 in six innings. Isla Bohn had all three Salem hits, singles in the first, third and fifth.

Salem (0-2)000000-034
Wildwood (1-1)3011051090
WP: Emma Contreras. LP: Avah Brown.


This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of March 30-April 4

MONDAY, MARCH 30
BASEBALL
Salem Tech at Lindenwold
Schalick at Glassboro
Wildwood at Salem
Woodstown at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
Lindenwold at Salem Tech
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Salem at Wildwood
GOLF
Woodstown vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick vs. Wildwood at Union League GC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Pennsville at Wildwood
Schalick at Clayton
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Highland at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at St. Joseph
GIRLS LACROSSE
Cedar Creek at Woodstown

TUESDAY, MARCH 31
SOFTBALL
Salem Tech at Pilgrim Academy
Sterling at Woodstown
BOYS TRACK
Penns Grove at Glassboro
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown at Clearview, 3:45 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Montgomery County, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Lackawanna, 3 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Gateway
Pitman at Pennsville
Schalick at Woodstown
Wildwood Catholic at Salem Tech
SOFTBALL
Highland at Salem Tech
Penns Grove at Paulsboro
Pennsville at Pitman
Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Woodstown
GOLF
Schalick vs. Washington Twp., Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Clearview, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Wildwood, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Clayton at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Triton at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Glassboro
BOYS TRACK
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown
GIRLS TRACK
Pennsville at Schalick, 3:45 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Glassboro
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
LEAP at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Lower Cape May
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Montgomery County at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 2
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Pleasantville, 1:30 p.m.
Wildwood Catholic at Salem Tech, 2 p.m.
Schalick at Ocean City
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
SOFTBALL
Clearview at Schalick
Highland at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
BOYS GOLF
Woodstown vs. Pitman, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Monroe-Bronx, 2 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Howard CC at Salem CC, 3 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4
SOFTBALL
Pennsville in Thunderbolt Tournament, Millville
TRACK
Salem, Schalick at Deptford Relays, 9 a.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Washington Twp. at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Mercer, noon