Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of May 5-11; events start at 4 p.m. unless noted
MAY 5 BASEBALL Clayton at Pennsville Overbrook at Schalick Penns Grove at Glassboro Salem at Pitman SOFTBALL Clayton at Pennsville Glassboro at Penns Grove Pitman at Salem Schalick at Overbrook GOLF Salem Tech vs. Triton, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Deptford at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Pennsville at Burlington Twp., Green Acres Park LACROSSE Egg Harbor Twp. at Woodstown VOLLEYBALL Highland at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Atlantic Cape CC, 3:30 p.m.
MAY 6 BASEBALL Pilgrim Academy at Salem Schalick vs. Woodstown, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m. SOFTBALL LEAP at Salem Schalick vs. Woodstown, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m. GOLF Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick vs. Delsea, Centerton CC Schalick girls in State Championship, Rutgers TENNIS Highland at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Kingsway at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Wildwood at Schalick TRACK Woodstown at Penns Grove
MAY 7 BASEBALL Pitman at Pennsville Woodstown at Pennsauken Tech, 3:45 p.m. SOFTBALL Pennsville at Pitman TENNIS Vineland at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Woodstown at Deptford, 3:45 p.m. Pitman at Penns Grove TRACK Tri-County Conference Meet, Delsea, 3 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Clearview at Woodstown VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Riverside, 3:45 p.m. MAY 8 BASEBALL Pennsville at Wildwood, 3:45 p.m. Salem at Clayton Schalick at Penns Grove Woodstown at Overbrook SOFTBALL Overbrook at Woodstown Pennsville at Wildwood Penns Grove at Schalick GOLF Salem Tech vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick vs. Gloucester Catholic, Centerton CC Schalick girls vs. Washington Twp. Centerton CC Woodstown vs. Highland, Valley Brook CC, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS GCIT at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Schalick at Washington Twp. Williamstown at Penns Grove MAY 9 BASEBALL Millville at Pennsville South Hunterdon at Penns Grove, 4:15 p.m. Salem vs. Schalick at Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m. SOFTBALL Clayton at Salem Pennsville at Paulsboro Schalick at Haddonfield GOLF Pennsville vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:30 p.m. TENNIS Schalick at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Pennsville at Clearview LACROSSE Vineland at Woodstown GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Washington Twp.
MAY 10 BASEBALL Lee Ware Tournament, Woodstown Washington Twp. at Woodstown, 10 a.m. Camden Catholic at Cherry Hill East, 10 a.m. Consolation game, noon Championship game, noon SOFTBALL Pennsville in Pitman Tournament Woodstown in Williamstown Tournament GIRLS LACROSSE Haddon Heights at Woodstown, 10 a.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC in Region 19 Tournament, TBA
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 28-May 3; events start at 4 p.m. unless noted
APRIL 28 BASEBALL Penns Grove at Paulsboro LEAP at Salem SOFTBALL Paulsboro at Penns Grove Salem at Gloucester Catholic GOLF Schalick vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:30 p.m. Woodstown vs. Cumberland, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Penns Grove at Glassboro VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Timber Creek, 3:45 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Camden at Salem CC, 6 p.m. APRIL 29 SOFTBALL Schalick at Gateway GOLF Schalick vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m. TENNIS Wildwood at Penns Grove TRACK Glassboro at Schalick, 3:45 p.m. APRIL 30 BASEBALL Overbrook at Salem Penns Grove at Pitman SOFTBALL Salem at Overbrook GOLF Schalick girls vs. Cumberland, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. TENNIS Glassboro at Schalick Woodstown at Penns Grove TRACK Pennsville at Overbrook COLLEGE BASEBALL Northampton at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m. MAY 1 BASEBALL Penns Grove at Bridgeton Wildwood at Salem Diamond Classic Haddonfield at Schalick, 3 p.m. SOFTBALL Penns Grove at Lindenwold Salem at Wildwood GOLF Carl Arena Tournament TRACK SJTCA at Delsea, 5 p.m. MAY 2 BASEBALL LEAP at Penns Grove SOFTBALL Penns Grove at LEAP TENNIS Penns Grove at Wildwood COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Ocean CC, 3:30 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Region 19 Tournament at Mercer Salem CC vs. Delaware Tech, 10 a.m. Lackawanna vs. Mercer, noon Losers, 2 p.m. Winners, 4 p.m.
