Schalick tracks down sweep

Cougars win boys, girls titles in Salem County Track & Field Championships for first time since 2018; Schalick’s Hadfield wins four events

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM — It’s well established that Jordan Hadfield is an incredible runner. She’s an incredible teammate, too.

The Schalick junior had already put in a demanding day at the Salem County Track and Field Championships Wednesday, winning three events, including two with about a five-minute break in between, but when her team needed her to give a little bit more she didn’t hesitate and answered the call.

With the girls meet in the balance, Hadfield accepted the assignment of running the third leg of the Cougars’ 4×400 relay team. They needed to put some distance between themselves and host Salem both on the track and in the standings and they did just that.

Hadfield and Co. won the race and extended the Cougars slim lead. When Brooke Watt won the triple jump in the final event of the day, the Cougars claimed the team title for the first time since 2021.

“It’s a really good experience doing it for the team,” Hadfield said. “When you need it most, the adrenaline is there, you’re just ready to do it and it’s what it needs. A really good race. Not normally a 400 runner, but I was today.”

Hadfield had already won the 1600, 800 (with a PR) and 3200 – the last two with only the time of the boys 800 for a breather – and hadn’t really intended to run the relay unless the Cougars needed it. They needed it and there she was lining up to run the third leg.

And it was the third leg not the anchor because it wasn’t certain with all she had already done she could provide the last lap kick if the Cougars needed one. But she was willing to do what she could. She ran on the 4×4 relay once before, at the Penn Relays earlier this spring, but that was an the anchor because the seniors were on their senior trip.

Schalick’s girls were leading by three points when the 4×400 runners took the track. Hadfield took the baton from Grace O’Neill to start the third leg with a four-second lead. When she passed it to Gia Martellacci for the anchor leg, the Cougars led by 11 seconds.

“Once the adrenaline is going and it’s for the team title, it’s what you have to do,” Hadfield said. “You’re just all about the excitement. Everyone’s yelling around the track. You know your teammates want it and you have to do it for them.”

Hadfield ran the second-fastest split of the Schalick foursome, a 1:01.40. The Cougars won the race in 4:12.60 and beat Salem to the line by almost 10 seconds, adding two more points of their lead.

“She’s not only an incredible athlete, she’s just an incredible person,’ Schalick girls coach Melissa Pine said of Hadfield. “She would do anything asked of her.

“You look at her and you don’t think oh my gosh she’s an amazing athlete, like she just doesn’t look like one, but she goes out and is unbelievable every time and has that fierce competitiveness in her.

“I explained (the situation) to her, but I knew if it came down to it that I needed her to run that leg because Jordan doesn’t like to come in second. I put her in there and she did just an unbelievable job.”

The Schalick girls won eight events, ended up with 120 total points and wound up beating Salem by 11 for the title. The boys, meanwhile, ran away with their title to complete the sweep. They scored 94 points and won by 20, giving the Cougars their first sweep of the meet since 2018.

Hadfield was one several multiple winners in the meet.

Salem’s Karima Davenport-White (100 hurdles, long jump), teammate Anna Buzby (400, 400 hurdles) and Penns Grove’s Meely Horace (100, 200) all won twice on the girls side.

Horace’s specific two wins – both in PRs (12.67 in the 100 and 26.28 in the 200 – earned her the title of fastest female in the county. It’s a moniker she rather enjoyed.

“I love the thought of me being the fastest in Salem County,” she said. “Everybody knows me for basketball (she’s a 1,000-point scorer), so it feels good to show them that I can do more than play basketball.”

Members of the Schalick track team give David Stewart a ride on their shoulders after the freshman’s big day helped the Cougars win the county championship. On the cover, girls coach Melissa Pine brings her side’s title trophy back to the team.

Schalick’s Stewart shows out

All five competing schools produced winners in the boys meet, but Schalick had the most prolific. Freshman David Stewart signaled his arrival on the county track scene by winning three individual events and finishing fourth in the deep triple jump.

“It’s kind of exciting to see that all year long,” Cougars coach James Turner said. “A lot of people don’t know who he is because he hasn’t had any FAT times on MileSplit very much. It’s been kind of fun to see us go against different teams in dual meets and see him be successful and have that success at an early age. He’s surprising himself and he’s surprising other teams around us.”

Stewart won the 100 in 11.28, the 400 in 52.25 and the long jump in 21-4.50 – all PRs. His triple jump 42-11.25 also was a PR and less than two feet behind the winning jump.

“Being from Schalick we don’t really get recognized that much because were a little school, but I just wanted to come down here to compete, to show people where we’re from,” he said. “Today was a day I was trying to show everybody who I was. People were maybe doubting me because I’m a freshman and I’m young, but I wanted to show people I’m … good.

“I didn’t really have high expectations for the long jump, but I went out with confidence and did what I had to do and it just happened. In the running events I ran with confidence because that’s really what I do.”

Pennsville won the three throwing events, Schalick took three of the four jumping events in addition to Stewart’s exploits, Woodstown won the three distance races, Salem the hurdles and Penns Grove the relay. Salem’s Anthony Parker (both hurdles) and Woodstown’s Cole Lucas (800, 1600) were double winners.

