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
Here are results of Salem County teams in softball and track events around the area Saturday
SOFTBALL
MILLVILLE – Pennsville went 2-1 in the Ron Vinick/Millville Tournament, scoring a pair of two-run wins over Oakcrest.
The Eagles wrapped 9-7 and 8-6 wins around a 7-5 loss to Millville.
Kylie Harris had two hits and two RBIs in the 9-7 Oakcrest game. Graillyn Weber went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the 8-6 Oakcrest game. Savannah Palverento had two hits and two RBIs in the loss to Millville.
TRACK (Top 4 finishes)
DEPTFORD SPARTAN RELAYS DEPTFORD — Pennsville’s Connor Ayars won the boys javelin in the Deptford Spartans Relays. BOYS 400 Hurdles: 3. Anthony Parker, Salem, 57.71 4×100: 3. Salem, 44.16 4×110 Shuttle Hurdle: 4. Salem, 1:10.06 4×200: 4. Salem, 1:34.36 Sprint Medley: 4. Salem, 3:57.27 Long Jump: 3. Will Roy, Penns Grove, 19-9.5 Triple Jump: 2. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove, 41-11.75 Javelin: 1. Connor Ayars, Pennsville, 162-0; 3. Wyatt Irvine, Salem, 142-0 Shot Put: 4. Raymond Brown, Penns Grove, 42-9.75 GIRLS 800 Sprint Medley: 4. Pennsville, 2:01.35 Pole Vault: 2. Megan Morris, Pennsville, 10-0
JIM CAMBURN MEMORIAL RELAYS BUENA – Schalick’s boys and girls swept the team titles at the Jim Camburn Memorial Relays.
The Cougars boys scored 95 points and edged Atlantic County Teach by two points in their standings. The girls posted 122 points and were 45 points ahead of runnerup Vineland.
RUNNEMEDE — The Woodstown boys tennis team swept their head coach into the history books Thursday.
The Wolverines beat Triton 5-0, dropping only one set all day, to give head coach Jesse Stemberger his 300th combined career coaching win in 17 seasons at the helm of the program. Thursday’s win was his 50th with the Woodstown boys program.
It was the Wolverines’ third win in as many days. Stemberger is 250-93 in 17 seasons with the girls, 50-27 in five seasons with the boys.
“It means I’ve been doing it a long time,” he said of the milestone. “When I look at it and I look at all the kids I’ve coached over the years I feel good for them because everybody has a part and I think everybody takes pride in having played for Woodstown tennis in the last 17 years. So, I feel good for them more than I feel good for myself.
“I don’t really think of it as much of an accomplish at the moment but maybe in a couple years I’ll sit back and say yeah that’s pretty cool.”
Stemberger scored his first win on Sept. 10, 2008, a 5-0 girls sweep of Penns Grove; he still has the ball on his shelf. He also got No. 100 against Penns Grove and No. 200 against Overbrook. His first win with the boys came against Wildwood. Of the milestone wins, only No. 100 came at home.
The No. 2 doubles team of Luke Shaw and Mason Shimp got the day started. No. 2 singles John Farrell secured the second point and the victory was clinched by the No. 1 doubles team of Ben Stengel and Nick DiTeodoro (Stemberger’s nephew).
Drew Stengel made it 4-0 at No. 1 singles and Joseph Kurpis completed the sweep when he won a 10-8 tiebreaker at No. 3 singles.
Stemberger is the third Woodstown head coach to reach the 300-win milestone this academic year, joining Darren Huck (boys soccer) and Adam Hyland (wrestling).
“I like it because we’re all friends,” Stemberger said. “We’re the old guard over there. We’re the three longest-tenured. We’re the old guys now. We’ve all been through a lot. We’ve had the same athletic directors, the same administrators, so we’re like the grumpy old men now.
“It’s fun. All three of us have really dedicated a lot of time to this and ultimately it comes down to what we want to do for the kids. They’re the real beneficiaries of this. They’re the ones you care about, they’re the ones you want to see be appreciative of what they’ve got.”
SCHALICK 4, GLASSBORO 1 George Gould (S) def. Carter Eli, 6-1, 6-1 Conor O’Toole (S) def. Kelechi Ufomba, 6-0, 6-1 Kaden Barnes (S) def. Andrew Miller, 6-1, 6-0 David Santana-Anthony McGrath (S) def. Jeffrey Guzman-Jesus Lopez, 6-2, 6-1 James Pence-Nico Tsoulcalis (G) won by forfeit Records: Schalick 2-1, Glassboro 0-3.
