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.

Fighting to the end

Salem CC’s record softball season ends in hard-fought Region XIX tournament loss to eventual runner-up Mercer

REGION XIX TOURNAMENT
Saturday’s games
Mercer CC 10, Salem CC 8
Mercer CC 13, Delaware Tech 6
Championship game
Delaware Tech 11, Mercer CC 9
NOTE: Delaware Tech plays at Region X runnerup Bryant & Stratton (Va.); Mercer CC plays at Region X champion Louisburg (N.C.).

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WEST WINDSOR – Midnight came to Cinderella a little before noon Saturday.

The Salem CC softball team literally gave host Mercer CC all it could handle for the second day in a row but it took a sixth-inning rally for the top-seeded Vikings to put the relentless Mighty Oaks away.

Mercer fired the last salvo in a back-and-forth game, scoring two runs in the sixth inning to hand Salem a 10-8 loss in the Region XIX semifinals and bring to an end a record-setting season for the Mighty Oaks.

The Mighty Oaks shut out Mercer in the opening game of the tournament and held leads of 1-0, in the first inning, 4-3 in the third and 8-5 in the fifth Saturday; in fact, they held leads in all three of their tournament games. But the Vikings, the eventual tournament runner-ups, answered every time before taking the lead for good in the sixth.

“We definitely fought hard, we definitely pushed until the end; we just fell short at the end,” freshman catcher Callie Rozak said. “We scored just as much or more runs than they did, but in the end just came up a little short.”

“They underestimated us throughout the whole season I wanted to prove a point,” centerfielder Karyn Trice said. “I know everyone wanted to prove a point. I hoped we would come out on top, but we played hard and I think we really made a name for ourselves.”

The Oaks’ first three batters of the game all singled with Courtney Hoggard giving them a 1-0 lead. In the third inning Vaye Savage doubled home a run and two more scored on Rozak’s liner that hit hard off pitcher Shea Krebs’ upper body, was fielded in the infield and then thrown into foul territory.

The took their 8-5 lead in the fifth on a pair of two-run homers by Savage and Rozak. It was Rozak’s third homer in three tournament games (10 at-bats). The freshman catcher had hit only one during the regular season.

“The biggest thing is my swing,” Rozak said. “This past week we broke it down, we really changed it, we really harnessed all the power that I had and we put it into one nice full swing. I definitely think this year was me finding my power towards the end of the year. I’ve had base hits, I’ve had one other home run this year, but never like, OK, I’m consistently hitting it, we’re getting the ball out.”

The three-run lead left them nine outs away from a trip to the region championship round and a guaranteed berth in the Atlantic District playoffs next week at the Region X representatives.

But Mercer wanted a piece of that, too. The Vikings tied it with three in the bottom of the inning sixth on a two-run homer by Maya Patel and a throwing error trying to complete an inning-ending bases-loaded double play.

Hoggard made another nice stop at the third base bag on a hot shot, but instead of stepping on the base and firing home for a tag, she went home with the throw. Rozak took a short hop for the force, then fired on to first, but her throw sailed past Savage and into right field allowing the tying run to score.

“I definitely knew it was coming forward,” Rozak said. “We just had a time out about it and everybody was saying ‘4 then 1 (home then first base). That throw definitely was a throw I got nervous about because it was bouncy, the turf is hard and it bounced right before my glove and I was like I’ve just got to catch this ball, that’s all I have to do, I have to make this out.

“I probably shouldn’t have made the throw (to first). In my head I was like ‘hold it, hold it,’ and in the back of my head hearing everyone yelling ‘1, 1, 1,’ I thought maybe I still had a chance.”

The Vikings scored their two go-ahead runs on an RBI double by Cierra Acevedo that fell squarely on the right-field foul line and a sacrifice fly by Patel after both hitters fouled off a pair of 0-2 pitches from Morgan Mecham.

“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Salem coach Angel Rodriguez said. “We played our best yesterday and they (Mercer) were going to be hungry coming out and wanting to make a difference. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

“They did everything that we asked. They came into a week where they were the true underdogs and they battled. It didn’t come out our way – that’s softball – but they did everything we could ask.”

