Category: SOFTBALL

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of May 27-31; some times TBA

MAY 27
BASEBALL
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Paulsboro at Audubon, 4 p.m.
Buena at Palmyra, 4 p.m.
Clayton at Maple Shade, 3:45 p.m.
Gateway at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Haddon Twp. at Woodstown, 3 p.m.
Glassboro at Riverside, 3 p.m.
Wildwood at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Regular season
Penns Grove at Pleasantville
SOFTBALL
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Wildwood at Pennsville, 2 p.m.
Palmyra at Schalick, 3 p.m.
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Regular season
Overbrook at Penns Grove
TENNIS
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Gateway at Haddon Twp., 4 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 3 p.m.
Palmyra at West Deptford, 4 p.m.
Audubon at Pennsville, 3 p.m.
GOLF
Tri-County Conference Showcase, Pitman GC

MAY 28
BASEBALL
Regular season
Penns Grove at Overbrook
SOFTBALL
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Paulsboro at Audubon, 4 p.m.
Riverside at Cape May Tech, 4 p.m.
LEAP at Haddon Twp., 4 p.m.
Buena at Maple Shade, 3:45 p.m.
Clayton at Pitman, 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Woodstown at Bernards, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Lower Cape May at Woodstown, 4:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Pennsville at Clayton
Penns Grove at Schalick

MAY 29
BASEBALL
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
(Games at higher seed)
Buena at Audubon
Maple Shade at Pitman
Woodstown at Pennsville, noon
Glassboro at Schalick
TENNIS
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
(Matches at higher seed)
Woodstown at Haddon Twp.
West Deptford at Pennsville

MAY 30
SOFTBALL
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
(Games at higher seed)
Salem-Audubon winner vs. Riverside-Cape May Tech winner
Schalick at Woodstown
LEAP-Haddon Twp. winner vs. Buena-Maple Shade winner
Clayton-Pitman winner vs. Pennsville
TRACK
NJSIAA Group I Championships

MAY 31
TRACK
NJSIAA Group I Championships

Sectional shakeout

All 4 Salem County teams in South Jersey Group I baseball field on same side of the bracket; 4 county teams make softball field; Audubon grabs both No. 1s over Schalick, Pennsville

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I BASEBALL PAIRINGS
First-round games, May 27
No. 16 Paulsboro (3-18) at No. 1 Audubon (17-7)
No. 9 Buena (13-11) at No. 8 Palmyra (11-9), 4 p.m.
No. 12 Clayton (8-12) at No. 5 Maple Shade (11-9), 3:45 p.m.
No. 13 Gateway (7-14) at No. 4 Pitman (15-8), 4 p.m.
No. 14 Salem (7-12) at No. 3 Pennsville (14-7)
No. 11 Haddon Twp. (8-16) at No. 6 Woodstown (14-10)
No. 10 Glassboro (10-11) at No. 7 Riverside (10-11), 3 p.m.
No. 15 Wildwood (10-12) at No. 2 Schalick (18-2), 4 p.m.

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I SOFTBALL PAIRINGS
First-round games, May 28
No. 16 Salem (2-14) at No. 1 Audubon (15-7)
No. 9 Riverside (13-5) at No. 8 Cape May Tech (14-7)
No. 12 Palmyra (7-11) at No. 5 Schalick (13-4)
No. 13 Glassboro (7-10) at No. 4 Woodstown (12-7), 2 p.m.
No. 14 LEAP (10-5) at No. 3 Haddon Twp. (14-8)
No. 11 Buena (5-18) at No. 6 Maple Shade (11-8)
No. 10 Clayton (8-11) at No. 7 Pitman (10-8)
No. 15 Wildwood (5-12) at No. 2 Pennsville (19-4)

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Beth Jackson had a feeling all along it was going to turn out this way.

Many of the players on Jackson’s Pennsville softball team came away from their big win over Delsea Wednesday night believing they could be the No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group I tournament when the pairings were released the next day, but the coach didn’t share the feeling.

It wasn’t because she didn’t believe in her team, she just knows the way of the world.

When the pairings were presented shortly after lunch Thursday Jackson’s suspicions were realized. The Eagles were installed as the No. 2 seed in the bracket behind Audubon despite being the winningest team in the section and having almost half as many losses as the Green Wave and fewer than 14 of the other 15 teams in the field.

Additionally, the Eagles (18-4) are 9-4 against teams that currently own winning records while the top-seeded Green Wave (15-7) are 7-5 against teams with current winning records and 3-2 against those sitting at .500. 