MAY 3 BASEBALL Pennsville at Millville, 11 a.m. Salem at Mastery Charter, noon TRACK Schalick girls in SJTCA, Rancocas Valley, 1 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Ocean CC at Salem CC (2), noon COLLEGE SOFTBALL Region 19 Tournament at Mercer Elimination game, 10 a.m. Championship game, noon
Pennsville softball rallies twice from two-run deficits, but comes up just short in a third attempt; Woodstown baseball holds off Collingswood; includes tennis, golf, lacrosse results
SALEM COUNTY SOFTBALL Haddon Heights 8, Pennsville 7 Kingsway 10, Woodstown 2 Cumberland 19, Salem 2
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – With the type of lineup Pennsville softball has built to get to this season no deficit is out of reach. But sometimes the well just comes up dry.
The Eagles came back from two-run deficits twice Wednesday and were on the verge of doing it a third time in the seventh inning, but their bid to either walk it off or keep it going came up just short and they lost to Haddon Heights 8-7 to end a nine-game winning streak.
The Eagles erased deficits of 2-0 and 4-2 to tie the game at 2-2 and then take a 6-4 lead after five innings. The Garnets went back up 8-6 in the seventh and for one of the rare times this season, Pennsville couldn’t catch up.
“That’s something we talked about,” Eagles coach Beth Jackson said. “It’s a dangerous life to live. You get all these hits and score all these runs and then you’re making mistakes in the field, you can kind of get away with it, but sometimes, at some point, that might end.
“You’re not going to always have all those hits. You might run into a really good pitcher. You might only squeeze out one or two runs. You’ve gotta be up to defense. You’ve got to play well and not give the other team outs and not give them extra outs in the field.”
Sophomore Ruby Caviston gave the Garnets a 2-0 lead in the first with the first of her two home runs, but the Eagles tied it on Mackenzie Widener’s two-run single in the second.
Caviston’s second homer gave the Garnets a 3-0 lead in the fifth and they added another later in the inning on a ball that got under third baseman Savannah Brewer-Palverento’s glove. This time, the Eagles answered with four in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.
The two tying runs scored when Kylie Harris, the state’s hits leader, hit a ball that stayed down and through on Heights second baseman Kayla Kellogg. Brewer-Palverento tripled home Harris with the go-ahead run and Brewer-Palverento scored on a passed ball.
The Garnets answered with four in the sixth for their third two-run lead of the game.
Both Jackson and junior infielder Avery Watson had “absolute confidence” in the Eagles being able to come back again – even when they got down to their last out. They were behind four times during their winning streak and had no trouble overcoming those deficits.
“I have no doubts in us at all,” Watson said. “With the way our energy was and how we’ve been playing recently I had zero doubts that we could come back, even at the end (with) two outs I didn’t have any doubt in myself and nobody had any doubt in me.”
Watson kept the inning alive and got the rally started with a single to left. Mackenzie Widener kept the line moving with a single and Reagan Wariwanchik singled home Watson to make it a one-run game. Widener went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
“Facing a really good team like that, our energy was high all game and that kept me going,” Watson said. “Going into the seventh, I really wanted to win this game; we all really wanted it.
“I wanted to get anything out there. I wanted to just poke a ball out there if I had to. I hardly remember what I did, my adrenaline was pumping so much.”
Now, the Eagles had the tying run at second and winning run at first, but the game ended on a comebacker to the circle.
The loss stung, of course, but it was hard for Jackson to be angry. She called the game “a great measuring stick” for her team and how it compares to the other SJ Group I contenders Heights plays regularly in the Colonial Conference.
Despite the loss, Pennsville (11-3) remained the No. 1 team in the South Jersey Group I power points standings. Haddon Heights (6-2) moved into the No. 1 spot in South Jersey Group 2 after the win.
“You go out there and you’re swinging and you put it all on the line and walk away,” Jackson said. “Even with what we had with the loss you can still be proud, if you go out and give it 110 percent and you play your good game. Sometimes you come out on the short end of the stick; unfortunately, that’s just a part of the game. From today’s loss I want them to take the positive into tomorrow.”
The Eagles play their fourth game in four days Thursday against Gloucester Catholic in a big TCC Classic Division game.
KINGSWAY 10, WOODSTOWN 2: Lila Bowling’s leadoff homer in the second inning gave Woodstown an early lead, but the Dragons (7-0) answered with three in the third and put a competitive game out of reach with five in the seventh. Ava Snyder gave up three hits and struck out 12 over six innings for the top-ranked team in the South Jersey Group 4 power points standings.
CUMBERLAND 19, SALEM 2: The first 16 batters off the bus for the Colts reached safely and 12 scored to decide this one. Lizzy Pflieger had two run-scoring hits in that first inning and finished with three hits and three RBIs. Salem had three hits – a double by Isla Bohn and singles by Kyla Henderson and Rylee Doerr.
SALEM COUNTY BASEBALL Woodstown 3, Collingswood 2
Rocco String homered on the first pitch of the fifth inning for what was at the time was an insurance run that ultimately became the winning run
It was his first homer or the season and eighth in 203 career at-bats.
