Accorsi puts 10 enthusiastic players through their paces on first day of Salem CC’s first-ever spring football practice
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – It was another historic day in the Salem CC football program and the best part about it was the players who went through it didn’t want it to end.
Jay Accorsi and his assistants put 10 players through their paces Monday on the first day of the first spring practice in the history of the Mighty Oaks’ fledgling program. They went through an hour and a half of introductions, indoctrinations and drills with the four coaches on the recently acquired Twins Field practice facility and when it was over the players stayed another 20 minutes to do more work on their own.
“It was awesome,” Accorsi said. “There’s a need for this junior college football program in the area. They’re all local players. I think it (the staying after) shows how much they miss football, how much this opportunity is going to provide them to do football again and go to school, and I think it just reaffirms all the things I believe in why to do this program and start it. They were just ecstatic to be out there. It was a great day.”
The group, decked out in shorts and brand-new green practice jerseys, includes defensive backs, wide receivers, two running backs, a lineman and a quarterback – players already enrolled when the program officially launched Jan. 28. Accorsi anticipates more than 80 players when the team reconvenes for its first preseason camp in the summer.
“The newness of the program certainly revealed itself with all the new stuff,” Accorsi said. “I think they were really excited and jazzed up. I think if you were to ask them they had a great time. It’s exactly what they were looking for. We’re really excited to be there.”
Spring practices will continue through the month of April.
The Mighty Oaks open their inaugural season Aug. 29 against Hudson Valley CC at Pennsville High School. They will play a preseason scrimmage at Montclair State Aug. 21.
Category: SALEM CC
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
Big jump out of the gate
Salem’s Weathers reaps the benefits of his training, PRs by six inches in winning the Deptford Relays high jump his first time out this season
SATURDAY SCORES
BASEBALL
Haddon Heights 3, Woodstown 1
SOFTBALL
Ron Vinick Tournament, Millville
St. Joseph Acad. 6, Pennsville 1
Absegami 1, Pennsville 0
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown 21, Washington Twp. 3
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Mercer 8, Salem CC 0, 6 inns.
Mercer 8, Salem CC 0, 5 inns.
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
DEPTFORD — Donovan Weathers’ coaches thought the Salem senior would PR in his first outdoor meet of the season, but the way he knocked it out of the water just blew them away.
Weathers won the boys high jump in the Deptford Relays Saturday, clearing the bar at 6-feet, 4-inches. His previous best was 5-10, but the way he’s been working in the run up to the meet that was a piece of cake and it was a just matter of how high he could take it.
“We were surprised he went 6-4, but not that he PR’d,” Rams coach David Hunt said. “We were confidently hopeful he would jump over six feet today, just because of all the jump work he’s put in.”
The jump work is a new element in his training. In the past, Hunt explained, the jumpers were getting the guidance in their specialties but didn’t necessarily have the drills to augment the instruction. Now they have someone working with them as a position coach in the guise of Hunt’s wife Rachel and Weathers has been working on his drills and technique.
“They’re getting coached hard,” Hunt said. “I’m not going to sugar-coat it, he tried to dodge a little bit of that hard work before, but now he’s running drills and doing all that … I think he sees it’s my senior year, I’ve got to invest in that and go out the right way. His ultimate goal is to be a state champion and go to nationals.”
The bespectacled 6-2 senior, a forward on Salem’s basketball team, beat four other jumpers stymied at 6-2, including Glassboro sophomore Moses Robles, who had already won the long jump and triple jump.
There were dramatic moments along the road to the win. To stay alive in the competition, Weathers needed to clear 6-0 on his third attempt. Robles entered the competition at 6-2 and needed all three attempts to clear that mark. Then all four of Weathers’ challengers XXX’d out at 6-4. Weathers nailed it on his first attempt with room to spare.
He tried 6-6 and missed all three attempts. He probably would have gotten it if he wasn’t sprinting back and forth to the triple jump pit to update Hunt on his progress.
“It’s a combination of the practice and his work ethic,” Rachel Hunt said explaining Weathers’ success. “I think he’s just dedicating himself to his craft as a senior. I think he saw the competition at indoor – he didn’t jump for indoor – and that’s driven him to push a little bit harder. He’s not just about going out there and jumping the bar. He’s really dedicated himself to doing the drills, completing the practice and, honestly, just showing up as a good motivator for the young guys.”
Among other top performances by Salem County athletes
— Schalick’s David Stewart finished second in the boys 400 hurdles (56.51) and second in the boys long jump (21-3.25). He grabbed second in the long jump on his final attempt.
— Penns Grove (3:29.87) and Salem (3:32.67) finished 3-4 in the boys 4×400 relay
— Schalick’s Ethan McLean was third in the boys discus (134-9)– Penns Grove’s Bryan Garlic was second in the boys triple jump (44-3) and fourth in the 400 hurdles (56.84)
— Pennsville’s Aubrey Manorowitz was T-2 in the girls high jump (4-10) with Sandy Henry of Washington Twp. Manorowitz, Henry, event winner Amirah Murphy of Bridgeton and Addison Chiodi of Gloucester City all cleared 4-10, but Murphy made it on her second attempt while the other three took three. All four XXX’d out at 5-0.
