Spina and Holladay’s combined no-hitter, Palverento’s perfect game highlight the start of the sports week in Salem County
BASEBALL
WOODSTOWN 6, OVERBROOK 0: Dante Spina and Jack Holladay combined on the Wolverines’ first seven-inning no-hitter in recent memory. The two pitchers struck out 10, walked two and faced only two batters over the minimum. Holladay retired 13 in a row before the Rams reached on a two-out error in the seventh. Rocco String went 3-for-3 and Ty Coblentz had three hits and two RBIs to lead the offense.
PENNSVILLE 16, WILDWOOD 2: Chase Burchfield went 3-for-3 with a homer and six RBIs and Connor Starn homered as the Eagles came from behind to win their third in a row. They spotted the Warriors a 2-0 lead. Cohen Petrutz drove in three runs. The Eagles have outscored their opponents 52-2 during their winning streak.
SCHALICK 11, PENNS GROVE 1: Jamari Whitley went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and pitched four strong innings with nine strikeouts as the Cougars improved to 5-0. Evan Sepers had three extra-base hits.
SALEM 9, CLAYTON 6: Andrew May’s two-run single highlighted a four-run sixth that broke a 5-5 tie and led the Rams to victory. May had two hits and four RBIs. Chase Davis and Eithan Longo had three hits apiece. Davis struck out 11 in 6 1/3 innings on the mound.
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Penns Grove
PENNSVILLE 16, WILDWOOD 0: Savannah Palverento retired all 15 batters she faced in a five-inning perfect game. The Salem CC signee struck out five and made big pitches on a few 3-2 counts to avoid any walks. The Eagles supported her with 15 hits. Kylie Harris and Graillyn Weber both had three hits, a homer short of the cycle. Harris and Sawyer Simmons had four RBIs and Avery Watson had two hits and three RBIs. Watson also made a nice defensive play up the middle on the next to last play of the game to keep the gem alive.
OVERBROOK 5, WOODSTOWN 3: The Rams broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the sixth inning, then turned back a Wolverines threat in the seventh. Lila Bowling had three hits for Woodstown. Ellie Wygand and Hannah Hitchner had two apiece.
CLAYTON 27, SALEM 0: The Clippers erupted for 19 runs in the third inning and held the Rams hitless.
TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 5, TRITON 0
Gabe Schneider (P) def. Tristyn Malone, 6-0, 6-0
Maddox Efelis (P) def. Cole Durham, 6-0, 6-0
Brody Wiggins (P) def. Tirth Patel, 6-0, 6-0
Lucas Cooksey-Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Sean Gorsky-Brennan Zabala, 6-0, 6-2
Matthew Forino-Carter Willis (P) def. Shrey Modi-Nathanial White, 6-0, 6-1
Records: Pennsville 5-0, Triton 0-4.
WOODSTOWN 4, PENNS GROVE 1
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-1, 6-0
John Farrell (WO) def. Angel Perez Herrera, 6-0, 6-0
Stuart Mondragon (P) def. Joseph Kurpis, 6-2, 5-7, 10-8
Ben Stengel-Nicholas DiTeodoro (WO) def. Anthony Pacheco-Rene Ruiz, 6-0, 6-1
Vincent Merendino-Jake Lewis (WO) def. Adam Gonzalez-Jose Suntecum, 6-1, 6-0
Records: Woodstown 5-2, Penns Grove 1-2.
SCHALICK 5, GATEWAY 0
George Gould (S) def. Dylan Ceravolo, 6-1, 6-0
Rocky Monticolo (S) def. Tommy McCabe, 6-1, 6-1
Conor O’Toole (S) def. Isan Salamanca, 6-1, 6-2
Cayden Brzozowski-Kaden Barnes (S) def. Justin Dugan-Ben Cline, 7-6 (6-0), 6-0
David Santana-Anthony McGrath (S) def. Jackson Smith-Alvaro Sanchis-Moraleja, 6-2, 6-2
Records: Schalick 4-3, Gateway 1-3.
TRACK
SCHALICK GIRLS WIN: The Cougars remained undefeated (3-0) with a win over Glassboro. Jordan Hadfield won three events (800, 1600, 3200) and Gia Martellacci (200, 400) and Ally Green (javelin, 100 hurdles) won two apiece.
WOODSTOWN RELAY DENIED: The Wolverines’ boys 4×800 relay team made a gutsy effort to beat the qualifying standard for the Penn Relays, but they learned Monday the 8:08 they posted in challenging conditions Saturday at Father Judge wasn’t strong enough to make the field for the historic event. The Wolverines have qualified for the 4×400.
GOLF
Clearview 172, Schalick girls 232
Pennsville vs. Overbrook
Schalick vs. Woodstown
LACROSSE
Mainland 15, Woodstown 11
COLLEGE BASEBALL
MONDAY’S REGION 19 SCORES
Salem CC 20, Atlantic Cape 4
Mercer 13, Lackawanna 9
Morris 3, Sussex 2, susp.
RCSJ-Cumberland 9, Middlesex 5
Raritan Valley 23, Delaware Tech 10
Union 13, Rockland 1
HAMILTON – Matt Murphy homered and drove in four runs and four pitchers scattered five hits while allowing just one earned run as Salem CC blasted Atlantic Cape 20-4. In his seven games since breaking out of a slump with eight RBIs against Middlesex, Murphy is 11-for-27 with two homers and 16 RBIs.
Cole Dawson went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and four runs scored. Murphy, Tyler Hacker, Tony Sanchez and Yen Rodriguez had two hits apiece. The Mighty Oaks (17-17) got things started with an eight-run first inning.
Category: SOFTBALL
This week’s schedule
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 14-19; games start at 4 p.m. unless noted
APRIL 14
BASEBALL
Clayton at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Schalick
Wildwood at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook
GOLF
Pennsville at Overbrook, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Clearview, Westwood GC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Triton at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Gateway
Woodstown at Penns Grove
TRACK
Glassboro at Schalick girls, 3:45 p.m.
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem, Gloucester Catholic, Wildwood at Clayton, 3:30 p.m.