Woodstown starter Aaron Foote was perfect through three innings before that Panthers broke up the gem with the first of three singles in the fourth inning that produced their 1-0 lead.
The Wolverines rallied to take the lead in the bottom of the inning on Tommy Tucci’s sacrifice fly and a bad throw by the pitcher on Lucas Fulmer’s grounder. String extended the lead in the fourth.
Foote gave the Wolverines 5 2/3 solid innings and Michael Valente came behind him with 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief. They ended the game on a hard-charging play by shortstop Tucci, who snagged a chopper over Valente’s head and threw on to first in the same motion for the final out.
GOLF Gateway 193, Salem Tech 207
Alton Rattle (44) and Daniel Romero (45) shot the two low rounds to lead Gateway to its first win of the season. Mason Griffith (47) had Salem Tech’s low round.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 21-27; events start at 4 p.m. unless noted
APRIL 21 BASEBALL Kings Christian at Woodstown, 10 a.m. Pennsville at Williamstown, 10 a.m. Salem at Paulsboro, 11 a.m. SOFTBALL Pennsville at Williamstown, 10 a.m. Delsea at Woodstown, 10:30 a.m. GOLF Woodstown vs. GCIT, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Triton at Schalick, 10 a.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Delaware Tech at Salem CC, 3 p.m. APRIL 22 BASEBALL Pennsville at Penns Grove Schalick at Pitman Woodstown at Salem SOFTBALL Pennsville at Penns Grove Pitman at Schalick Salem at Woodstown GOLF Pennsville vs. Cumberland, Running Deer CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick vs. Overbrook, Pinelands GC Schalick girls vs. Delsea, White Oaks CC TENNIS Schalick vs. Pitman, Shertle Park 11 a.m. Overbrook at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. TRACK Salem County Championships, Pennsville, 3:30 p.m. LACROSSE Woodstown at Kingsway, 5:15 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Kingsway, 6 p.m. VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at GCIT, 3:45 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL CC of Morris at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 23 BASEBALL Collingswood at Woodstown SOFTBALL Cumberland at Salem Kingsway at Woodstown Haddon Heights at Pennsville GOLF Pennsville vs. West Deptford, River Winds GC, 3:30 p.m. Salem Tech vs. Pitman, Pitman GC, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Pitman at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Haddonfield COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 24 BASEBALL Schalick at Glassboro Woodstown at Penns Grove SOFTBALL Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville Penns Grove at Woodstown GOLF Pennsville vs. Kingsway, River Winds GC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick vs. Cumberland, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Woodstown vs. Overbrook, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Clayton at Pennsville, 3 p.m. Haddon Heights at Schalick TRACK Penn Relays LACROSSE Woodstown at Washington Twp. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Lackawanna, 3:30 p.m. APRIL 25 TENNIS Schalick at Clayton Williamstown at Penns Grove TRACK Penn Relays GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at West Deptford COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Union, 3:30 p.m. APRIL 26 BASEBALL Gloucester County Christian at Woodstown, 10 a.m. LACROSSE Woodstown at Bishop Eustace, 10 a.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Union at Salem CC (2), noon COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Raritan Valley CC, noon
Salem CC softball sweeps twinbill in big way; Pennsville, Woodstown baseball lose tough ones; Pennsville softball keeps rolling
THURSDAY REGION 19 SOFTBALL Salem CC 18-20, Sussex 2-4 Brookdale at Ocean Lackawanna 27-29, Raritan Valley 2-1 Monroe at Mercer Middlesex 11-5, Morris 8-4
By Riverview Sports News
NEWTON – The Salem CC softball team loaded up the bus and loaded up the box score in sweeping Sussex CC in a big way for the second time this season, 18-2 and 20-4.
The Mighty Oaks erupted for 11 hits in the opener and a season-high 20 hits in the nightcap. They swamped the Skylanders 13-5 and 22-0 in a doubleheader at Watson Field in March.
Ella Hayes led the way in the opener. She hit for the cycle, highlighted by a first-inning grand slam, and drove in six runs. The slam capped an eight-run opening.
Callie Rozak had two hits and Tessa Wise and Jolee Robinson had two RBIs each.
The Mighty Oaks (16-14) got big games from a lot of players in the nightcap. The top six spots in the lineup went a combined 17-for-21 with 19 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
Bella Rappa went 4-for-5 with four RBIs. Wise went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer in the third inning and four total RBIs. Rozak drove in five runs with a pair of hits. Val Hatterer had a career-high four hits and three RBIs. Hayes went 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBIs and four runs scored. Jocelyn Melendez went 3-for-3.
The Mighty Oaks raised their team batting average 14 points in the doubleheader.
