A month after landing at Pennsville, Blessing returning to GCIT after board finds funding to restore her former teaching, coaching posts
By Brian Tortella Special to Riverview Sports News
It has been less than a month since Gloucester County Institute of Technology head softball coach Jamie Blessing was approved as the new health and physical education teacher and assistant softball coach at Pennsville Memorial High School after she was forced to search for a job when her position was slashed at the Group 4 school due to a lack of funding.
But the situation has changed.
Blessing confirmed Monday afternoon that she submitted her resignation to Pennsville athletic director Jamy Thomas after receiving the news earlier this week that her positions at GCIT were restored and she was hired back.
“I’m excited to keep my position and keep my day-to-day job,” Blessing said. “I enjoy working at GCIT. I love the kids, I have great coworkers, and athletes. I want to continue to be able to be a part of their successes and to continue to be able to build the program.
“I’m sincerely grateful for Jamy Thomas and the opportunity and the confidence he gave me throughout the hiring process. I appreciate him and Pennsville being understanding of my decision, and I wish them the best of luck.”
Blessing was one of five GCIT teachers notified their positions were being cut. It is believed four of the five teachers have been rehired.
There were rumors circulating over the last few months of the possibility that the school’s Board of Education would be able to save the positions that were cut, but without a contact, it was just hearsay. The tough situation forced Blessing, who previously held a health and PE position as well as the head softball coaching position at Highland for a decade before leaving for GCIT in 2023, to search for a new job.
Thomas extended well wishes to Blessing and said the school district will begin a search for her replacement immediately.
“While we were excited to welcome Jamie Blessing to our district as a High School Health and Physical Education teacher and Assistant Softball coach, she has made the decision to return to the Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT),” Thomas wrote in a statement to Riverview Sports News Monday. “Jamie had previously faced a reduction in force (RIF) at GCIT, but upon being offered her former position back, she chose to return.
“Although we are disappointed she won’t be joining our team this school year, we completely understand and respect that this decision is in the best interest of her career and her family. We wish her the very best. Our priority remains ensuring our students and athletic programs are fully supported. We will begin the search for her replacement immediately, and we are currently seeking qualified internal candidates for our open assistant coaching positions in both softball and basketball.”Now back at GCIT, Blessing will look to build off a strong 2025-26 campaign in which she led the Cheetahs to a 17-11 record and No. 6 seed in the South Jersey Group 4 tournament. The 17 wins were her single-season high as head coach.
Brian Tortella is a contributor to Riverview Sports News. He can be reached at btortreportssj@gmail.com
Still much to do, but things moving along towards Salem CC football’s first camp, Rodriguez promoted to assistant AD, and more from the notebook
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT — The summer is supposed to be a time to unwind, relax and recharge, but when you’ve got a football program to get off the ground and opening day fast approaching there never seems to be enough time.
It’s 44 days before the opening of Salem Community College’s first fall football camp and 47 days before the first practice, and things are moving along.
Boxes of uniforms are all over athletics director Bob Hughes’ office, cartons of gear have been piling up in the field house, major practice equipment and storage containers have arrived, “mysteries” are being solved on the practice field, coaches still need to be hired and players are coming on board in droves.
“It’s still a work in progress,” head coach Jay Accorsi said. “There’s so much to do.”
During a conversation earlier in the week Accorsi said the Mighty Oaks have more than 70 players in the fold with the anticipation of hitting their minimum target of 80 during the weekend. He could have more than twice that many if he wanted with all the interest the program has received since it was announced in the fall and launched in January, but he’s trying to be “intentional” in the vetting process to “make sure it’s a quality operation.”
A stable of 110 players would have everyone feeling more comfortable going into camp, 80 gives them sufficient numbers to get underway.
“I was hoping we’d be done (on the player front), just selfishly, so I could get to football and everything else, but we’re going to go all the way into training camp in August; that’s just how it’s going to be,” Accorsi said. “I didn’t want it to be that way, the program’s just not there yet … We’re close, but we’re going to be doing it all the way through camp. It is what it is, but it just shows the numbers … We’re getting four or five emails, I’m getting three or four texts, every day.”
The program has announced more than 40 signees on its social media channels and that traffic is expected to increase as high school seniors are walking across the graduation stage still uncertain of their football plans and others are learning two potential JUCO landing spots in the region are moving up to the NCAA Division II ranks. The reach has gone into Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, where there is currently no NJCAA football.
The players who have committed/signed fill every position on the team except specifically kicker and punter, and Accorsi said they have players who can handle those specialties if the Mighty Oaks don’t land one in the signing class. Camp opens Aug. 3, with practices to start Aug. 6.
“When we hit the 80 mark it’ll be pretty big,” Accorsi said. “We’re close. We might hit it this week, and then that’ll be pretty big for me.
“That’s the one that’s kept me up. Not that I don’t think we could get to it – we will – it’s just getting there. We went from 60 to 70 just over the (previous) weekend. That’s the next hurdle. I think when we get to 80-85 I’ll feel good and when we get everything situated down on the practice facility then I’ll feel really good. And then when I get the coaches, for me, that’s probably the last piece.”
