Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of April 6-11
MONDAY, APRIL 6 BASEBALL Rancocas Valley at Schalick, 10 a.m. GIRLS GOLF Schalick vs. Cumberland, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. TENNIS Pennsville at West Deptford, 11 a.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Cinnaminson at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
TUESDAY, APRIL 7 BASEBALL Schalick at Clayton, 10 a.m. Overbrook at Pennsville Winslow at Salem Tech Woodstown at Glassboro SOFTBALL Clayton at Schalick, 10 a.m. Pennsville at Overbrook Haddon Heights at Woodstown BOYS GOLF Cumberland at Schalick, 3:30 p.m. Woodstown vs. Overbrook, Town & Country, 3:30 p.m. Salem Tech vs. Pitman, Pitman GC, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS GOLF Schalick vs. Williamstown, Scotland Run GC, 2:30 p.m. TENNIS Mainland at Schalick, 10 a.m. BOYS LACROSSE Clearview at Woodstown GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Clearview COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Brookdale, 3:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 BASEBALL Clearview at Pennsville Glassboro at Woodstown Penns Grove at Salem SOFTBALL Salem at Penns Grove Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic TENNIS Kingsway at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. BOYS VOLLEYBALL BCIT at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. BOYS GOLF Woodstown vs. West Deptford, RiverWinds, 3:30 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Cecil, 2 p.m.
THURSDAY, APRIL 9 BASEBALL LEAP at Salem Tech Overbrook at Schalick Pleasantville at Penns Grove Pennsville at Clayton Salem at Pitman Salem Tech at Wildwood Catholic SOFTBALL LEAP at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. Clayton at Pennsville Glassboro at Penns Grove Pitman at Salem Schalick at Overbrook BOYS GOLF Schalick vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m. Woodstown vs. Cumberland, Town & Country, 3:30 p.m. TENNIS Pennsville at Delsea, 3:45 p.m. Penns Grove at Timber Creek Schalick at Overbrook Woodstown at Haddon Heights TRACK Overbrook at Schalick, 3:45 p.m. Pennsville at Penns Grove Woodstown at Glassboro BOYS VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Triton, 3:45 p.m. BOYS LACROSSE Holy Spirit at Woodstown GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown at Holy Spirit
FRIDAY, APRIL 10 BASEBALL Haddon Heights at Pennsville Overbrook at Penns Grove Woodstown at Collingswood SOFTBALL Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 10 a.m. Glassboro at Woodstown Overbrook at Penns Grove Pennsville at Haddon Heights Salem Tech at Haddonfield, 4:15 p.m. TENNIS Pennsville at Kingsway Woodstown at Deptford COLLEGE BASEBALL Middlesex at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Raritan Valley, 1 p.m.
SATURDAY, APRIL 11 BASEBALL Woodstown at Haddon Twp., 11 a.m. BOYS TRACK Pennsville, Salem, Woodstown at West Deptford Relays, 9 a.m. Schalick at Bridgeton Relays, 9 a.m. Woodstown at Univ. of Delaware GIRLS TRACK Woodstown at Univ. of Delaware Pennsville, Salem, Schalick, Woodstown at West Deptford Relays, 9 a.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Middlesex (2), noon COLLEGE SOFTBALL Delaware Tech at Salem CC, noon
Salem’s Weathers reaps the benefits of his training, PRs by six inches in winning the Deptford Relays high jump his first time out this season
SATURDAY SCORES BASEBALL Haddon Heights 3, Woodstown 1 SOFTBALL Ron Vinick Tournament, Millville St. Joseph Acad. 6, Pennsville 1 Absegami 1, Pennsville 0 GIRLS LACROSSE Woodstown 21, Washington Twp. 3 COLLEGE SOFTBALL Mercer 8, Salem CC 0, 6 inns. Mercer 8, Salem CC 0, 5 inns.