SALEM COUNTY HS RESULTS BASEBALL CUMBERLAND 2, PENNSVILLE 1: The Colts scored their first win of the season in dramatic fashion. They created a run in the top of the eighth inning to take the lead, then turned back a Pennsville threat in the bottom of the inning.
The winning rally started with Kameron Fiorani’s leadoff walk. He was sacrificed to second and scored on Jack Bodine’s single to center. . The Eagles (5-3) got the tying run to third base with two outs in the bottom of the inning, but the Colts got a fly out to center to end the game and their five-game winning streak.
Cumberland (1-8) grabbed a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the first, but Pennsville tied it Chase Burchfield’s two-out RBI single to right.
CINNAMINSON 3, WOODSTOWN 2: The Pirates scored all their runs on three homers to power past the Wolverines.
Noah Harvey’s solo homer in the top of the sixth broke a 2-2 tie and Logan Hammell’s three-run blast in the seventh broke it open. Anthony Alessandroni opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first.
The Wolverines got a run back in the fourth on Rocco String’s steal of home and tied it on Caiden Spinelli’s RBI fielder’s choice in the fifth. They kept the threat alive, loading the bases with one out couldn’t bring the runners home.
SOFTBALL PENNSVILLE 10, CUMBERLAND 7: Makenzie Widener went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, three other players collected two hits apiece and the Eagles came from behind to win their seventh in a row.
Graillyn Weber, Kylie Harris and Sawyer Simmons also had two hits and Avery Watson had two RBIs.
The Eagles (9-2) trailed 4-1 after one inning. They made it a one-run game in the second and took the lead for good in the third on RBI doubles by Harris, Simmons and Watson. They had six doubles in the game and won for the fifth straight game scoring 10 runs or more.
CLEARVIEW 18, WOODSTOWN 1: The Pioneers took a 4-1 lead after two innings then broke it open with eight runs in the third. Talia Guardascione had two of the Wolverines’ four hits and Lila Bowling drove home Hannah Hitchner with their only run in the first inning.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 14-19; games start at 4 p.m. unless noted
APRIL 14 BASEBALL Clayton at Salem Overbrook at Woodstown Penns Grove at Schalick Wildwood at Pennsville SOFTBALL Salem at Clayton Schalick at Penns Grove Wildwood at Pennsville Woodstown at Overbrook GOLF Pennsville at Overbrook, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick girls vs. Clearview, Westwood GC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Triton at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Schalick at Gateway Woodstown at Penns Grove TRACK Glassboro at Schalick girls, 3:45 p.m. Overbrook at Penns Grove Salem, Gloucester Catholic, Wildwood at Clayton, 3:30 p.m. LACROSSE Woodstown at Mainland COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Atlantic Cape, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 15 BASEBALL Pennsville at Overbrook SOFTBALL Pennsville at Woodstown GOLF Schalick girls, Woodstown at Westwood GC, 9:30 a.m. Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Woodstown at Timber Creek, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Cinnaminson VOLLEYBALL LEAP at Salem Tech COLLEGE SOFTBALL Harford CC at Salem CC 3:30 p.m. APRIL 16 BASEBALL Overbrook at Penns Grove Salem at Pennsville Woodstown at Glassboro SOFTBALL Glassboro at Woodstown Penns Grove at Overbrook Pennsville at Salem GOLF Schalick vs. Washington Twp., Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Woodstown vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Delsea at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Millville at Pennsville Overbrook at Penns Grove TRACK Woodstown at Schalick, 3:30 p.m. Glassboro at Pennsville Salem at Pitman LACROSSE Cinnaminson at Woodstown GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Clearview, 5:15 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Mercer County CC, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 17 BASEBALL Cumberland at Pennsville Northern Burlington at Schalick Woodstown vs. Cinnaminson SOFTBALL Clearview at Woodstown Pennsville at Cumberland GOLF Schalick girls vs. OLMA, Centerton CC TENNIS Delsea at Woodstown Pennsville vs. Pitman, Shertle Park, 3:45 p.m. Penns Grove at Schalick VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Timber Creek COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Sussex, 2:30 p.m.
APRIL 18 BASEBALL Salem at Camden County Tech, 11 a.m. SOFTBALL West Deptford at Schalick TENNIS Pitman at Penns Grove LACROSSE Rancocas Valley at Woodstown COLLEGE BASEBALL Bergen CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Cecil at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 19 BASEBALL Woodstown at Sterling, 11 a.m. Schalick vs. Cherry Hill West at Haddon Twp., 1 p.m. Schalick at Haddon Twp., 3:30 p.m. TRACK Penns Grove, Pennsville, Schalick, Salem, Woodstown at Woodbury Relays LACROSSE Paul VI at Woodstown, 10 a.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Bergen CC (2), noon COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Mercer County CC, noon
Robinson, Davis combine for no-hitter, Rams give them a win with 3 runs in eighth inning; includes Salem County roundup
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE – Salem baseball coach Eric Fizur had seen enough of his top pitchers giving a strong effort and not getting anything for it. He told the hitters at a most crucial time Wednesday they needed to step up for their teammates.