Schalick won six events total to end Salem’s three-year hold on the boys title and help Turner win his first county crown as the Cougars coach.

“For us, the whole rebuilding process for the last few years has been to this year we want to (make a mark in) relays and we were able to do that and we knew we had a good chance at winning the Salem County Championship and that’s one puzzle piece to build us back to where we want to be,” Turner said. “We might not be sectional champ contenders but we’re one step closer to at least putting our footprint in the sand at sectional champs.

“This year our goals for sectionals are to have our relays qualify for state and then a few individuals get there as well because last year the only people who went to the state were the 4×8 (relay).”

Hadfield and Parker were the Outstanding Track Athletes of the meet. Stewart and Watt were the Outstanding Field Athletes.

GIRLS MEET
TEAM SCORES: Schalick 120, Salem 109, Woodstown 47, Penns Grove 44, Pennsville 15.

EVENT	WINNER	RESULT
400 Hurdles	Anna Buzby, Salem	1:05.91
100	Meely Horace, Penns Grove	12.67
1600	Jordan Hadfield, Schalick	5:30.64
400	Anna Buzby, Salem	59.76
100 Hurdles	Karima Davenport-White, Salem	15.70
800	Jordan Hadfield, Salem	2:20.09
3200	Jordan Hadfield, Salem	12:42.29
200	Meely Horace, Penns Grove	26.28
4×400	Schalick	4:12.60
High Jump	Kami Casiano, Woodstown	4-10
Pole Vault	Megan Morris, Pennsville	9-0
Long Jump	Karima Davenport-White, Salem	16-1.75
Triple Jump	Brooke Watt, Schalick	33-6.75
Discus	Grace O’Neill, Schalick	125-6
Javelin	Allyson Green, Schalick	104-5
Shot Put	Ava Rodgers, Salem	35-2.50

BOYS MEET
TEAM SCORES: Schalick 94, Salem 74, Woodstown 67, Penns Grove 55, Pennsville 43.

EVENT	WINNER	RESULT
400 Hurdles	Anthony Parker, Salem	56.09
100	David Stewart, Schalick	11.28
1600	Cole Lucas, Woodstown	4:42.41
400	David Stewart, Schalick	52.25
110 Hurdles	Anthony Parker, Salem	14.75
800	Cole Lucas, Woodstown	2:00.65
200	Anthony Parker, Salem	22.80
3200	Jacob Marino, Woodstown	10:42.48
4×400	Penns Grove	3:33.00
High Jump	Reggie Allen, Schalick	6-2
Pole Vault	Salvatore Longo, Schalick	11-0
Long Jump	David Stewart, Schalick	21-4.50
Triple Jump	Davonte Jackson, Salem	44-7.25
Discus	Jackson McFarland, Pennsville	123-5
Javelin	Connor Ayers, Pennsville	146-4
Shot Punt	Daniel Saulin, Pennsville	41-7.75

Rested and ready

White, Woodstown softball sharp after long layoff; Farina has career day for Pennsville softball, Eagles win wild one in baseball and more

TUESDAY SOFTBALL
Pennsville 9, Triton 6
Pitman 18, Salem 2
Woodstown 7, Gloucester Catholic 1

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLOUCESTER CITY – Grace White and the Woodstown softball team returned to the field for the first time in 10 days and it looked like they never missed a beat.

White came within two outs of a complete-game shutout and struck out 12 leading the Wolverines past Gloucester Catholic 7-1 Tuesday.

It was the second day in a row a Salem County softball team returning from a lengthy break took down the Rams (7-6), who lost back-to-back games for the second time this season.

The Wolverines (8-6) hadn’t played since losing to Mainland in Williamstown’s Fred Powell Invitational April 27 and were idle last week as eight players were away on the school’s Senior Class Trip.

“I think the break was needed,” Woodstown coach Dave Wildermuth said. “We had played a brutally tough schedule the first half of the year and I think we just needed a break.

“We needed a break and we’ve regrouped. We had a couple decent practices last week while the girls were away, with some of the underclassmen, and we had a good practice yesterday. Yesterday was the first day (White) picked up a ball.”

Tulana Mingin and Cara Delia both had a pair of hits for the Wolverines (8-6), who snapped a season-long three-game losing streak in which they scored just one run in each game. Mingin moved into fourth place on the Wolverines’ all-time hits list and is now eight shy of tying the all-time mark.

The Wolverines jumped on top with two runs in the first inning on an error and Kayla Brown’s sacrifice fly. White drove in a run in the third with a ground out and Alyssa Baber doubled home a run in the third to make it 4-0.

White lost her shutout on a homer by Gabby Scirrotto with one out in the seventh inning that was just inches out of the reach of centerfielder Ellie Wygand. Scirrotto was the only Rams base runner to get past second.

The Wolverines have big Tri-County Classic games the next two days that could potentially give them control over the division. They travel to Overbrook Wednesday, then resume their rivalry with Schalick Thursday in their annual night game at Elmer Little League.

PENNSVILLE 9, TRITON 6: Bella Farina went 4-for-5 with two home runs and a career-high seven RBIs as the Eagles won their seventh in a row. Her first homer gave them a 3-0 lead in the first and her second, another three-run blast, broke a 6-6 tie in the seventh inning.