The top three finishers in each event are awarded medals.
DEPTFORD RELAYS
(Event winners, Salem County top 6 finishers)
BOYS
400 hurdles: 1. Kareem Brown, Deptford 54.44; 2. David Stewart, Schalick 56.51; 4. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 56.84
800 SMR: 1. Pleasantville 1:33.56
4000 DMR: 1. Vineland 11:05.74
4×100: 1. Deptford 41.93; 4. Penns Grove (Reed, Roy, White, Goodson), 43.46
400 SHR: 1. Deptford 1:00.91
4×800: 1. Deptford 8:01.75
4×200: 1. Deptford 1:27.52
1600 SMR: 1. Gloucester City 3:36.12; 5. Schalick (Chomo, Stewart, Rhynie, Carter) 3:45.23
4×400: 1. Shabazz 3:22.74; 3. Penns Grove (Garlic, White, Allah, Goodson) 3:29.87; 4. Salem (Buzby, Seals, Bergen, Gregory) 3:32.67
Discus: 1. Jack Day, Seneca 137-6; 3. Ethan McLean, Schalick 134-9; 6. Jack Benfer, Schalick 121-10
High jump: Donovan Weathers, Salem 6-4; 6. Tommy White, Penns Grove 6-0
Long jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 22-1; 2. David Stewart, Schalick 21-3.25; 4. William Roy, Penns Grove 21-1.5
Pole vault: 1. Mason Henry, Deptford 13-6; 4. Caleb Jenkins, Schalick 11-6
Triple jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 45-11.5; 2. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 44-3
Javelin: 1. Kaden Roane, Deptford 170-0; 6. Gary Simonini, Schalick 149-0
Shot put: 1. Humberto Cuellar, Eastern 53-7.5; 4. JaKai Ingram, Penns Grove 47-7.5
GIRLS
400 hurdles: 1. Natalie Dumas, Eastern 59.66
800 SMR: 1. Kingsway 1:47.61
4000 DMR: 1. Williamstown 12:37.62
4×100: 1. Winslow 47.32; 6. Salem (Massengill, Tucker, Williams, Parsons-Smith) 50.84
400 SHR: 1. Winslow 59.60
4×800: 1. Eastern 10:07.99
4×200: 1. Winslow 1:41.11
1600 SMR: 1. Winslow 4:04.46
4×400: 1. Winslow 3:57.19
High jump: 1. Amirah Murphy, Bridgeton 4-10; 2. Aubrey Manorowitz, Pennsville 4-10
Javelin: 1. Brynn Greenwood, Williamstown 106-2
Long jump: 1. Brianna Growalt, Atlantic Tech 17-10
Pole vault: 1. Brynn Greenwood, Williamstown 10-6
Shot put: 1. Hannah Nuhfer, Delsea 44-1.5
Triple jump: 1. Trinity Brapoh, Willingboro 35-0.75
Discus: 1. Hannah Nuhfer, Delsea 170-9; 4. Tatiyonna Crawford, Pennsville 109-3
Baseball
WOODSTOWN — Haddon Heights played small ball to produce three runs in the third inning and three pitchers held Woodstown to a run and struck out 10 on the way to a 3-1 victory Saturday morning.
The Garnets parlayed two bunt singles, a sacrifice, an intentional walk and two hit batsmen into their three runs. The hardest hit ball of the inning was CJ Lovelidge’s line single to right that brought home the first run.
The Wolverines got one of the runs back in the third on Chase Harding’s bases-loaded walk. They had the tying runs in scoring position with one out in the seventh, but couldn’t get them home.
Drew Sutton had three of Woodstown’s six hits, going 3-for-3.
| Haddon Heights | 030 | 000 | 0- | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Woodstown | 001 | 000 | 0- | 1 | 6 | 0 |
Softball
MILLVILLE — Pennsville scored a run in the first inning of its first game in the 41st annual Ron Vinick Tournament, but couldn’t push one across the rest of the day and lost to St. Joseph 6-1 and Absegami 1-0.
Kylie Harris’ sacrifice fly for the first out brought Lily Edwards home in the first to tie the St. Joe game, but after that the Eagles managed just five more hits. They did opened the sixth with a Harris single and Avery Watson’s double, but St. Joe reliever Elaina Portalatin struck out the next three batters to end the game.
The Eagles’ second game was a true pitchers’ duel. Pennsville’s Kelsey Cook scattered five hits and struck out two. Absegami’s Meghan Johansen allowed three hits, struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.
The game’s only run was scored in the fifth on a passed ball with two outs. The Eagles put two runners in scoring position with one out in the fifth, but Johansen got the next two batters on a strikeout and ground out to end the threat. They put the tying run in scoring position with two outs in the sixth, but couldn’t bring it home before the game clock expired.