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Mainland
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Atlantic Cape, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 15
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Overbrook
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Woodstown
GOLF
Schalick girls, Woodstown at Westwood GC, 9:30 a.m.
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Timber Creek, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Cinnaminson
VOLLEYBALL
LEAP at Salem Tech
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Harford CC at Salem CC 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 16
BASEBALL
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem at Pennsville
Woodstown at Glassboro
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pennsville at Salem
GOLF
Schalick vs. Washington Twp., Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Delsea at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Millville at Pennsville
Overbrook at Penns Grove
TRACK
Woodstown at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.
Glassboro at Pennsville
Salem at Pitman
LACROSSE
Cinnaminson at Woodstown
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Clearview, 5:15 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Mercer County CC, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 17
BASEBALL
Cumberland at Pennsville
Northern Burlington at Schalick
Woodstown vs. Cinnaminson
SOFTBALL
Clearview at Woodstown
Pennsville at Cumberland
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. OLMA, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Delsea at Woodstown
Pennsville vs. Pitman, Shertle Park, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Timber Creek
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Sussex, 2:30 p.m.
APRIL 18
BASEBALL
Salem at Camden County Tech, 11 a.m.
SOFTBALL
West Deptford at Schalick
TENNIS
Pitman at Penns Grove
LACROSSE
Rancocas Valley at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Bergen CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Cecil at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 19
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Sterling, 11 a.m.
Schalick vs. Cherry Hill West at Haddon Twp., 1 p.m.
Schalick at Haddon Twp., 3:30 p.m.
TRACK
Penns Grove, Pennsville, Schalick, Salem, Woodstown at Woodbury Relays
LACROSSE
Paul VI at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Bergen CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Mercer County CC, noon
Filling big shoes
With head coach suspended, assistant Smith gets a taste of life in the big chair, directs Mighty Oaks to run-rule sweep of Howard CC; Wise walks it off in both games
REGION 19 SOFTBALL
Salem CC 12-14, Howard CC 4-6
Harford 5-8, Lackawanna 1-15
Dutchess 14-10, Raritan Valley 1-6
Brookdale 24-16, Monroe Bronx 1-2
Orange CC 10-19, Sussex 1-4
RCSJ-Gloucester 2-15, Camden 1-7
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Like every assistant coach in the game Mack Smith aspires to be a head coach someday. She is hopeful of an opportunity in time, given a suitable amount of experience and seasoning. She certainly wasn’t expecting it on a cold, damp day in April two years into her college coaching career.
But there she was Thursday, a 24-year-old mom-to-be making the in-game decisions and keeping things together for the Salem CC softball team that had to play without head coach Angel Rodriguez for the day.
It was a day that carried a lot of emotion, but in the end it was a successful debut as the Mighty Oaks scored a pair of run-rule victories over Howard CC 12-4 and 14-6. Tessa Wise had the walk-off hits in both games.
“Definitely nervous,” said Smith, whose only previous head coaching experience was one year with the Pennsville High track program. “I knew what was coming yesterday so I kind of had time to sit back and get in that head space that now it’s kind of falling on you.
“But I have full faith in our staff that I knew with or without Coach Angel we can get this done and we can do it for our girls. And they can do it, too.”
Smith was thrust into the position with Rodriguez serving a three-game suspension for arguing – correctly – a play in Game 1 of last weekend’s doubleheader with Mercer. The umpire initially ran Rodriguez, but brought him back for the nightcap after owning up to his rules error. The region office, however, upheld a three-game suspension, meaning the head coach also will be out for the opener of Saturday’s Sophomore Day twinbill against Delaware Tech or Sunday’s set with Orange CC if the Del Tech games are postponed.
Rodriguez spent Thursday’s twinbill in the Pennsville Little League Complex clubhouse alongside freshman second baseman Jocelyn Melendez, suspended four games for a home-plate collision in the Mercer game, properly out of “sight and sound” of the umpires while their teammates played on Watson Field below. He left Smith with one simple but specific instruction before retreating – “Don’t lose” – and talked to the team after the sweep as he would if he were with them in the dugout.
“It was tough, but we knew it was coming; we were prepared for it yesterday,” Rodriguez said. “It was a weird feeling, but I have trust in our coaches and they did what we talked about all week for our game plan and the players executed.
“It wasn’t fun sitting away, but it was fun watching them do what they do. It was a rollercoaster, just like I would be on the field. It was sad not to be on the field to cheer with them, but it was definitely exciting to still watch.”
Wise admitted it felt a little strange playing a game without her head coach, but she said the situation brought the players closer together.
“It was definitely an adjustment, so we had to get used to it,” the sophomore outfielder said. “We have other coaches making the play calls, so it was more playing as a team, rallying together.”
Smith’s head coaching debut didn’t start out well. The Mighty Oaks fell behind in the opener 4-0 in the second inning before their bats came to life. Bella Rappa got them on the board in the third with a two-run double and they added another run in the fourth, but they still trailed.
They won it with nine runs in the fifth. Wise gave them the lead for good with a three-run double just inside the third-base bag and walked it off later in the inning with a squibber off the end of the bat that the Dragons’ infield couldn’t handle.
“There was a little bit of stress there,” Smith said of the slow start, “but we always say they like to make chaos happen and they like to see our hair get gray. I think they find enjoyment in that sometimes. We knew our offense really wasn’t showing up. We were only one time through the lineup and we knew once they got on that it was game over.”
Wise had similar heroics in the nightcap. She capped a four-run first inning with a two-run triple that rolled into the right field corner and turned into a “Little League home run” when she scored on a bad throw and then she walked it off in the fifth with a ball similar to the one she had to end the opener.
“Never in my life” has she had two walk-off hits in the same doubleheader, she said.
“It’s pretty cool, but it takes a team,” Wise said. “If my teammates never got on base, I never would have had that opportunity. We’re battling here for Jocelyn and Coach Angel, so it was a team effort at that point.”