“I already had in my mind it was going to be that way because I’ve never seen it change from the power points,” Jackson said on her way to practice Thursday afternoon. “I’m sure (the players) are disappointed, I am a little too, but it is what it is.”

The seedings followed the power points table down the line, so in a sense the Eagles were a victim of the Tri-County Classic Division schedule they had to play and dominate. Audubon’s Colonial Conference Liberty Division has five tournament qualifiers (four in Group II), all among their field’s top 10 seeds and four among the top five. The brackets become official at noon Friday.

Woodstown (No. 4), Schalick (No. 5) and Salem (No. 16) also are in the softball field and all on the Audubon side of the bracket. If Woodstown and Schalick win their tournament openers Wednesday they would meet in the second round at Woodstown.

“Every bracket I have ever seen that’s based on the power points, that’s what it is and nothing changes from there,” Jackson said. “It stays on power points and that’s that.

“I think maybe there should be multiples, like a rubric kind of thing, to do the seedings, to look at other things. It would be nice to have multiple points looking at your seeding. Their argument may be you have three different categories to weight those power points, so that may be their response if somebody were to ask.”

Asked if the perceived snub will now serve as a source of motivation for her team, Jackson said she’d talk about to get a gauge on where her players stand. But she was quick to point out there’s a lot more tangible motivation surrounding the tournament.

“I think we’ll talk about it and what it means to them,” she said. “I also think being up at the top puts, I don’t want say a target on your back, but even at 2 where we are now everybody’s looking to knock everybody off. Frankly, at the end of the day everybody is 0-0 and if you lose you go home. That right there is motivation. You lose, you go home. There is no tomorrow.”

Four Salem County teams also made it into the South Jersey Group I baseball tournament and they’re all on the same side of the bracket.

Schalick, the winningest team in SJG1 and second in the section power points standings, pulled down the No. 2 seed behind Audubon. Pennsville is the 3 seed, Woodstown the 6 and Salem the 14. The first-round games are Tuesday.

“We are happy the first three rounds we will host if we play the way we are capable of playing,” Schalick coach Sean O’Brien said. “There are a lot of good teams in South Jersey Group I and we are excited to get started.”

“Works for us,” Pennsville coach Matt Karr said.

There is some familiarity in the first-round draws. Pennsville and Salem are TCC Classic Division rivals and are scheduled to play for the second time this season Friday with the Eagles clinching the outright division title in the balance.

Speaking of rematches, a potential second-round matchup could find Pennsville hosting Woodstown. They played earlier this year, with Pennsville winning 10-0. The Wolverines knocked Pennsville out of the playoffs last year in the quarterfinals.

“It’s not often you get a shot a redemption,” Karr said. “I know Woodstown isn’t the same team (as last year) but we basically are – only losing one senior from last year. I’m sure my guys would love to be able to run it back against Woodstown in Round 2 at our place.”

Waiting anxiously

Pennsville knocks off undefeated Delsea, but is it good enough to earn them a No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group I playoffs?

WEDNESDAY SOFTBALL
Pennsville 7, Delsea 5
Schalick 6, Palmyra 5

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — For the Pennsville softball team the waiting begins. The next 18 hours are critical.

The Eagles handed Delsea its first loss of the season 7-5 Wednesday on the extended final day for games to count towards power points for playoff seedings.

Now they wait to see whether they have done enough to be installed as the No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group I playoffs when the bracket is determined presumably Thursday.

“I’m not the head coach so I don’t know that answer,” said Lisa Doran, who directed the team in the latter innings after head coach Beth Jackson excused herself to attend her stepdaughter’s junior college graduation. “It would be great (to be the 1 seed) and we’re feeling good and ready to go into this thing, but where we’re going to stand I just don’t know.

“You always want to be 1 but I don’t know exactly where we were left after yesterday so I’m not really sure.”

The Eagles went into the game second behind Audubon in the SJG1 power points standings. Both teams scored major victories Wednesday.

Pennsville’s win came over the undefeated No. 1 team in South Jersey Group III power points. Audubon beat Kingsway, the No. 1 power points team in SJ Group IV.

When the results were posted to the record, Audubon remained first at 26.124 and Pennsville was second at 24.128, an even larger margin than when the day began.

“Audubon beat Kingsway so we’re probably staying No. 2,” Jackson said “That’s a huge win for them, just like ours, but we won’t know for sure until tomorrow.”