Girls lacrosse
WOODSTOWN — Delaney Walker scored six goals and five other players scored multiple goals as Woodstown routed Washington Twp., 21-3.
Angelina Lindenmuth and Arianna Hyman each scored four goals, while Isabella Lindenmuth, Emma Morgan and Emma Perry all had two apiece.
The 21 goals were the most the Wolverines have scored in a game since a 23-10 win over Haddon Heights in April 2022.
Walker, who scored 86 goals last season, is now 22 goals shy of 200 for her career. Morgan needs one more for 100.
College softball
REGION XIX SCORES
Mercer 8-8, Salem CC 0-0
Brookdale 7-4, RCSJ-Gloucester 2-13
Northampton 14-15, Middlesex 7-10
RCSJ-Cumberland at Camden
Bergen 7-9, Ocean 4-11
Delaware Tech 5-4, Lackawanna 4-5
Raritan Valley at Morris
MERCER 8-0, SALEM CC 0-0: The second-place Vikings held the Mighty Oaks off the scoreboard in the doubleheaand to two hits in each game.
Game One was close until the Vikings walked it off with five runs in the sixth inning before anyone got out.
SCC starter Raegan Wilson kept Mercer off the board for three innings, facing one batter over the minimum, but the Vikings broke the scoreless tie with two runs on three alternating singles in the fourth and added another in the fifth. The Vikings sent eight batters to the plate in the sixth with the final two runs scoring on passed balls.
The Mighty Oaks were hitless until Lilly Peverelle’s leadoff single in the fourth. Megan Koski had their other hit, a leadoff single in the fifth.
The Vikings jumped out early in the nightcap, scoring three in the first on a steal of home, reigning GASC Player of the Week Karisa Krawiec’s solo homer and Ammonie Wertz’ RBI triple.
They add two in the third and reached the run-rule threshold with three more in the fourth.
The Mighty Oaks managed only three bases runners against Mercer pitcher Ashley Haywood. Kasen Ervin and Emme Witter had Salem’s two hits and Peverelle drew a walk.
First schedule set
Salem CC’s inaugural football season to open with three straight home games at three different county high schools
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Three home games to open the season and four in three of Salem County’s five high school stadiums highlight the “traveling road show” that will be Salem Community College’s inaugural football season.
The Mighty Oaks finally matched dates with venues to complete their eight-game first-year schedule. They’ll open the season August 29 at Pennsville High School against Hudson Valley CC. They’ll play Nassau CC at Schalick on Sept. 12 and Thaddeus Stevens at Penns Grove Sept. 19. Their final home game is Oct. 17 at Pennsville against Sussex, the only other JUCO in the state that offers football.
Athletics director Bob Hughes said “it just kind of happened” that the first three games fell at home. The Mighty Oaks wanted to play an early game at home and head football coach Jay Accorsi said they took “what we could get” in order to play “legitimate teams and both military preps.”
During the weekends the Mighty Oaks use the county high school stadiums, the high school schedule for those teams has Pennsville hosting Woodstown, Schalick visiting Woodstown, Penns Grove hosting Pitman and Pennsville is at Schalick.
“All the credit goes to Jay in terms of putting the schedule together,” Hughes said. “We had talked through a lot of the parameters and are grateful to have partners in the local high schools and be able to partner with them to bring this, as we call it, our traveling road show across the county.
“It’s exciting. It makes it feel more real, especially as we go into having our first workouts this week. It’s happening.”
Their road games are Sept. 25 at Army Prep, Oct 3 at Sussex, Oct. 23 at Navy Prep (at Annapolis) and Oct. 31 at Erie CC.
“We thought it was important to have (a home game) early on,” Hughes said. “I am very happy we have this first stretch at home to hopefully establish a little bit of presence with the community.”
SALEM CC 2026 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| DATE | TEAM | TIME | VENUE |
| Aug. 29 | Hudson Valley | TBD | Pennsville |
| Sept. 12 | Nassau | Noon | Schalick |
| Sept. 19 | Thaddeus Stevens | Noon | Penns Grove |
| Sept. 25 | at Army Prep | 6:30 p.m. | |
| Oct. 3 | at Sussex | TBD | |
| Oct. 17 | Sussex | TBD | Pennsville |
| Oct. 23 | at Navy Prep | 2:30 p.m. | Annapolis |
| Oct. 31 | Erie CC | TBD |
‘Family complete’
Rodriguez returns to the Salem CC softball team, inspires Mighty Oaks to earn a split in their doubleheader with Howard
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – It really was a good Friday for the Salem Community College softball team.
The Mighty Oaks split their Good Friday doubleheader with Howard CC, winning the nightcap 8-5 after dropping the opener 10-7, but the big takeaway was head coach Angel Rodriguez was back in the dugout for the first time since going in for heart surgery March 19.
The 29-year-old fourth-year head coach underwent triple bypass heart surgery March 24 and has been resting and recovering since. He returned to his Gloucester County home Sunday.
