Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of May 18-23
MONDAY, MAY 18 BASEBALL Haddon Heights at Schalick Penns Grove at Pennsville Salem at Camden Academy Charter SOFTBALL Pennsville at Salem Haddonfield at Salem Tech, 4:15 p.m. BOYS GOLF Salem/Cumberland Championship, Centerton CC, 8 a.m. Woodstown vs. Deptford, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS GOLF Salem/Cumberland Championship, Centerton CC, 8 a.m. TENNIS Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. BOYS VOLLEYBALL Highland at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Haddon Heights
TUESDAY, MAY 19 BASEBALL Clayton at Penns Grove Gloucester at Salem Tech Pennsville at Schalick Pitman at Woodstown Salem at Glassboro SOFTBALL Penns Grove at Clayton Woodstown at Pitman Schalick at Pennsville at Pennsville LL, 6 p.m. GOLF Schalick vs. Cumberland, Running Deer, 3:30 p.m. TENNIS Clayton at Penns Grove BOYS LACROSSE Bishop Eustace at Woodstown VOLLEYBALL Clearview at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. TRACK Nike Elite Meet, Delsea
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 BASEBALL LEAP at Penns Grove Salem Tech at Wildwood Catholic Schalick at Collingswood SOFTBALL Glassboro at Salem Schalick at Middle Twp. Atlantic Tech at Woodstown, 4:15 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Timber Creek at Woodstown
THURSDAY, MAY 21 BASEBALL Mainland at Pennsville Salem Tech at Gloucester County Christian SOFTBALL Pennsville at Kingsway Salem Tech at Camden Co. Tech
Schalick smacks Mainland to clinch top seed in SJ Group I playoffs, Hartley throws complete game, Sepers gets his 100th career hit; includes scores and highlights from Friday’s Salem County sports calendar
BASEBALL
SOFTBALL
TENNIS
Schalick 10, Mainland 4
Clearview 9, Pennsville 7
Overbrook 3, Woodstown 2
Woodstown 4, Oakcrest 1
Salem 12, Bridgeton 1
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Camden Academy 13, Salem Tech 9
Camden Academy at Salem Tech
Triton at Salem Tech
GIRLS LACROSSE
Paul VI 21, Woodstown 8
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – When Evan Sepers contemplated what the 100th hit of his high school career might look like, he usually thought of it being some kind of hard liner into the outfield or something even more majestic. Something more along the lines of the 101st hit he got in his second at bat Friday.
Years from now they’ll remember it as a frozen rope, but truth be told the milestone hit didn’t make it to the pitcher’s mound.
The Schalick senior got his 100th career hit in the first inning of the Cougars’ 10-4 win over Mainland that ostensibly earned them the No. 1 seed in the upcoming South Jersey Group I baseball playoffs for the first time.
It was a two-strike chopper in front of the plate that rolled into the no-man’s land between the pitcher and catcher and he beat it out without a throw for a single. To take a phrase straight from the golf course, they don’t ask you how, they just ask how many.
“I saw when it hit the ground it jumped into fair play so I just put my head down and started running,” Sepers said. “I saw the first baseman just kind of drop his arm as if he wasn’t going to catch a baseball. I didn’t know whether or not the catcher bobbled it or it went foul. It was just kind of wildin’ all over the place.
“I was hoping it was going to be a line drive, maybe an RBI single or maybe if I got lucky got hold of one and hit one out – that would’ve been the ideal hit for 100 – but I’m just glad I hit 100. That’s something I set my mind on since the start of the season. I knew the number (to reach it) was going to be big. The most hits I’ve had in a season before this was 31 last year. I’m just thrilled that I hit 100. It’s something I’ve had my mindset on since I walked in here as a freshman and hitting it is just like a dream come true.”
Sepers’ second hit was a more like he dreamed the first one would be. He ripped a solid single into right field. He went 2-for-3 in the game and is now working on a 10-game hitting streak in which he’s batting .548 (17-for-31).
He reached his milestone hit in 240 career at-bats. Cougars coach Sean O’Brien, who described Sepers as “one of our best pure hitters,” said the RCSJ-Cumberland signee would’ve gotten to the number sooner had he not been injured (and limited to 21 at-bats) his sophomore year.