It was Farina’s second multi-homer game of the season. She is 16-for-22 with 16 RBIs in her last six games, has at least one RBI in each of her last seven games (17 total) and 14 in her last four games. She now has six homers and a career-tying 24 RBIs on the year.

“It felt good to have one of my best games against a really good team,” Farina said. “More importantly, I’m thankful to have helped the team get a big win. The best part about hitting home runs is my team meeting at home plate.”

Sierra Stultz also had four hits in the Eagles’ 18-hit attack. Kylie Harris had three and Savannah Palverento and Bella Rappa each had two. Lilly Birney took a homer away from the Mustangs in centerfield.

PITMAN 18, SALEM 2: The Panthers erupted for seven runs in the first inning and then held Salem to three hits – all in the first inning. The Rams scored both of their runs in the home first on an RBI double by Raegan Wilson and an RBI single by Morgan Johnson, then Pitman pitcher Cassidy Batten retired the last 14 batters she faced. Julliana Love had the other Salem hit, a leadoff single in the home first.

BASEBALL
Pennsville 13, Clayton 12
Vineland 6, Schalick 0

PENNSVILLE 13, CLAYTON 12: Jacob Grant homered and the Eagles pounded 20 hits with eight of the nine hitters in the lineup getting at least two.

Grant’s two-run homer and two-run doubles by Jeff Wagner and Logan Streitz fueled a seven-run fourth that gave Pennsville a 10-5 lead, but the Eagles could never shake the Clippers. RBI singles by Mason O’Brien and Chase Burchfield gave them a 13-10 lead in the sixth and they held on as Clayton scored two in the seventh.

Connor Starn and Cohen Petrutz both had three hits for Pennsville, while Mason O’Brien and Wagner each had three RBIs.

VINELAND 6, SCHALICK 0: The Fighting Clan scored three runs in each the third and fourth innings and Mario Toro threw just 69 pitches over six innings while allowing only one hit to stop Schalick’s four-game winning streak. Enrico Hatz had the Cougars’ only hit, a one-out single in the fifth inning, extending his hitting streak to five games. Gabe Torres and Luke Pokrovsky threw three innings of scoreless relief after the Clan did their damage.

BOYS TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 5, SCHALICK 0
Gabe Schneider (P) def. George Gould, 6-1, 6-1
Maddox Efelis (P) def. Jesus Espinoza, 6-1, 6-0
Brody Wiggins (P) def. Conor O’Toole, 6-0, 6-0
Noah Bohn-Noah Flitcraft (P) def. David Santana-Rocky Monticolo, 6-2, 6-2
Luke Chamberlain-Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski, 6-2, 6-4
Records: Pennsville 14-1, Schalick 9-5.

WOODSTOWN 3, CUMBERLAND 2
Luke Fischer (C) def. Tim Schwienbacher, 6-0, 6-1
Chase Sheppard (C) def. Drew Stengel, 6-3, 2-6, 10-5
Erich Lipovsky (Wo) def. Joey Nolan, 6-3, 6-3
Bent Stengel-Mason Shimp (Wo) def. Josiah Jiminez-Angel Perez, 6-1, 6-1
Luke Shaw-Jason LaFond (Wo) def. Justin Nolan-Mason Staffieri, 6-3, 6-4
Records: Cumberland 12-4, Woodstown 10-1.

Eagles win a big one

Monday roundup: Pennsville softball holds off Gloucester Catholic to tighten Classic Division race, includes details on Salem County’s sports day

SOFTBALL
Overbrook 19, Penns Grove 2
Pennsville 2, Gloucester Catholic 1
Schalick at Glassboro
Salem 16, Wildwood 8

By Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – The Pennsville softball team hadn’t played a game in two weeks, but the Eagles came ready to play Monday.

The Eagles scored a big Tri-County Classic Division win when they beat Gloucester Catholic 2-1, handing the Rams their first loss in the division and pulling into a virtual tie for first place.

It was their first game since April 22. They have now won six in a row.

“I think it’s like riding a bike,” Eagles coach Beth Jackson said, not expecting to see any rust after the layoff. “You get back on the bike. You generally always know how to ride a bike. It’s just like getting right back on. You pick it up.

“You still have to hit the ball. You still have to field the ball. You still have to throw the ball. All those basic things are still there and applying them and playing the game.”

Savannah Palverento and Sierra Stultz combined to spin a four-hitter. Palvereno worked the first five and a third. Stultz came on with one out and bases loaded in the sixth and struck out the first two batters she faced to get out of it. Then she retired the side in order in the seventh with a strikeout to end it.

“She was calm, cool and collected, like she always is,” Jackson said of Stultz. “She always has a smile on her face and just comes in and does the job as she’s asked to do. That’s all of them. They have to come in and they’re ready when their number’s called.

“The two of them together work great. They’re a good team. The two of them work well together.”

The Eagles struck first with a run in the first, Kylie Harris led off with a single, advanced when the Rams misplayed Palverento’s grounder and scored on Bella Farina’s ground out.

The Rams tied the game in the second on an infield out, then the Eagles took the lead for good on Lilly Birney’s two-out single in the third. Palverento doubled with one out, Farina walked and then Birney singled.