Schalick senior throws perfect game at Woodstown in first start of the season, Cougars support him with 10 runs in the first inning
WEDNESDAY BASEBALL Schalick 11, Woodstown 0 Pitman 7, Pennsville 2 Holy Cross 16, Salem 2 Penns Grove 16, LEAP 1
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE — It was a little chilly and a bit breezy but Luke Pokrovsky was as hot on the mound as any day in May.
The Schalick left-hander couldn’t have started his pitching year any better unless, of course, he had gone the full seven innings.
In his first start of his senior year Wednesday the Penn signee fashioned a five-inning perfect game, striking out 11 in the Cougars’ 11-0 Diamond Division win over Woodstown.
It was his first high school perfect game. He threw a no-hitter last year against Wildwood and had three other starts of six innings or longer in which he allowed just one hit. It was his ninth career game with double-digit strikeouts.
“With him, he doesn’t seem to amaze me because each time, each start, I feel like he gets better,” Cougars coach Sean O’Brien. “I’m not shocked at it, but it does kind of throw you off that he’d be on this early. He’s a special type of player. He keeps getting better.”
Pokrovsky threw 69 pitches, 46 for strikes. Included in the package was the new off-speed stuff he’s been working on in the offseason and three scrimmage appearances. He figured he threw two of those pitches to each hitter Wednesday.
He was so efficient he went to three balls on only two batters and threw more than five pitches to three. The Wolverines put only four balls in play against him, all in the infield. He struck out the side in the second, third and fifth innings.
The only ball that looked like it might get through was Rocco String’s comebacker through the box in the fourth that shortstop Evan Glaspey fielded cleanly and threw on for the out. The other non-strikeouts were a pop to short, a soft liner to second and another ball back to the mound.
“I know coming off a hot year last year everybody was going to be expecting me to come out with my fastball, but I was trying to work on the off-speed more,” Pokrovsky said. “After the first inning and throwing that good I was just trying to get strikes over the plate and try to locate better so they couldn’t get hard-hit balls off me. I was really happy with how it came out.
“Coming out like that, you can’t get any better. It was … perfect.”
Yes, it was.
After Pokrovsky put the Wolverines down in order in the first, his teammates gave him 10 runs of support in the bottom of the inning. It would have been 11 but a runner failed to touch the plate when he came in to score.
Sixteen batters came to the plate in the inning. Woodstown starter Dante Holmes got the leadoff man, then the next 14 Cougars reached safely.
Evan Sepers, who made the first out of the inning, had a two-run single the next time he came to the plate.
Pokrovsky went to the pen with catcher Ricky Watt during the long inning to keep his arm warm. When he went back to the mound he struck out the side on 13 pitches.
“He was excellent at getting ahead of guys, attacking hitters,” O’Brien said. “He wasn’t playing around with them. I feel when he attacks hitters he can go deep in the game and force them to put the ball in play. He did a great job of that from the start today.”
Photo: Schalick pitcher Luke Pokrovsky tips his cap coming off the mound after completing his five-inning perfect game against Woodstown.
SCHALICK 11, WOODSTOWN 0
Woodstown (2-1)
000 00-
0
0
3
Schalick (2-0)
(10)01 0x-
11
12
0
WP: Luke Pokrovsky. LP: Dante Holmes.
PITMAN 7, PENNSVILLE 2: Hudson Rue held the Eagles to three hits over the first five innings and the Panthers broke open a close game with five runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Steve Fatcher gave Pennsville a 1-0 with a sacrifice fly in the second, but the Panthers took the lead for good with two in the bottom of the inning.
Fatcher had two other hits for the Eagles. Luke Wood pitched the first four innings for Pennsville, allowing just two runs, three hits and striking out seven.
Pennsville (0-1)
010 000 1-
2
5
2
Pitman (3-2)
020 023 x-
7
8
0
WP: Hudson Rue. LP: Luke Wood.
HOLY CROSS 16, SALEM 2: The Lancers broke it open with 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning after the Rams pushed across their first run of the game on Bryce Harris’ RBI double in the top of the inning. Terrell Robinson had two of Salem’s four hits.
Salem (1-1)
000 11-
2
4
4
Holy Cross (2-3)
203 (11)x-
16
9
0
WP: Luke Rogers. LP: Terrell Robinson.