Rams pitchers Terrell Robinson and Chase Davis hadn’t given up a hit over seven innings, but they were still locked in a tie game. The hitters rewarded them with three runs in the eighth and the Rams locked it down in the bottom of the inning to complete the gem and beat Penns Grove, 6-3.
It was the Rams’ first no-hitter since Evan Biddle threw a five-inning perfect game against LEAP on May 16, 2023.
“It’s a big pick-me-up,” Fizur said. “This was the type of game last year that we would have struggled in that moment, even with good pitching, and found a way to lose. You could see the growth in the team this year. They found a way to go win the game.
“They’ve been throwing amazing since the season started. Chase threw a great game at Wildwood. Even in Holy Cross, we couldn’t put the bat on the ball. Terrell threw four quality innings and kept us in the game, but we couldn’t help him out. I told the kids pre-game we wasted Terrell’s last great outing, we need to have a great one today and pull it out for him.”
Robinson pitched the first 5 1/3 innings. He gave up the Red Devils’ three runs, but only two were earned. He walked five and struck out nine. Davis finished it, allowing just three base runners and striking out six.
The only reason Robinson, a Rosemont commitment who wears No. 42 as an homage to Jackie Robinson, came out of the game in the sixth was he had thrown 110 pitches.
“Terrell threw an amazing game,” Fizur said. “Terrell’s thrown many amazing games. I told him last year I always felt he got the short end of the stick because he had to face the best teams a lot of times. He had to throw against the Pitmans of the world and he never batted an eye, just said I’m going to go do it.
“He said can I start the Penns Grove game? I was like, sure, it’s you’re game, buddy, and he threw a gem. It was a joy to watch him pitch today. Those five innings were beautiful.”
Davis worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh with an inning-ending strikeout, then set down the Red Devils in order in the eighth after the Rams gave him the lead. He threw 49 pitches.
“Chase was supposed to start tomorrow in the game versus Pitman,” Fizur said. “He’s been looking forward to it since I told him, but I said, look, we’ve got to get a win today, you’re the guy right now. I need someone who’s going to go in there who I know can dominate.
“Obviously as a competition Chase was like I want to pitch against Pitman tomorrow, but he understood it was a moment to sacrifice and pull a game out. We didn’t tell him it was a no-hitter, we didn’t want to put that pressure on him, but he came in and stepped up.”
The Rams took the lead in the eighth on RBI singles by Davis, Robinson and Bryce Harris.
“I looked at them and said you’re literally wasting a no-hitter,” Fizur said. “Terrell’s had two starts in a row, he’s pitched phenomenal in both of them and we haven’t come through for him and I just said you’re wasting a no-hitter on these guys right now. We need to go score and end this game.”
SOFTBALL WOODSTOWN 7, MAPLE SHADE 1: The Wolverines saved their best for last. Hannah Hitchner’s two-run single capped a seven-run seventh inning that lifted Woodstown to its second win of the season.
Johanna Way singled home the tying run and Gracie Hitchner’s RBI double gave the Wolverines (2-0) the lead for good. Ellie Wygand, Way and Shyann Higinbotham had two hits apiece. Leah Clark held the high-scoring Wildcats to one run, seven hits and struck out eight in the circle.
SALEM 18, PENNS GROVE 4: Isla Bohn and Sasha Reese both went 2-for-2 with three RBIs to lead the Rams’ 18-hit attack. Winning pitcher Rylee Doerr helped her cause with two hits and two RBIs, Julliana Love had two hits and Morgan Fogg had two RBIs. Doerr gave up two hits and struck out 11 from the circle.
GOLF TRITON 167, PENNSVILLE 225: Bradyn Skokowski shot even-par 36 at Sakima CC to lead Triton to its fifth win in six matches.
KINGSWAY GIRLS 204, SCHALICK 211: Kingsway’s Carly Kuminka was low medalist with a 41 at Centerton CC. Abby Willoughby posted Schalick’s low score (52).