“It’s nice to get out, it was nice to just kind of be in the environment again and just kind of pick up where I left off,” he said. “I don’t think there was any preparation of what to say walking out there other than it was good to be back.”
“It’s like a puzzle piece is back to our big puzzle,” said freshman designated player Sawyer Simmons.
“It definitely feels like we’re back together as a family and it feels like the family is complete,” said interim head coach Mackenzie Freas said.
Simmons saw Rodriguez’ truck pull up in the parking lot and shed a tear and freshman infielder Savannah Palverento said she caught a glimpse of him from second base, but for the most part the players weren’t aware their coach was at the facility until he was announced and making his way towards the dugout between games. He watched all of Game 1 on the team’s Gamechanger page in the press box after his arrival because he didn’t want to interrupt a game in progress.
“I think it was good surprise for them,” he said.
The players and coaches exchanged hugs and tears in the outfield between games. Rodriguez spent all of Game 2 in his usual coach’s chair in the dugout where he “encouraged and managed well,” allowing his assistants to handle the in-game responsibilities as he has all season. At least one player said his presence influenced her play in the nightcap. He presented his observations to the team, as he usually does, in the post-game post-mortem, a meeting moved to around first base instead of the customary right field, no doubt to conserve his energy.
He plans to travel with the team to Saturday’s region doubleheader at Mercer and be with them the rest of the season, although restricted to limited activity. He returns to his doctor for a follow up exam April 15.
“I feel great,” he said. “This is the best I’ve felt since I had (it). I don’t know what the doctor’s cure is, but I found mine.”
“It’s just really good to see Angel back out and able to be out in some fresh air watching some softball on the road to recovery,” athletics director Bob Hughes said. “Obviously our thoughts are never far from here, especially when we’re here, and we just want him to have a speedy and thorough recovery.”
Catcher J.J. Aguirre agreed seeing Rodriguez’ walk out onto the field between games put a little more pep in the Mighty Oaks’ step in the nightcap.
“It was the voice they wanted to hear again,” Freas said.
“With him back it kind of gave us that motivation like now we’re playing for him, he’s here, we need to be better,” Palverento said.
The first game was a back-and-forth affair with two lead changes and two ties through the first three innings. The Mighty Oaks fell behind 8-6 through five, but got it back to 8-7 on Aguirre’s leadoff homer in the sixth and had the tying run in scoring position with one out. The Dragons added two insurance runs in the seventh when Jalyn Rambally ran down a tailing fly in left but couldn’t hold it in her glove.
Simmons hit the first home run of her entire life in the second inning to give the Mighty Oaks a 3-2 lead. It came in her 30th college at-bat. He didn’t have one in 121 plate appearances at-bats at Pennsville and never hit one in the Pennsville Little League.
“It was electrifying,” she said. “It lit a fire under my butt. Made me want to keep hitting more and more and just get more at bats.”
With Rodriguez comfortably in his coach’s seat, the Mighty Oaks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap, then broke a 4-4 tie with three in the fifth. Koski had an sacrifice fly, Palverento an RBI double and Tiana Wilson an RBI single in the winning rally. Palverento went 3-for-3 in the game, Koski had three RBIs and Aguirre went 4-for-4 with another home run.
Jordyn Busch gave the Mighty Oaks a complete game in the circle and was her sharpest late. After the Dragons pushed across the tying run on a throwing error with two outs in the fourth, Busch retired the next eight in a row into the seventh to give her team every chance to retake the lead.
“I have been struggling with getting out of my head a lot and I came back in the dugout and Coach Angel just told me to relax and take a deep breath and I did and just threw the ball,” Busch said. “I know how to pitch, I just had to remember that for a minute. That little reminder from him just helped set it all in. It’s different hearing it from him.”
| Howard | 112 | 220 | 2- | 10 | 11 | 2 |
| Salem CC | 211 | 021 | 0- | 7 | 9 | 4 |
| Howard | 212 | 101 | 1- | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Salem CC | 310 | 031 | x- | 8 | 13 | 2 |
Happy home opener
Heads-up base running move helps Salem Tech rally to win inaugural home baseball game, Chargers softball rallies past Highland, and more
THURSDAY SCORES
BASEBALL
Pennsville 8, Paulsboro 3
Salem Tech 15, Wildwood Catholic 9
SOFTBALL
Salem Tech 14, Highland 11
Paulsboro 19, Penns Grove 1
BOYS GOLF
Pitman 180, Woodstown 182
Schalick 165, Overbrook 204
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown 4, Pennsville 1
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC 21-20, Monroe-Bronx 0-1
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – For all the runs that scored in the game on balls put in play, the game-winning run in Salem Tech’s historic home opener Thursday was scored on a heads-up play by a runner on the base paths.
Lucas Clement caught the pitcher and catcher napping between pitches with two outs in the fifth inning of a tie game and smartly stole home to give the Chargers the lead for good in an eventual 15-9 win over Wildwood Catholic in the first home game in their baseball history.
