Different fortunes

Salem CC softball enjoys second straight run-rule sweep, while baseball is swept at Brookdale before trip to Myrtle Beach

SOFTBALL
Salem CC 17-16, Monroe-Bronx 2-0
BASEBALL
Brookdale 17-7, Salem CC 10-3

By Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Jordyn Busch and Savannah Palverento combined on a five-inning no-hitter and got a lot of help from their fielders to preserve it as the Salem CC softball team crushed Monroe-Bronx 16-0 to complete its second run-rule sweep in as many days Saturday.

The Mighty Oaks (4-2) got the day started with a 17-2 win in the opener.

Busch, who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning of Friday’s nightcap against Sussex, worked the first three innings Saturday before giving way to Palverento. Busch walked one, hit two and struck out five. Palverento walked one, struck out two and faced one batter over the minimum for her stint.

The defense made several nice plays behind their pitchers to get the gem alive. J.J. Aguirre made a diving catch on a bunt in the first inning, Emme Witter caught a ball going over the rightfield foul fence in the fourth and Pahola Chavez ended the game with an over-the-shoulder catch in deep right field.

The hitters made it a comfortable day for the pitchers. They scored 11 runs in the first inning. Aguirre hit another homer and drove in five runs in the game. Jalyn Ramball had two hits and two RBIs and Witter drove in two.

Raegan Wilson pitched a complete game for the Mighty Oaks in the opener. She gave up five hits, two unearned runs in the fifth inning, and struck out two.

Her hitters gave her a nice cushion early, scoring nine runs in the first inning. Aguirre had another big game with two hits and four RBIs. Lilly Peverelle and Bella Rappa both had had two hits and three RBIs, and Witter and Megan Koski both drove in a pair of runs.

GAME ONE

Monroe-Bronx	000	02-	2	5	1
Salem CC	950	3x-	17	9	2

WP: Raegan Wilson. 2B: J.J. Aguirre (S). 3B: Savannah Palverento (S).

GAME TWO

Monroe-Bronx	000	00-	0	0	2
Salem CC	(11)41	0x-	16	7	0

WP: Jordyn Busch. HR: Aguirre (S)

Bouncing back

Palverento, Mighty Oaks put Opening Day setback behind them, score run-rule sweep of Sussex; homegrown talent shines

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE —Despite all the softball she has played over the years, and even with a taste of the college game in the low-intensity fall, Savannah Palverento was as anxious as she’s ever been for a game during Salem CC’s opening-day doubleheader earlier in the week. And it showed.

She was a lot more comfortable with her surroundings the second time out Friday. And it showed.

The freshman from Pennsville collected her first two college hits, including her first college home run, and closed the game in the circle as the Mighty Oaks powered past Sussex 11-2 on the way to a run-rule doubleheader sweep. The Mighty Oaks won the second game 19-5 behind two big innings at the start and four no-hit innings from freshman pitcher Jordyn Busch.

It was a whole lot better for the Mighty Oaks (2-2) in general and Palverento in particular than getting swept by Lackawanna on Opening Day.

Palverento went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts from the leadoff spot in the two games and gave up seven runs in two innings in the circle in the opener. On Friday, hitting out of the 5-hole, she started a six-run second inning with a leadoff single and led off the four-run fourth with a homer. She pitched the fifth inning, giving up an unearned run and striking out the side.

“I was definitely nervous (Opening Day),” she said. “It wasn’t so much nerves — I feel like I got that part out — it was kind of getting in my head because I expected myself to do better than what I did.

“i definitely was a lot more comfortable today. I kind of just gave myself a mental reset and thanks to my coaches for giving us all a pep talk. We have so many more games to look forward to and we can’t just keep our head down on the past, we just have to move on.”

Palverento hit one home run in her four-year high school career (167 at-bats), her junior year against Salem. She called the one she hit Friday, in just her seventh college at-bat, “special” and not just because it was her first in college. Palverento lost her mother, Tina, in 2020 and Friday would have been her birthday.