Next up on the Cougars’ 100-hit watch is catcher Ricky Watt. He needs five for the milestone after going 1-for-2 against the Mustangs to extend his hitting streak to eight games. Both of Sepers’ hits were part of four-run innings that staked the Cougars to an early 8-0 lead. It was such a dominating start, all nine spots in their order had reached base at least once through 19 batters.
Bo Schalick had RBI singles in each of the first two innings – the first one scoring Sepers – and had a two-run single in his third at-bat to give the Cougars a 10-2 lead after three innings. Dante Zappala kept the Cougars off the board over the last three innings to give the Mustangs a chance to get back in it, but Schalick right-hander Cole Hartley proved too tough to solve.
The Cougars (16-6) caught the Group 3 Mustangs (14-8) ripe for the picking. Mainland was coming off a win over St. Augustine Prep the day before and was playing its fourth game in as many days, but coach Billy Kern wasn’t making any excuses.
“They’re young, they play a lot of games all the time, doubleheaders, things like that,” he said. “No excuses. We just kind of no-showed the first inning or two. They’re a good team, (you) can’t fall behind like that or else you’re going to pay the price like we did.
“We didn’t come out throwing strikes, fell behind, pitch count got high right away and offensively we started pressing a little bit. Tried to do too much a little bit too early, but again, no excuses. Give credit to their pitcher. He threw a fantastic game.”
Hartley pitched what he called “my best game overall.” He threw a complete game, giving up four hits and striking out six, and in the two innings the Mustangs did get something going he got through it with a minimal amount of damage.
Hartley went into the seventh inning 15 pitches under his limit. O’Brien wanted to give him every chance to finish and the pitcher responded to the trust by quickly retiring the Mustangs on three fly balls.
“I knew I had to go against a tough team today and I was feeling it and I wanted to dominate,” Hartley said. “I went against Clearview a couple weeks ago and I started off good, four scoreless and one hit, but I lost it in the fifth inning and I was like I’m not letting that happen today. I was going to go the full distance and get us the No. 1 seed for sure.”
The Cougars went into the game on top of the South Jersey Group I power points standings. A win over an elite Group 3 team on the next to last day before the cutoff will make it virtually impossible to be overtaken.
“We knew if we could secure a win today it would guarantee (the No. 1),” O’Brien said. “There was no guessing. We don’t need other people’s help. We were going to take care of business ourselves.
“We really just wanted to come here and be competitive and play well. We’ve played well against good teams like this but we haven’t pushed through yet, so it was really good to push through against one of those top teams. We’ve hung around with those other teams but we just kind of came up short, so it was good to actually push through.”
Mainland
002
200
0-
4
4
1
Schalick
442
000
x-
10
7
1
WP: Cole Hartley. LP: Ryan Bradly. 3B: Ryan Bradly (M).
WOODSTOWN 4, OAKCREST 1: Luke Fraley hit his third homer of the season and two pitchers gave up four hits and an unearned runs in the Wolverines’ third straight victory. Ty Coblentz and Tommy Tucci each had two hits for Woodstown (15-8)
CAMDEN ACADEMY CHARTER 13, SALEM TECH 9: The Cougars pulled away from a one-run game with six runs in the home fifth, sending Salem Tech to its fourth straight loss. Jorge Rodriguez’ bases-loaded, two-run single got the bigger inning started. The Chargers had 11 hits, with Chase Pompper, Cole Sacks, Logan Hearn and Brayden McAllister having two apiece.
Schalick senior Evan Sepers follows through on his high chopper in front of the plate that became his 100th career hit Friday against Mainland. The ball is the white spot at the top of the fence.
Softball
SALEM 12, BRIDGETON 1: Avah Brown pitched a five-inning no-hitter with 14 strikeouts to help the Rams (2-16) snap a 13-game losing streak. Isla Bohn had two hits and Xiomara Cano-Merced and Jaylynn Dickerson each drove in a pair of runs. The Rams broke the game open with a seven-run fourth inning.