There were expectedly tears and hugs in the Mighty Oaks’ post-game huddle, but there also was a lot of pride in what the team showed this season in its second year back on the field and in the tournament.

The Mighty Oaks had a 30-win season, opened their new home at Pennsville’s Watson Field with a 14-game winning streak, went 18-2 at home, had a 19-game overall winning streak and won its first playoff game in school history.

“The biggest thing was how well we came together as a team,” Rozak said. “Coming from everywhere around the country, the world, and coming together as one and being there for each other, that’s a huge part of this game.”

“We had something to prove since Day One,” Trice said. “Since we’re a second-year program nobody thought we could do it and I’m just glad we put our name out there. We really showed what Salem’s all about. That’s what makes it so special to me, we’re a second-year program and doing all these things.”

**Salem CC catcher Callie Rozak gets the crown at home plate after her third homer of the tournament gave the Mighty Oaks an 8-5 lead over top-seeded Mercer in Saturday’s Region XIX semifinal game.**

Friday roundup

Top-ranked team in JUCO Division III ends Salem CC baseball’s 15-game winning streak; Salem High softball wins big, Rams’ baseball falls

By Riverview Sports News

SEWELL – The Salem CC baseball team’s 15-game winning streak came to an end Friday as No. 1 RCSJ-Gloucester scored seven runs over the first three innings and handed the Mighty Oaks an 8-2 defeat.

The Oaks (26-21) scored a run in the top of the first that the Roadrunners answered in the bottom of the inning. The hosts then scored four in the second.

The Oaks still have won 18 of their last 20 and are still guaranteed a winning season. The series concludes with a doubleheader Saturday at the Carneys Point Rec Complex that will mark the end of the regular season.

HIGH SCHOOLS
BASEBALL
OVERBROOK 14, SALEM 4: Mike Rosano had two hits and three RBIs from the leadoff spot and Overbrook took control with six runs in the first inning.
Chase Pompper, Caleb Clair and Ethan Longo had Salem’s hits. Terrell Robinson had an RBI.

SOFTBALL
SALEM 23, LEAP 5: Kyla Henderson went 5-for-5 with three doubles and four RBIs and the Rams got hits from every player in the boxscore. Eleven of the Rams’ 27 hits were doubles.

The top five batters in the Rams’ lineup were a combined 19-for-22 with 16 RBIs. Julliana Love had four hits and four RBIs, Raegan Wilson was 4-for-4 with two RBIs, Morgan Johnson and Ava Ortiz both had three hits and three RBIs.

Cimiyyia Corbin had two hits and three RBIs and Destiny Carr had two hits and two RBIs.

The Rams already had a 4-0 lead, then broke it open with 11 in the second.

Mighty hungry

Salem CC stuns Mercer in Region XIX softball tournament, then falls to Delaware Tech in winners bracket, but still alive for title

REGION XIX TOURNAMENT
At Mercer County CC
Friday’s games
Salem CC 6, Mercer CC 0
Delaware Tech 6, Lackawanna 5
Delaware Tech 9, Salem CC 3
Mercer CC 8, Lackawanna 0
Saturday’s games
Salem CC vs. Mercer CC, 10 a.m.
Salem-Mercer winner vs. Delaware Tech, noon
If necessary, 2 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WEST WINDSOR — For the past couple weeks the Salem CC softball team has been living by the motto ‘Schlay the day.’ The Mighty Oaks certainly ‘schlayed’ the first part of their day Friday and slayed a giant in the process.

In clearly their biggest win since the rebirth of the program and probably the biggest in its history, the fourth-seeded Oaks stunned top-seeded Mercer 6-0 in the opening round of the Region XIX Tournament.

They dropped their winners bracket game to Delaware Tech 9-3, but still have a chance to earn a spot in the district round against Region X. The Oaks (31-13) will have a rematch with Mercer (38-6) Saturday at 10 a.m. for a berth in the championship game where the winner and runnerup both advance to the next stage of the playoffs, but they’ll have to win three games to take the title.