“I told myself I was going to play hard for her today and I definitely did; I’m really proud of myself,” she said. “I definitely had a moment of clarity, like, oh my God, I just hit a home run and I was like, you know what, it was for her. Everything was for her.”

The Mighty Oaks got a big collective game from their Salem County players. The four local position players in the opener — Palverento, Lilly Peverelle (Pennsville), Ava Ortiz (Salem) and Sawyer Simmons (Pennsville) — were a combined 5-for-8 with five runs and four RBIs. Raegan Wilson (Salem) pitched the first four innings, allowing two hits and an unearned run.

Palverento didn’t play in the nightcap, but the Mighty Oaks’ contingent from Salem County showed out again. Bella Rappa (Pennsville) hit two doubles and together with Peverelle and Ortiz the homegrown players went 4-for-8 with four runs and three RBIs.

“Our goal when we first came in here was to not only try and recruit and let county student-athletes know that we’re here, but also anyone can do it,” Mighty Oaks coach Angel Rodriguez said. “For them, they grew up playing on this field, it’s very exciting to see their hard work pay off and they’re getting better. I know it takes a while to kind of reflect on it, but they’re starting to notice too how advances they’re starting to get at this game.

“I think it’s very cool. I think it opens up a lot of hopeful eyes for the county to say, hey, Salem Community College is here. It’s a good place to be and it’s a great place to be right now. Hopefully that opens up some other people seeing how good they’re doing to want to get behind them and want to do the same thing.”

The Mighty Oaks wasted little time taking control of the nightcap. They sent 13 batters to the plate in each of the first two innings, erupting for 17 runs. Their first eight hitters of the game all reached base and scored. J.J. Aguirre hit a three-run homer in the second inning, her third in the last two games.

Busch took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. She faced only three batters over the minimum to that point, struck out seven and had only five balls put in play. She lost the gem on a bunt single that loaded the bases after a pair of walks, then gave up a hard single off first baseman Rappa’s leg and a bases-clearing triple by Rachel Teague that ended her day. Emme Witter put out the fire with a strikeout, sacrifice fly and game-ending roller back to the circle.

“Knowing I was three outs away I was excited to get there, but I just was happy the way I did after Tuesday because I personally thought I didn’t give it my best on Tuesday,” Busch said. “Coming in and just having a great day on a day like this was nice. I was so close. I need three more outs, so it just makes you want to work harder.”

Top photo: Freshman Jordyn Busch carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning of Salem CC’s second-game run-rule win over Sussex Friday. (Photo by Nolan Dowell)

GAME ONE

Sussex (0-1)	001	01-	2	3	3
Salem CC (1-2)	064	1x-	11	8	2

WP: Raegan Wilson (1-0). LP: Sarah Lafferty (0-1). 2B: J.J. Aguirre (SCC). 3B: Lilly Peverelle (SCC). HR: Savannah Palverento (SCC).

GAME TWO

Sussex (0-2)	000	05-	5	3	4
Salem CC (2-2)	890	2x-	19	16	0

WP: Jordyn Busch (1-1). LP: Sarah Lafferty (0-2). 2B: Bella Rappa 2 (SCC). 3B: Rachel Teague (S). HR: J.J. Aguirre (SCC).

Soggy start

Salem CC softball swept by Lackawanna in its season-opening doubleheader, bounced back from rainy rout to play a one-run game in the nightcap

SALEM CC SOFTBALL
Lackawanna 21-7, Salem CC 0-6

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — The word of the week through all of Salem CC’s softball practices this week was adversity and the Mighty Oaks had plenty of it in their season opener.

How they learn to overcome it going forward will say a lot about the season they hope to enjoy.

The Mighty Oaks opened their season Tuesday getting swept by Region XIX rival Lackawanna 21-0 and 7-6 at Watson Field. Between playing in the first-game rain that kept their freshman pitcher from gripping the ball in her first college start to having to regroup from a blowout, losing a lead in the nightcap, tying it, falling behind again and trying to rally in the seventh, there was plenty of adversity to go around.