The Rams threatened in the fifth, putting two runners in scoring position, but left them stranded.

A Gloucester Catholic win would have just about wrapped up the Classic Division for the Rams. By winning, the Eagles came share the division crown if both teams win out.

Jackson purposely didn’t bring up the importance of the game before her team played, but she laid out the possibilities afterwards. The Eagles went into the week fifth in South Jersey Group I power points, but they’re expected to gain ground when the standings are adjusted.

“I didn’t really want to put that in their head,; I didn’t want them to have to worry about that,” she said. “They know the situation now. We still have a lot of division games left and anything can happen, but you just split with them. If you win the rest of them, this is what could happen.”

SALEM 16, WILDWOOD 8: Julliana Love has been red hot at the plate in her last four games. Over that stretch she has gone 14-for-17 with 11 runs, including a second straight 4-for-5 Monday against the Warrior.

Raegan Wilson went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and pitched a complete game with 13 strikeouts. Morgan Johnson went 5-for-5 and Gianna Pelura went 4-for-5.

OVERBROOK 19, PENNS GROVE 2: The Rams scored eight runs in the first inning.
.
BASEBALL
Overbrook 11, Penns Grove 0
Wildwood 14, Salem 2
Woodstown 7, Camden Academy Charter 1
Glassboro at Schalick, ppd.

WOODSTOWN 7, CAMDEN ACADEMY CHARTER 1: The Wolverines broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the third inning and five Woodstown pitchers combined to spin a two-hitter.

Andrew Pedrick had two doubles and two RBIs and Rocco String drove in a pair of runs. Starter Jack Holladay pitched three no-hit innings to get the win.

WILDWOOD 14, SALEM 2: The Warriors broke open the game with nine runs in the third inning. Jacob Parkell drove in the Rams’ two runs with a fifth-inning single. Andrew May and Ethan Logo had Salem’s other two hits.

OVERBROOK 11, PENNS GROVE 0: The Rams jumped out front with two runs in the first inning and then held the Red Devils to just one hit. Tommy Mattioli had Penns Grove’s hit.

BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Glassboro 0
Woodstown 4, Triton 1
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Bridgeton

PENNSVILLE 5, GLASSBORO 0
Gabe Schneider (P) def. Rowan Somdhal-Sans, 6-0, 6-0
Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Jesus Lopez, 6-1, 6-0
Ian Peacock (P) def. Kliche Umbafu, 6-2, 6-3
Sawyer Humphrey-Carter Willis (P) won by forfeit
Locklann Hooks-Matthew Forino (P) won by forfeit
Records: Glassboro 0-11, Pennsville 13-1.

WOODSTOWN 4, TRITON 1
Steve Schilder (T) def. Tim Schwienbacher, 6-4, 6-3
Drew Stengel (Wo) def. Tristyn Malone, 6-4, 7-5
Erich Lipovsky (Wo) def. William Ahrens, 6-4, 6-2
Ben Stengel-Mason Shimp (Wo) def. Cole Durham-Sean Gorski, 7-5, 6-0
Luke Shaw-Jason LaFond (Wo) def. Tirth Patel-Shrey Modi, 6-1, 6-1
Records: Woodstown 9-1, Triton 6-8.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Triton 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-16, 25-14)

This week’s schedule

Here is the sports schedule for Salem County high school and college teams for the week of May 6-11; all events 4 p.m. unless noted

Monday

COLLEGE BASEBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Salem at Wildwood
Woodstown at Camden Academy Charter
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
Schalick at Glassboro
Wildwood at Salem
GOLF
GCIT vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Glassboro at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Triton, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Bridgeton
TRACK
Penns Grove at Overbrook
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Triton at Salem Tech

Tuesday

BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove
Schalick at Clayton
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Triton
Pitman at Salem
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic
GOLF
Schalick, Woodstown in NJSIAA Sectionals, Cream Ridge GC
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Schalick, 3:45 p.m.
Cumberland at Woodstown
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Haddon Twp., 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday

BASEBALL
Overbrook at Woodstown
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Schalick
Wildwood at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook
GOLF
Cumberland girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Northern Burlington boys vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 4:15 p.m.
Middle Twp. vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 4:30 p.m.
TRACK
Salem County Championships, Salem, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Delsea at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 3:45 p.m.
Clayton at Schalick
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Kingsway, 6 p.m.

Thursday

BASEBALL
Woodstown vs. Schalick, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Salem
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Clayton
Woodstown vs. Schalick, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m.
GOLF
Salem Tech, Pennsville, Clayton at The Birches, 3:45 p.m.
Timber Creek vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GC, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick vs. Deptford, Pitman GC
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
Williamstown at Penns Grove
GIRLS LACROSSE
Clearview at Woodstown

Friday

BASEBALL
Haddon Heights at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Clayton
Woodstown at Salem
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Overbrook
Salem at Woodstown
Wildwood at Penns Grove
GOLF
Woodbury vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Clearview at Woodstown
BOYS TENNIS
GCIT at Pennsville
Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Washington Twp., 3:45 p.m.