But the power points are just one of the tools the seeding committee considers. What also likely works in the Eagles’ favor is they are the winningest team in SJ1 (19-4) and have fewer losses — in some cases half as many — than Audubon and Haddon Twp. on either side of them in the PP standings.

The players believe they have done enough to be the top seed.

“I think we have the power, the momentum, to be No. 1,” shortstop-pitcher Graillyn Weber said. “We’re a good team, we’ve worked hard this whole season and we want it, so yes.”

“We’ve been playing good throughout the season and I think we deserve to be No. 1,” second baseman Reagan Wariwanchik added. 

The Eagles, coming off an extra-inning loss at Schalick, continued its trend this year of following a loss with a win. In addition to coming into the game as the last undefeated public school team in the state, Delsea also was working on a 23-game regular-season winning streak going back to last season.

The Eagles answered both times the Crusaders came after them.

Delsea scored a run in the third inning, but the Eagles answered with Kylie Harris’ record-tying two-run 15th double in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. Harris tied her own single-season school record with the hit and hit a shot hard enough to break it in the sixth but held at first after ripping a one-hopper off the fence.

Delsea tied it 3-3 with two in the fifth, but this time the Eagles answered with three to take the lead for good. Wariwanchik’s two-run bases-loaded single put them up 5-3 and Lily Edwards’ single off the pitcher brought another run home.

Wariwanchik’s go-ahead hit came after Avery Watson’s one-out double and back-to-back walks to Sawyer Simmons and Mak Widener.

Simmons drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to make it 7-3 and the Eagles withstood a Delsea flurry in the seventh to close it out.

“I was nervous when I first went up there, but I always take a deep breath before every pitch and that definitely helped,” Wariwanchik said. “I think I had the confidence in myself today to know what I need to do and it helped me hit. It was definitely one of my biggest hits.”

The Eagles’ defense kept the fifth inning from getting any worse when they caught Cailyn Centeno taking too wide a turn at first on her game-tying single and Weber, who moved into the circle earlier in the inning, cut the throw from center and fired to first to get her for the final out.

“I tried to act like I wasn’t going to get the ball,” Weber said. “I knew she was going to make a wide turn and was probably going to go because the run from third had already scored so I got the ball as close as I could for the rundown.”

Weber came into the circle after starter Savannah Brewer-Palverento walked the first two batters in a misty rain that made it tough to get a good grip the ball. Up to that point she gave up five hits, one run (a solo homer) and hadn’t walked anyone. Weber pitched the final three innings.

“It definitely was nerve wracking knowing that it was raining and I didn’t know if I would be able to grip the ball and spin it,” Weber said, “but I had my towel, had my rosin and it pulled through; it definitely worked out. I knew we could do it because I had my defense behind me and I was making sure I wasn’t putting anything over the plate.”

And now they wait.

SCHALICK 6, PALMYRA 5: The Cougars rallied from a 5-2 deficit with two in the fifth and two in the sixth to win what’s shaping up as a preview of a projected first-round tournament game. In the latest power point standings, Schalick is a solid 5 and Palmyra 12th, which would put them together in the opening round.

PROJECTED SJ GROUP I PAIRINGS
(Based on May 21 power points)
No. 16 Gateway (4-14, 8.515) at No. 1 Audubon (15-7, 26.124)
No. 9 Riverside (13-5, 14.892) at No. 8 Cape May Tech (14-7, 15.439)
No. 12 Palmyra (7-11, 12.012) at No. 5 Schalick (13-4, 19.305)
No. 13 Glassboro (7-10, 11.905) at No. 4 Woodstown (12-7, 20.116)
No. 14 LEAP (10-5, 10.075) at No. 3 Haddon Twp. (14-8, 22.559)
No. 11 Buena (5-18, 12.449) at No. 6 Maple Shade (11-8, 16.331)
No. 10 Clayton (8-11, 12.925) at No. 7 Pitman (10-8, 15.924)
No. 15 Wildwood (5-12, 9.819) at No. 2 Pennsville (19-4, 24.128)

Schalick stunner

Cougars ‘on point,’ score walk-off win over Pennsville, denting the Eagles’ bid to become the No. 1 seed in South Jersey Group I softball; Woodstown, Schalick win tennis tourney openers, face-off next week

TUESDAY SOFTBALL
Clayton 21, Salem 0
Schalick 4, Pennsville 3 (8 inns.)
Woodstown 15, Wildwood 2

By Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Emily Miller’s one-out single in the eighth inning scored Maddie Brown with the walk-off run in Schalick’s 4-3 win over Pennsville that put a dent in the Eagles’ bid for the No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group I softball tournament.

