This week’s schedule

Several milestones are on tap for the Salem County sports calendar for the week of May 12-18: Schalick’s Taylor Sparks is one hit away from career No. 100, Woodstown’s Andrew Pedrick is two hits away from 100, Woodstown’s Tulana Mingin in four hits from school’s all-time hits record; all events 4 p.m. unless noted

SUNDAY, MAY 12
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region XIX Tournament
Salem CC at Northampton, 2 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 13
BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove
Salem at Pennsville
Schalick at Cumberland
SOFTBALL
ACIT at Schalick
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Salem at Pennsville
Woodstown at Cinnaminson
GOLF
Haddon Heights vs. Woodstown, Town & Country, 3:30 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
Schalick girls vs. OLMA, White Oaks CC
BOYS TENNIS
Cinnaminson at Schalick
Pennsville at West Deptford
Woodstown at Clearview
BOYS LACROSSE
Egg Harbor Twp. at Woodstown
TRACK
Pennsville at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 14
BASEBALL
Camden Eastside at Penns Grove
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Pitman, Alcyon Park
Pleasantville at Salem
Woodstown at Glassboro
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Schalick at Overbrook
Pitman at Pennsville, Pennsville LL, 6 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Buena at Woodstown
Glassboro at Schalick
Middle Twp. at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Pitman
GIRLS LACROSSE
Mainland at Woodstown
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Highland, 3:45 p.m.
GOLF
Woodbury vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15
BASEBALL
Buena at Woodstown
Clayton at Pennsville
Glassboro at Schalick
Penns Grove vs. LEAP at Rutgers Camden, 6 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Pennsville
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Woodstown at Penns Grove
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Westwood GC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Kingsway, River Winds GC
TRACK
Tri-County Showcase, Delsea, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Schalick at Triton
Woodstown at Pitman
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Camden Academy Charter, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Millville at Woodstown
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic

THURSDAY, MAY 16
BASEBALL
Overbrook at Pennsville
Salem at Schalick
Wildwood at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Salem
GOLF
Schalick vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC
BOYS TENNIS
Wildwood at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove

FRIDAY, MAY 17
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region XIX/North Atlantic District Tournament
Middlesex vs. RCSJ-Gloucester, 11 a.m.
Salem-Northampton winner vs. Brookdale, 11 a.m.
Second round, 3 p.m.
BASEBALL
Cumberland at Pennsville
Delran at Schalick, 4:15 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Highland at Pennsville
Schalick at Cape May Tech
GOLF
Pennsville at Delran, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Clayton at Schalick, 3:15 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Timber Creek, 3:45 p.m.

MAY 18
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region XIX/North Atlantic District Tournament
Elimination game, 11 a.m.
Championship game, 3 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
West Deptford at Woodstown, 10 a.m.

Quite a hit

Woodstown pitcher White delivering a punch in the batter’s box for the Wolverines, includes Salem County softball, golf, tennis

THURSDAY SOFTBALL
Clayton 18, Salem 2
Pennsville 17, Wildwood 2
Woodstown 4, Schalick 2

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

ELMER – Whoever said pitchers aren’t supposed to hit or be able to hit? In an era where specialization and designated players are the norm, Woodstown’s Grace White is making it tough to keep the bat out of her hands and out of the lineup.

White, a senior pitcher, came up in the sixth inning Thursday night and delivered the first extra-base hit of her career, a lead-off double to set up an insurance run in the Wolverines’ 4-2 win over Schalick to claim the first Elmer Classic Cup presented by the Elmer Little League.

“She’s been tearing it up,” Woodstown coach Dave Wildermuth said. “And I put her in the 5-hole tonight because she’s been hitting the ball. I didn’t put her there just to (fill a spot).”

The Wolverines were holding a slim 3-2 lead when White came up in the sixth and doubled into left field. Courtesy runner Talia Guardascione moved to third on Alyssa Baber’s groundout and scored the insurance run on Hannah Hitchner’s grounder to short.

The day before White delivered a pinch single to start the Wolverines’ seventh-inning rally against Overbrook and the day before that she had two RBIs against Gloucester Catholic. Since April 15 she is 8-for-20 with four RBIs. She had only one at-bat and two plate appearances (both last year) the previous two seasons combined.

“I haven’t really gotten a chance (to hit) before because they usually do a designated hitter for me, but in practice I’ve been hitting the ball really good, so he gave me a chance,” White said.

What White is better known for, of course, is pitching. On this night she limited the Cougars to two singles and denied Schalick senior Taylor Sparks getting her 100th career hit in three plate appearances.

The two runs Schalick did score came in the fourth when White lost a little of her rhythm and walked the first two batters of the inning. They came in to score on Cayla Sbrana’s two-run single to right that tied the game 2-2. It was the Cougars’ first hit of the game.