CLEARVIEW 9, PENNSVILLE 7: Ella Redheffer’s RBI double in the sixth snapped a 6-6 tie and Ava D’Alessandro singled home and insurance run before the inning was over to lift the Pioneers (15-7). D’Alessandro went 4-for-4 and Redheffer had three hits and drove in a pair of runs Lily Edwards had three hits and Avery Watson had three hits apiece for the Eagles (13-6). Edwards also drove in three runs.
Girls Lacrosse
PAUL VI 21, WOODSTOWN 8: Emma McCarthy scored a career-high nine goals to move within three of 300 for her career to lead Paul VI (9-6). Delaney Walker (221) and Emma Morgan (124) each scored three goals for Woodstown (7-7)
Wolverines recognizes14 more senior athletes who have signed with various colleges and universities to continue their playing, academic careers
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Joe Ursino was getting ready for another day in the life of Woodstown athletics director Thursday morning, but he knew this day felt different than most of the others.
For this was the day he got the enjoyable task of introducing the next wave college-bound Wolverines to the world. This was the day of Woodstown’s spring signing celebration, one of the AD’s favorite days of the year.
Ursino presided over festivities announcing 14 future college athletes to the world. Most had already signed their official paperwork for their programs of choice, but this was a day for collective public recognition and celebration.
“This is one of the days you get up to come to work (and) you’re not coming to work,” Ursino said. “We normally try to do it before the prom, so this is like the first celebration into the celebration season, so I like to be able to take advantage of that as the athletic director.
“Spent a lot of time with these kids. They’re all great kids. They all have different personalities, but like I said it doesn’t matter what their personality is, they all lean on each other, they appreciate each other. For me, I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
The group was impressive for its size, variety of schools chosen and the kaleidoscope of school colors on display.
It included Elizabeth Daly (Ursinus women’s lacrosse), Bryceton Rooney (Rochester football), Kyia Leyman (RCSJ-Gloucester women’s basketball), Ellie Wygand (FDU-Florham softball), Bryce Ayars (RCSJ-Cumberland soccer), Aidan Taulane (Rowan track), Sara Lodge (Rowan track), Anthony Costello (Georgian Court track), Kami Casiano (Wilmington track), Jacob Marino (Bloomsburg track), Emma Morgan (TCNJ women’s lacrosse), Joanna Winchell (TCNJ cheer) and Josh Crawford (Sacred Heart track).
That’s 11 different colleges and seven different sports represented Thursday. Add the group from the signing celebration the school held earlier this year and it’s another three schools and two more sports.
“It definitely impresses me seeing that people reached out to other places besides our local schools,” Ayars said. “It definitely impresses me that people reached out to farther places to see what they want to do in college and where the next home is for them.”
“It speaks to our individuality,” Marino said. “Everyone’s found something they loved at all these schools and I think that’s really impressive. To find a place you love and want to be at is great, and I feel like it’s amazing that everyone found their home.”
Here are scores and highlights from Thursday’s Salem County sports calendar
BASEBALL Pennsville 7, GCIT 2: Grady Sanders’ two-run double capped a four-run fifth inning that gave the Eagles a 6-2 lead and control of the game. Logan Cowperthwait and Jeff Wagner broke a 2-2 tie with an RBI single and Logan Cowperthwait singled home a run a few batters later before Sanders’ game-breaking hit. Mason O’Brien threw a complete game, holding the Cheetahs to three hits and striking out eight.
“We’re playing confident baseball right now, that’s all we can ask for,” said Pennsville coach Matt Karr, whose team is 6-2 in the month of May. “Just keep playing really good competition and get ready for playoffs.”
Clayton 16, Salem Tech 11: The Clippers took control with 11 runs over the fifth and sixth innings. Kevin Mosley hit a game-tying homer in the fifth and Jameson Emerle hit a two-run homer in the sixth. Mosley and Jaiden Keller drove in four runs apiece. Daulton Sites had three hits and two RBIs for the Chargers. Cole Sacks and Logan Hearn had two hits apiece.
SOFTBALL Woodstown 6, Glassboro 4: Leah Clark turns back Glassboro in seventh, Ellie Wygand homers, but denied her 100th career hit; separate story posting soon. Delran 7, Schalick 1: Chloe Carucci’s two-run homer capped a four-run third inning and Mary Masterson held the Cougars to four hits and struck out 10. Kassady Sickler gave Schalick a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the second. Bridgeton at Salem Tech
GOLF Woodstown 159, Overbrook 184: Woodstown’s Nate Valente shot 1-over 37 to win low medalist at Kresson GC. Teammate Alejandro Vazquez was a shot back.