“We’re in a good spot,” Salem coach Angel Rodriguez said. “We won a playoff game. That’s our story.

“We’re a new team in a position that hasn’t been here in our history and in program history and these three teams have a history of being here and knowing what it takes, having a good idea. We have nothing to lose. We’re going to keep battling and we’re going to keep working. We’re excited. We’re to come out here and whoever we have to face we’re looking to get the job.”

The Oaks stunned the field in the tournament opener. This was the same Mercer team that swept them with two run-rule shutouts and allowed just one hit 10 days ago, but the Oaks didn’t look intimidated in the least. They turned the tables by being aggressive at the plate and Caitlin LaGreca (and later Morgan Mecham) confounding the Vikings with her changeup from in the circle.

‘We were very confident from the start,’ said catcher Callie Rozak, whose three-run homer in the sixth inning was the gamebreaker in the win. ‘We put in a lot of hard work these last three days — live pitching, at bats, approaches, really getting the basics down so going in we have seen this, done this, let’s just put it in action.

‘It’s a big upset. We came in here and you’re counting us out already – a lot teams were – and we shut them out.”

Emilie Hamm’s sacrifice fly in the fourth inning gave the Oaks the lead. It remained a tight game until the sixth when the Oaks scored five runs. Rozak delivered the big blow in and Kiki Beukman hit a solo shot two batters later.

‘Coach Angel (Rodriguez) pulled me aside right before that and said we just need a hard hit, something to go through,’ Rozak said. ‘So I hit that one and I was like that felt good. Once we got that hit it really shut down their energy.’

LeGreca can’t remember pitching a better game. The Vikings are a team that likes to hit hard pitching and LaGreca kept them off-balance all day with her change, thanks in large part to lowering the pitch’s trajectory after studying film of the last time she faced them.

‘We really needed that win,’ LeGreca said. ‘We were voted the underdog and hungry dogs run faster.’

Where have we heard that before, Jason Kelce?

From her vantage point behind the plate, Rozak said LaGreca was ‘amazing’ and painted the outside corner ‘perfectly.’

‘It was definitely an exciting pitch, that’s for sure,’ Rozak said.

It was only the second time this season the Vikings had been shutout and the first time since they returned from their early-season trip to Myrtle Beach. The only hit they got was Abby Bell’s two-out single through the box in the second inning. They had six base runners and only two into scoring position. Third baseman Courtney Hoggard made two nice stabs at the bag to keep the gem alive.

“For us this meant a lot,” Rodriguez said. “This is something we’ve had our eyes on since we started the program: What are we doing to get to the playoffs and how can we win a playoff game.

“Last year we came up short, had the play-in, didn’t work out in our favor. Today just proves to us as coaches and players that we can get it done, that we are a good team, we deserve to be here and they earned that. Hashtag why not us.”

The Oaks were still riding the high of their opening-game win when they jumped out 2-0 in the first inning of their second game. But Del Tech took control with a six-run second inning that featured a three-run double, an RBI double and a two-run homer from consecutive batters.

“We did a better job than the first time around; we hit the ball hard, we just couldn’t find any open areas,” Rodriguez said.

The Oaks had five hits against Del Tech. Rozak hit her second homer of the day in the fourth inning and made the score 7-3.

Cover photo: The Salem CC softball players storm the field after upsetting top-seeded Mercer CC in the opening round of the Region XIX Tournament.

‘Nothing to lose’

After record-setting regular season, fourth-seeded Salem CC softball ‘locked in and ready’ for stacked Region XIX Tournament field

REGION XIX TOURNAMENT
Friday’s Games
Salem CC (30-12) vs. Mercer CC (37-5), 10 a.m.
Delaware Tech (24-8) vs. Lackawanna CC (35-14), noon
Salem-Mercer winner vs. Del Tech-Lackawanna winner, 2 p.m.
Salem-Mercer loser vs. Del Tech-Lackawanna loser, 4 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The record-setting Salem CC softball team will be out to make more history this weekend as the Mighty Oaks challenge a stacked field in the Region XIX Tournament at Mercer County CC in West Windsor.