Clement was stationed at third, having moved around the bases on a walk, stolen base and passed ball, and was studying the interaction between Crusaders catcher Ash O’Donnell and reliever Theo Margarites, who had just come into the game moments earlier. The window opened and he was gone.
“I was standing over there for a while,” the senior third baseman explained, “and I realized every time that pitcher got the ball he just never gave me any attention. As soon as he caught the ball and started walking back I realized I can get home. I didn’t know if (coach John Helsel) would be a big fan of that with it being two out, but as soon as he threw the ball back I just saw my chance and took it.
“I went on my own. I didn’t know if he was going to be happy about it, but I knew if I got home it’d be a good thing and put us by a run. He hasn’t spoken to me about it yet; he’s my trade school teacher, so we’ll see. He might never allow me to do that again.”
Quite the contrary. Helsel wants the Chargers to be aggressive. They stole 10 bases in the game, six in a five-run second inning that staked them to a 6-0 lead.
Clement’s mad dash wasn’t the only time the Chargers’ speed got them a run. Courtesy runner Brayden McAllister didn’t slow down coming around third in the second inning when Landon Haley was called safe on a close two-out play at first similar to the one that got Phillies manager Rob Thomson tossed in the first inning against Washington earlier this week. It got that five-run outburst started. And Chase Pompper scored all the way from first in the sixth inning when he stole second and the attempt to get him at second sailed into center field.
“I like putting a little pressure on them; pressured people crack,” Helsel said. “I thought (Clement’s dash) was a great heads-up play. I have no problem with that. I want to be aggressive. I tell them keep their eyes open. If they throw over, go. They’ve got to catch the ball, throw the ball and catch it again to get you. I’ll take that chance.”
The third and fourth innings nearly did the Chargers in. They had trouble fielding pop ups in the infield in the third and the miscues allowed the visitors to tie it. The Crusaders tacked on three more in the fourth to get Tech starter Bryce Harris out of the game.
The Chargers missed an opportunity to answer the Crusaders’ big tinning when they loaded the bases with three straight one-out walks, but couldn’t get the runners home. They had a threat in the fourth, too, but only got one run out of it.
Jack Beal replaced Harris on the mound for the Chargers and he gave them three innings of shutout relief. The hard-throwing right-hander four hits and struck out five. The Crusaders loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but he put out the fire with a strike out and a game-ending grounder to second.
“I was just trying to keep it so they weren’t scoring any runs and could come back and win,” Beal said. “I was a little pumped up because it was the first game at Vo-Tech so I was trying to throw a little harder. I was really trying to get the first (home) win for the team.”
The Chargers’ entire fifth-inning rally came with two outs and once they got to the top of the order. Pompper got it started by reaching on an infield throwing error that got him to second. Cooper Coles and Clement delivered RBI singles to tie it. Clement scored the go-ahead run with his dash then Harris delivered a two-run single to make it 12-9.
Coles went 3-for-3, reached base all five times he came to the plate, scored five runs and was a homer shy of hitting for the cycle.
The Chargers tacked on three more in the sixth on Pompper’s run around the bases, an RBI single by Clement and Jaxson Raymond’s RBI double.
“This was a good game because, I told them, it showed character,” Helsel said. “After the Cumberland (10-run) first inning they all started fighting. I just was worried they were going to do what they did at Cumberland (after falling behind). But they overcame that and showed character by doing that.”.
Prior to first pitch school officials commemorated the inaugural home game with superintendent Jack Swain throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. It came in a little high, but when Salem Tech supporters talk about this day years from now they’ll say it was right down the middle.
| Wildwood Catholic | 006 | 300 | 0- | 8 | 10 | 4 |
| Salem Tech | 150 | 153 | x- | 15 | 10 | 7 |
PENNSVILLE 8, PAULSBORO 3: It might not have been as impressive as the day before, but Mason O’Brien pitched out of another bases-loaded no-out situation and kept the game from getting away.
The junior left-hander came in to start the sixth inning with a 5-2 lead after starter Gavin Spears threw 72 pitches and fanned 10 through the first five. He gave up a walk, back-to-back singles and another walk to force in a run to start his outing, then struck out the next three hitters to put out the fire.
In Wednesday’s combined no-hitter against Pitman, O’Brien entered in mid-count with bases loaded and none out and got out of it with a short fly to left and two strikeouts. He got through the next inning on three pitches, an ultra-immaculate inning he called “pretty cool,” and finished with 19 pitches total, enough to tell head coach Matt Karr he wanted to pitch the next day.
“The coaches have a lot of trust in me and when they have a lot of trust in me then I believe in myself more,” O’Brien said. “I have the confidence in going out there and being capable of getting all those three outs with no one scoring or maybe one run scoring. I’m just thankful to my coaches for believing in me in those situations and allowing me to come in.”
“Mason is one of our leaders, (he’s) been starting since his freshman year,” Karr said. “There are not many other people I trust more than him. He and (Logan) Streitz are our leaders.”