“We were hit with some adversity and that’s kind of been our word of the past week,” coach Angel Rodriguez said. “Just understand we’ve got to be able to battle through some changes and when we’re down it’s never over. You’ve got to look forward to the next best thing that you’re going to do and that’s been our motto.

“You don’t know when adversity is going to hit you in life and how long it’s going to last around, but it’s not something you can wake up and hope it’s gone. I felt they did a really good job of bouncing back after that first game and battling in the second game together. That’s something that didn’t leave them the whole time, which is good, so we can take that away.

“You’ve got to be able to play through it. You’re as good as your next at bat or fielding play. I think they did a good job of that and there’s a lot of stuff there that I think we’re going to take as we keep going forward.”

Not much could’ve been more adverse than the opener. The game started in a cold mist that grew progressively harder as the game went on. At the weather’s worst, in the third inning, Mighty Oaks starting pitcher Jordyn Busch had trouble gripping the ball and her cleats clogged with mud. She walked six and hit a batter in the inning and was charged with 11 of the 12 runs the Falcons scored in it although Reagan Wilson gave up a grand slam to Haleigh Mazol on her first pitch of the season immediately after replacing Busch.

Mazol had a two-run single earlier in the inning and eight RBIs in the game. She drove in what proved to be the winning run in the nightcap on a soft pop in the sixth that landed a couple feet up the third base line and plopped into the soft dirt, coming to rest just inches from rolling foul. It allowed Laniah Tasker to race home from third for a 7-4 lead.

The umpires suspended play after the Might Oaks batted in the fourth inning down 20-0 — before reaching the five-inning run-rule threshold — and the game was delayed 30 minutes while Salem coaches and administrators worked in six bags of drying agent to fix the infield. There was a thought if the game had been suspended earlier, before the rain got heavier, they might not have brought it back at all. Rodriguez called it “a tough call for everyone.”

“I think they did the right call,” he said. “We took the little intermission and got the field prepped what we needed to do and the weather held out for the most part after that. It’s a tough call. We wanted to play. We were ready to still go, but it did surprise us there. That wasn’t on the radar at first, but that’s the weather. We said it earlier. If we’re going to wait for a perfect day in March on the East Coast we’re never going to play. Some of these things you’ve got to be able to battle through.”

Busch went back in the circle after the rain, started the second game. She kept the Falcons off the board in the first two innings and pitched into the fourth before being lifted following Ayahna Fleisher’s two-run homer that put the Falcons in front 4-3.

“It was definitely a way better adjustment (without the rain); I feel like I was actually able to get into a groove and find the strike zone,” she said. “In the first game finding the strike zone was hard. I couldn’t see because my glasses were covered in rain and my towel was soaked so I couldn’t dry my hand off and then my glove, the ball was getting soaked through it so I couldn’t grip it at all.

“It did definitely affect me. Not only I couldn’t grip the ball, but on the mental side because it was my first college game. The rain was just something added to struggle with. I definitely didn’t mind it at first, it was definitely not that bad, but when it started picking up it was very unpleasant.”

The day wasn’t all bad for the Mighty Oaks (0-2). J.J. Aguirre hit two homers in the nightcap. Her three-run blast in the first gave them a 3-0 lead and her two-run shot in the seventh gave them hope. The freshman from Midland, Texas, also had their only hit in the opener against Fleisher, a two-out double in the second.

“The first home run I was just trying to keep it simple and let mechanics take over,” she said. “The second home run I was a little nervous because it was bottom (of the seventh) but I didn’t let it get to me. I just kept it simple: See the ball, hit the ball. I think I was just ready to get another chance with no rain and I was excited and ready to go and just play.”

The Falcons (3-2) broke a 4-4 tie in the nightcap with three runs in the sixth. Aguirre’s second homer made it 7-6. Bella Rappa kept the rally alive with a single and was moved into scoring position by Megan Koski. Sawyer Simmons then lofted a ball into the fog in right field that was caught for the final out.