PENNS GROVE 16, LEAP 1: The Red Devils jumped out from with five in the home first and then erupted for 11 in the second to turn it into a rout. Elijah Crespo went 3-for-3. Liam Irvin scored three runs and was one of five players who had two RBIs. Tommy Mattioli allowed two hits and walked one from the mound.
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
8 ‘slam dunk choices’ headline the first Schalick High School Sports Hall of Fame induction class since 2015
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – When it’s been a while since you’ve had a Hall of Fame induction, it’s really important to make a splash on the night you bring it back.
The Schalick High School Sports Hall of Fame is inducting the seventh class in its history tonight with a group described as eight “slam dunk choices” for their first enshrinement ceremony in 10 years.
The Hall will welcome athletes Zyra Thomas, Sam Gerstenbacher, Joyce Perry, Sandra Cook and Jeremy Simkins, coaches Mike Hars and Steve Pierangeli and the Cougars’ 1996 South Jersey Group 1 champion boys tennis team into its lineup of Schalick luminaries in ceremonies at the high school auditorium.
“It’s just been a long time coming,” Hall of Fame chairman Erik Cagle said.
The Hall last welcomed a class in 2015 and after a brief pause were preparing to install another group when COVID infringed on everybody’s plans.
They were gearing for a reboot in early 2020 when COVID turned the world upside down and threw the project into a tailspin. They restarted the process about a year and a half ago with some new committee members and some new ideas and the result of their efforts will be on display tonight.
“We just needed to get the ball rolling and get things moving in the right direction,” Cagle said. “People asked from time to time if we were going to do the Hall of Fame again and I said please be patient with us, we’re going to get there. One year turned into two years turned into ten years.
“We’re giving new life to this and hopefully this is something that catches on it a big way. We just really had to kick ourselves in the pants to get moving again.”
One of the biggest changes involved taking the ceremonies from a successful run at a nearby country club back to the high school where it literally all began for the inductees. Now, a walk down the hall to the auditorium is a walk down memory lane.
“It’s a nice bit of homecoming for the athletes,” Cagle said.
With all the excitement surrounding the renewal, organizers are anticipating their largest turnout ever. They’ve already pre-sold a good number of tickets and expect a large walk-up crowd at the door to push attendance to record numbers.
A welcoming reception is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the program to begin at 7.
“I’d like to think it’s going to really reinvigorate the school’s attitude towards the Hall of Fame,” Cagle said. “Ten years, you start to wonder is this ever going to restart again? I’m glad I wasn’t there for the death knell of it. It’s nice that I’m able to keep it going.”
The plan is to have another induction next year and perhaps the year after, then do them every other year.
Cagle said he’ll breathe a huge sigh of relief after tonight’s closing remarks. There was a lot that went into planning this year’s renewal – fundraising, finding a venue, dotting and crossing all the Is and Ts, all the while sifting through an impressive list of nominees still in the fold from classes gone by to the ones nominated over the last 10 years.
“Obviously when you shut down for 10 years a lot of worth candidates accumulate,” Cagle said. “We need to clear the deck a bit, get some of the people who should have been honored a while ago back here.”
Those who turn out tonight will hear a lot more about the inductees, of course, but here’s a snippet (written by Cagle) of what they can expect.
Schalick athletics director and HOF co-chair Doug Volovar called the group “a quality class of people who have done some tremendous things at Schalick High School and helped build a legacy of quality athletes and sports and programs.”
SANDRA COOK (basketball): This is technically Cook’s second Schalick Sports Hall of Fame induction; she joined the ranks of Cougar greats in 2012 when her 1983-84 state champion girls basketball team was honored. She was a devastating paint player who averaged 22 points and 17 rebounds as a senior. She had 38 points in state semifinals and went for 16 and 12 in the title game.
SAM GERSTENBACHER (track/cross country): The 2016 graduate holds school records in the mile, 1500, 3200 and 3000 steeplechase and is the only Schalick runner to clock in under 10 minutes in the 3200, a feat he also accomplished in the 3000-meter steeple chase. Upon graduating, he held the Salem County records for the 3200, steeplechase and cross country.
JEREMY SIMKINS (football/track): It’s safe to say that Jeremy made his senior season with the Schalick football team a memorable one. On offense he piled up 26 catches for 634 yards and 11 touchdowns and on defense he reeled in seven interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He scored at least one touchdown in every game and holds eight program records. On the track he was a three-time Tri-County champion in the 110 hurdles and two-time champ in the 400 hurdles and as senior won the Group II state 400 hurdles crown.
