Mighty Oaks handcuffed in high-level situations, swept by Lackawanna in Region 19 doubleheader

TUESDAY REGION 19 SOFTBALL
Lackawanna 6-5, Salem CC 5-2
Sussex at Orange, ppd.
Mercer 21-15, Raritan Valley 0-0
Northampton at Middlesex, ppd.
Dutchess 11-9, Bergen 5-0
RCSJ-Gloucester 14-13, Camden 0-0
RCSJ-Cumberland at Brookdale, ccl

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – A year ago at this time the Salem CC softball team was 14 games deep into a record-setting 19-game winning streak that defined its season. But that was an experienced group that developed discipline at the plate that allowed it to come through in high-leverage situations.

This year’s team is battling to stay above .500. It has a lot of more newcomers and is still learning those things, the way last year’s team had to in its first year together. Sometimes those lessons come with unpleasant outcomes.

The Mighty Oaks came to the plate numerous times with runners in scoring position during Tuesday’s Region 19 doubleheader with Lackawanna, but they saw limited returns in those situations and were swept by the Falcons 6-5 and 5-2.

“We didn’t do a good job making adjustments at the plate,” Salem coach Angel Rodriguez said. “We had a hard time making sure we are attacking pitches that we need to.

“Once we start doing that a little bit better I think we’ll be all right. Balls just didn’t go our way sometimes, and sometimes that’s just softball.”

The Mighty Oaks (10-10) came to the plate with bases loaded eight times in the doubleheader – four times in each game – and got only two hits to produce three runs. They were 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position in the opener, 6-for-25 in the doubleheader. Their hitters were 3-for-15 after the Falcons pitchers had seen them for a third time in the game.

“Unfortunately that’s been the story of our season,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve struggled with runners in scoring position all the time. It’s just something we have to do a better job of and taking advantage of being able to hit a hard ground ball or line drive rather than trying to do too much with a pitch.

“We’re going to get more opportunities, that’s the good news, so the more we keep getting that the more we’ll have opportunities to make adjustments to see the other side of that success.”

The Mighty Oaks loaded the bases in each of the first two innings of Game One. They got nothing in the first inning, but scored three in the second to answer the Falcons’ three in the top of the inning. They tied the game on Callie Rozak’s bases-loaded HBP and Bella Rappa’s two-run single.

They also loaded them with none out in the sixth inning and the only run they scored out of that came on a wild pitch to give them a 4-3 lead. Lackawanna retook the lead in the seventh on three consecutive hits capped by Laniah Tasker’s two-run single.

The Mighty Oaks never led in the nightcap, but they threatened. They loaded the bases in the third with one out down 2-0, but scored only one run on Chantelle Haskie’s two-out single. They also loaded them with two out in the fourth but failed to bring the tying or go-ahead runs home.

“We have a lot more incoming players this year,” Rodriguez said. “They’re slowing making that adjustment (to this level), but it’s not quite there yet. The more they keep attacking, the better they’ll get. It’s just about recognizing this level of pitching and intensity and capitalizing. “

GAME ONE
LACKAWANNA 6, SALEM 5

GAME TWO
LACKAWANNA 5, SALEM 2

Salem CC erupts for 20 runs in first two innings of doubleheader, earns run-rule sweep of Raritan Valley

TUESDAY’S REGION 19 SOFTBALL
Salem 22-8, Raritan Valley 0-0
Lackawanna 12-15, Penn State-Hazelton 2-0
Mercer 15-20, Sussex 2-0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – After a rough start to its return from its Carolinas swing, the Salem CC softball team needed something like Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep really bad.

The Mighty Oaks had lost three of their first four back in their neck of the woods – the last two in run-rule routs – but they turned it around at Watson Field with a 22-0, 8-0 run-rule sweep of Raritan Valley.

It helped to talk about it and that’s what a rainy Monday was all about.

“The good thing with the weather yesterday, it gave us a chance to kind of take a step back and actually review where we are so far in our season,” Mighty Oaks coach Angel Rodriguez said, “It’s still early, but it was a good reflection on what are things that are not going well, what are things we can adjust.

“We were able to sit down and actually talk about that as a group and I think every year when we do that it really does help. Whether you’re playing a really good team that the toughest team in the region, or a team that’s still going to give you headaches, there are adjustments you can make and we did that when we started out today.”

The Mighty Oaks (9-5) wasted no time jumping on the Lions (2-8). They erupted for 20 runs in the first two innings of the opener. Every player had scored at least once before the Mighty Oaks went through the lineup a second time (midway through the second inning).

They sent 14 batters to the plate in the first inning, 15 in the second. Their first three batters of the game were all hit by pitches and even their first out produced a run.