He hopes to add two to five more assistants over the next two weeks. Athletic department officials are expected to announced ticket prices and other game-day details around the Fourth of July. They took to social media this weekend to show New Jersey football’s newest jersey.
Salem CC athletic directors Bob Hughes (R) and head football coach Jay Accorsi show off the Mighty Oaks’ new football jerseys.
SUMMERTIME NOTES: Mighty Oaks softball coach Angel Rodriguez has been promoted to assistant athletic director where he’ll be responsible for, among other things in addition to his coaching duties, game management and sports information. Athletics director Bob Hughes said Rodriguez’ previous experiences in the athletic department “have made a tremendous impact on our programs” … The volleyball court has been installed in the field house in the run-up to that program’s maiden season in the fall … Men’s basketball has added depth to its roster in the offseason. The Mighty Oaks’ schedule is expected to have three JUCO Division II regular-season games, including Delaware Tech, no in-season tournament and scrimmages with Goldey-Beacom and Cheyney
TCC/Cape Atlantic softball stars grab early lead in Carpenter Cup title game, but SOL/BAL rallies in late innings to win
By Riverview Sports News
PHILADELPHIA – The Tri-Cape softball all-stars’ bid to win a third Carpenter Cup title in four years Wednesday got off to a grand start, but the all-stars from Suburban One/Bicentennial came from behind twice to steal a 9-6 victory and claim the crown
Tri-Cape, with two Salem County players and one coach on the roster, opened a 5-0 lead after two innings and went back up 6-5 in the fourth after SOL/BAL tied it with five runs in the third. SOL/BAL took the lead for good with three in the fifth when Kiera Fadden ripped a go-ahead two-run triple and later scored on a wild pitch.
Pennsville’s Graillyn Weber and Woodstown’s Talia Guardascione were infielders on the Tri-Cape roster. Pennsville head coach Beth Jackson was one of the team’s assistant coaches.
Weber, the primary pitcher in Pennsville’s run to this year’s South Jersey Group I title, got the defending champions’ four-run first inning started with a leadoff single. She also singled in the second and broke the 5-5 tie with an RBI ground out to the right side of the infield in the fourth.
Weber played in all six games and went 9-for-22 with seven RBIs and three stolen bases. She went 3-for-3 with three RBIs in their tournament opener at Penn.
Guardascione went hitless in four at-bats, but scored a run in the opener and stole a base in Wednesday’s first game.
2026 CARPENTER CUP Tri-Cape All-Stars Monday’s Games Philadelphia PCCAF, W 17-0 Mid Penn, W 13-2 Delaware North, T 1-1 Wednesday’s Games Lehigh Valley, W 5-4 Berks, W 8-0 SOL/BAL, L 9-6
Here is the list of Salem County softball players with 100 career hits, 100 career strikeouts (since 2011); note: stats source does not include seasons prior to 2011 in player totals, so some qualified may be omitted
Central Jersey champions end Pennsville’s season, title dream in Group 1 semifinals, keeps own hopes alive
GROUP 1 SEMIFINALS Bound Brook 7, Pennsville 2 Dayton 1, Indian Hills 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE — Two teams looking to make some program history played for their first trip to the state championship game in in generations Monday and the one that came the farthest both literally and logistically came out on top.
Bound Brook, the Central Jersey champions that had come 100 miles down the turnpike for a chance to reach their first state final since 1997, scored four runs in the eighth inning after Pennville tied the game in the seventh, to win the state semifinal 7-3. The Crusaders (16-12) will play Dayton (18-12) for the Group 1 state softball title 11 a.m. Friday at Ivy Hill Park.
“My pitcher (Isabella Marusiak) got injured in the middle of the season and she was out for a few weeks so then we’re thinking we’re never going to get there,” Bound Brook coach Shannon DeLuca said, “but she came back stronger than ever and she literally leads us here.”
The Eagles (18-8) were looking to return to the state finals for the first time since they won it all in 2008 and they gave themselves a chance rallying from two runs down in the last inning to keep those hopes alive.
They were down to their last strike in the seventh inning when the heart of their order tied the game and forced extra innings. Avery Watson doubled home Kylie Harris to make it 3-2 and Kenzie Widener doubled home Watson to the tie game.
Up until that point the Eagles struggled to deliver with runners in scoring position. They collected 12 hits and threatened in virtually every inning, getting a runner to second with one out six times, but each time Marusiak rose to the challenge and got out of the jam. They left six runners in scoring position over the first six innings, eight in the game and 10 total, including bases loaded (with one out) in the fourth.
“We couldn’t get that hit,” Pennsville coach Beth Jackson said. “We made contact. A couple hits here and there, maybe hold them, it might be a different story.”
Marusiak said he doesn’t change anything in her approach when teams put runners in scoring position. She just rises to the occasion.
“She’s a fighter,” DeLuca said. “It doesn’t matter who’s at the plate, she’s gonna battle. She goes right at them.”
“I enjoy playing under the pressure,” Merusiak said. “I think the pressure adds so much excitement and I just own it and play my game.”
The Crusaders are now 9-2 and have won seven in a row since Marusiak returned from a back issue in mid-May.