Turning point
Woodstown stands up to adversity, Gloucester City for much needed win; includes all of Thursday’s reported Salem County action
SALEM COUNTY BASEBALL
Woodstown 4, Gloucester 2
Pennsville 26, Clayton 0
Pitman 11, Salem 0
Schalick 3, Overbrook 2
Glassboro 16, Penns Grove 2
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
GLOUCESTER – Whether it was a team they had beaten every time they played before or one that had taken them down in walk-off fashion in last year’s playoffs, it didn’t really matter. The Woodstown baseball team was in need of a feel-good win and got it Thursday night.
The Wolverines were skunked by the two best pitchers in Salem County in their last two outings, but they got things back moving in the right direction with a 4-2 win at Gloucester City. That’s the same Gloucester program that broke their hearts with two runs in the bottom of the seventh of last year’s South Jersey Group I title game.
“I think there was a sense of relief,” Woodstown coach Marc DeCastro said. “I told them yesterday it doesn’t matter when it happens almost every team goes through a point where it becomes easy to kind of splinter and blame things and people and everything but yourself, and then there are times when the teams that can be good take those opportunities and grow from them.
“Whether we won today or whether we didn’t, to me, it was a little irrelevant. We’re still not ready to be a really good team just yet, we’re still learning how to do that, but what I wanted to see was how we handled each other and handled the game, and I thought they did a really good job.
“I saw some things that showed me there were some people who were looking to get it on the right track as opposed to just let it go where it was. I was happy with the way we approached the game. I’m obviously glad that we won, but first and foremost I wanted to see whether we could handle ourselves or I had to be the one to handle things. I was glad to see they were able to do that.”
Unlike their last two games in which they fell way behind in the first inning, the Wolverines (3-2) scored a run in the first and never lost the lead. Tommy Tucci singled in a run in the first and doubled one home in the third – both with two outs — to give them a 2-0 lead and Blake Bialecki gave them some necessary insurance with a two-run single through a drawn-in infield in the seventh.
Tucci and Bialecki both had two hits in the game. Rocco String, Ty Coblentz and Caiden Spinelli also had two hits apiece. String and Coblentz both scored twice.
“The win was needed bad,” Bialecki said. “We’ve been struggling and it is definitely a part of the season where we could either fall apart as a team or come together as a team. Today we responded very well to the adversity we have been facing.
“Coach said that if he had to interfere with us fighting the adversity we would struggled with it all season. But today we showed him we can bounce back ourselves. Now he knows that if we face adversity again, whether that’s a stretch of games like we just had or just adversity in a specific game, he knows we can figure it out and bounce back.”
Aaron Foote was the first of four Woodstown pitchers and he got the win. He worked into the fifth inning in his first appearance since the season opener and allowed two hits and a walk while striking out four.
Gloucester staged a rally in the home seventh that looked unnervingly familiar to the Wolverines. The Lions scored two runs and threatened more with bases loaded and none out, but junior Chase Harding came on got the last three outs on a two strikeouts and a ground out.
Although the thought didn’t register at the time with DeCastro, who remains steadfastly focused on the present and future, there were more than a few Wolverines who recalled last year when Gloucester rallied on this field in the bottom of the seventh to snatch the sectional championship game away.
“All game I was having flashbacks to last year’s game,” said Bialecki, a senior outfielder. “We were all really excited for this game because of last year. When they were threatening in the last inning I was really worried it was going to happen again.
“But we were able to pull it off this time.”
And show their coach they can be counted upon in times of adversity.
PENNSVILLE 26, CLAYTON 0: The Eagles got big games across the board. Chase Burchfield, Connor Starn and Mike McClincy all homered, all nine starters had at least one RBI and scored at least one run and three pitchers combined for a no-hitter.
It was the Eagles’ highest-scoring game since they put 29 on Clayton May 11, 2016. In fact, four of the Eagles’ 10 highest-scoring games since 2011 have come against the Clippers.
McClincy went 3-for-5 with six RBIs. The junior catcher got his first varsity hit in his first at-bat and the next time up hit a grand slam, which he told teammates was the first homer he’d ever hit in his life. Starn, a senior, went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and his homer was his first in 149 varsity at-bats.
Meanwhile, Burchfield went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, Cohen Petrutz went 4-for-4, Mason O’Brien went 3-for-4 and Jeff Wagner drove in three runs.
“It was a big game for the offense,” Eagles coach Matt Karr said. “I was very proud how locked in our guys were. It was cold and they stayed focused through each at bat and their approach to the day was what we expected.”
Logan Streitz, Starn and O’Brien combined on the five-inning no-hitter, each throwing 30 pitches or less. They struck out nine, walked three and hit a batter.
“They all threw the ball very well, especially considering the conditions and how long they had to sit in between innings,” Karr said.
Pennsville’s big games
Here is a list of Pennsville’s highest scoring baseball games (since 2011)
| RUNS | OPPONENT | DATE |
| 39 | Salem | May 15, 2014 |
| 31 | Clayton | April 13, 2015 |
| 31 | Wildwood | May 14, 2018 |
| 29 | Clayton | April 11, 2016 |
| 29 | Penns Grove | April 5, 2024 |
| 26 | Clayton | April 10, 2025 |
| 24 | Gateway | May 20, 2013 |
| 24 | Clayton | May 4, 2017 |
| 20 | Wildwood | May 8, 2013 |
| 20 | Gloucester City | Apr. 14, 2014 |
SCHALICK 3, OVERBROOK 2: Lucas D’Agostino’s two-run double highlighted a three-run sixth inning that broke a scoreless tie and then he pitched the seventh behind the Cougars’ ace to get the save.
Schalick’s Luke Pokrovsky and Overbrook’s Tyler Wood battled for five innings before the Cougars (4-0) broke through in the sixth. Both pitchers went six. Pokrovsky allowed four hits, an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth and struck out 14.
Enrico Hatz and Pokrovsky both had two hits for the Cougars.
PITMAN 11, SALEM 0: One day after their pitchers put together a no-hitter the Rams were no-hit themselves. Pitman’s Jude Engstrom and Kiernan Clark allowed the Rams only two base runners – walks to Terrell Robinson and Andrew May. Nick Watson homered for Pitman and Hudson Rue had three hits and three RBIs.
