This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 15-20; all events 4 p.m. unless noted

Monday

BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Collingswood
Woodstown at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Buena at Schalick
Ocean City at Woodstown
Pennsville at Paulsboro
GOLF
OLMA vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Sterling, Town & Country GL, 3:30 p.m.
Pennsville vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:45 p.m.
Wildwood boys vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Kingsway, 3:45 p.m.
Deptford at Schalick
GIRLS LACROSSE
Eastern at Woodstown
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Triton at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Bergen CC

Tuesday

BASEBALL
Clayton at Salem
Penns Grove at Schalick
Pennsville at Wildwood
Woodstown at Overbrook
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Woodstown
Pennsville at Wildwood
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Penns Grove
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Luzerne County CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Delsea, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech girls vs. Clayton, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown at Cumberland, 3:45 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove
Schalick at Glassboro
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Williamstown
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Williamstown, 3:45 p.m.

Wednesday

BASEBALL
Pennsville at Millville
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Ocean CC (2), 1 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Salem
Williamstown at Woodstown
GOLF
Kingsway girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC
Woodstown vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
Overbrook at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Schalick
Woodstown at Glassboro
BOYS TENNIS
Delran at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Vineland at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Kingsway at Woodstown

Thursday

BASEBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
LEAP at Penns Grove
Pitman at Pennsville
Schalick at Overbrook
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Pitman
Woodstown at Glassboro
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Wildwood, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick
GOLF
Overbrook vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
Pitman at Salem
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Highland at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Egg Harbor Twp., 5:30 p.m.

Friday

BASEBALL
Gloucester City at Schalick
Wildwood at Woodstown
Williamstown at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
GCIT at Salem
Schalick at Gloucester City
Woodstown at Wildwood
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Camden CC, 3 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Delaware Tech at Salem CC (2), noon
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown at Overbrook, 3:45 p.m.
Cumberland at Schalick
Pennsville at Millville
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Egg Harbor Twp.

Saturday

BASEBALL
Schalick at Eastern, 10 a.m.
Pitman at Woodstown, 11 a.m.

Hedelt Tournament, Oakcrest
Pennsville vs. Buena, noon
Pennsville vs. Oakcrest, 3 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Camden CC at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Lackawanna (2), noon
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Lower Cape May, 10 a.m.
TRACK
Penns Grove, Pennsville, Salem, Schalick at Woodbury Relays, 9 a.m.

Nearly perfect

Salem CC’s Mecham comes within a leadoff walk of a perfect game, her no-hitter, sophomores take spotlight in softball sweep of Morris

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Saturday was the day for Salem Community College to celebrate the softball sophomores who helped restart the program and those upperclassmen played big roles in helping the Mighty Oaks score an historic sweep of County College of Morris 8-0, 10-0 guaranteeing them a winning regular season.

The Mighty Oaks recognized nine sophomores after the nightcap. The group combined for 10 hits, 10 runs and seven RBIs in the doubleheader and spun two shutouts, including Morgan Mecham’s near perfect game in the nightcap.

The group has been part of 40 wins since they helped revive the program last year.

“I’m getting emotional again,” coach Angel Rodriguez said. “They’re awesome. As we’re sitting there honoring them, we started reflecting back on the zoom calls and the conversations we had, having them on campus for the first year.

“They’re a great group. We wouldn’t be here today without them. They had a lot of hard work, dedication, sacrifices they made from their families. Seeing them giving me the opportunity in my first year and theirs, seeing the growth that they’ve had, I couldn’t be any prouder. Seeing where they were a year ago to now is incredible. Hats off to them for putting in the work and choosing us.”

Mecham pitched a five-inning no-hitter in the nightcap. She walked the game’s leadoff hitting on a 3-2 pitch, then retired the next 15 hitters in a row. It is believed to be the first no-hitter in the program’s history.

She threw 64 pitches, 44 for strikes. She got five ground outs and four fly outs. Only two balls made it to the outfield. It was her ninth shutout and reduced her ERA to 1.57 for the season.

“I might be the worst statistical coach in America; we didn’t even know it (was a no-hitter) until after the game,” Rodriguez said. “When we got in the huddle I said I think she had a no-hitter. Then it was announced over the speaker and we were like, yeah, we were right.

“She’s been hot all year. Today she just went out and did her thing. Sophomore Day. Parents were there. It was awesome to see it all come together. She was zoned in. I don’t even know if she knew it, either. She was kind of shocked herself.”