“She pitched an amazing game, she kept us on our toes all game – they all did,” Eagles catcher Kylie Harris said. “They had a great defense and they did what they were supposed to do, so we all just have to tip our hats.”
Pennsville’s game-tying rally didn’t deter the Crusaders in the least. They’ve been in this situation before. They won the Central Jersey title by by answering in the eighth and tenth innings after Florence took the lead in the top of each inning.
They reached Pennsville pitcher Graillyn Weber for five hits in the eighth, seeing her for the fourth time in the game. The first batters of the inning delivered singles, Ava Dedousis singled home the go-ahead run, Lily Caprara followed with an RBI single and Brianna Gurczeski broke it open with a two-run single.
“That was a mood killer,” Harris said, “but I think they were just making contact. Graillyn can only pitch so many innings without them knowing what she throws and that’s not on her. They did a great job adjusting to what she was throwing and did what they were supposed to do.”
The Eagles tried not to go quietly. Taylor Bass opened their eighth by reaching second when the Crusaders threw away her infield single. But as had been the case all game, she was left there.
“The girls have nothing to hang their heads about; I’m proud of them,” Jackson said. “It’s been 18 years since we won South Jersey. It’s going to hurt now, be upsetting – they had high hopes and they were so close – but in the overall scheme of things they should be very proud of themselves, because I am.”
Pennsville pitcher Graillyn Weber runs Bound Brook’s Lili Caprara back to the bag during a fourth-inning rundown between third and home.
Pennsville centerfielder Lily Edwards reaches up to show the umpires the ball after making a run-saving catch on a sinking liner to end the fourth inning. Top photo: Shortstop Avery Watson prepares to relay a throw home to nail Bound Brook’s Isabella Marusiak (11). (All photos by Michelle Pedrick)
Pennsville puts all the elements together to walkoff Woodstown 10-0 for its first softball sectional title since 2008; Group 1 final four set
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Clean defense and sharp pitching are keys to survival in post-season play.
Pennsville got both Thursday, on top of its usual solid hitting, and now is a South Jersey Group 1 softball sectional champion for the first time since 2008 after blanking county rival Woodstown 10-0.
The Eagles (18-7) now host Central Jersey champion Bound Brook (15-12) in the Group 1 state semifinals Monday at 4 p.m. The Crusaders beat Florence 4-3 with two runs in the bottom of the tenth.
“Oh, this is fantastic,” centerfielder Lily Edwards said after the celebration died down. “The last time it happened was (a month before) when I was born. It’s fantastic.”
“I don’t even know what to say I’m so happy; this doesn’t even feel real,” catcher Kylie Harris said. “We came in today all nervous and worried because this is obviously a big game but then we saw our entire community come out and support their girls team. Having the community behind us and being in Pennsville, that’s what makes it so special.”
Graillyn Weber pitched a shutout in the circle and delivered the walk-off double in the sixth inning. She gave up three hits and struck out four, including the side in order in the fifth. She didn’t allow a hit and only one base runner after Ellie Wygand’s single (her second hit of the game) with one out in the third inning.
She has allowed only one run in 25 playoff innings.
“I threw pretty well,” Weber said. “I don’t think I threw actually my best game but I think I was avoiding the middle of the strike zone and not making every pitch so hittable.”
Pennsville’s Graillyn Weber pitched a complete-game three-hit shutout and has allowed just one run in 25 playoff innings. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Interestingly, Weber wasn’t a pitcher until recently and really wasn’t certain she was going to be the Eagles’ main pitcher this season. She was one of three options they were considering before the season started. But there she was, pitching in the sectional championship game, something she never could have imagined just a few years ago.
The Eagles weren’t sure how the rotation would look this season and used their two scrimmages to figure it out. On a cold and miserable day at Absegami, coach Beth Jackson gave Weber a shot and she grabbed it with both hands.
“She went out and started that (scrimmage) and it went from there,” Jackson said. “We talked about it and she said, yeah, give me the ball. She wanted it so I said let’s go for it and see how it goes. She wanted to do it for her team. She’s an athlete, you can put her anywhere, but that’s where she is and that’s where she’s done her job this year by far.”
“It kind of started maybe in Upper Little League, 12U going up,” Weber said. “I never pitched for my travel team and probably never will. I like it a lot now. I definitely got a lot better.
“I was definitely like the second or third (option), but as soon as I got to high school I knew I’d have to pitch a little bit more and really got it going and learned how to do some spins myself. I was prepared. I think I was ready for it. I wasn’t super nervous or anything. My first game I was definitely more nervous than I should’ve been, but I ended up doing pretty good.”
Good enough to pitch in 19 games this season, nine of which she’s given up fewer than two earned runs.
The Eagles played a relatively clean game behind her, fielding all 12 chances in the infield that are typical of Weber’s outings. They made one error on a tailing fly ball that glanced off Edwards’ outstretched glove. They’ve made only two errors in the playoffs. The Wolverines, meanwhile, were charged with five errors in the game, all of which either wound up scoring or led to a run being scored
“Graillyn’s been our primary pitcher for most of our games and we always need to be there to back her up because everyone feels it when an error is made in the field and we need to keep each other up,” said Avery Watson, who flawlessly fielded four grounders at her shortstop position. “I put a lot of work in just so I can support my pitchers because I love ’em and they always do a great job.”