GLASSBORO 16, PENNS GROVE 2: Joey Tongue and Gavin Dillard both had three hits and Sal Esgro had three RBIs to lead the Bulldogs. The Red Devils, no-hit the day before, were held to two hits – a single by Bristol Scott and Liam Irvin’s RBI double.
Softball
THURSDAY’S SCORES
Pennsville 18, Clayton 2
Gloucester 14, Woodstown 1
Pitman 12, Salem 1
Schalick at Overbrook
Glassboro 18, Penns Grove 0
SCHALICK 14, OVERBROOK 13: Taylor Brown’s two-out line single brought Ava Lauglin home with the winning run to cap a two-run seventh-inning rally that allowed the Cougars to walk it off. Lauglin was in scoring position after tripling home the tying run.
The Cougars trailed 9-1 in the third inning and tied it 9-9 in the bottom of the fifth on Olivia Vanacker’s bases-loaded walk and Alexa Shimp’s run-scoring fielder’s choice.
The lead changed hands four time in the final two innings. Overbrook went ahead 11-9 in the top of the sixth, but the Cougars rallied in the bottom of the inning to take a 12-11 lead on Addi Shimp’s RBI double. Overbrook took a 13-12 lead in the top of the seventh before the Cougars ended it in the bottom of the inning.
Addi Shimp and Cloe Elliott each had three hits for Schalick. Maddie Brown had three RBIs.
PENNSVILLE 18, CLAYTON 2: The meat and the bottom of the lineup provided most of the damage for Pennsville. Kylie Harris and Savannah Palverento, the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters in the Eagles’ lineup, were a combined 4-for-5 with seven RBIs. The bottom third of the order – Reagan Wariwanchik, Makenzie Widener and Gianna Evans – were a combined 8-for-9 with seven RBIs. Wariwanchik and Evans both had three hits, Evans and Widener each had three RBIs.
GLOUCESTER 14, WOODSTOWN 1: The Lions erupted for 11 runs in the second inning to send Woodstown to its first loss of the season. Hannah and Grace Hitchner had the Wolverines’ only two hits off Gloucester pitcher Kloi Tighe.
PITMAN 12, SALEM 1: The Panthers pulled away from a one-run game with eight runs in the third inning. Lexi Kostiuk went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and Madison Peek drove in a pair of runs for the Panthers.
GLASSBORO 18, PENNS GROVE 0: The Bulldogs scored seven runs in the first inning and nine in the third.
Golf
WOODSTOWN 175, CUMBERLAND 229
(Running Deer GC, par 36)
Woodstown: Grant Prater 42, Erich Lipovsky 43, Anthony Bokolas 44, Jack Bucksar 46.
Cumberland: Thomas Marguglio 51, Chase Pepper 56, Brian Feliciano 59, Blake Darick 63.
Tennis
WOODSTOWN 5, TRITON 0
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Tristyn Malone, 6-1, 6-0
John Farrell (WO) def. Cole Durham, 6-4, 6-3
Joseph Kurpis (WO) def. Tirth Patel, 7-5, 6-3
Luke Shaw-Mason Shimp (WO) def. Sean Gorski-Brennan Zabala, 6-1, 6-0
Nicholas DiTeodoro-Ben Stengel (WO) def. Shrey Modi-Nathanial White, 6-0, 6-1
Records: Woodstown 4-2, Triton 0-3
VINELAND 4, SCHALICK 1
Jorge Alverez (V) def. George Gould, 6-3, 6-1
Rocky Monticolo (S) def. Christopher DeCarvalho Chanez, 6-1, 5-7, 12-10
Justin Mastro (V) def. Conor O’Toole, 6-4, 6-1
Alex Garcia-Asher Hill (V) def. Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski, 6-2, 6-3
Kevin Maldonado-Sam Heck (V) def. David Santana-Anthony McGrath, 6-1, 7-5
Records: Vineland 4-3, Schalick 3-3
Salem shutdown
Robinson, Davis combine for no-hitter, Rams give them a win with 3 runs in eighth inning; includes Salem County roundup
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE – Salem baseball coach Eric Fizur had seen enough of his top pitchers giving a strong effort and not getting anything for it. He told the hitters at a most crucial time Wednesday they needed to step up for their teammates.
Rams pitchers Terrell Robinson and Chase Davis hadn’t given up a hit over seven innings, but they were still locked in a tie game. The hitters rewarded them with three runs in the eighth and the Rams locked it down in the bottom of the inning to complete the gem and beat Penns Grove, 6-3.
It was the Rams’ first no-hitter since Evan Biddle threw a five-inning perfect game against LEAP on May 16, 2023.
“It’s a big pick-me-up,” Fizur said. “This was the type of game last year that we would have struggled in that moment, even with good pitching, and found a way to lose. You could see the growth in the team this year. They found a way to go win the game.
“They’ve been throwing amazing since the season started. Chase threw a great game at Wildwood. Even in Holy Cross, we couldn’t put the bat on the ball. Terrell threw four quality innings and kept us in the game, but we couldn’t help him out. I told the kids pre-game we wasted Terrell’s last great outing, we need to have a great one today and pull it out for him.”
Robinson pitched the first 5 1/3 innings. He gave up the Red Devils’ three runs, but only two were earned. He walked five and struck out nine. Davis finished it, allowing just three base runners and striking out six.
The only reason Robinson, a Rosemont commitment who wears No. 42 as an homage to Jackie Robinson, came out of the game in the sixth was he had thrown 110 pitches.
“Terrell threw an amazing game,” Fizur said. “Terrell’s thrown many amazing games. I told him last year I always felt he got the short end of the stick because he had to face the best teams a lot of times. He had to throw against the Pitmans of the world and he never batted an eye, just said I’m going to go do it.
“He said can I start the Penns Grove game? I was like, sure, it’s you’re game, buddy, and he threw a gem. It was a joy to watch him pitch today. Those five innings were beautiful.”
Davis worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh with an inning-ending strikeout, then set down the Red Devils in order in the eighth after the Rams gave him the lead. He threw 49 pitches.