Saturday

COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region XIX Tournament
(All doubleheaders starting at noon)
Salem CC at Northampton
RCSJ-Cumberland at Middlesex
Ocean at Brookdale
(Game 3, if necessary, Sunday, noon)
BASEBALL
Lee Ware Tournament
Woodstown vs. Camden Catholic, 10 a.m.
Paulsboro vs. Cherry Hill East, 10 a.m.
Consolation game, noon
Championship game, noon
GIRLS LACROSSE
Lower Cape May at Woodstown, 10 a.m.

Fantastic firsts

Pennsville’s Burchfield makes first varsity appearance on mound, assistant McAllister gets first varsity coaching win; includes rest of Wednesday’s Salem County roundup

WEDNESDAY COUNTY BASEBALL
Pennsville 17, Salem 2
Schalick 24, Bridgeton 4

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – Chase Burchfield won’t soon forget the first game he’s ever pitched in high school. And neither will Aaron McAllister.

Burchfield had been begging to pitch in a game for the last couple weeks and the Pennsville coaches finally granted his wish Wednesday, giving him the fifth inning to finish off a 17-2 win over Salem for McAllister’s first varsity coaching win.

McAllister has been running the team while Eagles coach Matt Karr has been recovering from a surgical procedure last week. It was hoped Karr would return to the team in some capacity by the weekend, but McAllister is moving the pieces in the meantime.

In his first two games over the weekend, the Eagles lost to Cedar Creek in Mainland’s Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and Rancocas Valley in the Diamond Classic.

“It’s good to get back in the win column,” McAllister said. “We preach to these guys from Day One that we’ve got pretty lofty goals for this program and it’s about the program and not who gets it. We talk about be ready for your opportunity and next man up. Whoever gets the hit, whoever gets the RBI, it’s where we’re trying to be in June what we’re really about.”

That next man up on this day was Burchfield. With the Eagles running short of pitchers for various reasons, the coaches thought it was a good time to grant Burchfield’s wish to pitch.

The junior right-hander entered in the fifth inning with a 15-run lead and faced four batters. He threw 11 pitches, seven for strikes. He struck out the first batter he faced as a pitcher since eighth grade, had the next one reach on an infield error and balked that runner to third for not pausing between two fly outs to end the game.

“I was begging them to let me pitch since the Buena game (April 20),” Burchfield said. “They let me warmup in the Williamstown game (the day before) and I’ve been waiting. I finally got them to let me pitch today and I was just trying to throw some gas.

“I did not think I was going to step foot on the mound ever again, but I was able to get back out there. It felt pretty good. It was the first time since eighth grade, but hopefully I can get out there more.”

Although he left the field with a career ERA of 0.00 Burchfield thought he could have done better. He promised the next time he gets out there he’ll throw even more strikes.

Is there going to be a next time?

“His opportunity might come again,” McAllister hinted. “We’ve got a lot of games and our schedule is so compact and condenses that there may be another opportunity where he gets to come in a situation to close out a game. I wouldn’t say it’s a one-and-done. I’d say it’s a potential he could get back out there … without having to beg.”

Burchfield came in to finish up for Logan Streitz, who was making his second start of the season and first since Opening Day. Streitz allowed one hit through four innings – a triple by Caleb Clark in the third inning – walked three and struck out eight. He struck out the side in his final inning.

“I figured out I was going to start on the bus,” Streitz said. “They didn’t tell me from yesterday and on the way here they mentioned I was pitching. Sometimes I like knowing before I’m going to pitch, like the day before, so I can prepare. Today I just had to switch my mentality that I was going to pitch.”

Throwing just 73 pitches with velocity McAllister said was as good as he has seen from him and feeling “pretty good,” the sophomore could have gone out to finish his first complete game. But the score being what it was, the situation was good to grant Burchfield’s wish.

“That’s something we’ve been wanting to do for a while,” McAllister said. “Burchfield has always let us know that he’s ready, always ready. He told me pregame today he’s ready, what’s the situation gpnna have to be for me to get into the game. I said you just do your job and you stay ready and when it’s time for your number to be called you’ll know.

“Luckily these guys came out and swung the bats and did what they were supposed to do to get us in a position to get him on the mound today.”

Salem countered with Colin Finney, who was starting for the second day in a row. He threw 28 pitches in two innings against Camden Eastside on Tuesday, but threw 24 in the first inning against a vastly different team.

Rams coach Eric Fizur gave him the choice of staying in and not be able to pitch again until the middle of next week or coming out and have an earlier return. The right-hander opted for the early exit so he could pitch again Monday.

The Rams ran out three pitchers behind him, but the results were the same. The Eagles scored in every inning. Every spot in their order reached base at least twice and seven spots had at least one hit. Mason O’Brien, Peyton O’Brien and Streitz had two hits apiece. Burchfield and Cohen Petrutz each had three.

“They were what we thought they were as Dennis Green said before,” Fizur said. “You could see why even missing three or four of their top guys that’s the No. 1 Group I South right now; you could easily see that.

“(Colin) threw well. He didn’t change anything (from Tuesday). We just saw a team that knows how to play the game versus a team that is young and developing.”

**Pennsville right-hander Logan Streitz looks in for a pitch in his first start since Opening Day. On the cover, Chase Burchfield delivers a pitch in his first mound appearance since eighth grade.**

SCHALICK 24, BRIDGETON 4: Playing under the lights at Elmer LL, the Cougars erupted for 23 hits and scored their most runs in a game since putting up 24 in a game last May for their fourth win in a row.