“We always talk about those controllables and that’s what you control, making those plays,” Jackson said. “If you make those plays you support your pitchers. She doesn’t have to throw as much and everybody just comes together and you get those 21 outs that you need. That’s key. You only need one run to score (to win) a game if you play good defense.”
Pennsville’s Kylie Harris reacts to her RBI double in the Eagles’ five-run fifth inning against Woodstown. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
So the Eagles played good defense and got more than one run. They led wire-to-wire. They scored a run in the first when Edwards raced home from third on a pitch that got past the catcher. They added another in the third on Edwards’ RBI single, two in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Watson and Kenzie Widener and a run-scoring ground out by Taylor Bass, and broke it open with five in the fifth.
They walked it off in the sixth when Gracie Mease reached second on a leadoff error, Edwards was intentionally walked and Weber powered a game-ending double to the left centerfield gap.
“The last time we played them they scored three (in the first) and we had to battle from behind (to win),” Edwards said. “Playing from in front gave us a lot more confidence.”
The loss snapped Woodstown’s 10-game winning streak. The Wolverines beat county rival Schalick in the first round of the playoffs, then allowed only one run in their two playoff games. They were playing in their first sectional final since 1979.
“We’re a better team than Pennsville, but today they were a significantly better team, I’ll just say that,” Woodstown coach Rob Hilderbrand said. “Today they outplayed us and beat us in every facet of the game. Do I think we’re still at better team at heart, yeah, but they just beat us today.”
After the immediate celebration and all the pictures, the team retired to the side of their storage trailer where coach Beth Jackson removed tape from a banner that revealed the newest year of an Eagles sectional title. She then got the traditional water bucket shower courtesy of Edwards and Bass.
“We just kind of thought about it in the moment,” Edwards said. “You watch like the big moments on the TV and it’s like, ‘Oh, shoot, let’s do this. She deserves it.”
The coach certainly appreciated it on such a hot day and gave a little shimmy at the end to show it.
GROUP 1 SECTIONAL FINALS Thursday’s games SOUTH: Pennsville 10, Woodstown 0, 6 inns. CENTRAL: Bound Brook 4, Florence 3, 10 inns. NORTH I: Indian Hills 2, Midland Park 0 NORTH II: Dayton 5, Whippany Park 4
GROUP I FINAL FOUR Monday’s games Bound Brook (15-12) at Pennsville (18-7), 4 p.m. Dayton (17-12) at Indian Hills (20-8)
Pennsville second baseman Reagan Wariwanchik cleanly fields a grounder during Thursday’s South Jersey Group I championship game. Solid defense has been one of the keys to the Eagles’ playoff success. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Once facing an uncertain future due to staff cuts, Jamie Blessing returning to teaching and coaching as a softball assistant at Pennsville
By Brian Tortella Special to Riverview Sports News
Jamie Blessing sat in her usual seat behind the left side of the fence.
With a typical focused look in her eyes and a white notepad in her hand, the GCIT head softball coach arose from her stool to direct her players at third base.
BLESSING
Under her guidance on that beautiful May evening, the Cheetahs overcame a two-run deficit and upended Williamstown in a Tri-County Royal Division matchup.
Business went as usual. The players lined up for postgame handshakes, and Blessing caught up with Braves coach Dan Torcasio, a longtime divisional rival and friendly foe, at home plate. Afterward, senior night was celebrated.
In Blessing’s eyes, this year’s GCIT program was one of the best, “if not the best,” she has ever coached, and it was her responsibility to guide the Cheetahs to achieve their maximum potential.
But as she walked off the field with husband Kyle and their 7-month-old son Braxton that night a dire reality loomed.
Blessing, who just completed her third year teaching health and physical education at the Sewell-based school, received a Reduction in Force letter two days before the game, official notice that her teaching position has been slashed for the upcoming 2026-27 school year.
The RIF letter came less than two months after Blessing received a Rice Notice on March 16, just a month after she returned from maternity leave. In New Jersey, a Rice Notice is a required 48-hour advance notification sent to public employees, such as school staff, when a Board of Education intends to discuss their specific employment, performance or termination in a closed, private session.
“I started school in September and I had my son Braxton on October 5, so I literally worked up until the day,” Blessing said. “So, I’ve been out on maternity leave from October until the first week of February. I’m grinding, doing my job, doing everything I need to do, and then I received a notice that my job was up in discussion for next year.
“I was extremely shocked. It made myself sick, I was sick. I had to literally ask, ‘What is this Rice letter?’ Everyone was like ‘Oh, don’t worry about it, they give them out when they’re discussing anything about your job, don’t worry about it, don’t worry about it.’”
But the following morning, she realized it wasn’t just a normal notice given to the majority of staff.
According to Blessing, she was just one of five teachers that received notice, which was certainly not what she initially expected. Among others, head boys tennis coach Jeff Ferraino’s health and physical education position was also slashed.
The elimination of numerous positions seemingly appears to be sweeping school districts across the Garden State during this grueling budget season. According to media reports, many school districts are facing layoffs just to stay afloat.