SCHALICK 5, OVERBROOK 0 George Gould (S) def. Thomas Mason, 6-2, 6-1 Rocky Monticolo (S) def. Colin Campbell, 6-2, 7-5 Conor O’Toole (S) def. Alan Marcos, 6-3, 3-6, 10-6 Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski (S) def. Mohammed Shihab-Gabe Martinez, 6-0, 6-1 Anthony McGrath-David Santana (S) won by forfeit Records: Schalick 3-2, Overbrook 0-5
HADDON HEIGHTS 3, WOODSTOWN 2 Ben Mazzucco (H) def. Drew Stengel, 6-3, 6-2 Owen Peakes (H) def. John Farrell, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) Jackson Zalkind (H) def. Joseph Kurpis, 6-2, 6-2 Luke Shaw-Mason Shimp (WO) def. Sean Fischer-Mike Pender, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 10-6 Ben Stengel-Nicholas DiTeodoro (WO) def. Gavin Ewing-Milan Stocker, 6-0, 6-0 Records: Haddon Heights 4-2, Woodstown 3-2
GIRLS LACROSSE WOODSTOWN 15, KINGSWAY 13: Delaney Walker scored seven goals – one off her career high – and the Wolverines scored three goals in the fourth quarter to secure their first win of the season. Emma Morgan, Blair Baldi and Jaime Deal each added two goals and Sienna Land and Arianna Hyman each scored once.
VOLLEYBALL TRITON 2, SALEM TECH 0: The game scores were 25-10, 25-11.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 7-13; games start at 4 p.m. unless noted; games subject to weather conditions
APRIL 7 BASEBALL LEAP at Salem Schalick at Haddon Heights Woodstown at Pennsville SOFTBALL Pennsville at Woodstown Salem at Deptford GOLF Pennsville vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick vs. Williamstown, Scotland Run GC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick girls vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC, 3:30 p.m. Woodstown vs. Wildwood, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Deptford at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Glassboro at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Penns Grove at Wildwood Schalick at West Deptford, River Winds TC TRACK Gloucester Catholic, Wildwood at Salem GIRLS LACROSSE West Deptford at Woodstown VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Kingsway APRIL 8 BASEBALL Clayton at Schalick Pennsville at Overbrook Woodstown at Wildwood SOFTBALL Overbrook at Pennsville Schalick at Clayton Woodstown at Wildwood GOLF Pennsville vs. Clayton, The Birches, 3:30 p.m. Schalick vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC, 3:30 p.m. Salem Tech vs. Pitman, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m. Woodstown vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Pennsville at Cumberland, 3:45 p.m. Woodstown at Kingsway, 3:45 p.m. TRACK Glassboro at Woodstown Penns Grove at Pennsville Schalick at Overbrook, 3:30 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Northampton CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Sussex County CC, 3:30 p.m. APRIL 9 SOFTBALL Woodstown at Maple Shade GOLF Pennsville vs. Triton, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick girls vs. Kingsway, Centeron CC, 3:30 p.m. TENNIS Delsea at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Haddon Heights at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Overbrook at Schalick Timber Creek at Penns Grove GIRLS LACROSSE Kingsway at Woodstown VOLLEYBALL Triton at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Northampton CC, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 10 BASEBALL Clayton at Pennsville Glassboro at Penns Grove Pitman at Salem Schalick at Overbrook Woodstown at Gloucester City SOFTBALL Gloucester City at Woodstown Overbrook at Schalick Pennsville at Clayton Penns Grove at Glassboro Salem at Pitman GOLF Pennsville vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick girls vs. OLMA, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Salem Tech vs. Overbrook, Sakima CC Woodstown vs. Cumberland, Running Deer, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Triton at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Vineland at Schalick TRACK Salem at Clayton Woodstown at Cherokee Challenge LACROSSE Woodstown at Holy Spirit COLLEGE SOFTBALL Howard CC at Salem CC, 3 p.m.
APRIL 11 BASEBALL Pennsville at Haddon Heights SOFTBALL Haddon Heights at Pennsville Haddon Heights at Woodstown TENNIS Penns Grove at Clayton Woodstown at Highland, 3:45 p.m. Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m. LACROSSE Woodstown at Moorestown Friends GIRLS LACROSSE Haddon Heights at Woodstown COLLEGE BASEBALL Camden CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 12 BASEBALL Schalick vs. Triton, 10 a.m. Salem at Gloucester City, 10 a.m. Schalick-Triton winner vs. Gloucester-Salem winner, 1 p.m. Woodstown at Pennsauken Tech, 10 a.m. Pennsville at Haddon Heights, 2:30 p.m. SOFTBALL Schalick at Holy Spirit, 11:30 a.m. TRACK Pennsville, Salem, Schalick girls at West Deptford, 9 a.m. Schalick at Bridgeton Relays, 9 a.m. Woodstown at Father Judge Invitational COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Camden CC (2), noon COLLEGE SOFTBALL Delaware Tech at Salem CC, noon
APRIL 13 COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Orange County CC, noon
Freshman Battavio sharp in varsity debut; Woodstown, Schalick, Salem all win big in baseball; includes softball, golf, tennis, volleyball results
MONDAY BASEBALL Salem 18, Wildwood 6 Schalick 12, Glassboro 2 Woodstown 12, Penns Grove 2
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Walker Battavio had been waiting for his chance to start a varsity baseball game since he got to the eighth grade. Woodstown coach Marc DeCastro made that dream come from Monday and the freshman left-hander was a nightmare for the batters who faced him.