Sophomore Vaye Savage was the big hitter in the opener. She went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer in the second inning and a double. Freshman Ella Hayes went 3-for-3 in the nightcap with a two-run homer. Hayes, second in the nation in batting entering the doubleheader, is now hitting .628 (54-for-86) with 51 RBIs for the season.

The sweep ran the Mighty Oaks’ record to 24-6 on the season. With 44 games on the schedule, they are now guaranteed the first winning regular season in school history.

“It was definitely one of our goals from last year, just to keep improving as a group and we definitely did that,” Rodriguez said. “As I say all the time we just keep it going each week. Our goal was set to get more than 16 (wins) so we did more than the first year.

“We’ve gone back and dug up some records. For us, those are just things you can take in and be proud of, but we’re just trying to do whatever we can to keep just being good and improving. Obviously, it feels good when you win.”

The Mighty Oaks were scheduled to return to Watson Field Sunday against Cecil College, but the doubleheader has been canceled. Their next games now are Friday at home against Delaware Tech.

Team immortalized

Pennsville LL Senior Softball World Series team immortalized with billboard on clubhouse Wall of Fame

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Bella Rappa was a rock during Pennsville Little League’s run to the Senior Softball World Series last summer, but when it came to unveiling the sign that commemorated the feat during the league’s opening ceremonies Friday night she didn’t mind saying she was a little nervous.

Rappa was called on to pull the bright yellow cord to reveal the billboard that will forever immortalize the team on the clubhouse wall, and it was all she could do to keep a steady hand.

“I didn’t want to pull it and the whole thing come down, but I think I did a pretty good job,” she said.

The dark blue sign is affixed at the far right of a row that carries similar signs from 1985, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2006 and 2022. It reads, “2023 Senior League Softball Eastern Region Champs” and contains the names of each player, manager and coach.

**Here is the sign that immortalizes the 2023 Pennsville Little League Senior Softball All-Stars.**

Eagles manager Chris Watson wasn’t sure as late as Thursday who was going to help him pull down the blue sheet covering the sign, but as the time drew closer everyone sensed it was so appropriate for Rappa to do the honors. “It was very cool, actually, the way it worked out,” Watson said.

Rappa lost her dad, Nick, a big supporter of the program, two days after the team won the Section championship and the first baseman dedicated playing the rest of the tournament program for him.

The team rallied around her. They swept the district and sectional tournaments in Pennsville, then swept the state tournament in North Jersey and the regionals in Massachusetts. They advanced to the World Series in Delaware where they went 2-4, beating teams from Puerto Rico and The Philippines in pool play, and ultimately finishing tied for seventh in the 10-team field.

They were welcomed home with a parade down Broadway riding atop a Pennsville fire truck and led out by a Pennsville police cruiser. Unveiling the sign, much like raising the pennant on opening day, was the last official act of a championship season.

“(Seeing the sign) was really nice just because this year there was a lot on the line, especially with the passing of my dad,” Rappa said. “The girls all thought that was our main goal, to get farther than we did last year, so to win East Regions and then be up there back-to-back is something that’s really special to all of us.”

Catcher Kylie Harris was emotional when she unveiled last year’s sign for a team that won the state and were thwarted in the regional final and she was trying not to cry this time.

“Being up there for the second time with the people that I love the most and are closest with, it’s definitely a tear-jerker,” she said.

Since this team has been together it has won district titles six times across various age groups, South Jersey four times and the state championship twice. Watson said the newest sign recognizes one of the best teams in the local LL’s 72-year history.

“It puts them up there at the top, one of the greatest teams to ever play down here at Pennsville Little League,” he said. “I’m very proud of that, that they were able to do it two years in a row. They were knocking at the door for so long, too, and then to finally get over the hump those last two years and win the state championship and go dominate the East Regional is huge. We’ll remember all that a long time.”

“It was pretty cool seeing my name up there two times,” infielder Bella Farina said. “It’s really fun to see all our hard work paid off and be on the side of a building. It’ll be really freaky to see my name up there in like 15-20 years. It’ll be crazy. I don’t know how I would feel.”

Although the championship run didn’t end the way the players would have liked, it provided them a lifetime of memories – memories that no doubt will come rushing back when the players, years from now, perhaps with daughters playing in the league themselves, return to the complex and look up to the clubhouse’s second story.