GAME ONE

Lackawanna	03(12)	51-	21	13	0
Salem CC	000	00-	0	1	3

WP: Ayahna Fleisher (1-1). LP: Jordyn Busch (0-1). 2B: Ayahna Fleisher (L), Mia Scalese (L), Mackenzie Adolfson (L), Kyleah Edwards (L); J.J. Aguirre (S). HR: Haleigh Mazol (L)

GAME TWO

Lackawanna	002	203	0-	7	9	2
Salem CC	300	010	2-	6	10	3

WP: Mia Scalese (2-0). LP: Emme Witter (0-1). 2B: Laniah Tasker (L); Jalyn Rambally (S). HR: Ayahna Fleisher (L); J.J. Aguirre 2 (S)

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of March 2-7

MONDAY MARCH 2
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Woodstown at Salem, 5 p.m.
Glassboro at KIPP, 6 p.m.
New Egypt at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Audubon at Palmyra, 6 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Woodbury at Haddon Twp., 5:30 p.m.
Palmyra at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Audubon, 4 p.m.
Gateway at Wildwood, 5 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 3
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Delaware Tech, 3 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Lackawanna at Salem CC, 1 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Semifinals
Woodstown-Salem vs. Glassboro-KIPP
New Egypt at Penns Grove vs. Audubon-Palmyra
GIRLS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Semifinals
Woodbury-Haddon Twp. vs. Palmyra-Glassboro
Woodstown-Audubon vs. Gateway-Wildwood
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NJCAA Division III Selection Show, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester (2), 3 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6
WRESTLING
Region Tournament
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Brookdale, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Sussex at Salem CC (2), 1 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Championship
GIRLS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Championship
WRESTLING
Region Tournament
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Brookdale at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Monroe-Bronx at Salem CC (2), noon

SUNDAY, MARCH 8
INDOOR TRACK
Meet of Championship, Ocean Breeze, Staten Island
WRESTLING
Girls Region Tournament

Salem CC schedules

Here are the Salem CC baseball and softball schedules for spring 2026

BASEBALL
FEBRUARY
16: at Bryant & Stratton (Va.) (2), noon; 27: Ocean, 3 p.m.; 28: at Ocean (2), noon
MARCH
3: at Delaware Tech, 3 p.m.; 6: at Brookdale, 3:30 p.m.; 7: Brookdale (2), noon; 9: vs. Penn State-Hazleton at Myrtle Beach, 9 a.m.; 9: vs. Illinois Valley at Myrtle Beach, 1 p.m.; 10: vs. Lakeland CC at Myrtle Beach, 6 p.m.; 10: vs. CC of Rhode Island at Myrtle Beach, 9 p.m.; 12: vs. Minnesota North-Itasca (2) at Myrtle Beach, 9 a.m.; 13: vs. Elgin (2) at Myrtle Beach, 4 p.m.; 14: Quinsigamond CC at Myrtle Beach, noon; 14: vs. Garrett at Myrtle Beach, 3 p.m.; 15: vs. Surry (2) at Myrtle Beach, noon; 16: Northampton, 3:30 p.m.; 17: at Northampton (2), noon; 20: Atlantic Cape, 3:30 p.m.: 21: at Atlantic Cape (2), noon; 24: at Delaware County, 3:30 p.m.; 25: Delaware County, 3:30 p.m.; 27: RCSJ-Cumberland, 3:30 p.m.; 28: at RCSJ-Cumberland (2), noon; 31: at Montgomery County, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL
1: at Montgomery County, 3:17 p.m.; 7: Delaware Tech, 3 p.m.; 10: Middlesex, 3:30 p.m. 11: at Middlesex (2), noon; 17: at Camden, 3 p.m.; 18: Camden (2), noon; 21: Bergen, 3:30 p.m.; 22: at Bergen, 3:30 p.m.; 24: at RCSJ-Gloucester, 3:30 p.m.; 25: RCSJ-Gloucester (2), noon; 28: Mercer (2), 3 p.m.;
MAY
1: Union, TBA; 2: at Union (2), noon