Battavio racked up strikeouts the way his older sister Talia racked up 3-pointers on the basketball court. He struck out seven in his three innings of work and his teammates staked him to a big early lead in a 12-2 five-inning win over Penns Grove.
His first seven outs all came by punch-outs, including a run of six in a row. He probably would have had more, but was on a pitch count in his first varsity start and was lifted after three innings and 51 pitches.
“I was looking forward to this a lot; it was one of my goals coming into high school,” Battavio said. “I thought I did good. I threw a lot of strikes, so that helped out.”
Battavio learned late last week he was going to start the Wolverines’ division opener and had the weekend to think about it. He said he was a little scared at first, then settled in for the assignment as time went on. Even during the school day he was nervous, but calmed down once he got on the field.
He was really only in trouble once and got out of that like a crafty veteran. He loaded the bases with one out in the first on a walk and two singles, but took a couple deep breaths behind the mound to calm down and got through it by striking out the next two batters. He almost had an immaculate inning in the second striking out the side.
Sol Elmer, another freshman, followed Battavio to the mound and finished the game.
For DeCastro, Battavio checked two of the big boxes he has for evaluating a rookie pitcher. He settled in after some expected early uneasiness, and the next inning he treated the lead his teammates gave him “appropriately.”
There will be more starts in his future.
“I’m not going to be super fixed with him just because he is a freshman,” DeCastro said. “I want to see him handle a couple different types of experiences before I really start to put any real pressure on him. He’s going to start another game next week and we’ll see how he handles that and kind of build the type of intensity and the game pressure that he pitches (under).
“He’s a freshman so I’m not going to put him in a situation where I don’t think he can do what he can succeed. He did well enough he gets (next) Tuesday and we’ll see where he is on that game and go from there.”
After Battavio got out of the first, the Wolverines rewarded their pitcher with nine runs in the bottom of the inning. They sent 15 batters to the plate and actually did most of their damage – seven runs worth – with two outs. Rocco String delivered the crushing blow, a three-run double.
Penns Grove coach Chuck Weigle said things might have been different had the Red Devils (1-2) gotten those early runs home.
“You get one or two there, it puts little bit more pressure on them,” he said. “They’re expecting to come out here probably thinking ‘it’s an easy game for us,’ (but) we put two runs on the board early it’s different game. They have to come up here ready to swing. It puts a little bit of pressure on them, make them make the moves, come out here and have to play baseball.”
Top photo: Woodstown first baseman Jack Holladay has a thumb up for the pitching performance Walker Battavio (L) gave in his varsity debut Monday.
Penns Grove (1-2)
000 02-
2
5
1
Woodstown (2-0)
912 0x-
12
9
3
WP: Walker Battavio. LP: Josh Widen.
SCHALICK 12, GLASSBORO 2: Luke Pokrovsky homered and drove in five runs and starting pitcher Lucas D’Agostino struck out 10 in four innings as the Cougars opened their season in a big way.
Pokrovsky, a Penn signee, went 3-for-4 and was a single away from hitting for an Opening Day cycle to lead the Cougars’ 14-hit attack. He hit a two-run triple in the fourth and solo homer in the fifth. Evan Sepers, Jamari Whitley, J.T. Fleming and Eli Cummings had two hits apiece.
D’Agostino pitched the first four innings, giving up two hits and an unearned run. Cole Hartley wrapped it up, striking out four in his two innings.
Glassboro (0-1)
001 001-
2
7
2
Schalick (1-0)
122 412-
12
14
1
WP: Lucas D’Agostino. LP: Colin Riley.
SALEM 18, WILDWOOD 6: The Rams opened their season with the highest scoring game in their two seasons under coach Eric Fizur.
Eithan Longo and Terrell Robinson both had three hits and three RBIs, while Jacob Parkell and Austin Davis both had two hits and two RBIs. Chase Davis had two hits and scored four runs. The first three hitters in the Rams’ lineup – Longo, Davis and Robinson – were a combined 8-for-12 with six RBIs and nine runs scored.
They took the lead with a five-run third and blew it open with eight in the sixth.
“We played well today and took advantage of the opportunities we had,” Fizur said. “The players are more locked in this year, more focused. It showed today, and it’s something we can build on.”
The 18 runs were the most the Rams have scored in a game since putting 22 on Bridgeton in May 2023. They scored 18 in a win over Pleasantville later that season.