JOYCE PERRY (field hockey/track): In field hockey, she’s the program’s single-season goal scoring leader with 31 and held the career goals record until 2020. In track, she holds the program best in the 400 hurdles, one of several events in which she flourished,. She also played four years on the girls basketball team.
ZYRA THOMAS (track): It’s easy to consider Zyra the greatest shot put thrower in Schalick history. She is a five-time state champion in the event and holds the South Jersey record with a heave of 48-9, which won her the national championship at the Armory in New York City. She also holds the distinction of being the first female Cougar football player in program history.
“I remember her being a really tough competitor and giving everything she had while she was on the field of competition,” Volovar said.
COACH STEVE PIERANGELI: “Coach P” is in his 97th season in 45 years of coaching Schalick athletics. He’s coached baseball, boys track, boys and girls cross country and girls basketball. His teams have amassed 383 victories, 61 championships and three South Jersey titles. A dozen of his former charges have gone on to become coaches themselves, three of whom he’s working under as a current Schalick track assistant.
“I’m honored to be recognized by the group and to be part of a long history of great athletics at Schalick,” he said. “Over the years with the programs I’ve been entrusted with I think we did a good job in developing the programs, individual athletes and individual people. I’m quite proud of what we’ve accomplished.”
COACH MIKE HARS: A beloved teacher, coach and colleague for 28 years, his passion for doing it right helped an array of athletes become legends at Schalick. Whether on the football field or at the throwing venues in track & field, Hars drove his charges to excellence. His name is on the Hars-Lake Trophy that goes to the winner of the annual Cumberland-Schalick football game.
1996 BOYS TENNIS TEAM: The Cougars went 20-1 with a school-record 15 shutouts. They won the Tri-County Classic Division, overall Tri-County Conference, South Jersey Group I Championship and finished runner-up in the State Group I Championship. The team was led by coach Karen Bowman, a member of the inaugural Schalick HOF Classic, and led on the court by singles players Ryan Jackson, Bryan Nardone and Chris MacNeill and doubles teams Scott Wark-Jim Zee and Rob Thomas-Ian Gardner.
“These are what I would call the ‘slam dunk choices,’” Cagle said. “Think back to the first Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony where you had Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb, all the greats. These are people who have really accomplished great things at the state level, not just South Jersey. They were really easy to identify. We could have easily selected five more. That’s why we’re going to do it again next year – hopefully.”
A.P. SCHALICK SPORTS HALL OF FAME The Class of 2009: Jayme Majek, Karen Bowman, Crystal Bailey, Candyce DeLoatch, Donnie Jackson-Bey, Kevin Jackson, Brent Mathers, Sean Collins, Josh Hedgeman, Charles Armstead, Karl Haywood, Robert Johnson and Mark Boyle.
The Class of 2010: Paul Gause, Sharon Hawk, Mary Brown, Aisha Morgan, Greg Frith, Mike McGowan and the 1978 Softball Team.
The Class of 2011: Lorraine Hunt, Nicole Vit, Rachel Johnson, Darryl Gause, Andy Hughes, John Donovan, the 2001 South Jersey Group 1 champion and state finalist Boys Soccer Team.
The Class of 2012: Matt Newton, Dan Mannella, Laura Hodson, Aaron Wicox, Scott Baldwin, Rose Johnson, Dave Ewart, the 1984 Girls Basketball Team.