SOFTBALL
(All games doubleheaders)
MARCH
3: Lackawanna, 1 p.m.; 5: at RCSJ-Gloucester, 3 p.m.; 6: Sussex, 1 p.m.; 7: Monroe-Bronx, noon; 12: at Frederick, 3 p.m.; 14: at Chesapeake, noon; 15: at Anne Arundel, noon; 20: Bucks, 3 p.m. 22: at Delaware Tech, noon; 24: at Raritan Valley, 3:30 p.m.; 26: at CCBC Catonsville, 3 p.m.; 28: Morris, noon; 31: at Lackawanna, 3 p.m.
APRIL
2: at Monroe-Bronx, 3 p.m.; 3: Howard CC, 3 p.m.; 4: at Mercer, noon; 8: at Cecil, 2 p.m.; 11: Delaware Tech, noon; 13: at Harford, 1 p.m.; 16: Mercer, 3 p.m.; 18: at Sussex, noon; 21: at Morris, 3:30 p.m.; 23: at Brookdale, 3:30 p.m.; 25: Raritan Valley, noon.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Oct. 5-12

SUNDAY, OCT. 5
FIELD HOCKEY
SJ Tournament of Champions
At Clearview
Schalick vs. Clearview, 3:15 p.m.

MONDAY, OCT. 6
FIELD HOCKEY
Absegami at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Hammonton, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 3:45 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Camden County Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 7
FIELD HOCKEY
Deptford at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
SJ Group I Quarterfinals
Lower Cape May at Pitman, 2 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 3 p.m.
Wildwood at Haddon Twp., 3 p.m.
Audubon at Pennsville, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8
BOYS SOCCER
Cumberland at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Palmyra, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 5 p.m.
Penns Grove at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
OLMA at Salem, 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Salem County Meet at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 9
WJFL FOOTBALL
Paulsboro at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Haddon Heights at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Cinnaminson at Glassboro
FIELD HOCKEY
Burlington City at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Camden Academy Charter at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Gloucester City at Salem, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 10
WJFL FOOTBALL
Gloucester at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Penns Grove at Delran, 6 p.m.
Collingswood at Audubon, 7 p.m.
Overbrook at Camden Catholic
Woodbury at Willingboro
FIELD HOCKEY
Overbrook at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Woodbury, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Woodbury at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Pitman, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Highland, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC Prospect Showcase

SATURDAY, OCT. 11
WJFL FOOTBALL
West Deptford at Salem, noon
CROSS COUNTRY
South Jersey Coaches Meet, Dream Park
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC Prospect Showcase

SUNDAY, OCT. 12
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC Prospect Showcase
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Morris CC, CCBC at Salem CC, 10 a.m.

Photo credit: Kaitlyn Khairzada

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4

SUNDAY, SEPT. 28
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 10 a.m.

MONDAY, SEPT. 29
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Oakcrest, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Clearview, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Timber Creek, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Cape May Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Moorestown Friends at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Buena, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem Tech at Medford Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Buena at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Cape May Tech, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Mainland, 4 p.m.
Woodstown vs. GCIT at Rowan, 6 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Salem at West Deptford, 4 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Cape May Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 30
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Salem at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Salem, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pitman, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
South Jersey Group 1 Playoffs
No. 11 Buena at No. 6 Schalick, 3 p.m.
No. 14 Palmyra at No. 3 Woodstown, 3 p.m.
No. 13 Salem at No. 4 Pennsville, 3:30 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Batch Meet at Kingsway, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Woodbury at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Clearview, 3:45 p.m.
Triton at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Mainland, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Atlantic Tech, 4 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 2
WJFL FOOTBALL
Woodstown at Pleasantville, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Paulsboro, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Highland vs. Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 3
WJFL FOOTBALL
Paulsboro at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Collingswood at Sterling, 7 p.m.
Haddonfield at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
Glassboro at Deptford
Overbrook at Clayton
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem Tech at Winslow, 3:45 p.m.
OLMA at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Williamstown, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Gateway, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Salem Tech at Buena, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 4
WJFL FOOTBALL
Salem at Middle Twp., noon
Audubon at Gloucester Catholic, 11 a.m.
Gateway at Woodbury
BOYS SOCCER
Woodstown at Northern Burlington, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Felician (2), noon