Luke Pokrovsky led the hit parade going 4-for-4 with five RBIs. Jamari Whitley went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Wyatt Cushane went 3-for-3 with three RBIs. J.T. Fleming, Jake Siedlecki and Elijah Cummings also had three hits.

The Cougars actually trailed 4-1 after the first inning, but they took control with 12 in the second. Seventeen batters came to the plate in the inning with the first 11 all reaching safely. Siedlecki’s bases-loaded walk tied the game and Lucas D’Agostino’s hit by pitch put the Cougars in front for good.

SOFTBALL
CUMBERLAND 12, SCHALICK 1: The bottom four hitters in the Colts’ lineup combined for six hits, five runs and seven RBIs. Shayla Richmond was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Storylynn Dagostino was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. The Colts broke it open with an 11-run third inning.

Taylor Sparks drove in Schalick’s run with a two-out bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning as the Cougars tried to extend the game. Addy Shimp had two of Schalick’s three hits.

BOYS TENNIS
SCHALICK 4, GCIT 1
George Gould (S) def. Luke Clodfelter, 6-2, 6-0.
Jesus Espinoza (S) def. Jeffrey Smith, 6-2, 6-3
Conor O’Toole (S) def. Lorenzo Miglino, 6-1, 6-2
Rocky Monticolo-David Santana (S) def. Rory Guice-Liam Masusock, 6-0, 6-2
George Gould-James Helder (G) def. Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski, 6-0, 2-6, 10-6
Records: Schalick 8-4, GCIT 4-8.

Quick work

Salem ace Finney was ready to go seven, but only went two in a rout so he can start Wednesday against Pennsville

TUESDAY SALEM COUNTY BASEBALL
Salem 15, Camden Eastside 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – When Colin Finney arrived at the ballpark Tuesday afternoon he and Salem baseball coach Eric Fizur were fully prepared for the pitcher to go all seven innings and give the Rams everything he had.

After two innings and an 11-run lead that plan went out the window, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Finney was off the mound after 28 pitches, which lets him start Wednesday against Pennsville, and the Rams went on to beat Camden Eastside 15-0 for their second win in a row. It’s the first time the Rams have won back-to-back games since a three-game winning streak in late May 2022.

“I was absolutely fine with that,” Finney said. “Since Day One freshman year I was willing to sacrifice anything for this team. To see the younger guys stepping up is incredible to watch. Just being able to sit back and watch them improve is good.”

Finney, coming off six days pitching rest, said he felt “great” after his two innings against the Tigers and could have gone longer if necessary, but it wasn’t required. During his 28 pitches, he gave up a single through the box, a walk and struck out two.

“The first inning there were four batters and I think he threw three first-pitch strikes and I think he only threw two balls,” Fizur said. “I think he got hit hard once, and that was a pop up in the infield. He did exactly what I asked him to do – throw hard, throw well and trust the guys behind you.”

Finney’s fate on the mound was probably sealed after he belted a bases-loaded triple in the first inning that give the Rams (4-7) a 4-0 lead with nobody out. They ended up scoring nine in the inning. Andrew May had a two-run double and Chase Davis a two-run triple before it was over. Every spot in the lineup scored at least one run in the game.

“I’ve been put in big situations before,” Finney said. “I’m one of those guys (who believes) pressure makes diamonds and you build off that. To see everyone on base and all of them cheering you on, it was like let’s get this ball on the ground so where it’ll go deeper in the outfield and as soon as I saw it in that gap I was already going for third.”

Three relievers followed him to the mound – Jacob Parkell, Bryce Harris and Josthen Jimenez – and held the Tigers (1-5) hitless.

SOFTBALL
PAULSBORO 16, SALEM 3: Alexis Morrison went 4-for-5 with three doubles and six RBIs and pitched a complete game in the circle for the Red Raiders. The first four hitters in the Paulsboro lineup were a combined 12-for-16 with 12 RBIs.

Julliana Love went 3-for-3 at the top of the Salem lineup and Destiny Carr went 2-for-2 from the nine spot. Love, Kyla Henderson and Ava Ortiz drove the Rams’ runs home.

BOYS TENNIS
SCHALICK 5, WILDWOOD 0
George Gould (S) def. Giorgio Palesano, 6-0, 6-0
Jesus Espnoza (S) def. Justin Damian, 6-2, 6-1
Conor O’Toole (S) def. Brian Damian, 7-5, 6-1
Rocky Monticolo-David Santana (S) def. Christopher Olivera-Christopher Hernandez, 6-0, 6-0
Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski (S) def. Yahir Reyes-Simon Palacias, 6-1, 6-0
Records: Wildwood 3-6, Schalick 7-4.

Cover photo: Salem pitcher Colin Finney delivers a pitch in his second inning against Camden Eastside.

Monday milestone

Schalick junior Luke Pokrovsky spins no-hitter against Wildwood, fans 15 to reach 200 career Ks; includes highlights from Monday’s Salem County sports calendar

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – It was red letter day for Luke Pokrovsky all the way around Monday.