It was just a minor hiccup. White retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced and 10 of the last 11. Since returning from the Senior Class Trip last weekend, a rested White has posted three wins in three days, giving up nine hits, three runs and striking out 20 in 15 2/3 innings. The Wolverines play Salem Friday.

“I think it was a really good break from not just softball, but like school and to get away in general,” White said. “I was pitching a lot before that and I think it was just a really good break to come out and get all these wins.”

The Wolverines took a 2-0 lead in the third on Cara Delia’s RBI single and Kayla Brown’s infield out. Delia broke the 2-2 tie with a slow roller back to the pitcher with Tulana Mingin at third.

Mingin had three hits, leaving her with 128 for her career, four shy of the school record. Delia learned a long time ago you don’t have to hit it hard or far to get the run home when Mingin’s on base.

“She’s great, everything to Tulana, she always comes up big,” Delia said. “I know when she gets on base at the beginning of the inning we’re going to score. She’s such a proponent for our team. It’s so great to see her on second base when I come up. It gives me so much confidence when I come up to the plate.

“I just know I’ve got to make contact with Tulana on, especially with less than two outs. She’s always out there, she’s doing her job. Today she got two doubles, basically, just on her smart baserunning, and that’s just so helpful. When we get up there to the plate and I can see her out there, I just know I’m about to hit it hopefully and if I do she’s going to score no matter what.”

Delia grew up playing on the Elmer LL softball fields, so the win was extra special to her. She hit her first varsity home there as a sophomore against Schalick.

“It was like my practice field as a kid, so it’s very nostalgic to be here and it was sad for tonight to be the last time I’m ever going to play on the field,” she said. “That where I feel like my career started. That’s where I got my confidence. The feeling coming to this field every time is, like, stressful, but also I have such good memories.

“I’m happy we came out on top tonight because I can finish my career with a happy memory. I just love being here. It’s the best game of the year, I would say.”

The win moved the Wolverines a step closer to clinching the Tri-County Diamond Division title. It kept them undefeated in division, two games up on Overbrook and three on Schalick in the loss column. All they have left in division play is three games against the two weakest teams.

PENNSVILLE 17, WILDWOOD 2: Bella Farina hit another home run, Lilly Birney went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Savannah Palverento pitched a five-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts as the Eagles (12-4) won their ninth in a row.

Farina’s homer, her seventh of the year, was a three-run shot that highlighted the Eagles’ 11-run second inning. It also included two-run singles by Birney and Mary Montagna and Sarah Brumbaugh had a two-run double. The Eagles have scored 12 runs or more in seven games of their current winning streak.

CLAYTON 18, SALEM 2: Sophia Petsch went 5-for-5 with three RBIs and spun a five-inning complete game for the Clippers. Julliana Love extended her hitting streak to six games with one of the Rams’ three hits and RBI. Alexandrea Matias and Gianna Pelura had Salem’s other hits.

GOLF
WOODSTOWN 156, TIMBER CREEK 176: Senior Kyle Brainard shot a 3-under-par 33 with an eagle and two birdies at Town & Country Golf Links to lead the Wolverines. Brainard eagled No. 3 and birdied 8 and 9. Jacob Schermerhorn and Joey Olbrich both shot 41.

PENNSVILLE 151, SALEM TECH 169, CLAYTON 185: Dylan Wallen and Jacob Isaac shot 34 and 35, respectively, and the Eagles posted three rounds in the 30s to win the tri-match at . Mason Griffith was Salem Tech’s low man (36). to lead the Eagles.

DEPTFORD 168, SCHALICK 170: Julian Boyer shot 2-under 33 with three birdies at Pitman CC to give Deptford a cushion against the South Jersey Group I champs. Ryan Johnson posted Schalick’s low score (40).

BOYS TENNIS
HADDON HEIGHTS 5, WOODSTOWN 0
Ben Mazzucco (HH) def. Tim Schwienbacher, 6-1, 6-2
Ryan Connor (HH) def. Drew Stengel, 6-2, 6-1
Owen Peakes (HH) def. Jason LaFond, 6-1, 6-0
Mike Pender-Sean Fischer (HH) def. Ben Stengel-Mason Shimp, 3-6, 6-1, 10-6
Jackson Zalkin-Dan Perkins (HH) def. Luke Shaw-Wade Hubschmitt, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
Records: Woodstown 10-3, Haddon Heights 9-8

Wednesday roundup

Roundup features highlights of baseball, softball, tennis, golf and lacrosse events involving Salem County teams

BASEBALL
Overbrook 2, Woodstown 0
Clayton 12, Salem 0
Schalick 10, Penns Grove 4

SCHALICK 10, PENNS GROVE 4: Luke Pokrovsky had the first two-homer game of his career and Ricky Watt hit the first of his career for the Cougars.