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 21-27

SUNDAY, SEPT. 21
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Camden CC, noon

MONDAY, SEPT. 22
BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 5 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Schalick vs. Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 7 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Kingsway at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Timber Creek at Schalick, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 23
FIELD HOCKEY
Winslow at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Audubon, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Deptford, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 3:45 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Seneca, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Salem, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pitman, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Moorestown Friends at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Palmyra, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25
WJFL FOOTBALL
Salem at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Paulsboro at Overbrook, 6 p.m.
Audubon at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Clayton at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gateway, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Woodstown at Pitman, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Timber Creek at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Salem Tech in NJTAC Championships at Medford Tech, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
WJFL FOOTBALL
Haddon Twp. at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
Camden Catholic at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Eastern, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Audubon at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Camden Academy Charter at Salem, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Cape May Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
GCIT at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Cumberland, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Hammonton, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Haddon Heights at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Triton, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY
Salem CC at Caldwell

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27
WJFL FOOTBALL
Glassboro at Woodbury
FIELD HOCKEY
Woodstown vs. Delsea at Rowan, 3 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Schalick at Six Flags Great Adventure
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Jefferson (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Thomas Jefferson, noon

Charging forward

Salem Tech bringing field hockey, baseball, softball on line in upcoming academic year, runs lineup of sports to 14

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

From the moment Salem County Vo-Tech instituted an athletics program the vision was to provide the most inclusive list of offerings. It’s been a slow process, but the growth has been steady, calculated and in line with the interests of the students.

The Chargers are growing again, bringing on line three more sports for the upcoming school year – field hockey this fall and baseball and softball in the spring.

“We’re just really excited to get started and kind of see (how it goes),” athletics director Jim Helder said. “Knowing that the interest is there makes us excited. I always say if the kids are excited for it I’m all for it, because it tells me we’re offering meaningful programs for them.

“Whenever we decide to add a new sport it’s not something we just act on quickly. We have to make sure that interest is going to be there and we want to make sure it doesn’t pull away from our current offerings. So we did a lot of interest meetings, polling, things like that and we decided to move forward.”

The additional sports bring to 14 the number the school offers – boys and girls cross country, soccer, basketball, bowling and volleyball; boys/coed golf; and, now, field hockey, softball and baseball.

The new sports will classify as Group II for NJSIAA playoff purposes because of the way the governing body counts its populations and play in the Tri-County Conference Classic Division, a convenient and appropriate replacement for Wildwood returning to the Cape Atlantic League in 2026-27. They will compete as an independent this coming school year because the conference is in the second of a two-year schedule cycle, but will be eligible for the state playoffs.

The most recent NJSIAA documents for Fall 2025-26 sports, updated September 2024, place Vo-Tech’s enrollment at 614 (two above the field hockey Group II threshold). All the other high schools in Salem County compete in Group I.

With Tech’s expansion, five of the six Salem County high schools now will play field hockey and all six will play baseball and softball.

Vo-Tech administrators have had a desire to add baseball for a while and began making Tri-County Conference administrators and member schools aware of their intention to bring the three new sports aboard in 2025-26 in the fall.

Coaches have been hired and facilities secured.

Maureen Lewis is the field hockey head coach, Pat Fisher will coach softball and John Helsel will coach baseball. All three are either teachers or staff members in the Vo-Tech school system and all have coaching experience on the school or youth levels. Fisher is the Cougars’ former boys basketball coach.

The Chargers will play all their home games in the new sports on dedicated on-campus facilities. The field hockey team’s first regular-season home game is Sept. 10 against Paulsboro. The spring schedules are still a work in progress.

The first-year schedules will be built around teams that did not qualify for the playoffs in their respective groups last season.

Because the programs are so new, Helder said it would “unfair” to place any expectations on their first-year success.

“I know as an AD I have three individuals (as coaches) who are going to run really good programs, that’ll be clean programs, the kids are going to learn a lot,” Helder said. “The coaches are going to give the kids everything they’ve got, which is really all I can ask for at that point.