GIRLS GOLF Schalick 165, Delsea 182: Schalick’s Lena Virga and Delsea’s Claudia Bui shared medalist honors (40) at Washington Twp. Municipal.
BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown 12, Timber Creek 2: Bryce Downer records his 700th career save, Wolverines win fourth straight; separate story posting soon.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL Riverside at Salem Tech
TENNIS Pennsville 4, Burlington Twp. 1: The Eagles’ No. 1 doubles team of Coen Rinnier and Jacob Cheeseman won their 13th match in a row. No 2 singles Lucas Cooksey has won 14 straight.
PENNSVILLE 4, BURLINGTON TWP. 1 Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Adam Mortaja, 6-1, 6-3 Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Jay Patel, 6-0, 6-1 Caleb Shin (BT) def. Carter Willis, 7-5, 6-2 Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Prabhnoor Ghotra-Taylor Lahr-Tirado, 6-3, 6-2 Lucas Thomas-Ian Peacock (P) def. Vincent Contrati-Ashan Wickamanyake, 6-0, 6-2. Records: Pennsville 16-6, Burlington Twp. 10-9.
Woodstown senior Bryce Downer (20) and lacrosse coach Bryan Sperry celebrate the goalie surpassing 700 career saves in Thursday’s win over Timber Creek.
Pennsville softball players set two milestones in bounce-back win over Gloucester Catholic; Woodstown’s Wygand, Schalick’s Sepers, Watt closing in on 100 hits; also includes scores, details from Wednesday’s Salem County sports schedule
SOFTBALL Pennsville 6, Gloucester Catholic 3 Schalick 10, Glassboro 8 Wildwood 10, Salem 0 Woodstown 17, Penns Grove 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
GLOUCESTER – It was a milestone day for the players on the Pennsville softball team. Lily Edwards scored her 100th career run for the first run of the game and Graillyn Weber hit a pair of doubles to set the school’s single-season record as the Eagles bounced back from a bad loss to Millville the day before and topped Gloucester Catholic 6-3 to move within one win of an undefeated division season.
Edwards led off the game with a double and scored her milestone run on Weber’s 16th double of the season, breaking the record Kylie Harris set each of the last two years. Weber’s second double of the game came leading off the third inning and she later scored a game-tying run on a single by Avery Watson.
“I’m really happy about it and honestly I had forgotten before the game about the record, which definitely made it easier to accomplish because I wasn’t really thinking about it,” Weber said. “But I couldn’t have done it without my teammates because we had a great game.”
Weber may have forgotten about the record she was chasing, but Edwards had been counting down the runs and the 100 hits she’s closing on for the last couple weeks.
“For me it’s big because I missed my whole sophomore season (with a broken back) so just to accomplish something like that, that big, means a lot to me,” she said. “I definitely was looking for it. I knew it was going to happen. With Gray (Weber) and Kylie (Harris) behind me I knew I was going to get it, but I knew I needed to run really fast.”
It takes a lot of success at the plate to score 100 runs. She’s scored all those runs off 89 hits, 17 walks, eight HBPs and a couple of fielder’s choices. It’s not certain how many times she’s reached on an error. She’s scored in every game but two this year, and one of those was a shutout the third game of the season.
“My 100 hits is my main goal for high school softball,” she said. “You don’t get that recognition like travel ball or anything, but high school is the time to do it. It’s going to really nice to get it, hopefully.”
The Eagles came from behind twice to beat the Rams for the second time this season. They trailed 2-1 in the first inning and 3-2 in the fourth before scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead for good. Harris hit the go-ahead RBI triple, Watson followed with an RBI single and Kelsey Cook delivered a run-scoring ground out later in the inning. Weber pitched a scoreless seventh to wrap up a complete-game victory.
Watson, the Eagles’ senior shortstop and clean-up hitter, went 4-for-4 in the game. She also had a single in the first, a single in the fifth and another RBI single in the seventh.