“Chase was supposed to start tomorrow in the game versus Pitman,” Fizur said. “He’s been looking forward to it since I told him, but I said, look, we’ve got to get a win today, you’re the guy right now. I need someone who’s going to go in there who I know can dominate.
“Obviously as a competition Chase was like I want to pitch against Pitman tomorrow, but he understood it was a moment to sacrifice and pull a game out. We didn’t tell him it was a no-hitter, we didn’t want to put that pressure on him, but he came in and stepped up.”
The Rams took the lead in the eighth on RBI singles by Davis, Robinson and Bryce Harris.
“I looked at them and said you’re literally wasting a no-hitter,” Fizur said. “Terrell’s had two starts in a row, he’s pitched phenomenal in both of them and we haven’t come through for him and I just said you’re wasting a no-hitter on these guys right now. We need to go score and end this game.”
SOFTBALL
WOODSTOWN 7, MAPLE SHADE 1: The Wolverines saved their best for last. Hannah Hitchner’s two-run single capped a seven-run seventh inning that lifted Woodstown to its second win of the season.
Johanna Way singled home the tying run and Gracie Hitchner’s RBI double gave the Wolverines (2-0) the lead for good. Ellie Wygand, Way and Shyann Higinbotham had two hits apiece. Leah Clark held the high-scoring Wildcats to one run, seven hits and struck out eight in the circle.
SALEM 18, PENNS GROVE 4: Isla Bohn and Sasha Reese both went 2-for-2 with three RBIs to lead the Rams’ 18-hit attack. Winning pitcher Rylee Doerr helped her cause with two hits and two RBIs, Julliana Love had two hits and Morgan Fogg had two RBIs. Doerr gave up two hits and struck out 11 from the circle.
GOLF
TRITON 167, PENNSVILLE 225: Bradyn Skokowski shot even-par 36 at Sakima CC to lead Triton to its fifth win in six matches.
KINGSWAY GIRLS 204, SCHALICK 211: Kingsway’s Carly Kuminka was low medalist with a 41 at Centerton CC. Abby Willoughby posted Schalick’s low score (52).
TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 4, DELSEA 1
Zeph Dell (D) def. Gabe Schneider, 6-2, 6-1
Maddox Efelis (P) def. Eli Croce, 6-0, 6-2
Brody Wiggins (P) def. Zach Natalie, 6-1, 6-0
Lucas Cooksey-Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Jacob Bramble-Jude Thompson, 6-3, 7-5
Ian Peacock-Carter Willis (P) def. Gavin Riemer-Seth Bul, 6-2, 6-7 (9-11), 10-8
Records: Pennsville 4-0, Delsea 3-2
SCHALICK 5, OVERBROOK 0
George Gould (S) def. Thomas Mason, 6-2, 6-1
Rocky Monticolo (S) def. Colin Campbell, 6-2, 7-5
Conor O’Toole (S) def. Alan Marcos, 6-3, 3-6, 10-6
Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski (S) def. Mohammed Shihab-Gabe Martinez, 6-0, 6-1
Anthony McGrath-David Santana (S) won by forfeit
Records: Schalick 3-2, Overbrook 0-5
HADDON HEIGHTS 3, WOODSTOWN 2
Ben Mazzucco (H) def. Drew Stengel, 6-3, 6-2
Owen Peakes (H) def. John Farrell, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
Jackson Zalkind (H) def. Joseph Kurpis, 6-2, 6-2
Luke Shaw-Mason Shimp (WO) def. Sean Fischer-Mike Pender, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 10-6
Ben Stengel-Nicholas DiTeodoro (WO) def. Gavin Ewing-Milan Stocker, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Haddon Heights 4-2, Woodstown 3-2
GIRLS LACROSSE
WOODSTOWN 15, KINGSWAY 13: Delaney Walker scored seven goals – one off her career high – and the Wolverines scored three goals in the fourth quarter to secure their first win of the season. Emma Morgan, Blair Baldi and Jaime Deal each added two goals and Sienna Land and Arianna Hyman each scored once.
VOLLEYBALL
TRITON 2, SALEM TECH 0: The game scores were 25-10, 25-11.
Sharp batter’s eye
Simmons has a career day at the plate for Pennsville softball; Schalick baseball crushes another toe
By Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Sawyer Simmons took the initiative in the offseason to become a better hitter and it’s been paying off.
Simmons went 4-for-4 with a career-tying three RBIs on a cold, windy Tuesday and Pennsville scored in every inning to beat Overbrook 8-4 to win for the third time in their last four games.
Two of her hits gave the Eagles (4-2) a lead.
The senior outfielder got her day started with a two-out, two-run single in the first that put the Eagles up 2-1. Her RBI single in the fourth put them up for good 5-4. She also had a double in the third and a single in the sixth.
It was her first career four-hit game. The Salem CC signee is 6-for-7 in her last two games.
“With the wind blowing like it was we were looking for line drives or hitting something hard on the ground and she did that every time she came up,” Eagles coach Beth Jackson said. “She hit it very hard, even gave a couple good rides that were foul balls.
“She’s struggled with her hitting over the last couple years but I told her if you wanted to take a net and tee to hit in the offseason you were more than welcome. She did take the initiative and that’s what’s come through.”
Kylie Harris had two hits for the Eagles, including an RBI single in the fifth, and is now hitting .706 for the year. She now has 84 hits in her high school career.
Reagan Wariwanchik and Makenzie Widener also drove in runs for the Eagles. Savannah Palverento worked the first six innings in the circle to get the win.
BASEBALL
SCHALICK 18, CLAYTON 1: It’s been a week since the Cougars last played, but the time off hasn’t dulled their hitting eye. The Cougars pounded out 16 hits, scored in every inning, and beat the Clippers in five innings.
Evan Glaspey went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and two walks. Lucas D’Agostino went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Enrico Hatz went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and four runs scored. Evan Sepers had two hits, starting pitcher Cole Hartley had three RBIs and Jamari Whitley drove in a pair of runs.
The Cougars have outscored their opponents 41-2 in their first three games. They have scored runs in 13 of the 15 innings they’ve batted.