The win was Schalick’s first over Pennsville since 2019 and extended the Cougars’ winning streak to four, enhancing their own position for a high seeding. The loss snapped Pennsville’s seven-game winning streak.

“It was a nice win for the team,” Cougars coach Rick Higinbotham said. “Pennsville is a tough opponent so we knew we were going to have to be on point. Fortunately, we played one of our best all around games of the season. We took advantage of a few opportunities and got the win. Hopefully we can use this win to build some momentum for the playoffs next week.”

Pennsville (18-4) was looking to stay ahead of Haddon Twp. and overtake Audubon at No. 1 in the SJ Group I power points standings, but likely needed a sweep of its three games before Wednesday’s cutoff to do it. The Eagles still could make a big move with a win over undefeated SJ Group 3 No. 1 Delsea at home Wednesday.

As of late Tuesday night, the Eagles were second with 22.783 power points. Audubon remained No. 1 at 24.424 and Haddon Twp. was third at 22.486. Schalick (12-4) is currently solidly in fifth, less than 900 percentage points behind No. 4 Woodstown.

Haddon Twp. lost to Gloucester Tuesday, but Audubon swamped Sterling.

Pennsville starter Savannah Brewer-Palverento pitched three perfect innings to open the game, but was lifted for Graillyn Weber as planned in the fourth and Schalick scored three runs to take a 3-0 lead. The Cougars got their runs on a bases-loaded walk to Cloe Elliott, a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Brown and Ava Lauglin’s ground out.

The Eagles closed their deficit to 3-2 in the fifth on Weber’s leadoff inside-the-park homer and Avery Watson’s RBI single. They tied it in the sixth on Weber’s RBI double.

The Cougars started their winning rally with Elliott’s walk off Weber. Brewer-Palverento was returned to the circle and got Brown to hit into a fielder’s choice. Brown stole second and moved to third on an infield error before Miller delivered her game-winning hit.

WOODSTOWN 15, WILDWOOD 2: Leah Clark struck out 12 and didn’t allow a hit over six innings and the Wolverines supported her with a 15-hit attack. Ellie Wygand went 4-for-5 with three RBIs, Kendall Young went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Clark went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Hannah Hitchner and Talia Guardascione had two hits apiece.

The Warriors scored two unearned runs in the second inning to tie the game 2-2

CLAYTON 21, SALEM 0: The Clippers had only four hits, but took advantage of 28 walks. Sophia Petsch held Salem to one hit over four innings and had two hits and two RBIs at the plate. Korrin Robinson had Salem’s only hit

GOLF
Schalick 174, Pitman 176: Jaxon Weber and Seth Fisher both shot 40 to squeeze between Pitman’s top two counters providing the margin of victory in a close one at the site of next week’s Tri-County Championship tournament. Nolan O’Toole and Shawn Kelly both shot 47 to tie Pitman’s other two counters. 
Washington Twp. girls 139, Schalick 164: Paige Weber (32) and Tessa Reilley (34) posted the low rounds for Washington Twp. at The Birches. Cali Fisler posted Schalick’s low round (37).

TENNIS
Woodstown and Schalick are headed to a second-round matchup after sweeping their opponents in the opening round of the South Jersey Group I tournament. Fourth-seeded Woodstown eliminated Penns Grove 5-0 and fifth-seeded Schalick ousted Lower Cape May 5-0.

The second-round match is scheduled for Woodstown Tuesday. The teams have not played each other this season

South Jersey Group I Tournament
(1) Haddon Twp. bye
(9) Gateway 3.5, (8) Clayton 1.5
(5) Schalick 5, (12) Lower Cape May 0
(4) Woodstown 5, (13) Penns Grove 0
(3) West Deptford bye
(11) Wildwood at (6) Palmyra, Wednesday
(10) Audubon at (7) Point Pleasant Beach, Thursday
(2) Pennsville bye

WOODSTOWN 5, PENNS GROVE 0
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-0, 6-3
John Farrell (WO) def. Stuart Mondragon, 6-1, 6-0
Jake Lewis (WO) def. Angel Perez Herrera, 6-4, 6-3
Ben Stengel-Joseph Kurpis (WO) def. Anthony Pacheco-Rene Ruiz, 6-0, 6-2
Mason Shimp-Vincent Merendino (WO)  def. Juan Ortiz-Adam Gonzalez, 6-1, 6-2
Records: Woodstown 14-4, Penns Grove 2-9