The Class of 2013: Rashonda Scurry, Pete Mavroff, Amadi Eze, Matt Bailey, G.R. Schalick, Erik Cagle, 2004 South Jersey Group 1 Champion football team
The Class of 2015: James Woodley, Ashley Hansen, Janet Ricards, Joey Mannella, Jimmy Tuller, Coach Dale Driver and the 2009 South Jersey Group 1 Champion field hockey team
The Class of 2025: Zyra Thomas, Sam Gerstenbacher, Joyce Perry, Sandra Cook, Jeremy Simkins, Mike Hars, Coach Steve Pierangeli, 1996 South Jersey Group 1 Champion boys tennis team
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of March 23-30; events start at 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage
MARCH 23 COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Delaware Tech, noon
MARCH 24 BASEBALL x-Highland at Schalick SOFTBALL x-Lindenwold at Penns Grove x-Lower Cape May at Salem x-Paulsboro at Pennsville TENNIS x-Gateway at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. GOLF Woodstown vs. Highland, Town & Country GL, 3:45 p.m. BOYS LACROSSE x-Woodstown at St. Augustine MARCH 25 BASEBALL x-Woodstown at Cumberland SOFTBALL x-Cumberland at Woodstown TRACK x-Penns Grove, Salem at Bridgeton BOYS TENNIS x-Pennsville at Delsea, 3:45 p.m. GOLF Pennsville vs. Haddon Heights, Tavistock CC Wildwood vs. Salem Tech, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m. Woodstown at Wild Oaks GC, 9 a.m. GIRLS LACROSSE x-Woodstown at Haddon Twp. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Raritan Valley CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m. MARCH 26 BASEBALL Penns Grove at Pitman GOLF Pennsville, Clayton vs. Salem Tech, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick girls vs. Delsea, The Birches, 3:30 p.m. Schalick boys vs. Woodstown, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. TRACK x-Camden Co. Tech at Pennsville BOYS VOLLEYBALL Cape May Tech at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Mercer County CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
MARCH 27 BASEBALL x-Schalick at Collingswood SOFTBALL Pitman at Penns Grove x-Timber Creek at Schalick GOLF Pennsville vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL, 3:45 p.m. Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic, Westwood GC, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS x-Clearview at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. x-Schalick at Triton
MARCH 28 BASEBALL Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 9:30 a.m. Penns Grove vs. Gateway at Westville LL, 2:30 p.m. x-GCIT at Woodstown x-Schalick at Timber Creek x-West Deptford at Pennsville GOLF Clearview vs. Schalick, Centerton CC Pennsville vs. Haddon Twp., Sakima CC BOYS TENNIS Schalick at Cumberland GIRLS LACROSSE x-Timber Creek at Woodstown BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at Ocean City BOYS VOLLEYBALL Riverside at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Montgomery County (Pa.) CC, 3:30 p.m. MARCH 29 BASEBALL Woodstown at Gateway, 10 a.m. Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 11 a.m. Penns Grove at Gateway, 2 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Montgomery County (Pa.) CC at Salem CC (2), noon COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at CC of Morris, noon
MARCH 30 COLLEGE SOFTBALL Bucks County CC at Salem CC, noon
Assistant coach Leamy approved by board to become Schalick’s new head football coach; choice applauded by players
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Schalick has found its new head football coach – and he was already in the house.
Kevin Leamy, an assistant coach with big-picture focus already teaching in the district, was approved Thursday night to become the Cougars’ next coach in a board meeting at the high school.
“I am super excited, but also humbled, that they decided to go with me,” said Leamy, who attended the meeting. “There were a lot of qualified people who applied for the position who have a lot of wins in high school football so being someone who has no high school head coach experience it was something that was humbling, but I believe I sold my vision on what the program should be, is going to be, and they believed in me, so I’m excited to get started and see where it goes.”
He succeeds Mike Wilson, who is leaving at the end of the school year to become the head coach at Clearview. Wilson guided the Cougars for five years, taking them from a program that didn’t win a game his first season to playing for Group I sectional championships each of the last two years.
Leamy, 38, a special education teacher in the district, was an integral part of that staff. He coached various positions on both sides of the ball in his three years with Wilson, most recently as offensive line coach.
“He was a big help with some of the big picture stuff and you need that to run the program properly,” Wilson said. “It was very helpful to have him on the staff. As a head football coach you’re worrying about all that CEO stuff, so it’s nice to have a guy to help you out with the football stuff.
“He made some good adjustments, some really good calls. He was definitely an asset.”
The fact he was already in district, is raising his family in the district and is familiar with the players he inherits checked a big box for Schalick athletics director Doug Volovar, who recommended Leamy after interviews with six finalists that included some current and former South Jersey head coaches.
“He has been a very solid staff member as a coach for the last three years,” Volovar said. “I think he has the depth of knowledge and understand of the game, a very good rapport with the kids he currently coaches and I think he was a good decision with regard what we looking for – somebody who’s a pillar of the community, is vested in the school district and somebody who really cares what’s right for the kids.
“He fits all the bills for it.”
A group of about a dozen players sat in on the board meeting wearing their Schalick jerseys in a show of support for their new coach. Assistant coach Henry Papiano addressed the board during public comments and touted Leamy’s football knowledge and connectivity with the players that he called “second to none.”
“I really like it,” rising senior kicker Hunter Dragotta said. “Everyone knows him, he knows everybody. All the kids love him. When he was at practice he interacted with everybody. We’re all super excited. Everyone wanted it to be him. We were all praying and hoping it would be him.”
Leamy is the fourth new head football coach hired in Salem County within the past year. Pennsville’s Mike Healy is now the longest active head football coach at a county school.