The junior left-hander threw the first no-hitter of his high school career and collected his 200th career strikeout during Schalick’s 8-0 victory over Wildwood.

He threw 96 pitches in the complete game (64 for strikes), struck out 15 and walked three – the only base runners he allowed. He called it one of his top pitching game after his 16-strikeout, one-hit near-complete game against Gloucester on April 19.

In his last three starts he allowed one hit with 16 strikeouts against Gloucester, three hits with 13 strikeouts with 13 strikeouts in a complete game against Lower Cape May and then Monday.

“He’s been locked in, especially the last three starts where he’s been all around the strike zone, getting ahead of guys, finishing guys off,” Cougars coach Sean O’Brien said. “It’s been fun to watch.

“It’s been easy for our guys playing defense behind him, but he really has been ahead of every batter and attacking batters and not really walking that many guys.”

O’Brien couldn’t remember having a no-hitter in his tenure at Schalick and even this one caught him a little by surprise.

“I heard someone mention it to me, so it was around there, but I didn’t realize it until later in the game,” O’Brien said someone. “We were looking at the pitch count and then I realized they hadn’t had any hits.”

Pokrovsky was so sharp he didn’t allow a ball out of the infield. The closest the Warriors came to a hit was Logan Totten’s sharp grounder to second baseman Evan Glaspey for the first out in the seventh.

He retired the first eight batters he faced and 13 of the first 14. He hit the milestone strikeout on the number, fanning the last two batters of the game.

“I was going into the game knowing 15 Ks is a lot to get,” Pokrovsky said. “Wildwood is a good team after looking at the stats. I knew they were going to compete and look to jump on the fastball. I tried to mix up my off-speed pitches early in the count and then come back with the fastball hoping to get it past them.

“When I got into the dugout after the sixth inning, a teammate came up to me saying I needed two more (for 200). I got excited knowing I could get my 200 strikeouts. They had their top hitters up the next inning. After walking the third hitter and grounding out the fourth I knew the lineup kind of dropped off so I just tried to blow my fast by them and it ended up working out.”

The pitcher got a lot of support from his teammates. J.T. Fleming went 3-for-3, Evan Glaspey went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Lucas D’Agostino had a pair of hits. Pokrovsky also had two hits, giving him 79 for his career in that department.

Diamond Classic
Rancocas Valley 7, Pennsville 1
Lenape 6, Mainland 2
Egg Harbor 4, Seneca 3

Rancocas Valley 7, Pennsville 1: The Red Devils scored all their runs in the first four innings and held the Eagles to just two singles. Jeff Wagner and Peyton O’Brien had Pennsville’s two hits and Mason O’Brien drove in the Eagles’ run in the second inning to make it a 2-1 game.

SOFTBALL
Schalick 17, Wildwood 0: The Cougars erupted for eight runs in the first inning and Addy Shimp and Annie Podhel split a four-inning one-hitter. Cayla Sbrana had a two-run single in the first inning and had four RBIs in the game. Cloe Elliott, Maddie Brown and Lucy Virga all drove in three runs.

Salem 8, Cape May Tech 7: The Rams scored two runs in the sixth inning to snap a 6-6 tie and then held on to snap an eight-game losing streak. Ava Ortiz and Julliana Love scored the decisive runs stealing home.

CMT made it 8-7 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run at third, but the game ended with offensive interference.

Morgan Johnson had a bases-loaded triple in Salem’s five-run second inning and had four RBIs in the game. Love had three hits, Johnson, Ortiz and Kyla Henderson had two hits apiece.

GOLF
Woodstown 174, Wildwood 196: Grant Prater shot 38 at Union League National to lead the Wolverines (11-3).

Clearview girls 170, Schalick 209: Clearview’s Stella Bernardi won medalist honors at Centerton CC with a 41. Hannah Widdifield posted Schalick’s low score (46).

BOYS TENNIS
SCHALICK 4, WASHINGTON TWP. 1
Zack Torbik (WT) def. George Gould, 5-7, 6-3, 10-6
Jesus Espinoza (S) def. Khang Nguyen, 6-0, 3-6, 10-7
Conor O’Toole (S) def. Jack Hanson, 6-0, 6-0
Rocky Monticolo-David Santana (S) def. John Ecker-Kaden Murphy, 6-2, 6-4
Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski (S) won 6-1, 6-0
Records: Schalick 6-4, Washington Twp. 1-8.

Saturday roundup

Here are the results of Saturday’s high school action involving teams from Salem County

BASEBALL
HADDONFIELD 6, WOODSTOWN 2: Rocco String had two hits, drove in both of the Wolverines’ runs and pitched an inning and a third of one-hit relief. String hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last two appearances.

COLLINGSWOOD 11, SALEM 0: Jairo Mendoza went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and Chase Ladik spun a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts over five innings. Caleb Clair and Chase Pomper had the Rams’ two hits.

The Rams loaded the bases with one out in the first inning, but couldn’t get the runs home. They also had runners at second and third with none out in the fifth with the same result.

SOFTBALL
Fred Powell Invitational
Moorestown 7, Woodstown 1
Mainland 9, Woodstown 1

MOORESTOWN 7, WOODSTOWN 1: The Quakers hit three home runs and pulled away with four runs in the sixth inning. Woodstown grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Hannah Hitchner scored on an error. Hitchner (double), Tulana Mingin and Ellie Wygand had the Wolverines’ three hits.