SCHALICK 5, LOWER CAPE MAY 0
George Gould (S) def. Ismael Lopez, 6-1, 7-5
Rocky Monticolo (S) def. Nicholas Fitch, 6-0, 6-1
Conor O’Toole (S) def. Nathan Chase, 6-2, 6-0
Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski (S) def. Bryan Ortiz-Victor Vasquez, 6-0, 6-1
David Santana-Anthony McGrath (S) def. Max Vaught-Chris Hawes, 6-2, 6-2
Records: Schalick 14-5, Lower Cape May 4-15

Monday roundup

Here are scores and highlights from Monday’s Salem County sports schedule; boys tennis tournament pairings announced

SOFTBALL
Clayton 21, Penns Grove 1
Pennsville 17, Salem 2
Woodstown 8, Pitman 2

PENNSVILLE 17, SALEM 2: Kylie Harris had two hits and four RBIs, and Graillyn Weber and Sawyer Simmons both drove in three runs. The Eagles (18-3) jumped out front with 10 runs in the first inning. Julliana Love and Isla Bohn had two hits apiece for Salem. 

The Eagles (18-3) have won seven in a row, but remain 0.963 points behind Audubon in the race to No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group I power points standings. The cutoff for playoff consideration is Wednesday.

TENNIS

Undefeated Pennsville (18-0) pulled down a No. 2 seed and has drawn a first-round bye to the South Jersey Group I tennis tournament along with No. 1 Haddon Twp. and No. 3 West Deptford.

No. 4 Woodstown opens with Penns Grove Tuesday, and No. 5 Schalick opens with Lower Cape May Wednesday. If they both win they meet in Round 2.

PENNSVILLE 5, WILDWOOD 0
Gabe Schneider (P) def. Giorgio Palesano, 6-0, 6-0
Maddox Efelis (P) def. Simon Palacias, 6-0, 6-0
Brody Wiggins (P) def. Cristopher Hernandez, 6-1, 6-0
Sawyer Humphrey-Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Chris Olivera-Alexis Mejia, 6-0, 6-0
Ian Peacock-Carter Willis (P) def. Daniel Salomao-Angel DeJesus, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Pennsville 18-0, Wildwood 3-12

SCHALICK 5, PITMAN 0
George Gould (S) def. Chase Pogozelski, 6-0, 6-0
Rocky Monticolo (S) def. Nolan Russell, 6-2, 6-0
Conor O’Toole (S) def. Jaron Scull, 6-2, 6-2
Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski (S) def. Ben Williams-Aiden Evans, 6-0, 6-0
David Santana-Anthony McGrath (S) def. Spencer Bianchini-Liam Etter, 6-2, 6-2
Records: Schalick 13-5, Pitman 5-14

CUMBERLAND 3, WOODSTOWN 2
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Luke Fischer, 6-1, 6-1
John Farrell (WO) def. Joseph Nolan, 6-3, 6-1
Carter Fischer (C) def. Jake Lewis, 6-0, 6-1
Asher Kennedy-Chase Sheppard (C) def. Luke Shaw-Mason Shimp, 6-4, 3-6, 10-6
Mason Staffieri-Justin Nolan (C) def. Ben Stengel-Joseph Kurpis, 6-2, 6-3
Records: Cumberland 15-1, Woodstown 13-4

GIRLS LACROSSE
WOODSTOWN 19, TRITON 1: Ten players scored goals for the Wolverines. Delaney Walker scored four (giving her 149 for her career); Jaime Deal scored three; Sienna Land, Emma Morgan, Blair Baldi and Arianna Hyman all had two; and Isabella Lindenmuth, Angelina Lindenmuth, Gina Murray and Lucy Mannella each scored one.

VOLLEYBALL
HIGHLAND 2, SALEM TECH 0: The Tartans won 25-18, 25-16 in the first round of the Tri-County Tournament. Highland then fell to Kingsway 2-0 (25-10, 25-12) in the quarterfinals. 