Leamy played his high school football at Gateway and collegiately at Wesleyan University. He previously held coaching assignments at Gateway and Clearview. His background also includes spending a year and a half interning with the New York Jets game operations.
In his three years on the Schalick staff, the Cougars have gone 26-8 – 7-3, 11-1, 8-4 – won back-to-back WJFL Horizon Division crowns and played for Central Jersey and South Jersey Group I championships
“I like the idea there’s been a lot of success over last couple years and he’s been a part of it,” Volovar said. “There’s continuity and we have a group of kids (who) like him, they respect him and think he’s a very good football coach.
“Quite frankly, there were great candidates who applied for the job. Something that made sense was the idea he’s here for the long haul and to me that says lot about who he is and his character and that’s what I look for in a coach – somebody who has loyalty, somebody who thinks about our school and district first and is prepared to propel our program to higher level than it already is.”
Leamy’s vision for the program is to sustain the success provided by the “fantastic foundation” laid out by his predecessor. With so many of his players involved in spring sports – a situation he favors, by the way – he said he plans to hold a mini-camp for his team right after the Meet of Champions track championship and get started on meeting some ambitious goals.
“I have two goals and they’re big goals,” he said. “I want to beat Woodstown and Glassboro. That’s my goal.
“Since I’ve been here we’ve had a lot of success but we haven’t had any success against those two teams (the Cougars are 0-17 combined since 2014 and beaten each only once since 2010), and if you want to be what people talk about when they talk about Group I football you’ve got to start beating those teams. So, I think that’s the goal, to get over that hurdle and start beating those elite teams and then keep doing it every year.”
Leamy makes his head coaching debut at home in a Week Zero game against Somerville that originally had been a matchup for the Battle At The Beach. The Pioneers went 12-1 last season and lost to Mainland in the Group 3 state semifinals.
“I love starting the season off with that challenge, especially with the way that powr points and the index is set up,” he said. “Even if you lose that game you’re still going to be in a phenomenal position going forward.”
Cougars heading to Cooperstown
In other athletics related action, the board approved the Schalick baseball team’s two-day trip to Cooperstown, N.Y., to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame and play Bridgeton in a May 12 game at Doubleday Field. It also approved the appointment of Robert Morris as a volunteer golf coach.
“The Cooperstown trip will be a unique opportunity for our players to learn more about the history of the game they play along with creating memories of playing on Doubleday Field,” Cougars baseball coach Sean O’Brien said. “It’s an experience not many players get to have and will create memories with their teammates.
“I have done this trip a couple times before when I coached at Salem and the former players still talk about their memories of playing at Cooperstown.”
Top photo: Kevin Leamy addresses the school board Thursday after being approved as Schalick’s new head football coach.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of March 17-23; events at 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage
MARCH 17 BASEBALL x-Williamstown at Pennsville SOFTBALL x-Pennsville at Williamstown
MARCH 18 BASEBALL x-Salem at Maple Shade SOFTBALL x-Pennsville at Cedar Creek x-Salem at Maple Shade TENNIS x-Palmyra at Woodstown COLLEGE SOFTBALL Bergen CC at Salem CC (2), 3:30 p.m.
MARCH 19 BASEBALL x-Pennsville at Holy Spirit x-Salem at ACIT SOFTBALL x-New Egypt at Pennsville x-Penns Grove at Paulsboro TENNIS x-Pennsville at Middle Twp. x-Schalick at Millville
MARCH 20 BASEBALL x-Pennsville at Riverside TENNIS x-Pennsville at West Deptford BOYS LACROSSE x-Woodstown at Delran GOLF Woodstown vs. Ocean City, Greate Bay GC COLLEGE SOFTBALL Brookdale CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m. MARCH 21 BASEBALL x-Gloucester City at Schalick x-LEAP at Penns Grove x-Woodstown at Deptford SOFTBALL x-Bridgeton at Salem x-Schalick at Gloucester City x-Woodstown at Deptford COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland, 3:30 p.m.
MARCH 22 BASEBALL x-Bridgeton at Salem, 11 a.m. SOFTBALL x-Gateway at Woodstown, 10 a.m. GIRLS LACROSSE x-Woodstown at Mainland, 10 a.m. BOYS LACROSSE x-Camden Catholic at Woodstown, 10 a.m. TRACK Woodstown at Upper Darby Relays COLLEGE BASEBALL RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC (2), noon
MARCH 23 COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Delaware Tech (2), noon