“The game was important to us as a division game and I wanted to help be the fuel we needed to pick up the team after a tough loss the day before,” Watson said. “I have plenty of long at-bats where I’m looking to find my perfect pitch and fouling off what I don’t like, and that’s what I did today. I found a good mix of patience and aggression at the plate that helped contribute to our win.”
The Eagles (13-5) can complete an undefeated run through the TCC Classic Division with a win at Salem Monday.
WOODSTOWN 17, PENNS GROVE 0: Ellie Wygand went 4-for-4 with two RBIs, Lexi Taylor was 2-for-2 with three RBIs, Grace Hitchner drove in three runs and three Woodstown pitchers combined on a four-inning no-hitter.
SCHALICK 10, GLASSBORO 8: Khloe McGrath’s three-run homer gave Schalick the lead and highlighted a seven-run fourth inning that erased a 5-1 deficit. The win completed the Cougars’ first undefeated run in the Diamond Division since 2021.
WILDWOOD 19, SALEM 0: Emma Contreras went 4-for-4 with four four RBIs and pitched a four-inning one-hitter, facing one batter over the minimum. Julliana Love had the Rams’ hit, a leadoff single in the second inning.
BASEBALL Schalick 13, Glassboro 3 Vineland 12, Pennsville 9 Woodstown 12, Penns Grove 0 Wildwood 17, Salem 7
SCHALICK 13, GLASSBORO 3: The Cougars erased a 2-1 deficit with 10 runs in the third inning and sealed up back-to-back division titles for the first time in school history. Jamari Whitley and Evan Glaspey had three hits apiece, Evan Sepers had three RBIs and Whitley struck out nine in a five-inning complete game. Sepers (99) and Ricky Watt (94) are closing in on 100 career hits.
WOODSTOWN 12, PENNS GROVE 0: Luke Fraley went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs, Walker Battavio went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and Colton Williams pitched a five-inning one-hitter striking out seven. Josh Widen had the Red Devils’ lone hit.
WILDWOOD 17, SALEM 7: The Warriors were out front 15-0 to offset Salem’s seven-run outburst in the fourth. Trevor Troiano went 4-for-4 with five RBIs and is 8-for-8 with seven RBIs against Salem County foes the last two days. He’s 10-for-13 in his last three games overall. Jovanni Rios hit a three-run triple in the Rams’ big inning and was out at plate trying to stretch it into a homer.
VINELAND 12, PENNSVILLE 9: The Eagles trailed 9-2 after two innings, but battled back and brought the tying run to the plate in a seventh-inning rally but ran out of steam. Logan Streitz went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Mason O’Brien and Dante Cummings had two hits apiece.
Pennsville uses grit, luck to get past Glassboro; includes scores, details from Tuesday’s Salem County sports calendar
BASEBALL Pennsville 4, Glassboro 1: Eagles take lead with four in fortuitous fifth inning; full story below.. Wildwood 12, Penns Grove 2: Trevor Troiano goes 4-for-4; Wildwood holds Penns Grove to one hit through five innings while opening 7-0 lead. Bristol Scott, Tim Zamorano drove in Penns Grove’s runs in sixth. Piscataway Magnet 15, Salem Tech 7: NJTAC Group 1/2 Tournament semifinals. Chargers led early, but Piscataway (21-2) pulled away from a 9-7 game with six in home sixth.. SOFTBALL Woodstown 11, Deptford 1: Karly Spears and Macie Moore combine for four hits, four runs and three RBIs from bottom of Wolverines’ lineup. Leah Clark allows two hits, none after the first inning, and struck out eight to surpass 200 in her career (201). Millville 16, Pennsville 2: Thunderbolts put Eagles back on their heels with seven in top of the first inning. Pennsville’s Graillyn Weber ties Kylie Harris’ single-season school doubles record (15), Harris hits her 49th career double. Buena 12, Salem Tech 11: Chiefs score three runs on passed balls in home seventh to walk it off. Izzy Roberts had three hits and Carmen Mott three RBIs for the Chargers GOLF Schalick 161, Cumberland 196: Schalick’s Anthony Sepers posts 2-over 38 at Centerton CC for medalist honors. Teammate Jaxson Weber shot 39. GIRLS GOLF OLMA 214, Schalick 225: OLMA’s Eva Acerba and Schalick’s Lena Virga shared medalist honors (48) at Centerton CC TENNIS Middle Twp. 5, Schalick 0: See below Pennsville 4, Washington Twp. 1: See below GIRLS LACROSSE Holy Cross 13, Woodstown 12: The Lancers scored twice in the final 1:31 to win. Caroline Tobin and Brielle Mosteller scored six goals each for Holy Cross. Delaney Walker scored four (217) for Woodstown, Emma Morgan scored three for her 200th career point. BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at Middle Twp. BOYS VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at West Tech
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – At least one time every year Pennsville’s home field becomes a true advantage to play at home.