Part of the strain stems from changes to New Jersey’s school funding law. In 2018, the state revised its school funding formula to shift aid toward districts considered historically underfunded. But that left other districts scrambling to replace millions of dollars in lost revenue, according to NJ Advance Media.
Blessing’s board meeting was held March 18 in the GCIT Theater. There were 150 students in the audience, she said, for a meeting that lasted two and a half hours.
“Softball girls were there and students were there, and they weren’t just fighting for me, they were fighting for all five of the teachers,” Blessing said.
Upon graduating from Rowan University in 2012, Blessing started her teaching career at Highland Regional High School, where she also served as the head softball coach until she left for GCIT in 2023.
“I was going to get the opportunity to coach better athletes with a lot of talent,” she said. “You’re grabbing kids from all over the county. I have Delsea kids, Williamstown kids, and Kingsway kids. So I knew when the head coaching position and the teaching position was open, I knew I had to take the leap of faith to give myself an opportunity to better myself in a career, but also as a coach.”
Progressive growth was shown over the last three years. Blessing directed the Cheetahs to 14-8 and 11-8 records in her first two seasons and guided them to a 17-11 mark this spring, earning the sixth seed in the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs and falling to Egg Harbor Township. This 17 wins were her single-season high as a head coach.
But with her GCIT teaching position going away, she won’t be out of coaching or teaching long. She has accepted and been board approved as a new health and physical education teacher at Pennsville Memorial High School, effective Sept. 1. And she’ll be filling the upcoming assistant varsity softball coach vacancy, succeeding longtime assistant Lisa Doran.
“I grew up playing softball every weekend. We balanced out having softball and family, and everyone’s different priorities,” Blessing said of still deciding to coach with a toddler at home. “Being involved in a sport is something I’m used to. I’m not ready to give it up yet.”
It may be in a different role, but the same goal for Blessing next spring.
“Having to adapt to not being a head coach and running a program after 14 years is challenging,” she said. “Having the potential to take that program over when the time is right … if the opportunity comes to me and they want me to coach, I would love to take over a program like that.”
Beth Jackson has been Pennsville’s head softball coach since 2009. She picked up her 250th career win earlier this season and most recently guided the Eagles to a stunning 3-1 victory over top-seeded defending champion Audubon in the South Jersey Group 1 semifinal. The Eagles host Woodstown for the sectional championship today.
Pennsville athletic director Jamy Thomas said Blessing would be the perfect fit as a potential successor.
“She’s going to bring a lot,” Thomas said. “She comes with a wealth of knowledge already having been a head coach. Right now the plan is with coach Doran retiring, she’ll step into that spot with coach Jackson next year and we’ll go from there.
“She definitely has the drive and the want to be a head coach and to be successful. She’s seen our program and knows what we offer at Pennsville, especially in the softball area. I’m sure she’s ready to step in whenever Beth is ready to step aside. At this point, we’re going to have an awesome combo next year with the two of them, and I’m excited for both of them.”
Whether it’s a big school or small, head coach or assistant, Gloucester County or Salem, the approach remains the same.
“Guess what, there’s 21 outs and seven innings a game whether you have 20 kids come out to play or 50,” Blessing said. “The game is the game. I’m excited for the opportunity to bring the passion I have for the game to Pennsville for my new future career path.”
Clark, Woodstown blank Palmyra to reach first berth in South Jersey Group 1 softball final since 1979
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PALMYRA — The last time the Woodstown softball team played in a sectional final, none of their current players were even born. Probably not a lot of their parents either. Heck, it’d be another five years before Wolverines coach Rob Hildebrand even entered the game of the life.
The seventh-seeded Wolverines earned their first trip to the sectional finals since 1979 Tuesday when they shut out Palmyra behind record-setting Leah Clark 5-0 for their 10th straight win.
Ellie Wygand set Woodstown’s single-season hits record in the game.
Leah Clark set Woodstown’s single-season wins record for a pitcher.
They will travel to fifth-seeded county rival Pennsville (17-7) Thursday for the 3 p.m. South Jersey Group 1 title. The winner is expected to host the state semifinals.
“A long time, a long time,” Hildebrand said. “(Girls soccer coach) Kieran Keyser came and supported us and he was like ‘ok, since 1979,’ and then he texted me back and said ‘holy crap, we’re getting old, that’s 47 years ago!’ It doesn’t sound like that long ago for us old people, but it really is. Almost 50 years ago.
“We have a banner in the gym. The first year my wife coached and my father-in-law helped her, he would always motivate the girls in the gym with look at that banner and see that first year 1979 and get our names on the banner for the division. Using that as motivation is kind of how they did it. I think it sinks in (with the current team). They do talk about it. I think they really want to leave a mark on it; we aren’t done yet, really you’re going to be kind of forgotten about unless you win this South Jersey championship.”
Clark, who set Woodstown’s single-season wins for a pitcher with the shutout, said she was “super excited and proud of everyone for getting us to this point” and “impressed with how much we’ve grown as a team and learned to work with each other to be able to win games like these.”
Senior outfielder Ellie Wygand called it a “huge blessing” and she was “grateful beyond measures” to be part of such an “amazing experience with an amazing group of girls.”