Rappa will remember “that I did it for my dad and made my dad proud.”

“I’m very proud of myself and my team for fighting through our personal battles and being able to come out on top, even if it is just a sport, but it’s more than just a sport to all of us,” Savannah Palverento said. “I know Little Me would probably be freaking out because these names … I don’t know who they are but just the fact they’re up there is like wow, that’s just amazing, and now my name’s up there twice, so wow, I’m amazing for being up there.”

The Pennsville LL was founded in 1952. Helping with this year’s opening ceremonies were Delaware Blue Rocks mascot Rocky Bullwinkle and the Pennsville Eagle, with Farina under the hood. The mascots threw out ceremonial first pitches.

This year, the league has more than 30 teams for children from 4 to high school age. Among the highlights of this year’s schedule are Pitch, Hit and Run competitions for softball (May 13) and baseball (May 17) and a Home Run Derby (June 1).

Cover photo: Pennsville LL first baseman Bella Rappa pulls off the cover (L) and then embraces manager Chris Watson after unveiling the sign that commemorates the team’s 2023 run to the Senior LL Softball World Series Friday night.

**The Pennsville LL Senior Softball All-Stars stand in front of the signs on the clubhouse that commemorate their success the past two seasons.**

Becoming a tough out

Pennsville gives one of state’s best teams a battle for seven innings before falling 8-5; Woodstown falls to Paul VI

THURSDAY BASEBALL
Gloucester Catholic 8, Pennsville 5
Paul VI 8, Woodstown 4

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – It had been a pretty good week for the Pennsville baseball team as it was. To beat one of the top teams in the state Thursday would have made it a downright historic one.

it didn’t happen as the Eagles came up short against Gloucester Catholic 8-5, but if nothing else the week served as a good measuring stick for a team with high aspirations in the Tri-County Classic Division and South Jersey Group I.

Earlier in the week the Eagles (3-2) knocked off two of South Jersey’s premier teams – county rival Woodstown and Delsea – giving a program with 22 total players a ton of confidence going into a game a team loaded with Division I prospects.

After giving the Rams all they could handle for seven innings – without their top three pitchers available or their only senior (injured) – they are convinced if they keep buying into what coach Matt Karr is selling and continue to play for each other and the next man in the lineup they can beat anyone.

“It’s a huge measuring stick,” Karr said. “I told those guys out there in left field the New Jersey media tells us that’s the best team the state has to offer right now … and if (that’s the case) any day we put our cleats on and come play baseball we’re going to compete with anybody no matter who we’re playing.

“We’ve got 22 guys in our whole program and we’re playing teams who have 25 guys in the dugouts and kids who just pitch. We just have to have that mindset next guy up and when it’s my turn to do something for the team I’ve got to find a way to do it. We preach selfless baseball. If you’re not going to be the guy who gets the big RBI, that’s fine, be excited for the guy who does. If we get 22 guys all buying into that idea, it’s limitless how far we can go.”

Mason O’Brien brought that next-man-up mentality to this windy, overcast day. Karr handed him the ball for the second time this season when the Eagles were down 7-1 and the freshman left-hander responded with four innings of solid relief to give his team a chance.

He gave up three hits, a run and struck out three. With O’Brien holding the Rams in check, the Eagles climbed back into it with four runs in the fifth inning.

“We put Mason in the leadoff spot and out on the mound today because of his approach to the game every day,” Karr said. “He is a guy who is not afraid of anything. He’ll step in the box against anyone. He has what we call that ‘dawg mentality.’ He’s just going to get in there and battle.”

O’Brien showed that from the very beginning when he laced the first pitch from Rams starter Henry Pancoast the opposite way past shortstop Noah Danza, a Virginia commitment who homered in the top of the inning, for the first of his two hits. He slater cored on Chase Burchfield’s single that sliced away from left-fielder Sal Marziani.

Burchfield finished with three hits and two RBIs. Luke Wood had two hits and Mason’s brother Peyton had two RBIs.

“My mindset out there was just trust my teammates, give my all,” Mason O’Brien said. “I didn’t really worry about who they were. I went out and tried to play my best ball and I think I did. We talk about it all the time, trust in each other; that’s how we become a good ball team. We just became a better team (this week).”

The Eagles easily could have folded in the second inning after the Rams squashed a threat by turning Wood’s scorching liner with bases loaded into an inning ending double play.

“If that gets through, it’s a whole new ballgame,” Karr said.