It certainly was Tuesday when the skin infield of Ed Rieger Field that the Eagles have come to love played a key role in the inning that propelled them to a 4-1 come-from-behind victory over Glassboro.
The game carried some serious implications for the South Jersey Group i playoff bracket and it very much played like a playoff game. The Eagles trailed 1-0 going to the home fifth of a tight pitching duel between aces Jude Dempster and Gavin Spears, but they came out of the inning with a 4-1 lead thanks in part of the subtleties of the infield.
The inning started when Spears reached on a one-out dropped third strike and escalated into a bases-loaded situation on Mason O’Brien’s single and Jeff Wagner getting hit by a pitch. Logan Streitz followed with a fly ball to the gap in left center that centerfielder Jimmy McMahon had in his glove and couldn’t hold allowing the tying run to score.
With the bases still loaded, Stevie Fatcher lofted a high pop behind first that was circled under by first baseman Aidan Evangelisti but eventually fell between three fielders. The Bulldogs thought it should have been an infield fly rule out, but the umpires didn’t see it that way and the Eagles had a 2-1 lead.
Then came the play that makes the skin infield both feared and famous. Grady Sanders hit a routine grounder to the right side. It looked like it would be the third out of the inning, but at the last instant it took a wicked hop into second baseman Kody Harrell’s upper body. The sophomore infielder recovered the ball, but in his haste to get the out his throw to first was wide and two insurance runs raced home.
“We’ve been talking a lot lately about just finding a way,” Eagles coach Matt Karr said. “Ugly, pretty, whatever, just find a way. And that starts with just putting the ball in play and doing your job. Heads up play there by Gavin. Instead of standing there feeling sorry for himself he finds his way on base. Everything we’ve been preaching this season and always here, just give the guy behind you a shot. Whatever your job is at the moment go to the plate and do it and trust that the guy behind you is gonna pick you up and finish it off.
“Another thing I talk about all the time is luck. I really believe that part of the baseball game is creating some of your own luck. Some of those things that happened that inning, we had to put ourselves in situations for it to be capitalized on. Could’ve been nobody on and that pop up happens and falls and doesn’t mean anything. but we had guys on and we were fighting, so we created our luck in that situation. When you’re facing a pitcher like (Dempster) you have to almost ugly it up a little bit, fight, claw and find a way.”
Spears calls it “scrappy baseball … that’s what we symbolize around here.”
A similar scenario took place here 51 weeks ago when the Eagles scored a one-run extra-inning victory over Pitman. They fell behind that day 1-0 in the first, tied it in the seventh on a ball that got away from the catcher and won in it the eighth with the help of two fielding errors by two normally sure-handed infielders.
“We’re becoming one of the far and few between fields where it’s a skin infield; I don’t know how many of them are left in South Jersey, I would guess not many,” Karr said. “Here, as dry as the weather’s been, this field hardens up and our guys get the luxury of practicing and playing on it every single day. We were watching them take I/O and I told the guys, half-heartedly joking, Ed Rieger’s hardening up, you know what that means. Put ‘er in play and see what happens. It always finds a way. We love the home-field advantage.”
“This field is probably the worst I’ve ever seen in my life,” Sanders said. “On this infield, there’s been many black eyes that I’ve seen; I got hit over the forehead last year. Especially over there (waving to the right side), that’s one of the hardest spots in the infield. It’s great to play here. This is the most challenging place to play. Everywhere else feels like a joy ride. I love playing here. It makes me a better defender. It makes everybody here a better defender.”