The Red Raiders (0-3) had lost their first two games by a combined score of 39-3, but they led 2-1 after Kayden Weber’s open-field home run in the third. The play developed when Eagles outfielder Stevie Fatcher ran full-speed into the left field fence Aaron Howard style and chipped three teeth while the ball bounded away.
Fatcher stayed down for a while allowing Weber to round the basis. Once he got to his feet Fatcher stayed in the game and, Karr said, “gave us a big shot of energy by showing his toughness.”
The Eagles (2-0) took the lead in the bottom of the inning on Dante Cummings’ RBI single and a run-scoring error. They extended it in the fourth on O’Brien’s RBI single and Streitz’ sacrifice fly.
The Eagles answered the run Paulsboro got off O’Brien in the sixth with three in the bottom of the inning. Streitz had a two-run single and Fatcher’s sacrifice fly brought home the final run.
Cummings had three hits for the Eagles, while Spears, O’Brien and Grady Sanders each had two.
| Paulsboro | 101 | 001 | 0- | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Pennsville | 012 | 203 | x- | 8 | 12 | 0 |
Softball
SALEM TECH 14, HIGHLAND 11: Morgan Fogg and Carmen Mott hit back-to-back run-scoring doubles to highlight a six-run sixth inning rally that lifted the Chargers (5-1) to their season-best third straight win.
Fogg’s double snapped an 11-11 tie and gave the Chargers their first lead of the game. Mott followed with a two-run shot to extend the lead.
The Chargers, currently seventh in the South Jersey Group II power points standings, trailed 11-9 entering the inning. Shelby Drummond got the rally started when she circled the bases with a double and error. Claire Kier singled home Izzy Roberts to make it 11-10. Kier scored the tying run on a passed ball.
Roberts swent 4-for-4 at the plate and then set down the Tartans in order in the seventh, with two strikeouts, to close out the game.
| Highland | 141 | 311 | 0- | 11 | 12 | 3 |
| Salem Tech | 104 | 126 | x- | 14 | 11 | 1 |
PAULSBORO 19, PENNS GROVE 1: The Red Raiders erupted for 12 runs in the first inning and held Penns Grove to two hits for the game. They had only four hits, but took advantage of 15 walks. Yeneris Garcia and Nyasia Numan had Penns Grove’s two hits.
Golf
PITMAN 180, WOODSTOWN 182: Joey Zubert played his final five holes on the front nine at Town & Country Golf Links in even par to shoot a 4-over-par 39 and win medalist honors in the tight match. Jack Bucksar posted Woodstown’s low round (41).
PITMAN: Max Pappalardo 49, Jake Bowen-Ashwin 44, Joey Zubert 39, Logan Sharpnack 48, Luke Friscoll 53, Dane Collum 52.
WOODSTOWN: Jack Bucksar 41, Alejandro Vazquez 44, Logan Jones 46, Austin Wood 51; Greyson Hyland 53, Chris Porreca 54.
SCHALICK 165, OVERBROOK 204: Michael Nelson birdied his final hole to pick up two shots on the leader and share medalist honors with teammate Seth Fisher at 4-over 40. All four of the Cougars’ counters at Kresson CC were in the 40s
SCHALICK: Anthony Sepers 42, Michael Nelson 40, Seth Fisher 40, Hunter Dragotta 43; Bradford Foster 45, Dylan Sheehan 51.
OVERBROOK: Jeffrey Boyd 48, Joseph Linane 56, Mark Scott 52, Harry Cieslak 48.
Tennis
WOODSTOWN 4, PENNSVILLE 1
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Lucas Cooksey, 4-6, 6-4, 10-3
Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Mason Shimp, 7-6, 7-5, 10-3
Luke Shaw (WO) def. Carter Willis, 6-0, 6-0
Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Matthew Forino-Ian Peacock, 6-0, 6-1
Connor Miller-Josh King (WO) def. Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman, 6-1, 6-2
Records: Woodstown 3-1, Pennsville 3-2.
College softball: SCC sweeps
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — The Salem CC softball team made a long and fruitful trip to Flowers Park, sweeping Monroe-Bronx 21-0 and 20-1.
It’s the first time the Mighty Oaks (15-9) have scored 20 runs in both games of a doubleheader since the revival of the program
The Mighty Oaks pounded 26 hits in the doubleheader (12 and 14), while Raegan Wilson (three) and Emme Witter (two) scattered five hits and both struck out nine in the circle.
In the opener, Megan Koski and J.J. Aguirre both went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Lilly Peverelle homered..
The Mighty Oaks hit four homers in the nightcap. Aguirre hit two of them and had six RBIs. Witter and Tiana Wilson hit the others. Witter went 4-for-5.
The Mighty Oaks host Howard CC Friday at noon.
Staff taking shape
Salem CC adds Crowley, Troy to its football coaching staff, Accorsi designates coordinators
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Salem CC football coach Jay Accorsi has added two assistants to his coaching staff and designated coordinator assignments just in time for the start of the program’s first spring practice Monday.