PENNSVILLE 11, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 6: Graillyn Weber’s two-run double in the fourth inning gave Pennsville the lead (6-4) and the Eagles broke it open with five in the top of the seventh. Kylie Harris Makenzie Widener and Salem CC signees Savannah Palverento and Sawyer Simmons all had two hits for the Eagles.
WILDWOOD 15, SALEM 4: The Rams fell behind 9-0 and couldn’t climb out of the hole. J Love and R Doerr both had two hits for Salem.
Tennis
PENNSVILLE 5, WILDWOOD 0 Gabe Schneider (P) def. Giorgio Palesano, 6-0, 6-0 Maddox Efelis (P) def. Brian Damian, 6-0, 6-0 Brody Wiggins (P) def. Simon Palaces, 6-0, 6-0 Lucas Cooksey-Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Christopher Hernandez-Chris Olivera, 6-1, 6-0 Carter Willis-Ian Peacock (P) def. Gabriel Hernandez-Eric Miranda, 6-0, 6-1 Records: Pennsville 1-0, Wildwood 0-3.
PENNS GROVE 5, GLASSBORO 0 Alex Ramirez Martinez (P) def. Kevin Unbato, 6-1, 6-3 Poyraz Erdönmez (P) def. Andrew Miller, 5-7, 6-1 Stuart Mondragon (P) def. Rowan Somdhal-Sands, 6-0, 6-1 Anthony Pacheco-Rene Ruiz (P) def. Jesus Lopez-Jeffrey Guzman, 6-4, 6-2 Angel Perez Herrera-Juan Ortiz (P) def. Jeffrey Guzman-Nico Tsoulcalis, 6-0, 6-1 Records: Penns Grove 1-0, Glassboro 0-1.
Golf
GIRLS WILLIAMSTOWN 205, SCHALICK 222: Williamstown’s Brynn DiGiamberardino was low medalist at Scotland Run (46). Cali Fisler and Abby Willoughby posted the Cougars’ low rounds (54).
Volleyball
HIGHLAND 2, SALEM TECH 0: The game scores were 25-15, 25-17
Here is the Salem County sports calendar from the week of March 30-April 6; events start at 4 p.m. unless noted
MARCH 31 BASEBALL Glassboro at Schalick Penns Grove at Woodstown Salem at Wildwood SOFTBALL Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Stauffer Fields Schalick at Glassboro Woodstown at Penns Grove Wildwood at Salem GOLF Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Scotland Run Woodstown vs. Deptford, Town & Country GL, 3 p.m. TENNIS Clayton at Schalick Glassboro at Penns Grove Wildwood at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. TRACK Glassboro at Penns Grove LACROSSE St. Joseph at Woodstown VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Highland, 3:45 p.m.
APRIL 1 GOLF Pennsville vs. Pitman, Pitman CC Schalick vs. Wildwood, Union League GC GIRLS LACROSSE Haddonfield at Woodstown, 4:30 p.m. TENNIS Glassboro at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Camden County Tech, 3:45 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Lackawanna at Salem CC, 3 p.m. APRIL 2 BASEBALL LEAP at Penns Grove Pennsville vs. Pitman, Alcyon Park Salem at Holy Cross Woodstown at Schalick SOFTBALL Gloucester Catholic at Salem Pitman at Pennsville Woodstown at Schalick GOLF Schalick girls vs. Clearview, Centerton CC TENNIS Middle Twp. at Woodstown Pennsville at Overbrook TRACK Schalick at Pennsville Woodstown at Overbrook
APRIL 3 SOFTBALL Penns Grove vs. LEAP at Rutgers Camden GOLF Pennsville vs. Cumberland, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m. Salem Tech vs. Wildwood, Union League National Schalick vs. Overbrook, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. TENNIS Pennsville vs. Clayton, Williamstown MS Schalick at Glassboro Woodstown at Triton COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Camden CC, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 4 BASEBALL Haddon Heights at Woodstown Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Brooklawn MS Schalick at Delran SOFTBALL Salem at Camden County Tech Schalick at Delsea Woodstown at Haddon Heights GOLF Pennsville vs. Cedar Creek, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick vs. Overbrook, Centerton CC TENNIS Pennsville at Bridgeton, 3:45 p.m. Vineland at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. LACROSSE Lower Cape May at Woodstown COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Middlesex, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 5 SOFTBALL Pennsville at Millville Tournament, 9 a.m. TRACK Pennsville, Salem at Deptford Relays, 9 a.m. Schalick at Buena Relays, 9 a.m. Woodstown in Invitational at Univ. of Delaware, 9 a.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Middlesex at Salem CC (2), noon COLLEGE SOFTBALL Mercer County CC at Salem CC, noon
Riverview Sports News 