Instead of buckling, they stayed in the moment and eventually got back in the game with a four-run fourth inning that made it 7-5. Peyton O’Brien highlighted the rally with a two-run double and he scored on Burchfield’s second RBI single that chased Pancoast.

“Pennsville always gives us trouble, especially when we play down here,” Rams coach Dennis Barth said. “I told the kids we’re coming down there, they’re going to give it to you, they ain’t going to back down from you, they always play good. We’ve got to lead.”

Future opponents can expect the same treatment.

“Right now,” Mason O’Brien said. “If someone comes to play us … it’s gonna be really hard to beat us.”

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 8, PENNSVILLE 5

Gloucester Cath. (5-0)	403 001 0 –	8 10 3
Pennsville (3-2)	100 040 0 –	5 9 2

WP: Henry Pancoast. LP: Cohen Petrutz. HR: Noah Danza (GC).

PAUL VI 8, WOODSTOWN 4: Jack Petrillo went 4-for-4, Ryan Fayette had three hits and starter Anthony Ungaro pitched four shutout innings before the Wolverines got the on the board. Brent Williams and Andrew Pedrick both had a double and each drove in a pair of runs for the Woodstown.

PAUL VI 8, WOODSTOWN 4

Paul VI (4-1)	203 201 0 –	8 14 2
Woodstown (2-3)	000 013 0 –	4 5 1

WP: Anthony Ungaro. LP: Aaron Foote.

Cover photo: Gloucester Catholic shortstop Noah Danza (L) is greeted by his teammates after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning against Pennsville.

Thursday roundup

WOODSTOWN 13, CUMBERLAND 3: The Wolverines pulled away from a close game with an eight-run fourth inning and got back in the win column. Alyssa Baber had two hits and two RBIs, Kayla Brown had two hits, Johanna Way had three RBIs and Ellie Wygand had two RBIs.

GOLF
WOODSTOWN 169, PENNSVILLE 169: Jeffrey Covely shot a medalist-winning 40 and Jacob Schermerhorn shot 41 to lead Woodstown in the match at Town & Country Golf Links. Jake Isaac was Pennsville’s low man (41).

BOYS LACROSSE
MAINLAND 16, WOODSTOWN 3: Harrison LaMonica, Joe Eyde and Ty Pierce scored three goals apiece for Mainland. Laitton Roberts and Lucas Sperry scored goals for Woodstown.

Wednesday roundup

Here are the results from Wednesday’s high school sports action around Salem County from reports available to Riverview Sports News

BASEBALL
Schalick 14, Glassboro 2: The Cougars scored seven runs in the first inning, Luke Pokrovsky allowed one hit and struck out seven over four innings and Jake Siedlecki homered. Enrico Hatz had three hits and J.T. Fleming had two hits and three RBIs.

Overbrook 12, Penns Grove 0: Three Overbrook pitchers held the Red Devils to one hit, a single by Dylan Hyatt.

SOFTBALL
Schalick 14, Glassboro 4: Taylor Sparks went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Alexis Shimp had two hits and two RBIs, and Addy Shimp gave up four hits and no earned runs in five innings in the circle.

Gloucester Catholic 9, Pennsville 6: The Eagles matched the Lions run-for-run over the first two innings, but didn’t have an answer for their hosts’ four-run sixth. Bella Farina had three hits, including a first-inning solo homer, and drove in three runs for Pennsville. Lilly Birney and Reagan Wariwanchik each had two hits.

Wildwood 16, Salem 11: The Rams scored 10 over the final three innings, but came up short. Juliana Love went 4-for-5 for Salem. Trysta-Marie Wilson and Morgan Johnson both went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

Haddon Heights 14, Woodstown 6: The Garnets overtook the Wolverines with a three-run third and then broke it open with a six-run sixth. Woodstown catcher Lila Bowling hit a game-tying homer in the third homered and Cara Delia had two extra base hits and three RBIs. The Garnets also held Wolverines leadoff hitter Tulana Mingin (0-for-3) hitless for the first time this season.

Overbrook 21, Penns Grove 1

BOYS TENNIS
WOODSTOWN 5, PENNS GROVE 0
Tim Schwienbacher def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-1, 6-0
Drew Stengel def. Angel Perez Herrera, 6-0, 6-0
Eric Lipovsky def. Gerald Vasquez Llorens, 6-1, 6-0
Trevin Plum-Wade Hubschmitt def. Ricardo Vichi-Anthony Pacheco, 6-4, 6-1
Kingst Khemiani-Josef Hummel def. Stuart Mondragon-Pablo Sanchez Correa, 6-1, 6-2
Records: Woodstown 4-0, Penns Grove 1-1.