Accorsi on Wednesday confirmed the appointments of Chris Crowley and Damon Troy to join previously hired Joe Dougherty as his assistants. Their contracts are expected to be ratified by the school’s board of trustees April 9.
“I think it’s the start of a really great staff, which I knew would be kind of the easier pieces to put together,” Accorsi said. “I’m super ecited for both. They’re great, great people moreso than just coaches and I know they’re going to be able to mentor our young men here in this process of being in the community college and starting up, so I’m really, really excited that both of them are joining us.”
Crowley, a former head coach at Woodrow Wilson and Deptford high schools, will serve as the Mighty Oaks’ offensive coordinator with his position specialty still to be determined. Dougherty, who has been with the program since Accorsi was approved as head coach, will be the defensive coordinator and coach linebackers. Troy, a former Penn State and Rowan player, will coach defensive backs and likely be the assistant special teams coordinator.
Accorsi will be the special teams coordinator.
“I think it’s important as the head coach that I be involved in all the players,” he said. “Even though I was enticed to be one of either the offensive or defensive coordinator, I think it’s important I get to know all the players, which, really, special teams you’re involved with all the players.”
Crowley was head coach at Woodrow Wilson (now Camden Eastside) from 2008-11 and Deptford’s coach from 2014-2016 with a year as a Paul VI assistant in between. His Woodrow Wilson teams went 21-20, winning a WJFL Independence Division title in 2011. His Deptford teams were 9-21, but each won more games than the year before.
“Chris I’ve known for a long time,” Accorsi said. “He impressed me when he was the head coach at Woodrow Wilson High School (and) personally drove a player over (to Rowan) one day later on in the recruiting process and that player ended up being a really good player for us and a great young man … so that really impressed me when I met him early on.
“I’ve known him for a long time in all his different stints and a lot of different positions he was at, but that one struck me at Woodrow Wilson. He just really impressed me in that environment that he was in that I think will be able to give him some great experience to be in the environment and young men we’re with here. He’s somebody I had on the radar early in the process and certainly it worked out.”
Troy was one of Middle Township’s all-time best quarterbacks and an all-conference defensive back for then-assistant coach Accorsi at Rowan in 1997 and 1998 after transferring from Penn State. He helped the Profs to back-to-back appearances in the Division III national title game.
“He was a great player for us,” Accorsi said. “What really impressed me about Damon when he was a player was he took a lot of younger players under his wing and really helped them in a lot of other areas besides football. He reached out to me in the process early on and had an interest getting into college coaching and I think it’s just a natural fit. He was somebody I always knew would be a great coach and had an interest in jumping in doing it. He’s going to be phenomenal.”
Accorsi said the next critical piece to building the staff is the offensive line coach and that search is continuing.
Salem CC approved bringing football to campus in November with designs on starting play this coming fall. The school recently purchased a piece of property in Carneys Point to serve as its practice field. The coaches expect about a dozen players already enrolled at school to participate in spring drills.
This story will be updated.
Tuesday sports report
Scores and highlights from Tuesday’s Salem County sports calendar; Woodstown, Salem Tech score softball wins; tough day for Salem CC baseball, softball
SOFTBALL
Salem Tech 24, Pilgrim Academy 13
Woodstown 8, Sterling 3
BOYS TRACK
Penns Grove at Glassboro
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Glassboro 0
Woodstown 5, Clearview 0
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Montgomery County 26, Salem CC 4
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Lackawanna 10-2, Salem CC 2-0
By Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — The thing Woodstown softball coach Rob Hildebrand really likes about his lineup is its capability to deliver from any spot at any time regardless of the situation, but they’re especially tough late in the game.
That ability was on full display in the fourth inning Tuesday when the Wolverines scored six runs with two outs to break open a one-run game and power an 8-3 win over Sterling.
“I’ve never had an opportunity to coach a team on any level, and I tell them all the time, where we get better every single time we get another at bat against a pitcher,” Hildebrand said. “We only get stronger as the middle of the game goes on and like our third at-bat every game that’s when everybody starts hitting. I’m proud for them to be able to hit the ball.”
Kendall Young’s three-run double and Talia Guardascione’s inside-the-park homer highlighted the big inning. The Wolverines (2-0) led 2-1 going into the fourth and then sent 10 batters to the plate to break it open.
Brianna Hitchner scored on Ellie Wygand’s ground out that was the second out of the inning and cleared the bases. Guardascione followed by slashing her homer past a drawn-in left fielder to the fence. Madison LaPalomento scored on Grace Hitchner’s single and after Lila Bowling and Macie Moore drew walks to load the bases Young brought them all home with her double.
Hildebrand called Young’s hit a “sign of relief.” The Wolverines loaded the bases in the third with nobody out and only scratched out a couple runs.
Guardascione’s homer was the second of her career. Her first also was an inside-the-parker, against Salem last season.