Three games involving county teams were postponed: Pennsville at Overbrook, Salem at Penns Grove and Woodstown at Wildwood. The Salem-Penns Grove game has been rescheduled for Wednesday.
GOLF
WOODSTOWN 165, OVERBROOK 178: Erich Lipovsky and Joey Olbrich both shot 4-over-par 40s at Kresson GC and the Wolverines posted the three low scores of the match to even their record at 3-3. Grant Prater shot 41
Woodstown: Erich Lipovsky 40, Joey Olbrich 40, Grant Prater 41, Jack Bucksar 44.
Overbrook: Jeffrey Boyd 44, Mark Scott 44, Dominic Negron 45, Braxton Gillis 46.
TENNIS
KINGSWAY 4, WOODSTOWN 1
Filip Mirkovic (K) def. Drew Stengel, 6-3, 4-6, 10-7
Aidan Shoemaker (K) def. John Farrell, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2
Nolan Steurer (K) def. Joseph Kurpis, 6-0, 6-2
Luke Shaw-Mason Shimp 
def. Jack Tanzola-Nate Bradley, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-7
Brady Reyer-Ryan Finn (K) def. Ben Stengel-Nicholas DiTeodoro, 6-2, 6-3
Records: Kingsway 4-1, Woodstown 3-1.
This week’s schedule
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 7-13; games start at 4 p.m. unless noted; games subject to weather conditions
APRIL 7
BASEBALL
LEAP at Salem
Schalick at Haddon Heights
Woodstown at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Woodstown
Salem at Deptford
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick vs. Williamstown, Scotland Run GC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC, 3:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Wildwood, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Deptford at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Glassboro at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Schalick at West Deptford, River Winds TC
TRACK
Gloucester Catholic, Wildwood at Salem
GIRLS LACROSSE
West Deptford at Woodstown
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Kingsway
APRIL 8
BASEBALL
Clayton at Schalick
Pennsville at Overbrook
Woodstown at Wildwood
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Pennsville
Schalick at Clayton
Woodstown at Wildwood
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Clayton, The Birches, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Pitman, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Pennsville at Cumberland, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Kingsway, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
Glassboro at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Schalick at Overbrook, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Northampton CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Sussex County CC, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 9
SOFTBALL
Woodstown at Maple Shade
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Triton, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Kingsway, Centeron CC, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Delsea at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Haddon Heights at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick
Timber Creek at Penns Grove
GIRLS LACROSSE
Kingsway at Woodstown
VOLLEYBALL
Triton at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Northampton CC, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 10
BASEBALL
Clayton at Pennsville
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Pitman at Salem
Schalick at Overbrook
Woodstown at Gloucester City
SOFTBALL
Gloucester City at Woodstown
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Clayton
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Salem at Pitman
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. OLMA, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Overbrook, Sakima CC
Woodstown vs. Cumberland, Running Deer, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Triton at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Vineland at Schalick
TRACK
Salem at Clayton
Woodstown at Cherokee Challenge
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Holy Spirit
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Howard CC at Salem CC, 3 p.m.
APRIL 11
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Haddon Heights
SOFTBALL
Haddon Heights at Pennsville
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Clayton
Woodstown at Highland, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m.
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Moorestown Friends
GIRLS LACROSSE
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Camden CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
APRIL 12
BASEBALL
Schalick vs. Triton, 10 a.m.
Salem at Gloucester City, 10 a.m.
Schalick-Triton winner vs. Gloucester-Salem winner, 1 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsauken Tech, 10 a.m.
Pennsville at Haddon Heights, 2:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Holy Spirit, 11:30 a.m.
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem, Schalick girls at West Deptford, 9 a.m.
Schalick at Bridgeton Relays, 9 a.m.
Woodstown at Father Judge Invitational
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Camden CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Delaware Tech at Salem CC, noon
APRIL 13
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Orange County CC, noon
High school Saturday
Here are results of Salem County teams in softball and track events around the area Saturday
SOFTBALL
MILLVILLE – Pennsville went 2-1 in the Ron Vinick/Millville Tournament, scoring a pair of two-run wins over Oakcrest.
The Eagles wrapped 9-7 and 8-6 wins around a 7-5 loss to Millville.
Kylie Harris had two hits and two RBIs in the 9-7 Oakcrest game. Graillyn Weber went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the 8-6 Oakcrest game. Savannah Palverento had two hits and two RBIs in the loss to Millville.
TRACK
(Top 4 finishes)
DEPTFORD SPARTAN RELAYS
DEPTFORD — Pennsville’s Connor Ayars won the boys javelin in the Deptford Spartans Relays.
BOYS
400 Hurdles: 3. Anthony Parker, Salem, 57.71
4×100: 3. Salem, 44.16
4×110 Shuttle Hurdle: 4. Salem, 1:10.06
4×200: 4. Salem, 1:34.36
Sprint Medley: 4. Salem, 3:57.27
Long Jump: 3. Will Roy, Penns Grove, 19-9.5
Triple Jump: 2. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove, 41-11.75
Javelin: 1. Connor Ayars, Pennsville, 162-0; 3. Wyatt Irvine, Salem, 142-0
Shot Put: 4. Raymond Brown, Penns Grove, 42-9.75
GIRLS
800 Sprint Medley: 4. Pennsville, 2:01.35
Pole Vault: 2. Megan Morris, Pennsville, 10-0
JIM CAMBURN MEMORIAL RELAYS
BUENA – Schalick’s boys and girls swept the team titles at the Jim Camburn Memorial Relays.
The Cougars boys scored 95 points and edged Atlantic County Teach by two points in their standings. The girls posted 122 points and were 45 points ahead of runnerup Vineland.