MAINLAND 9, WOODSTOWN 1: Mainland pulled away from a 1-1 tie with five runs in the second inning. Cara Delia had three hits for Woodstown, while Kayla Brown and Grace White had two hits apiece. Brown drove in the Wolverines’ run with a first-inning single.

DEPTFORD 11, SALEM 0: Annaliese Underwood homered and Grace Logue held the Rams to two hits and struck out six. Logue retired the first 13 Rams she faced before Phoenix Holland and Cimiyyia Corbin had back-to-back singles in the fifth.

TRACK
PENN RELAYS: Schalick’s 4×400 relay team of Nylan Sutton, David Stewart, Reggie Allen and Michael Eberl ran a 3:33.40 and placed seventh in the high school boys race. Stewart ran a second leg of 51.50.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 28-May 4; all events start at 4 p.m. unless noted

Sunday

BASEBALL
Mainland Coaches vs. Cancer
Pennsville vs Cedar Creek, 9 a.m.

Monday

BASEBALL
Wildwood at Schalick

Diamond Classic
Pennsville at Rancocas Valley
SOFTBALL
Salem at Cape May Tech
Schalick at Wildwood
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Delaware County CC, 3 p.m.
GOLF
Clearview girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Pennsville vs. Penns Grove, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Wildwood, Union League National, 3:45 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic
Clearview vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 4:15 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Washington Twp. at Schalick

Tuesday

BASEBALL
Camden Eastside at Salem
SOFTBALL
Paulsboro at Salem
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Anne Arundel CC (2), 2 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Delsea, Birches/Wash. Twp. GC
Schalick vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC
BOYS TENNIS
Wildwood at Schalick
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Riverside at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.

Wednesday

BASEBALL
Pennsville at Salem
Bridgeton at Schalick, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Cumberland
BOYS TENNIS
Schalick at GCIT
BOYS LACROSSE
St. Joe’s at Woodstown

Thursday

BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Pleasantville
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Lehigh Carbon at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Pennsville, Schalick, Woodstown in Carl Arena Tournament, 8 a.m.
TRACK
Salem at SJTCA Meet, Delsea

Friday

BASEBALL
Salem at Overbrook
SOFTBALL
LEAP at Salem
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
REGION XIX TOURNAMENT
at Mercer County CC
Salem CC vs. Mercer CC, 10 a.m.
Delaware Tech vs. Lackawanna, noon
Salem-Mercer winner vs. Del Tech-Lackawanna winner, 2 p.m.
Salem-Mercer loser vs. Del Tech-Lackawanna loser, 4 p.m.
GOLF
Cedar Creek vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday

COLLEGE BASEBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
REGION XIX TOURNAMENT
at Mercer County CC
Elimination game, 10 a.m.
Championship Game, noon
If necessary, 2 p.m.

Friday roundup

Schalick holds off Cape May Tech to win Coaches vs. Cancer game, includes details on Friday’s high school action involving Salem County teams

BASEBALL
Mainland Coaches vs. Cancer
Schalick 10, Cape May Tech 9
Atlantic City 13, Bridgeton 1
Audubon 5, Paul VI 2
Mainland 5, Rumson-Fair Haven 1

SCHALICK 10, CAPE MAY TECH 9: The Cougars scored four runs in the visitors’ seventh to take a 10-6 lead, then held on in the bottom of the inning as Cape May Tech scored three to make it a one-run game. Luke Pokrovsky received an autographed Mike Trout baseball as his team’s game MVP.

The teams matched run throughout the game. The Cougars held leads of 2-0, 3-2, 5-4 and 6-5 before closing it out in the seventh.

The Cougars batted around in the inning and plated runs when CMT misplayed Matthew Lamazza’s bunt, sacrifice flies by J.T. Fleming and Ricky Watts and Jake Siedlecki’s RBI single. The Hawks got within a run, but the Cougars cut down a runner at third for the second out and Lucas D’Agostino got a strikeout for the final out.

Fleming, Watts and Siedlecki all had two hits and two RBIs. Pokrovsky had two hits, including a leadoff homer in the fourth to tie the game at 4-4.

Regular Season
GATEWAY 11, PENNS GROVE 2: The Gators pulled away from a 2-2 tie with four runs in the fifth inning. Sean Greene and Jack O’Connell both had three hits and two RBIs for the winners. Bristol Scott had two hits for Penns Grove.

SOFTBALL
PALMYRA 15, SALEM 5: Aubrey Wagner’s one-out RBI single in the third inning broke a 4-4 tie and Palmyra pulled away with eight in the fourth. RBI singles by Cimiyyia Corbin, Kyla Henderson and Morgan Johnson helped the Rams rally from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game 4-4 in the top of the third.

Johnson went 3-for-3 with two RBIs for the Rams. Phoenix Holland had two hits.

TRACK
PENN RELAYS: Schalick’s boys 4×100 team of Kenai Simmons, David Stewart, Reggie Allen and Michael Eberl ran a 45,59 in qualifying. The Cougars ran third in their heat behind Huntington (N.Y.) and Mainland Regional.