“She’s the two-hole hitter and they play her in a lot in the outfield,” Hilderbrand said. “When they play her in like that she burns them. She’s so fast, I knew she was going to score when she came around second.”
The Wolverines took a 2-0 lead in the third on RBI singles by Grace Hitchner and Moore.
Leah Clark went the distance in the circle, allowing five hits, one earned run and striking out four. She retired the first seven batters she faced and faced the minimum through three innings.
The Wolverines host rival Schalick Wednesday.
| Sterling (1-1) | 000 | 100 | 2- | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Woodstown (2-0) | 002 | 600 | x- | 8 | 8 | 4 |
SALEM TECH 24, PILGRIM ACADEMY 13: The first-year Chargers took advantage of 11 walks and 11 errors to score a school-record 24 runs and win for the fourth time in five starts.
Shelby Drummond went 3-for-3, Claire Kier had three RBIs, Kate Liber and Morgan Fogg both had two hits and two RBIs. Drummond has hit in all five games and is hitting .769 (10-for-13) for the season. Kier also has hit in all five games.
The Chargers broke a 2-2 tie with five runs in the third inning and then broke it open with nine in the fourth.
| Salem Tech (4-1) | 025 | 908- | 24 | 9 | 2 |
| Pilgrim Academy (1-1) | 112 | 540- | 13 | 6 | 11 |
Tennis
PENNSVILLE 5, GLASSBORO 0
Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Andrew Miller, 4-6, 6-0, 10-5
Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. James Pence, 6-0, 6-0
Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Seth Taylor, 6-1, 6-1
Coen Rinnier-Matthew Forino (P) def. Joy Patel-Vincent Pasquarello, 6-1, 6-1
Records: Pennsville 2-1, Glassboro 0-2.
WOODSTOWN 5, CLEARVIEW 0
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Dan Meader, 7-5, 6-0
Mason Shimp (WO) def. David Carter, 6-1, 6-1
Luke Shaw (WO) def. Cole Harper, 6-4, 6-2
Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Chase Roberts-Jared Wax, 6-3, 6-4
Connor Miller-Josh King (WO) def. Matt Kalpas-Raj Rana, 7-5, 6-2
Records: Woodstown 1-1, Clearview 1-2.
College baseball
MONTGOMERY 26, SALEM CC 4: The Mustangs continued to mash the baseball, setting a season high in runs while scoring in double figures for the fourth game in a row. They have scored 75 runs over the last four games.
The 26 runs were the most the Mighty Oaks have given up in a game since reviving the program. The previous high came in a 25-7 loss to RCSJ-Cumberland in April 2024.
College softball
LACKAWANNA 10-2, SALEM CC 2-0: Mackenzie Adolfson hit a two-run homer in each game for Lackawanna, but the swing in the second game was the dagger for the Mighty Oaks.
Salem’s Jordyn Busch and Lackawanna’s Ayahna Fleisher were locked in a scoreless pitching duel for five innings in the nightcap, but one pitch broke the ice. Adolfson launched a two-run homer to center to get the Falcons on the board.
The Mighty Oaks threatened in the seventh, getting two runners in scoring position with one out, but couldn’t get them home. Savannah Palverento and Bella Rappa opened the inning with singles and moved up on Sawyer Simmons’ sacrifice, but Fleisher got out of it with a pop out to the catcher and game-ending grounder to the pitcher.
Salem also had a runner in scoring position in the first inning with two outs but stranded her.
Adolfson’s two-run shot in the opener highlighted a four-run first inning. The Mighty Oaks cut their deficit in half in the third on an RBI single by Megan Koski and Bella Rappa’s bases-loaded hit batsman, but the Falcons answered with two in the bottom of the inning and walked it off with four in the fifth.
The doubleheader starts a busy week for the Mighty Oaks. They travel to Monroe-Bronx Thursday, host Howard CC Friday and visit Mercer Saturday.
Rodriguez back home
Recovery ‘going well’ for the Mighty Oaks softball coach as he works to return from heart surgery
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Salem CC softball coach Angel Rodriguez is back home in Brooklawn following successful heart surgery and plans to have a “very involved week” as he slowly returns to the team.
The fourth-year head coach, 29, underwent triple bypass last Tuesday after falling ill in his office the previous Thursday and has been making steady progress on his return to the dugout.
“Good news; I’m back HOME,” he wrote in a text message Monday. “Everything is going well per (the) medical team with healing. Walks have been much improved. (The) countdown until I can get back continues, but it’s very, very close.”
The Mighty Oaks have four doubleheaders this week, including two big road dates with Region 19 leaders Lackawanna (19-6) and Mercer (17-1). They went 5-3 in Rodriguez’ absence, including a first-ever modern era win over Delaware Tech and a record-setting sweep of Morris on Saturday.
Rodriguez hopes, but wouldn’t immediately commit, to attending Friday’s home doubleheader with Howard CC.
“I’m back on softball talks more with the staff more now,” he said. “There’s a good chance (he’ll be at Friday’s games), but I don’t want to commit to that just yet.”
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