“Basically anything that’s hit hard on the ground (is) guaranteed a base hit here,” Spears said. “It’s not the best place to play but for us I’d say it is. Any team coming in here is going to have a hard time fielding the ball. We get to work out here every single day, so we’re kind of used to it. This is just our home.”
Once the Eagles grabbed the lead, Spears had to go out and defend it. He went out and gave them a shutdown sixth, working the corners to retire the Bulldogs on a soft liner to second and two strikeouts. He allowed five hits and struck out eight in going the distance for his longest outing of the season. The Bulldogs scored their run in the first inning – on back-to-back walks to open the game, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly – then were blanked the rest of the game.
“We went up to Cherry Hill West for the Diamond Classic and threw him out there against one of the top teams in the state and he went out and battled his butt off,” Karr said. “We told the boys after the game I don’t know if you guys knew that we needed an ace or had an ace, but you’ve got a guy. We know when 10 toes the rubber we’re going to have a shot to win. Every start he’s been on the mound we’ve been right there or we’ve won. Our guys feel that. When they’ve got their guy on the mound they come out feeling different that day. He gives us that shot in the arm.”
“I never really considered myself an ace; I always feel like there’s things to work on, even in this game,” Spears said. “It’s good to know they have trust in me. I know my fielders have my back. I know they’re going to make every play that’s out there.”
Dempster was equally impressive for the Bulldogs. He held the Eagles to four hits over five innings and struck out 11.
The win allowed the Eagles to switch places with Glassboro in the SJ Group I power points standings. Glassboro was sixth and Pennsville seventh to start the day, but they flipped after the game. Schalick is No. 1, Woodstown No. 3. The power point window closes after Saturday’s games.
Here are the scores and details from games on Monday’s Salem County sports calendar
BASEBALL Woodstown 3, Clayton 1: Chase Harding scored on a passed ball with Ty Coblentz batting to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead and Coblentz completed the at-bat with a sacrifice fly. Three Woodstown pitchers scattered five hits and struck out 11. Schalick 19, Salem 0: Mason Sanchez went 2-for-2 and pitched the first two shutout innings with five strikeouts. Cole Hartley had three RBIs.
SOFTBALL Deptford 8, Salem Tech 6: Molly Bulger and Soph McGuire (3 RBIs) both went 4-for-4 for the Spartans Woodstown 5, Clayton 1: Talia Guardascione singled home the first run in a four-run first inning that got Woodstown going. Pennsville 7, Glassboro 4: Kylie Harris’s leadoff homer broke a 4-4 tie and kicked off a three-run eighth inning for Pennsville. Savannah Guglielmo threw two innings of no-hit relief for the win. Lily Edwards scored her 99th career run. Schalick 6, Salem 0: The Cougars won for the second time this year at the Elmer LL complex.
GIRLS GOLF Williamstown 195, Schalick 206: Williamstown’s Kaci Adams was medalist (45). Cali Fisler posted the low round for Schalick (48)
VOLLEYBALL Washington Twp. 2, Salem Tech 0: 25-7, 25-8
GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown 16, Triton 3: Delaney Walker (5 goals) now at 213
BOYS LACROSSE Millville at Woodstown
TENNIS PENNSVILLE 5, SCHALICK 0 Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Gabe McFeeley, 6-0, 6-0 Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Reece Loatman, 6-1, 6-0 Carter Willis (P) def. Tyr Brattlie, 6-1, 6-0 Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Cooper Halperin-Jack Genievich, 6-0, 6-0 Ian Peacock-Lucas Thomas (P) def. Angelo Boston-Gavin McGrath, 7-5, 6-0 Records: Schalick 6-8, Pennsville 12-6
WOODSTOWN 5, TIMBER CREEK 0 Drew Stengel (WO) def. Kyle Clark Blanding, 6-4, 6-1 Luke Shaw (WO) def. Derek Sarpong, 6-1, 6-1 Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Adam He, 6-1, 6-3 Vincent Merendino-Josef Hummel (WO) def. Gabriel Castro-Keenan King, 6-0, 6-0 Josh King-John Hood-McGinley (WO) def. Stephen Fehon-Shawn Allen, 6-1, 6-1 Records: Woodstown 12-6, Timber Creek 3-11