“Going into this year we were seen as the underdogs as a younger team and I am really proud of how the team has shown up and I fully believe we deserve to be in this position,” Wygand said. “It’s been a long time since Woodstown has been in the finals, but this group of girls is truly special and even though it took a while, the 2025-26 Woodstown softball team definitely deserves it.”
The Wolverines (19-8) had to work for their bit of history. They were being no-hit by Palmyra left-hander Jasmine Martinez for four innings, but came to life in the fifth.
They loaded the bases on a one-out walk to Gracie Hitchner and singles by Karly Spears and Macie Moore. The Panthers got the second out at the plate, but Wygand broke the scoreless tie with a two-run bases-loaded bouncer past a diving shortstop.
Wygand had two hits in the game, setting the Woodstown single-season hits record, which she said “came to me as a complete surprise.” The senior outfielder now has 44 hits this season, breaking Tulana Mingin’s 2022 record of 43. She went over 100 career hits two weeks ago.
“After the first four innings we were starting to get a little frustrated because we absolutely knew we could hit her and when that top of the fifth inning reached I knew something had to be done to get us on top,” she said. “My hit wasn’t the best hit, but it got the job done and put us on the board and that’s all that matters.”
The Wolverines scored three runs in the seventh inning with two outs to put it out of reach. Talia Guardascione had an RBI double and Clark and Maddie LaPalomento had run-scoring singles.
“We weren’t hitting at all in the beginning of the game, but these girls just never give up,“ Hildebrand said. “They have quality at-bats. Even if they struck out they’re quality at-bats. They see so many pitches that by the time we get to that third time up at bat they start hitting these girls. I think it’s not a coincidence when it happens over and over again. It kind of felt like it was to be due.
“When you know you have your MVP up it’s going to come through more times than not – and she did.”
Clark, meanwhile, was virtually unhittable in the circle. She spun a two-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts to record her 17th win of the season. She had a one-hitter through 5 2/3 innings. In three playoff games this spring she has allowed just 12 hits, three earned runs and struck out 31.
“It’s ice in the veins, it really is,” Hildebrand said. “I don’t know how she can be that way, but things don’t get to her. Whenever she has adversity to face she digs down deeper, becomes a bulldog and pushes through. She’s had so many times shes had bases loaded with one out, no out, and she gets out of it without any damage. Just time in and time out she just knows when to beat down. She just never ceases to amaze me.
“Two years ago when I took this job over I got told by countless people you’re going to suck (that year) because you have no pitching; she’s not a varsity style pitcher, you’re not going to win. I don’t know whether that’s true or not, I hadn’t seen these girls yet. Obviously she proved that wrong last year and for as good as she was last year she’s only been better (this year).”
Clark said she got a big jolt of confidence when she struck out Martinez in the first inning with one out and a runner on second. The Panthers put two go-ahead runners in scoring position in the fourth with one out and two tying runners in scoring position in the sixth with two outs and Clark got out of both jams to keep the shutout alive.
“I feel like during the playoffs I’ve really picked up the pace in the circle and thrown better than during the regular season,” she said. “I think it’s partially because the stakes are so high and the energy is up, but also partially because I’m just not ready for my last high school season to be over yet.”
GROUP 1 SECTIONAL FINALS Thursday’s games (Records, power points in parenthesis) SOUTH: No. 7 Woodstown (19-8, 21.259) at No. 5 Pennsville (17-7, 22.191) CENTRAL: No. 8 Florence (15-5, 18.83) at No. 7 Bound Brook (14-12 21.005) NORTH I: No. 4 Indian Hills (19-8, 28.094) at No. 2 Midland Park (25-3, 32.675) NORTH II: No. 4 Dayton (16-12, 22.889) at No. 3 Whippany Park (19-7, 26.917) Power points to determine host team in state semifinals
Pennsville rally from close calls, early deficit to beat top-seeded Audubon for a spot in South Jersey Group I softball finals; hosts Woodstown Thursday
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
AUDUBON — Two years ago Pennsville softball coach Beth Jackson stood in foul territory at the Audubon Little League complex fighting back tears. She was brought to tears in just about the same place Tuesday, but for an entirely different and much happier reason.
That first time her Eagles were on the very wrong end of a one-sided South Jersey Group 1 semifinal loss to Audubon. On this day, the tears were borne of pride and joy after the Eagles came from behind both physically and emotionally to knock off the top-seeded Green Wave, 3-1 for a spot in the sectional finals.
“I am just so proud of them,” Jackson said, her words cracking with emotion. “So proud of them for being frustrated and coming back, and being frustrated at the umpires and coming back.
“They make their calls. We talk about all the time about being human and having the controllables and stuff. They rose above that and came out and had a couple hits strung together and they played good defense and Graillyn (Weber) did a great job keeping them in the game. I’m very happy.”
The win sends the fifth-seeded Eagles (17-7) to their first SJ Group 1 title game since 2019. They will host county rival Woodstown Thursday at 3 p.m. The seventh-seeded Wolverines (19-8) blanked Palmyra 5-0 for their tenth straight win and first sectional final berth since 1979.