Callie Rozak had a pair of two-run singles in the nine-run first inning. She also had an RBI single in the 11-run second. That’s 3-for-3 with five RBIs in the first two innings, if you’re counting.

“The first two innings were just (about) getting ahead, getting that big lead,” Rozak said. “With bases loaded, just put the ball in play, put it hard in play, let’s get some runs in. We struggled getting on base the past couple games where we were swinging at pitches that aren’t ours; wait for yours, get a good hit and get the run in.”  

Shortstop Ella Hayes seemed to get back on track. Her batting average had dropped more than 100 points since the Mighty Oaks returned from the Carolinas, although she did collect her 100th career hit last week, but she had a pair of hits in each game and reached base seven times in eight plate appearances.

She had an RBI double in the nightcap and scored all the way from second on Bella Rappa’s sacrifice bunt later in the inning.

“These games were definitely games we needed as a team, honestly just to correct our mistakes and errors,” Rozak said. “I was always told you can’t get better unless you make errors; errors you make you need to get better. I mean, if you’re batting a thousand percent there’s nothing to work on.”

The going was a little slower in the nightcap, but the Mighty Oaks took control with three runs in the third inning and walked it off with five in the fifth. 

“It was nice to see the adjustment that we talked about come to fruition in the game; that was the most important part of it,” Rodriguez said. “We told them you’ve got to lock back in, get back to the fundamentals of our swing and really understand what we need to do to put those runs up and we were able to do that.”

It wasn’t only the hitting that showed out. Raegan Wilson and Jill Robinson both fashioned five-inning shutouts. Wilson gave up four hits in the opener, struck out six and had her shutout preserved when the Mighty Oaks cut down a runner at the plate for the game’s final out.

Robinson, who had gotten roughed up in three of her last four starts north and south and both northern starts last week, gave up only a third-inning leadoff single, allowed just three base-runners and got all her outs in the infield. She had given up 24 runs and 31 hits in 11 innings last week, but was a sharp as she’s ever been at Salem Tuesday.

“I was pretty grateful with the outcome; it was really good,” Robinson said. “I think these games were more of a working game for me, making sure I’m hitting my spots, hitting the pitches that are called, adjusting to the strike zone of the umpire. I think I did pretty good on that.

“It was definitely a relief compared to the last game. I came out of those games hoping to hit some spots and I wasn’t doing very good, but I stayed out of my head. This game I came in and did the job, I hit my spots, most of them anyway.”

“She went into the circle today a little bit more confident, you could definitely tell her presence,” Rodriguez said. “And when your team is making routine plays like they’re supposed to be doing and you’re pitching your game you’re going to feel that sense of relaxation. I definitely liked her adjustment today.”

The Mighty Oaks return to action Thursday in an added doubleheader at RCSJ-Gloucester (No. 4 JUCO Division III). Their scheduled doubleheader with Bucks County CC Sunday has been postponed …  Rozak hurt her ankle stepping on a ball in the opener. She didn’t start the nightcap, but came off the bench as a pinch-hitter in the fifth and got another hit … Recruiting for 2026 is already in high gear. The Mighty Oaks already have signed eight players with two more out of state prospects expected. Among the signees are four pitchers and two local products – Savannah Palverento and Sawyer Simmons of Pennsville. The other pitchers come from Arizona, Washington and Ohio.

GAME ONE

Salem CC shortstop Ella Hayes collects her 100th career hit, but Mighty Oaks swept at Delaware Tech

SUNDAY REGION 19 SOFTBALL
Delaware Tech 17-8, Salem CC 1-0
Raritan Valley 8-5, Bergen 7-4
Dutchess at Middlesex
Suffolk at Camden
Hudson Valley at Mercer
Lackawanna 9-2, Corning 8-6

By Riverview Sports News

GEORGETOWN, Del. – Ella Hayes collected the 100th hit of her JUCO career and it stood as the Salem CC’s only highlight as the Mighty Oaks were swept by Delaware Tech 17-1 and 8-0 Sunday.

Hayes, a sophomore shortstop from Kansas City, reached the milestone with a sharp two-out single to center field in the third inning of the nightcap. She needed two hits entering the doubleheader and had one in each game.

She has 25 hits in 12 games this season and is now batting .595 for the year.

The Mighty Oaks (7-5) were limited to four singles in each game. Their only run of the twinbill came in the fourth inning of the opener when Jolee Robinson scored after Del Tech misplayed Tiana Wilson’s two-out fly to left.

Chantelle Haskie had two hits for Salem in the opener. 

Kylee Hill was the headliner for the Owls (12-2). She pitched the first game and went 3-for-4 with a homer and six RBIs at the plate. She played second base in the nightcap and went 3-for-3 with three doubles and three RBIs.

The Mighty Oaks return home Tuesday for a doubleheader against Raritan Valley.