Pokrovsky hit a solo homer in the second inning to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead and a two-run homer in the fifth. Watts hit a two-run homer in the fourth.

Pokrovsky, J.T. Fleming, Lucas D’Agostino and Enrico Hatz all had two hits for Schalick.

Elijah Crespo homered and drove in three runs for Penns Grove.

CLAYTON 12, SALEM 0: Isaac Taylor homered and drove in five runs from the top of the order and Michael Manera pitched a two-hit five-inning shutout as the Clippers snapped a five-game losing streak. Chase Davis and Jacob Parkell had the Rams’ two hits.

OVERBROOK 2, WOODSTOWN 0: The Rams scored two runs in the fourth inning and two pitchers combined to no-hit with the Wolverines.

The Rams broke a scoreless tie with a bases-loaded walk and followed by a hit batsman.

The Wolverines loaded the bases with nobody out in the first on two walks and a hit batsman, but started Caden Lawless got out of it with three straight strikeouts. They had only three more base runners the rest of the game. Reliever Cooper Himes walked the first batter he faced, then retired the last 15 in a row.

SOFTBALL
Schalick 18, Penns Grove 0
Woodstown 7, Overbrook 4

WOODSTOWN 7, OVERBROOK 4: The Wolverines took the lead with four runs in the seventh inning and to remain undefeated in the Tri-County Classic Division and put some distance between themselves and their challenges.

Cara Delia’s RBI double tied the game 4-4. The Wolverines took the lead when two runs scored on an infield error and they added an insurance run on another error.

Grace White pitched the final inning and two-thirds behind starter Liv Boultinghouse and set the Rams down in order in the seventh to close it out.

Delia and Tulana Mingin had two hits apiece. Mingin now has 125 hits for her career, seven shy of breaking the school record.

SCHALICK 18, PENNS GROVE 0: Taylor Sparks went 4-for-4 and drove in seven runs and three Schalick pitchers combined for a five-inning no-hitter with 10 strikeouts.

Sparks had a two-run single and a three-run triple in the Cougars’ 11-run second inning that broke open the game. Cloe Elliott and Cayla Sbrana had two hits apiece for the Cougars.

Addy Shimp, Abby Willoughby and Annie Podhel combined for the no-hitter, facing only two batters over the minimum. Podhel pitched three innings with five strikeouts.

GOLF
NORTHERN BURLINGTON 162, SCHALICK 174: Northern Burlington’s Noah Taylor was medalist (36). Schalick sophomore Jaxon Weber, fresh off his sectional championship, shot 40 to lead the Cougars.

SCHALICK GIRLS 203, CUMBERLAND 220: Cumberland’s Nicole Tarquinio was medalist (43), but the Cougars posted the next four low scores to win. NHannah Widdifield (46) and Cali Fisler (49) posted Schalick’s two low scores.

BOYS TENNIS
DELSEA 4, WOODSTOWN 1
Andrew McWilliams (D) def. Tim Schwienbacher, 6-1, 6-1
T.J. Natalie (D) def. Drew Stengel, 6-3, 6-0
Zeph Kell (D) def. Erich Lipovsky, 6-7, 5-0 (ret.)
Jacob Bramble-Eli Croce (D) def. Ben Stengel-Mason Shimp, 6-3, 6-1
Jason LaFond-Luke Shaw (Wo) def. Zach Natalie-Jacob Weist, 6-3, 6-3
Records: Delsea 8-7, Woodstown 10-2

PITMAN 3, PENNSVILLE 2
Maddox Marker (Pi) def. Gabe Schneider, 6-2, 7-5
Chase Rollins (Pi) def. Maddox Efelis, 6-2, 6-2
Brody Wiggins (Pv) def. Cole Kelly, 6-0, 6-1
Noah Bohn-Noah Flitcraft (Pv) def. Charlie Duffield-Ethan Loudner, 6-3, 7-6
Michael Fisicaro-Max Pappalardo (Pi) def. Luke Chamberlain-Sawyer Humphrey, 6-3, 6-2
Records: Pennsville 14-2, Pitman 13-4

GIRLS LACROSSE
KINGSWAY 17, WOODSTOWN 5: Ally Phalines scored six goals for the Dragons (9-5). Emma Morgan and Delaney Walker scored two goals each for Woodstown (3-6).

Rested and ready

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

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

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BASEBALL
Pennsville 13, Clayton 12
Vineland 6, Schalick 0

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eagles win a big one

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

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

By Riverview Sports News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This week’s schedule

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

Monday

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

Tuesday

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

Wednesday

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

Thursday

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

Friday

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

Saturday

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

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.”