DIVISION I
BOYS
4×100: 1. Schalick (Ethan McLean, Jermaine Loney, Nyzier Wynder, Sheldon Goldsborogh), 49.93
4×100: 1. Schalick (Reggie Allen, Levin Feeney Childers, Zaeshawn Mills, David Stewart), 43.80
4×200: 2. Schalick (Kenneth Bartee, Zaeshawn Mills, Jase Volovar, Roneem Thomas), 1:36.55
4×400: 1. Schalick (Reggie Allen, Jacob Carter, Steve Chomo, David Stewart), 3:29.51
4×800: 1. Schalick (Joshua Weiner, Connor Jackson, John Egan, Giovanni Granato), 14:33.19
4×800: 1. Schalick (Chase Riley, Salvatore Longo, Hunter Dragotta, Steve Chomo), 13:20.65
1600 Sprint Medley: 2. Schalick (Jase Volovar, Zaeshawn Mills, Dylan Sheehan, Collin Bittle), 4:01.00
1600 Sprint Medley: 1. Schalick (Kenneth Bartee, Griffin Botticello, Chase Riley, Chase Walker), 4:13.43
Distance Medley: 3. Schalick (Salvatore Longo, Steve Chomo, Chase Riley, Jacob Carter), 11:48.17
4×110 Shuttle Hurdle: 1. Schalick, 1:13.93
Long Jump: 1. Zaeshawn Mills, Schalick, 20-1; 3. David Steart, Schalick, 19-6.5
Discus: 1. Nicholas Ashwell, Schalick, 93-5; 4. Jermaine Loney, Schalick, 80-4
Discus: 2. Ethan McLean, Schalick, 130-11
Javelin: 1. Nyzier Wynder, Schalick, 135-1; 2. Dylan Sheehan, Schalick, 121-10
Javelin: 1. Gary Simonini, Schalick, 125-0; 2. Jermaine Loney, Schalick, 119-5
GIRLS
400 Hurdles: 2. Ava Scurry, Schalick, 1:18.86
4×100: 1. Schalick (JeRae Allen, Athena Eberl, Lucky Virga, Ranae Scurry), 57.33
4×100: 3. Schalick (Phoebe Alward, Jaelynn Jarmon, Gia Martellacci, Caileigh Schalick), 52.05
4×200: 4. Schalick (Bella Cittadini, Angelia Deaver, Lailani Hernandez, Ortiz Sanchez), 2:14.84
4×200: 2. Schalick (Sophia Harris, Caileigh Schalick, Gia Martellacci, Phoebe Alward), 1:52.33
4×400: 3. Schalick (Sophia Harris, Gia Martellacci, Jadalyn Guzman, Lucy Virga), 4:32.52
4×800: 2. Schalick (Jordan Hadfield, Caylen Taylor, Sarah Torpey, Emma O’Neill), 11:12.64
1600 Sprint Medley: 1. Schalick (Phoebe Alward, Jaelynn Jarmon, Gia Martellacci, Jordan Hadfield), 4:26.65
Distance Medley: 1. Schalick (Jordan Hadfield, Helen Lillia, Sophia Harris, Sarah Torpey), 13:57.79
4×100: 3. Schalick (Athena Eberl, Allyson Green, Piper Warner, Ava Scurry), 1:17.73
Triple Jump: 1. Jaelynn Jarmon, Schalick, 33-7
Discus: 1. Allyson Green, Schalick, 89-1; 3. Sebrina Bradford, Schalick, 83-7
Javelin: 1. Olivia Sacerdote, Schalick, 93-2; 2. Allyson Green, Schalick, 92-7
DELAWARE INVITATIONAL
NEWARK, Del. – Woodstown’s boys finished 10th and the girls 11th.
BOYS
400: 2. Josh Crawford, Woodstown, 49.78
800: 4. Cole Lucas, Woodstown, 1:59.89
4×400: 3 Woodstown (Josh Crawford, Karson Chew, Kyle Reitz, Cole Lucas), 3:26.56
2000 Steeplechase: 4. David Farrell, Woodstown, 7:18.61
GIRLS
2000 Steeplechase: 1, Samantha Sterner, Woodstown, 8:17.28; 2. Anabel Schaal, Woodstown, 9:05.52
Salem CC Saturday
Mighty Oaks win another baseball series with doubleheader split, solidly hold onto third in region standings; softball swept by Mercer
REGION 19 BASEBALL
Salem CC 5-8, Middlesex 8-6
Mercer 6-4, Delaware Tech 0-3
RCSJ-Gloucester 20-8, Montgomery 2-7
RCSJ-Cumberland 4-12, Northampton 3-3
Brookdale 12, Bergen 1
Camden 14-13, Delaware County 2-6
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT — A wise young philosopher named after a comfort food once proclaimed to the world that two out of three ain’t bad. For baseball teams that aspire to contend for a championship in one of the toughest leagues on their level in the country that’s really not a bad formula to follow.
Salem CC won Game 2 of Saturday’s Region 19 doubleheader with No. 11 Middlesex 8-6 to split the twinbill and take two of three in the weekend series. It’s the fourth straight region series the Mighty Oaks have won this season and second in a row they’ve followed Meat Loaf’s lead and taken two out of three by winning the Saturday nightcap.
Like the man said, ain’t bad. The Mighty Oaks (14-16, 10-5) are now third in the Region 19 Division III standings behind two top 10 rivals with a mid-week home-and-home against No. 4 Northampton on the horizon.
“One of the goals for the year was to get into the polls, that we felt we were a team that was good enough to get some national recognition,” Mighty Oaks coach John Holt said. “Winning two out of three against a team like (Middlesex) hopefully gets us that.
“The goal is to win it, try to win a conference (title) or win the region. Two out of three every weekend gets us closer to that.”
On top of sweeping the teams they should be beating, of course, and they’ve done that, too, this season.
The Mighty Oaks were a lot sharper in Game 2 than they were in the losing the opener 8-5 against 6-foot-7 Colts righthander Ryan Rzepinski.
They led the nightcap 6-3 before the Colts tied it on Josh Rodriguez’ three-run double in the fifth. Tyler Hacker broke the tie in the bottom of the inning when he scored from second on a wild pitch and the catcher’s throw to get him at third went down the line. Hacker started the inning with a seeing-eye single through the infield and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
“When you go up to warmup in the beginning of the inning you look to see what the pitcher’s doing, feel him out, and a lot of the balls he was spiking,” Hacker said. “In my AB he spiked a lot of balls so (on the bases) I was looking for the ball down and took advantage.