The Mighty Oaks posted a 30-12 record in their second season back on the field, a mark that included an 18-2 record at home and a school-record 19-game winning streak. They are the No. 4 tournament seed.

They open the double-elimination tournament Friday, 10 a.m., against top-seeded host Mercer (37-5). Three-time reigning region champion Delaware Tech (24-8) and Lackawanna CC (35-14) complete the four-team field.

A win in their opener will send the Oaks to play at 2 p.m. against the winner of the noon game. A loss will send them to stave off elimination against the noon loser at 4.

“We try to make that a goal since we started,” coach Angel Rodriguez said. “The first year was obviously tremendous just even getting into the play-in and this year just the fact we’re able to do it again. It’s just something we’re going to try and strive for every year. It’s just great to see this group do it again.”

Post-season play means everybody starts 0-0. It’s a good approach for the Oaks, since they were swept by all three potential playoff opponents in a five-day stretch during the regular season. Mercer, which received votes for this week’s NJCAA Division II softball poll, held the Oaks to one hit in a pair of shutouts April 23.

“We had that conversation after our last regular-season game,” Rodriguez said. “We did a reflection on all the good things that we did. We had a great regular season. We had a lot of players reach some good milestones and others pick up their roles, but we said we’re gearing up to a new mindset now.

“We saw the teams we’re going to face. We kind of know what’s going to be thrown at us. We know adjustments we have to make, so we’re working on that. We have nothing to lose. It’s going to be fun and they’re excited, but I think it’ll be a little more different that we get the preparation and hope we can turn it around again.

“Against all three of those teams there was something in each game that wasn’t us. One thing we’ve mentioned a lot with our squad is they haven’t gotten our best yet. There were a couple times we weren’t ourselves and they haven’t seen that, I think that motivated them even more.”

The Mighty Oaks roll into the tournament with a dynamic lineup, led by shortstop Ella Hayes. The freshman Player of the Year candidate from Kansas City, Mo., finished the regular season as the fourth-leading hitter in NJCAA Division II. She is batting .589 with 73 hits, 12 home runs and 75 RBIs. Amazingly, she has struck out only once in 171 plate appearances.

Their other top hitters include Karyn Trice (.491/.604 OBP); Courtney Hoggard (.439, 48 RBIs); Vaye Savage (.376, 7 HRs, 41 RBIs) and Haylee Pickrell (.343, 6 HRs, 27 RBIs).

Overall, they’re ranked seventh in Division II in batting (.403) and third in on-base percentage (.495). Opening-round opponent Mercer is fifth (.420) and second (.502), respectively. In fact, three of the teams in the field are ranked in the top 15 in batting.

“We pretty much have a solid (idea) of what we’re going to do and just let everyone know to be alert,” Rodriguez said. “We’re relying on all 17 to really have some type of role. We geared towards that near the end of the season to get them prepared for this moment knowing that we’re going to need all hands on deck and they’re locked in and ready to go.”

A hot pitcher in the playoffs can make all the difference. The Oaks have several pitchers in their arsenal, led by Morgan Mecham (13-4, 1.94 ERA, 124 strikeouts in 97.1 innings) and Caitlin LaGreca (13-7). Mecham threw nearly 250 combined pitches in consecutive starts against Del Tech and Lackawanna, but did not face Mercer.

Mercer, meanwhile, is ranked third in team ERA (1.60) and second in WHIP (1.04) while placing three of its pitchers in the top 16 in ERA.

“We have a good gameplan that we’re still working through,” Rodriguez said. “The good thing is we have two pitchers who throw two different styles, so I think that’s going to play a big role into what we’re going to do on Friday.

“One of the things we’ve noticed with some of these teams is hitting slower spin pitching throws them off. I don’t think we’re going to ride one or the other, but we’re definitely going to utilize them both in a way that’s going to be a little bit different than what we did this year.”

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.