“If they win, that’s kind of icing on the cake at that point. But our kids are going to learn these sports these sports the way, in my opinion, they should be learned, which is exciting.”

The additions have the potential to impact the rosters of the other county teams since the Salem Tech students who played their sport at their home district schools because Tech didn’t offer it previously now, by NJSIAA rule, have to play for the Chargers.

“I can’t give the actual number (of those athletes),” Helder said, “but I’ve sat in on the interest meetings and when the field hockey coaches asked how many are currently playing for their home district I would say on average maybe five or six hands went up. There may be some, but it didn’t seem to me like an overwhelming number.”

Jaxson Raymond, a rising sophomore at Vo-Tech who played baseball for Penns Grove this past spring and started summer basketball workouts for the Chargers Monday, is pleased his school will have a baseball team.

“I’m kind of happy, now that I don’t have to go back and forth,” he said. “I can just keep my bag there.”

Power trip

Pennsville’s Weber delivers homer, 5 RBIs as Tri-Cape Softball All-Stars sweep bracket in Carpenter Cup, advance to knockout stage

CARPENTER CUP SOFTBALL
Wednesday’s games
(At Univ. of Pennsylvania)
Tri-Cape 6, Burlington County 2
Tri-Cape 5, SOL/BAL 4
Tri-Cape 17, Philadelphia Catholic 4
Monday’s Games
(At FDR Park, Philadelphia)
Tri-Cape vs. A Bracket runnerup, 10 a.m.
Semifinals, noon
Championship game, 2 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PHILADELPHIA – Graillyn Weber was a reliable top-of-the-lineup hitter for the Pennsville softball team this past high school season. She added another element to her arsenal Wednesday – power.

Returning to her customary 2-spot after two games near the bottom of the lineup, Weber smashed a two-run over-the-fence homer as the second hitter of the game sending the Tri-Cape All-Stars off to a 17-4 rout of Philadelphia Catholic to complete a three-game sweep of their pool in the Carpenter Cup Softball Tournament.

The sophomore infielder also had a two-run single in the second inning and an RBI single in the opener against Burlington County. For the day she went 3-for-8 with five RBIs, but it was the homer that created the buzz.

“I don’t know what it is,” she said. “I just keep getting that inside slightly high pitch and I’ve just been turning on it and boom. That’s probably my favorite pitch.

“It’s definitely a new experience for me. It’s such a crazy feeling. It’s just exciting.”

Weber hit one homer – the team’s only home run – as a .484 hitter for Pennsville this high school season, an inside-the-parker at Schalick on May 20. She hit her first over-the-fence homer for her travel team last weekend and now has two in the last 10 days.

“I know she was close a couple times,” Pennsville head coach and Tri-Cape assistant Beth Jackson said. “She hit the fence where it just needed a little bit more oomph and it probably would’ve went over.

“She batted in the sixth or seventh spot the first two games (sixth), then because the leadoff girls we had didn’t start the third we talked about the lineup and I said Graillyn batted second for me the whole season, so they put her in the 2-hole and that’s the game she hit the home run.”

Woodstown outfielder Ellie Wygand played in the second two games, getting two hits and scoring two runs. She went 1-for-2 against Suburban One/Bicentennial and 1-for-1 with two runs against Philadelphia Catholic.

Tri-Cape also defeated Burlington County 6-2 and SOL/BAL 5-4 in games played at the University of Pennsylvania. As winners of the C Bracket, they await the rain-delayed A Bracket runner-up in the first round of Monday’s knockout stage. The A Bracket, whose schedule has been hampered by bad weather and poor field conditions, is comprised of Olympic Colonial, Lehigh Valley, Jersey Shore and PCCAF. They will play Thursday at Marple Newtown High School.

Tri-Cape won the Cup two years ago. They also won it in 2014.

“You take a whole group of all-stars and we had two practices and then you put them out there together, it takes time,” Jackson said. “We always joke that when they start out they don’t say a whole lot and then usually halfway through the first day they’re talking and their friends. It’s always cool to see that they come together and play together.”