PENNSVILLE 4, CUMBERLAND 1
Samuel Falk (C) def. Gabe Schneider, 6-2, 6-0
Maddox Efelis (P) def. Luke Fischer, 6-4, 6-3, 11-9
Brody Wiggins (P) def. Chase Sheppard, 6-3, 6-0
Noah Flitcraft-Noah Bohn (P) def. Josiah Jiminez-Joey Nolan, 6-2, 6-3
Luke Chamberlain-Sawyer Humphrey (P) dec. Angel Perez-Justin Nolan, 6-3, 6-0
Records: Pennsville 4-0, Cumberland 1-1.

GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown 8, West Deptford 7: Emma Morgan and Delaney Walker scored three goals apiece and Jaime Deal had two as the Wolverines won for the first time this season.

GOLF
Clearview girls 179, Schalick 221: Clearview’s Sarah Kaestner was medalist at Westwood GC (43). Cali Fisler posted Schalick’s low score (52).

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Triton 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-11, 25-7): Jose Ramos had five kills and Joe Phillips 12 assists for Triton.

Back on track

Salem CC softball returns to winning ways in nightcap of doubleheader with RCSJ-Cumberland

By Riverview Sports News

VINELAND – All of a sudden, after weeks of winning, the Salem CC softball team was heading in the wrong direction, so they turned to Morgan Mecham to turn them around.

The Oaks lost their second game in a row after a 19-game winning streak in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader at RCSJ-Cumberland (8-4), but Mecham pitched a three-hit shutout in the nightcap to get them back on the winning track and salvage the split, 7-0.

The sophomore right-hander scattered three singles and allowed only six base runners. She struck out seven. She also shut out the Dukes on March 17

The Oaks (22-6) fell behind 6-0 after two innings in the opener, but were in complete control of the nightcap. They scored a run in the second inning on KC Garcia’s RBI single, made it 3-0 in the fifth on Courtney Hoggard’s two-run single and broke it open with four in the sixth.

Ella Hayes continued to swing a hot bat for the Oaks. She went 4-for-4 in each game with a homer and double in the nightcap, raising her average to .630 (51-for-81).

Haylee Pickrell had two hits in each game and Faith Penn had two in the nightcap.

Streak ends

Salem CC softball splits at Northampton, loss in nightcap ends Mighty Oaks’ winning streak at 19 games

By Riverview Sports News

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – As much as the players didn’t want it to end, the law of averages suggested Salem softball’s winning streak had to end sometime.

Northampton CC used a five-run fifth inning, highlighted by Morgan Boyd’s game-tying home run, to beat Salem 8-6 and stop the Mighty Oaks’ winning streak from reaching 20 games.

The Oaks’ extended their streak to 19 games in Game 1 of the doubleheader, 3-2, pushing across the go-ahead run on Vaye Savage’s sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh. It was the second-longest active winning streak in the country after Bryant & Stratton (Wis.) dropped the first game of its doubleheader Tuesday.

Division II No. 1 Parkland College is working on a 32-game winning streak.

“The streak was the streak; though it was great, we always took it one game at a time,” Oaks coach Angel Rodriguez said. “As far as the team, they obviously didn’t want to see it end, but we have a lot of softball left to play and a lot more to prove as a group.”

It looked like the Oaks (21-5) were headed for another sweep when they scored four in the first inning of the nightcap highlighted by Courtney Hoggard’s three-run homer. Vaye Savage’s two-run homer gave them a 6-3 lead in the fifth, but the Spartans (6-4), ranked No. 10 in JUCO Division III, answered and took the lead in the bottom of the inning.

Boyd hit a three-run homer to tie the game. Morgan Rissmiller gave the Spartans a 7-6 lead with an RBI double and Rissmiller scored on Chelsea Melkowits’ single.

Sydney Harper then kept the Oaks off the board in the sixth and seventh inning,

Emma Hayes went 5-for-8 in doubleheader, raising her season average to .589 (43-for-73). Savage (3-for-4) and Hoggard (2-for-4) both drove in three runs in the nightcap.

“We learned from each game up to where we are now and with the split there’s a lot we can take away and get better for the next series, which in this case is a quick turnaround as we are back at it tomorrow,” Rodriguez said.