The Eagles overcame a couple difficult umpiring decisions early in the game that could have sapped their energy to win, but they kept their focus, rallied from a 1-0 deficit and took the lead in the sixth inning off Audubon’s best pitcher. They tied it on Kenzie Widener’s solo homer in the fourth and took the lead with two in the sixth.
Early in the game they had a runner called out for leaving first base too early on a missed bunt attempt. Then there was a confusing call in the third on a ball Weber appeared to foul off her foot – she said it went off her toe in the batter’s box and photo evidence seemed to back the claim — but the umpires huddled and said it did not. Weber was ruled an out and the runner on base was returned to first. The runner, Lily Edwards, was later called out at second despite sliding away from the tag trying to advance on a ball that got away at the plate.
Adding to the hurt was Audubon (19-10) scored in its half of the inning to take a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles got the run back when Widener took starter Addie Leahan deep with two outs in the fourth. It was her second home run of the season.
“I was 2-0 i9n the count, I was ahead, and I was thinking she’s got to throw a fastball right down the middle; it’s what’s coming,” Widener said. “I just thought fastball, fastball, fastball and I hit it. I think it pumped all of us up. I think it made our energy go up 10 what it was before. After I hit that home run I really wanted to win this one.”
Pennsville’s Graillyn Weber is all smiles after delivering the go-ahead double in the sixth inning. She also kept Audubon off balance in the circle, giving up just three hits and striking out 11. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
With both starting pitchers hard to hit, the game stayed tied until the sixth.
Audubon sent Alaina Copsetta to the circle to start the inning with the top of the Pennsville order coming to the plate. Edwards greeted the hard-throwing senior with a single to right center and Weber followed with the go-ahead RBI double to the short side of left field. The Eagles weren’t intimidated by Copsetta’s velocity and she faced only two batters.
“I was ready to get a hit,” Weber said. “I was kind of mad they missed that call on the ball that hit my foot but I was really ready to get a hit. I was like you know what, I’m due. I need to get a hit. I need to score Lily; I know she’s there waiting for me. I didn’t really feel much pressure. I was calm in the box. Even though I had two strikes I was ready to get a hit.”
Kylie Harris met Copsetta’s relief, Kylie Cannaday, with an RBI single to make it 3-1. It was Harris’ 166th career hit and 116th RBI.
“They were starting to really hit Addie, even the outs we had gotten were shots to the fence,” Audubon coach Erin Small said. “We knew the top of the lineup was coming back up. We’ve been using Copsetta for those last two innings throughout the playoffs. She’s a different look. She throws a screw-rise ball, Addie does not. We just were looking for a different look and they got on her right away and we just decided to bring in Kylie after that.”
Weber, meanwhile, didn’t yield in the circle. Working with a lead she retired the Green Wave over the final two innings with only one base runner to finish off the complete game. Leaving the frustration of the early umpiring calls in the dugout, she allowed only one hit after the Audubon scored its only run in the third. She retired 13 of the last 15 batters she faced. The Eagles have given up only one run in three playoff games.
“We were definitely reaching out for most of our at bats, not being patient, letting the ball get to us, and it was resulting in a lot of pop ups,” Small said. “We only had three hits, one double. We definitely did not have a great day at the plate. You’ve got to give her a lot of credit for what she did on the mound. We just couldn’t produce today.”
GROUP 1 SECTIONAL FINALS Thursday’s games (Records, power points in parenthesis) SOUTH: No. 7 Woodstown (19-8, 21.259) at No. 5 Pennsville (17-7, 22.191) CENTRAL: No. 8 Florence (15-5, 18.83) at No. 7 Bound Brook (14-12 21.005) NORTH I: No. 4 Indian Hills (19-8, 28.094) at No. 2 Midland Park (25-3, 32.675) NORTH II: No. 4 Dayton (16-12, 22.889) at No. 3 Whippany Park (19-7, 26.917) Power points to determine host team in state semifinals
Pennsville’s Kenzie Widener makes her approach to the plate after hitting a game-tying home run in the fourth inning. Top photo: The Pennsville players celebrate victory after the final out is recorded. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Kylie Harris shares a happy moment with first base coach Lisa Doran after the Pennsville catcher singled home an insurance run in the sixth inning. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Pennsville outfielder Taylor Bass is moments away from putting the squeeze on the final out of the Eagles’ 3-1 playoff win over Audubon. (Photo by Michelle Pedrick)
Woodstown, Pennsville both beat higher seeded opponents on road to reach South Jersey Group 1 softball semifinals; Woodstown’s Clark fans 16 in record 16th win, Eagles’ Jackson gets 250th coaching win
SJ GROUP i SOFTBALL Tuesday’s semifinals (5) Pennsville at (1) Audubon, 3 p.m. (7) Woodstown at (3) Palmyra
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
BUENA – Even as much as he’s seen it, it never ceases to amaze Woodstown softball coach Rob Hildebrand the depth with which his team digs and finds a way to win.
The Wolverines faced their biggest test of the season Thursday, a win-or-go-home matchup with second-seeded Buena on the road in the second-round of the South Jersey Group I playoffs. They fell behind early, got it tied, turned back a couple serious threats, then won it with two runs in the eighth inning, 3-1.