This week’s schedule

Here is this week’s Salem County sports schedule for the week of May 19-24; events start at 4 p.m. unless noted

MAY 19
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Salem
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Pennsville
Woodstown at Pitman
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Penns Grove
Pitman at Woodstown
Salem at Pennsville
GOLF
Salem/Cumberland County Tournament, Centerton CC, 8 a.m.
Schalick girls vs. Delsea, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Pennsville at Wildwood, 3:45 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick
Woodstown at Cumberland, 3:45 p.m.
LACROSSE
Williamstown at Woodstown, 6:15 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Triton at Woodstown
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at LEAP

MAY 20
BASEBALL
Pennsville vs. Tome School (Md.), Frawley Stadium, 7 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Salem
Pennsville at Schalick
Woodstown at Wildwood
GOLF
Schalick vs. Pitman, Pitman GC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Washington Twp., The Birches, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Delsea, 3:45 p.m.

MAY 21
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pennsville at Salem
SOFTBALL
Delsea at Pennsville
Palmyra at Schalick
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Kingsway, River Winds, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
South Jersey Group I Tournament
GIRLS LACROSSE
Millville at Woodstown
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Clearview

MAY 22
BASEBALL
Collingswood at Schalick
Penns Grove at Pleasantville
Pennsville at Triton
Woodstown at Cedar Creek
SOFTBALL
Clearview at Pennsville
Schalick at OLMA
Woodstown at Ocean City
TENNIS
Pennsville at Cumberland, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m.
LACROSSE
West Deptford at Woodstown
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Triton

MAY 23
BASEBALL
Salem at Camden Academy Charter
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Williamstown, 3 p.m.

Playoff projections

Here are the South Jersey Group I playoff projection for baseball, softball, boys tennis; the baseball and softball power points are open through Wednesday

Saturday was the originally scheduled cutoff date for eligible power points towards playoff consideration, but the date was moved to Wednesday due to all the inclement weather this season. Here is what the South Jersey Group I baseball and softball playoffs would have looked like if the Saturday date stood.

BASEBALL
Paulsboro at Audubon
Palmyra at Buena
Haddon Twp. at Woodstown
Gateway at Pitman
Salem at Pennsville
Clayton at Riverside
Glassboro at Maple Shade
Wildwood at Schalick

SOFTBALL
Burlington City at Audubon
Cape May Tech at Riverside
Glassboro at Schalick
Palmyra at Woodstown
LEAP at Haddon Twp.
Buena at Maple Shade
Clayton at Pitman
Paulsboro at Pennsville

The boys tennis cutoff date was Saturday, pairings are expected to be announced Monday. Here are the projected pairings; some teams may opt out of the competition (Glassboro and Pitman have), which would open up byes in the official bracket

TENNIS (May 21 first round) 
Glassboro at Haddon Twp.
Gateway at Clayton
Wildwood at Schalick
West Deptford at Woodstown
Buena at West Deptford
Pitman at Palmyra
Audubon at Point Pleasant Beach
Penns Grove at Pennsville

Repeat feat

Salem CC shortstop Ella Hayes repeats as Region 19 Player of the Year; Mighty Oaks land 4 on all-region team

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Ella Hayes did not rest.

After bursting on the scene as the best player in the region last year as a freshman, the Salem Community College shortstop easily could have settled in for a comfortably productive second season as she progressed towards the next level. But she wanted more. 

HAYES

She elevated her approach to the game and in many ways had an even better year that paid off even bigger dividends.

For the second year in a row, Hayes was named the Region 19 Division II softball Player of the Year, a feat rare if not unprecedented.

“It’s definitely an honor and I’m super grateful,” Hayes said. “I worked hard. I may not have had the exact same stats as last year, but I improved on a lot of things. My goal was to be better than I was last year and I feel like I accomplished that for the most part.”

The sophomore from Kansas City may not have reached her ambitious goal of hitting .700, but she still led the region in batting for the second year in a row (.577) – she was fifth nationally – as well as hits (79) and stolen bases (23-of-24). She was second in the region in extra-base hits and fourth in RBIs.

While her batting average dipped a few points, she still had more runs (60), hits (79), doubles (22), triples (4) and stolen bases than the year before. And once again she was like Tony Gwynn to strike out, fanning only twice in 168 plate appearances. 

“She had the kind of year that we were hoping to get out of her,” Mighty Oaks coach Angel Rodriguez said. “One thing about her freshman year, no one knew who she was; the teams we were playing were getting to know her for the first time. Her talent showed a lot, getting Player of the Year last year, and this year they all knew who she was so they pitched to her differently, they approached her a lot differently, so you weren’t able to hide.

“This year she was a returning player who threw these great numbers up and that’s what she continued to do. It’s always hard to want to be your best and do better than you did the year before. I know for her it was like a battle she had with herself, a little self-competition, but she gave us everything she’s always given us. Her dedication to the game is unmatched. She was always a hard out and that’s what she continued to be.”