The Oaks return to the field Wednesday with a doubleheader at RCSJ-Cumberland, a team they swept in the early stages of the winning streak.

Tuesday roundup

Here is a roundup of Tuesday’s high school sports action involving Salem County teams; will be updated during the evening

BASEBALL
Hammonton 10, Schalick 0
Pennsville 8, Delsea 6
Woodstown 10, Clayton 4
SOFTBALL
Delsea 3, Pennsville 2
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Washington Twp. 0
Woodstown 4, Schalick 1

Baseball

WOODSTOWN 10, CLAYTON 4: The meat of Woodstown’s lineup – Andrew Pedrick, Jack Knorr and Brent Williams – had two hits apiece and combined for seven RBIs as the Wolverines (2-2) got back on the winning track. Pedrick had two singles, two RBIs and three stolen bases. Knorr had a single, double and two RBIs. Williams had two doubles and three RBIs. Three Woodstown pitchers allowed five hits and struck out 11.

HAMMONTON 10, SCHALICK 0: Jaiden Franchetti scattered three hits over five innings and struck out six in shutting out the Cougars (1-3). Luke Pokrovsky (double), Joseph-Tyler Fleming (single) and Ricky Watt (single) had Schalick’s three hits.

Jaxon Miller and Brayden Markart swung the big bats for Hammonton (1-1). Miller had two doubles and five RBIs, while Markart doubled three times and drove in two.

Softball

DELSEA 3, PENNSVILLE 2: Zoey Shangle delivered Delsea’s third straight single to open the eighth inning and drove home the winning run. The Crusaders (2-1) scored the tying run in the seventh on an error in the outfield.

Pennsville (3-2) took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on Bella Farina’s RBI double and Bella Rappa’s sacrifice fly. Farina had two doubles in the game and Mary-Louise Montagna had three hits.

Tennis

WOODSTOWN 4, SCHALICK 1
Tim Schwienbacher def. George Gould, 6-4, 6-3
Drew Stengel def. Jesus Espinoza, 6-1, 6-1
Erich Lipovsky def. Conor O’Toole, 6-1, 6-2
Rocky Monticolo-David Santana (S) def. Joseph Kurpis-Ben Stengel, 2-6, 6-4, 10-8
Luke Shaw-Mason Shimp def. Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski, 6-7, 6-4, 10-8
Records: Woodstown 3-0, Schalick 0-2.

PENNSVILLE 5, WASHINGTON TWP. 0
Gabe Schneider (P) def. Khang Nguyen, 6-0, 6-0
Maddox Efelis (P) def. William Minchin, 6-2, 6-0
Brody Wiggins (P) def. John Ecker, 6-0, 6-0
Noah Bohn-Noah Flitcraft (P) Jack Laubin-Kaden Murphy, 6-0, 6-0
Luke Chamberlain-Sawyer Humphrey (P) wins 6-0, 6-1
Records: Pennsville 3-0, Washington Twp. 0-2.

‘A good win’

Pennsville softball opens a busy week with a victory over county rival Woodstown; Schalick uses two big innings to pick up its first win of the season

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – It was a strange game on so many fronts, but in the end, Pennsville pulled out a big victory to start what for the Eagles is a week of big games.

The Eagles took down county rival Woodstown 7-3 Monday. The game time was pushed back a half-hour to allow the solar eclipse to run its course. The Eagles arrived at 3 p.m. to find an empty stadium as the Wolverines waited things out in the gym, but it did allow them to experience the celestial event.

When the game did get underway, they lost their starting pitcher to a blister blowout in the fifth inning, but their reliever kept the hard-hitting Wolverines off the board the rest of the way.

“It was just a crazy afternoon,” Pennsville coach Beth Jackson said.

Savannah Palverento started in the circle for the Eagles (3-1) and was pitching through a blister on her throwing hand that developed during Saturday’s doubleheader. It finally burst in the fifth inning, forcing her out of the circle into left field and calling Sierra Stultz out of the bullpen.

Palverento gave up three runs in the first two innings, but kept the Wolverines off the board up to the time she came out with one out in the bottom of the fifth and Stultz shut them out on three hits the rest of the way. Lilly Birney helped keep Woodstown off the board with a great catch in centerfield in the seventh.