The win keeps their run towards the first sectional final since 1979 alive and sends them to third-seeded Palmyra (18-7) in the semifinals Tuesday.
The Wolverines (18-8) have won nine in a row and 12 of their last 13. During the nine-game winning streak, they trailed at some point in five of the games.
“Team effort again,” Hildebrand said. “I can’t stress enough from our bench and how loud it was – I couldn’t hear – to our bottom of the lineup coming through to Leah (Clark) digging deep, striking out, leaving bases loaded twice … it was nothing short of amazing that they always consistently just dig deep when they have to all year long and don’t give up.
“It’s nothing short of shocking when we got in that situation to know we would pull it out because it hasn’t proved otherwise the entire year. We haven’t taken the roller coaster ride. It’s up the entire year of them not giving up.”
It was a true pitchers’ duel between Clark and Buena freshman Gracie Dixon.
Clark, a senior, gave the showing of her career, giving up three hits, a first-inning run, turning back bases-loaded situations in the first and eighth innings, and striking out a career-high 16 of 24 outs. After giving up a run-scoring single followed by a two-out walk in the first, she retired 14 in a row (nine by strikeout) before giving up a double to Dixon, who was thrown out at third on a relay from Ellie Wygand to Talia Guardascione aggressively trying to stretch it into a triple.
Dixon, meanwhile, gave up seven hits, three runs and struck out 10.
The Wolverines reached Dixon for the tying run in the third on Macie Moore’s RBI single then took the lead for the first time in the eighth. Guardascione’s one-out single to right brought home Wygand with the go-ahead run and Kendall Young singled home Guardascione with an insurance run.
The Chiefs threatened in the bottom of the inning, but Clark remained vigilant in the circle. It looked like it was going to be an easy finish as she retired the first two batters, but Laylani Muniz kept the inning alive when she reached on an error. Hildebrand then raised a few eyebrows by intentionally walking Dixon, a .667 hitter with 23 extra-base hits, 41 RBIs and two hits already in the game, putting the trying run on base to get to the bottom of the lineup that had 13 strikeouts.
“It’s not necessarily something you want to do, but our gameplan going in all along was if we ever had an opportunity to walk this girl and she looks like she’s going to be able to hit, we’re going to walk her,” Hildebrand said. “To be honest with you, if the bases were loaded with two outs I still might have done it because none of the bottom of the lineup had really even made contact with the ball.”
A passed ball put both runners in scoring position. Clark walked Makenna Feaster to load the bases, then killed the threat by striking out the last batter of the game to complete her 16th win of the season, tying Anna Marino for the most by a Woodstown pitcher since 1979.
“It’s all in the players and the bench,” Hildebrand said. “Every single person has a role and they’re all pulled in on it, they’re all bought in on the team. It’s consistently a team effort. All we’ve got to do is sit back and watch. Do we make mistakes, sure, but when it’s a clutch time they just come through. It’s nothing short of amazing. It’s just so fun to watch.”
PITMAN – Graillyn Weber was brilliant in the circle and at the plate and Pennsville beat Pitman 8-0 to give coach Beth Jackson her 250th career coaching victory — all of them with the Eagles.
Weber, a sophomore, fashioned her second straight playoff shutout, another five-hitter with four strikeouts. She had not spun a shutout in 27 previous appearances before these playoffs. At the plate she was 2-for-4 with a double.
Her defense helped keep the shutout alive. They turned a double play to end the sixth inning and Lily Edwards made a game-ending running catch in deep centerfield with a runner on third.
The Eagles jumped on top with three runs in the first inning. The first run scored on an error after Edwards and Weber opened the game with a single and double, respectively. Kenzie Widener’s ground out chase home the second run and Reagan Wariwanchik’s RBI single brought him the third.
“I told my dad last night about being the away team and we get to bat first, jumping out, getting some runs and setting the tone,” Jackson said. “That’s what they did today. We sent nine people to the plate in the first inning. We had to come to play. It’s win or go home.”
As sharp as Weber was in the circle, that’s all they needed. But they added single runs in the third and fourth and stretched the lead with three in the fifth. Taylor Bass singled home the run in the third, Wariwanchik had another RBI single in the fourth, Kylie Harris, Avery Watson and Widener drove home runs in the fifth.
Edwards had three hits for the Eagles. Weber, Wariwanchik and Bass had two apiece.
Jackson tried to keep her milestone under wraps for as long as possible. Her step-daughter made a poster commemorating the milestone and her husband had been talking it up, but beyond that not many actually knew it was near.
“I didn’t say anything, I didn’t want to tell anybody, I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it,” she said.
But it is a big deal. Through 17 years coaching at her alma mater, she is 250-124. She followed a coach who had 558 career wins.
“It’s a nice accomplishment,” she said. “All the girls have their accomplishments and whatnot, it’s nice to have one of your own. It wouldn’t happen without them. It’s a testament to them and the great program we have and the great players that Pennsville always has. It’s always nice to coach at your alma mater and know the winning continues and the tradition. It’s just a nice feeling to have all of that. Just to see everything continue. It’s nice and heartfelt.”
The Eagles (16-7) now face top-seeded and defending champion Audubon (19-9) in Tuesday’s 3 p.m. sectional semifinals.
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