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of May 11-16; all events start at 4 p.m. unless noted
MONDAY, MAY 11 BASEBALL Schalick at Salem Woodstown at Clayton SOFTBALL Clayton at Woodstown Pennsville at Glassboro Salem vs. Schalick, Elmer LL, 6 p.m. GIRLS GOLF Schalick vs. Williamstown, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Washington Twp., 3:45 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Triton BOYS LACROSSE Millville at Woodstown TRACK Woodstown in Deptford Invitational TENNIS Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Woodstown at Timber Creek, 3:45 p.m. Pitman at Penns Grove
TUESDAY, MAY 12 BASEBALL Glassboro at Pennsville Penns Grove at Wildwood Salem Tech at Piscataway Magnet (NJTAC) SOFTBALL Deptford at Woodstown Millville at Pennsville Salem Tech at Buena, 3:45 p.m. Wildwood at Penns Grove GOLF Woodstown vs. Lower Cape May, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS GOLF Schalick vs. OLMA, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. TENNIS Middle Twp. at Schalick, 3:45 p.m. Woodstown at Timber Creek, 3:45 p.m. Pennsville at Washington Twp. TRACK Woodstown at West Deptford, 5 p.m. BOYS VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at BCIT, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Holy Cross at Woodstown BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at Middle Twp., 4:15 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 BASEBALL Glassboro at Schalick Penns Grove at Woodstown Salem at Wildwood Pennsville at Vineland, 7 p.m. SOFTBALL Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic Schalick at Glassboro Wildwood at Salem Woodstown at Penns Grove GOLF Schalick vs. Delsea, White Oaks CC, 3:30 p.m. GIRLS GOLF Schalick vs. OLMA, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at Middle Twp., 4:15 p.m. TENNIS Delsea at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Pennsville at Pitman, 3:45 p.m. Penns Grove at Schalick TRACK NJSIAA Sectionals VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Timber Creek
THURSDAY, MAY 14 BASEBALL Clayton at Salem Tech GCIT at Pennsville SOFTBALL Bridgeton at Salem Tech Woodstown at Glassboro Delran at Schalick, 4:15 p.m. GOLF Woodstown vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:30 p.mm. GIRLS GOLF Schalick vs. Delsea, White Oaks CC, 3:30 p.m. TENNIS Delsea at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Burlington Twp. at Pennsville BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at Timber Creek BOYS VOLLEYBALL Riverside at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
FRIDAY, MAY 15 BASEBALL LEAP at Penns Grove Mainland at Schalick Oakcrest at Woodstown Salem Tech at Camden Academy Charter SOFTBALL Bridgeton at Salem Camden Academy Charter at Salem Tech Clearview at Pennsville Delran at Schalick, 4:15 p.m. BOYS GOLF Woodstown vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:30 p.m. GIRLS GOLF Schalick vs. Delsea, White Oaks CC, 3:30 p.m. BOYS VOLLEYBALL Triton at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at Timber Creek GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Paul VI, 6 p.m. TENNIS Overbrook at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. TRACK NJSIAA Sectionals
SATURDAY, MAY 16 BASEBALL Pennsville at Cedar Creek, 11 a.m. Woodstown at Buena, noon Oakcrest at Woodstown Penns Grove at LEAP SOFTBALL Bridgeton at Salem Clearview at Pennsville LEAP at Penns Grove TENNIS Overbrook at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Schalick at Pitman BOYS VOLLEYBALL Triton at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at Camden Catholic, 11 a.m. TRACK NJSIAA Sectionals
Lee Ware Tournament, Woodstown Woodstown 5, Camden Catholic, 0 Cherry Hill East 14, Washington Twp. 7 Consolation: Washington Twp. 10, Camden Catholic 0 Championship: CHE 4, Woodstown 2
SOFTBALL Fred Powell Invitational, Williamstown Williamstown 4, Woodstown 3 Cumberland 7, Mainland 4 Cherry Hill East 4, Absegami 3 Cedar Creek 14, Moorestown 5 Cedar Creek 7, Cherry Hill East 2 Williamstown 10, Cumberland 5 Absegami 17, Moorestown 14 Woodstown 13, Mainland 9 Williamstown 4, Cedar Creek 0