“The two of them pitched well,” Jackson said. “Sierra came in and helped out and did her job. We had a couple hiccups in the field, but other than that the girls were making the plays. Lilly Birney made an excellent play in centerfield in the bottom of the seventh.”

Palverento’s availability to pitch the rest of the week wasn’t immediately certain.

Woodstown (2-1) scored a pair of runs in the first on Ellie Wygand’s RBI single and Katie Brown’s run-scoring fielder’s choice. Pennsville scored four runs in the second on a pair of errors to take the lead. Five of Pennsville’s runs were unearned.

Birney and Reagan Wariwanchik each had two hits for the Eagles.

“Our whole lineup was hitting the ball, making contact,” Jackson said. “There were a few plays we took advantage of and we added on with some hits.

“We hit the ball pretty much through the lineup, put the ball in play. My dad always says put the ball in play, good things will happen.”

The Eagles didn’t have any more luck getting Woodstown leadoff hitter Tulana Mingin out than anybody else that has played the Wolverines this year. Mingin reached base all four times she batted, extending her streak of reaching safely to 14 straight plate appearances going back to last season. The single she got in the sixth inning ran her career total to 104 hits.

“This was a good win,” Jackson said. “Like I said to them, playing Millville and Ocean City on Saturday. I think that really helped prepare them for this week.

“That was my post on Instagram. I said we went 1-1 and no rest for the weary next week. We’re playing Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. We have a tough week and I think this was a good way to start this week.”

SCHALICK 16, CLAYTON 2: The Cougars put together a pair of seven-run innings to score their first win of the season.

Alex Shimp had a pair of hits and three RBIs to lead the offense and Abby Willoughby spun a complete game with eight strikeouts. Cloe Elliott also had two hits, while Addi Shimp, Taylor Sparks, Ava Scurry, Cayla Sbrana and Willoughby all had one.

Still not enough

Salem CC softball among national leaders in hitting, as a team and individually, but remain outside JUCO’s Division II Top 20

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The Salem CC softball team is off to its best start in program history. The Mighty Oaks have one of the longest current winning streaks in its division and several players among the national leaders, but it’s still not enough to break them into the national rankings.

The Mighty Oaks (20-4) have an 18-game winning streak and lead JUCO Division II in batting (.436) and on-base percentage (.534) among teams that have played at least 20 games this season, but they weren’t listed in this week’s Top 20 or teams receiving votes.

Oaks leadoff hitter Karyn Trice is second nationally in batting (.594) and first in OBP (.689) among players on teams with a minimum of 20 games. Ella Hayes is fourth in batting (.585), fourth in OBP (.641) and 11th in slugging (1.015). Other statistics are listed on a total basis and Hayes is tied for 14th in total RBIs.

Morgan Mecham is eighth in ERA among pitchers with 10 or more appearances (1.35). The Oaks are sixth in team ERA (2.40) and tenth in strikeouts per seven innings (7.37).

Despite their early-season success, the Oaks remained unranked in the latest D-II Top 20. Among the teams in this week’s poll, only unanimous No. 1 Parkland (30) and No. 14 Bryant & Stratton-Wis. (18) have winning streaks equal or longer than the Oaks.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be (in the poll); I think we have a good shot,” Salem coach Angel Rodriguez said after Sunday’s sweep of Bucks CC. “We’re playing hot. We’re doing all the right things.

“The first step was getting a player recognized for the first time (GSAC Player of the Week Hayes). That’s a good start; hopefully we can make a good argument this week and see when the new rankings come up. It’s definitely going to be nice to see it, but (if) we don’t see it, it’s just more motivation for us – what do we have to keep doing to get there.”

JUCO DIVISION II RANKINGS
1. Parkland (37-3), 2. Copiah-Lincoln (27-3), 3. Louisburg (33-3), 4. Murray State (33-5), 5. Pearl River (33-6), 6. Jones (26-10), 7. Johnson County (26-6), 8. LSU-Eunice (32-8), 9. Kirkwood (22-10), 10. Phoenix (25-6);
11. Des Moines Area (23-7), 12. East Central (26-8), 13. St. Johns River (36-13), 14. Bryant & Stratton-Wis. (18-1), 15. Hines (23-11), 16. Spoon River (24-12), 17. Catawba Valley (19-2), 18. Cowley County (29-10), 19. Marion Military Institute (32-12), 20. NW Mississippi (19-13).
Receiving votes: Bryant & Stratton-Va., North Iowa Area, Kankakee, Rock Valley.