It all can be tied to her desire to be “quite a bit” more aggressive in every aspect of the game. That didn’t mean being a risk-taker, just being aggressive. Attacking pitches, stealing bases, reading the field to take the extra base when presented.

“I told Coach Angel I was going to be more aggressive this year,” she said. “I told them this year I was really going to hit hard and prove that I can play at the higher level of D-I or D-II and compete at that level, too. I don’t think there’s a better way to show it than laying out for everything.”

Hayes was one of four Mighty Oaks named to the all-region teams. Sophomore catcher Callie Rozak (.434, 7 HRs, 40 RBIs) joined Hayes on the first team, while freshmen Bella Rappa (.372, 39 runs, 32 RBIs) and Chantelle Haskie (.327, 26 RBIs) were second-team picks. They were the Mighty Oaks’ top four hitters.

“For us it was good,,” Rodriguez said. “Callie had a little more of a larger role this year, taking on a majority of our catching, and she handled that really good. We get two freshmen on the list for second team. It’s always good, especially building that confidence heading into next year and also for the returning players, too, to see that hard work is noticed and putting in the effort goes a long way. It was nice to see the recognition they deserve.”

SALEM CC All-REGION PLAYERS BAHHRRBISB
Ella Hayes, First Team.5777975423
Callie Rozak, First Team.434497407
Bella Rappa, Second Team.372480325
Chantelle Haskie, Second Team.327360265


Hall of Fame level

5 Schalick pitchers combine on no-hitter, get all outs by strikeout, walk-off Bridgeton 13-3 in five innings

MONDAY BASEBALL
Schalick 13, Bridgeton 3
Woodstown 9, Clayton 1
Pennsville 12, Glassboro 7
Wildwood 11, Penns Grove 1
MONDAY SOFTBALL
Pennsville 19, Glassboro 8
Woodstown 11, Clayton 1
Schalick 19, Salem 0
Wildwood 21, Penns Grove 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – The Schalick baseball team went to the home of baseball, got the tour and (presumably) the T-shirt, and then put on a Hall of Fame performance Monday morning, dispatching Bridgeton 13-3 in five innings.

Five Schalick pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter, retired 12 of the first 13 batters they faced and got all 15 outs by strikeout. The Bulldogs did not put a ball in play against them, getting all their baserunners via walk.

Aptly-named Cooper Willoughby’s long bases-loaded single to left with one out in the fifth inning walked it off after the Bulldogs intentionally walked Luke Pokrovsky to load the bases, denying Schalick’s all-time home run and RBI king the opportunity to walk it off.

“I think it’s pretty special what we did today,” senior pitcher Lucas D’Agostino said. “No matter what the circumstances are, 15 strikeouts in 15 outs to go along with a no-hitter is something special and I believe it reflects how dominant our pitching staff has been all year. Especially in Cooperstown, that definitely meant a lot to me personally, as well as the team as a whole.”

Cougars coach Sean O’Brien gave his two senior aces the first two innings on historic Doubleday Field and they put on a Hall of Fame performance.

Starter Pokrovsky and D’Agostino both struck out the side in their inning. On his final pitch, D’Agostino’s windup looked like something you might’ve seen from one of the pitcher inductees inside the Hall. He wrapped his arms around his back, came around and tucked and then fired his final strike.

“I figured I’d pay some homage to some of the great pitchers that are immortalized and have some fun with an old-timer windup,” D’Agostino said. “I didn’t have anyone in mind. In my head I thought to myself ‘something in the ballpark of Walter Johnson’ and I guess that pitch is what ended up coming out.”

Cole Hartley got the next two innings and he struck out his six batters. He fanned the side in the third on 10 pitches.

Senior Matthew LaMazza started the fifth inning but had trouble locating the plate and walked the four batters he faced. He was replaced by senior Eli Cummings, who struck out his first two batters and eventually the side, but walked in a run and allowed another when a pitch got away at the plate.

The Cougars (15-1) answered with three in the bottom of the inning to walk it off. Their first three batters reached to load the bases. Travis Snodgrass’ ground out brought home the first run, Cummings’ RBI single made it 12-3 and Willoughby followed the walk to Pokrovsky with his game-winner.

Cummings sacrifice fly in the fourth got the game into run-rule territory. Pokrovsky had two hits and Ricky Watt went 3-for-3.