“When you’re playing for your team, doing the right thing, runs like that happen. Things like that happen.”
Sean McCormick kept the Colts at bay with another solid relief appearance. Last Saturday he struck out the side in order in the top of the eighth to give the Mighty Oaks a chance to beat Montgomery in the bottom of the inning. This week, he put the fire out in the sixth by striking out the first batter he faced after relieving starter Pat Seitzinger on three 85-86 mph pitches and closed it out with only a little drama in the seventh.
“It’s definitely stressful dealing with the fact one wrong move they win the game or they get the lead,” McCormick said. “But as coach Holt tells me every time I go out don’t be scared, trust your stuff, go how you throw and you’ll be okay. You have to trust your stuff.”
Demetrius DeRamus homered in each game for the Mighty Oaks. Both blasts led off innings. The one in the nightcap, with an angry swing in the sixth inning after going hitless in his previous three at-bats, gave them an 8-6 lead.
It went out in left and looked to be even deeper than the two-run shot he hit in the 11th inning to tie the RCSJ-Cumberland nightcap before they won it in the 12th.
“Just trying to hit something hard as I could,” he said. “I was literally working on the tee with Yen (Rodriguez) right before the game on that very pitch, the inside pitch. I’ve been getting hung up a lot, tight inside or I’m just missing it and coming a little above the ball, so we were working on trying to get down, trying to stay tight.”
ACORNS: McCormick also starts and is being considered for the Wednesday assignment against Northampton. As a starter he’s 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA, as a reliever 2-1 with a 6.94. “Seth is Seth,” Holt said. “He’s going to do a little bit of everything” … First baseman Lee Rodriguez suffered a painful hamstring injury stretching for a throw in the first game. Several of the players went out to check on him and assist him to the trainer’s tent and Holt was impressed with the way they attended to their teammate. McCormick went in for him … Matt Murphy followed his big game in the opener by going 3-for-5 with two RBIs in the doubleheader. He reached base in seven of his eight plate appearances and the one time he didn’t he still drove in a run.
| REGION 19 DIVISION III | REG | ALL |
| RCSJ-Gloucester | 16-0 | 27-2 |
| Brookdale | 14-3 | 21-4 |
| SALEM CC | 10-5 | 14-16 |
| Camden | 10-5 | 17-7 |
| Middlesex | 10-7 | 22-12 |
| RCSJ-Cumberland | 9-7 | 15-12 |
| Northampton | 9-8 | 15-13 |
| Montgomery | 8-8 | 8-8 |
| Union | 4-12 | 7-14 |
| Ocean | 3-10 | 5-16 |
| Bergen | 1-12 | 3-18 |
| Delaware County | 0-16 | 1-20-1 |
Softball: Big innings, HRs
do in Mighty Oaks
REGION 19 SOFTBALL
Mercer 11-14, Salem CC 8-5
Delaware Tech 9-9, Lackawanna 1-0
RCSJ-Gloucester 7-6, Northampton 6-5
PENNSVILLE – Once-beaten Mercer CC used a seven-run inning in each game and the long ball in the nightcap to sweep the Mighty Oaks 11-8 and 14-5.
The Vikings (17-1) scored seven runs in the second inning of the opener and led 10-0 after batting in the third, then held off Salem’s comeback bid. They scored seven in the fifth inning of the nightcap and scored 10 runs in the final two innings to complete the sweep.
The Mighty Oaks cut their Game 1 deficit in half with five runs in the home third, highlighted by Jocelyn Melendez’ two-run single. They added two more in the sixth on Chantelle Haskie’s RBI single and Bella Rappa’s sacrifice fly.
They continued to apply pressure and had the tying run at the plate twice in the seventh inning, but ended up getting only one run out of it.
Ella Hayes had three hits in the game for Salem. Melendez and Val Hatterer each had two.
Mercer hit four home runs in the nightcap, two by Emily Wyzykowski.
The Vikings scored four runs in the first on Kelci O’Dell’s leadoff homer and Wyzykowski’s three-run shot. Stella Logan’s three-run homer in the fourth gave them the lead for good and Wyzykowski hit a two-run homer in their seven-run fifth.
The Mighty Oaks bounced back after Mercer’s opening salvo and took a 5-4 lead after three innings. They got two in the first on RBI singles by Tiana Wilson and Callie Rozak, one in the second on Hayes’ sacrifice fly and two in the third on Hatterer’s squeeze bunt and Haskie’s go-ahead RBI single.
Salem softball sweep
Mighty Oaks come from behind in both games to sweep Camden CC
REGION 19 SOFTBALL
Salem 13-8, Camden 6-4
Monroe Bronx 18-14, Raritan Valley 8-5
Mercer 11-12, Northampton 3-4
By Riverview Sports News
BLACKWOOD – The Salem CC softball team scored four runs with two outs in the seventh inning to break away from a tied game and beat Camden CC 8-4 to complete a sweep of their doubleheader Thursday.
The Mighty Oaks struggled to deliver a big hit with runners on base Tuesday against Lackawanna, but they put the ball in play with runners on in both games Thursday.
The nightcap was tied 4-4 going into the seventh. Ella Hayes singled home the go-ahead run and the other three runs in the inning scored on two errors.
The Mighty Oaks (12-10) won the opener 13-6. They took a 7-4 lead in the fourth. The rally was jump-started by consecutive doubles by Tessa Wise, Jolee Robinson and Hayes. Another run scored when Camden misplayed Jocelyn Melendez’ bunt and the fourth run scored on Chantelle Haskie’s fielder’s choice.
Camden got within 7-6, then the Mighty Oaks broke it open with six runs in the seventh. Melendez and Haskie both had two-run singles in the inning and a pair of errors brought home the other two runs.
“They were decent wins and we played well overall, but there’s still room for improvement,” Mighty Oaks coach Angel Rodriguez said. “We need to stay sharper in the field, focus on our communication and keep refining our timing at the plate.
“We’re getting there. We’re just pushing to be even better next time.”
That next time is a Saturday home doubleheader against region leading Mercer (25-1).
Riverview Sports News 