“The team’s experience will be one the players won’t forget,” O’Brien said. “Touring the museum and having the opportunity to play on Doubleday Field is something they will aways remember. Every player on the team got at least one at bat.”

“You really can’t have a bad time when you’re in Cooperstown,” D’Agostino said.

This story will be updated.

WOODSTOWN 9, CLAYTON 1: The Wolverines erupted for six runs in the first inning. Rocco String went 3-for-3, Caiden Spinelli had two hits and Lucas Fulmer and Nate Williams each had a pair of RBIs. 

PENNSVILLE 12, GLASSBORO 7: The Eagles opened 9-0 lead in the fourth inning, then held off the Bulldogs’ comeback bid. Cohen Petrutz had two hits and four RBIs at the plate and set the Bulldogs down in order in the seventh with two strikeouts to close out the game. Logan Streitz and starting pitcher Luke Wood both had two hits, while Connor Starn, Jeff Wagner and Stevie Fatcher all had two RBIs.

WILDWOOD 11, PENNS GROVE 1: The Warriors erupted for seven runs in the second inning after Penns Grove grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first. Liam Irvin doubled home Elijah Crespo for the Red Devils’ run  : 

SOFTBALL
PENNSVILLE 19, GLASSBORO 8: Kylie Harris, Savannah Brewer-Palverento and Makenzie Widener had perfect days at the plate, combining to go 12-for-12 with 12 RBIs as the Eagles (17-3) pounded 20 hits. Harris went 5-for-5 to tie her career high, Brewer-Palverento went 3-for-3 with six RBIs and Widener went 4-for-4 with four RBIs

WOODSTOWN 11, CLAYTON 1: Aubrie Rennie and Talia Guardascione both went 3-for-4 for the Wolverines. Leah Clark scattered six hits and struck out eight in her six-inning complete game. 

SCHALICK 19, SALEM 0: The Cougars took advantage of 23 walks.

WILDWOOD 21, PENNS GROVE 0: Emma Contreras homered, had six RBIs and spun a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts in the circle. She had a perfect game for 3 1/3 innings, until Jarlene Vichi-Torres broke up the gem with a fourth-inning single for Penns Grove’s only hit.

Photo: Schalick’s Luke Pokrovsky delivers the first pitch in the Cougars’ game with Bridgeton this morning at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, N.Y. (Submitted photo)

The Schalick baseball team stops at the gates of Doubleday Field before making their entrance in today’s game. (Submitted photo)


This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of May 12-17; events start at 4 p.m. unless noted

MAY 12
BASEBALL
Salem vs. Bridgeton, Doubleday Field, Cooperstown, N.Y., 10 a.m.
Clayton at Woodstown
Pennsville at Glassboro
Wildwood at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Schalick at Salem
Woodstown at Clayton
GOLF
Salem Tech vs. West Deptford, River Winds, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. OLMA, White Oaks GC, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Haddon Heights, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Pitman
Pennsville at Schalick
Timber Creek at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
Schalick at Penns Grove
Salem at Deptford, 5 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Maple Shade at Woodstown

MAY 13
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Delran
GOLF
Schalick vs. West Deptford, River Winds, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Pennsville at Glassboro, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Collingswood, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
Pennsville at Woodstown
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Clearview, 5 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Washington Twp. at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.

MAY 14
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pennsville at Salem
Schalick at Cumberland
SOFTBALL
Cumberland at Schalick
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem at Pennsville
Woodstown at Glassboro
GOLF
Woodstown vs. Pitman, Pitman CC, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Delsea, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Pitman at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Delsea, 3:45 p.m.
LACROSSE
Rancocas Valley at Woodstown, 4:15 p.m.

MAY 15
BASEBALL
Buena at Schalick
Pennsville at Triton
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Buena
Triton at Pennsville
GOLF
Schalick vs. Hammonton, Pinelands GC, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Sterling, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Woodstown at Highland, 3:45 p.m.
Glassboro at Pennsville
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Eastern
VOLLEYBALL
Timber Creek at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region 19 Final Four, Rutgers-Camden
Salem CC vs. RCSJ-Gloucester or Brookdale, TBA

MAY 16
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Cedar Creek
SOFTBALL
Salem at Cape May Tech
Triton at Woodstown
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Millville, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Woodstown at Overbrook, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m.
TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Millville
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech, 3:45 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region 19 Final Four, Rutgers-Camden, TBA

MAY 17
BASEBALL
Schalick at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region 19 Final Four, Rutgers-Camden, TBA