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
DEPTFORD — Donovan Weathers’ coaches thought the Salem senior would PR in his first outdoor meet of the season, but the way he knocked it out of the water just blew them away.
Weathers won the boys high jump in the Deptford Relays Saturday, clearing the bar at 6-feet, 4-inches. His previous best was 5-10, but the way he’s been working in the run up to the meet that was a piece of cake and it was a just matter of how high he could take it.
“We were surprised he went 6-4, but not that he PR’d,” Rams coach David Hunt said. “We were confidently hopeful he would jump over six feet today, just because of all the jump work he’s put in.”
The jump work is a new element in his training. In the past, Hunt explained, the jumpers were getting the guidance in their specialties but didn’t necessarily have the drills to augment the instruction. Now they have someone working with them as a position coach in the guise of Hunt’s wife Rachel and Weathers has been working on his drills and technique.
“They’re getting coached hard,” Hunt said. “I’m not going to sugar-coat it, he tried to dodge a little bit of that hard work before, but now he’s running drills and doing all that … I think he sees it’s my senior year, I’ve got to invest in that and go out the right way. His ultimate goal is to be a state champion and go to nationals.”
The bespectacled 6-2 senior, a forward on Salem’s basketball team, beat four other jumpers stymied at 6-2, including Glassboro sophomore Moses Robles, who had already won the long jump and triple jump.
There were dramatic moments along the road to the win. To stay alive in the competition, Weathers needed to clear 6-0 on his third attempt. Robles entered the competition at 6-2 and needed all three attempts to clear that mark. Then all four of Weathers’ challengers XXX’d out at 6-4. Weathers nailed it on his first attempt with room to spare.
He tried 6-6 and missed all three attempts. He probably would have gotten it if he wasn’t sprinting back and forth to the triple jump pit to update Hunt on his progress.
“It’s a combination of the practice and his work ethic,” Rachel Hunt said explaining Weathers’ success. “I think he’s just dedicating himself to his craft as a senior. I think he saw the competition at indoor – he didn’t jump for indoor – and that’s driven him to push a little bit harder. He’s not just about going out there and jumping the bar. He’s really dedicated himself to doing the drills, completing the practice and, honestly, just showing up as a good motivator for the young guys.”
Among other top performances by Salem County athletes
— Schalick’s David Stewart finished second in the boys 400 hurdles (56.51) and second in the boys long jump (21-3.25). He grabbed second in the long jump on his final attempt.
— Penns Grove (3:29.87) and Salem (3:32.67) finished 3-4 in the boys 4×400 relay
— Schalick’s Ethan McLean was third in the boys discus (134-9)– Penns Grove’s Bryan Garlic was second in the boys triple jump (44-3) and fourth in the 400 hurdles (56.84)
— Pennsville’s Aubrey Manorowitz was T-2 in the girls high jump (4-10) with Sandy Henry of Washington Twp. Manorowitz, Henry, event winner Amirah Murphy of Bridgeton and Addison Chiodi of Gloucester City all cleared 4-10, but Murphy made it on her second attempt while the other three took three. All four XXX’d out at 5-0.
The top three finishers in each event are awarded medals.
DEPTFORD RELAYS (Event winners, Salem County top 6 finishers) BOYS 400 hurdles: 1. Kareem Brown, Deptford 54.44; 2. David Stewart, Schalick 56.51; 4. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 56.84 800 SMR: 1. Pleasantville 1:33.56 4000 DMR: 1. Vineland 11:05.74 4×100: 1. Deptford 41.93; 4. Penns Grove (Reed, Roy, White, Goodson), 43.46 400 SHR: 1. Deptford 1:00.91 4×800: 1. Deptford 8:01.75 4×200: 1. Deptford 1:27.52 1600 SMR: 1. Gloucester City 3:36.12; 5. Schalick (Chomo, Stewart, Rhynie, Carter) 3:45.23 4×400: 1. Shabazz 3:22.74; 3. Penns Grove (Garlic, White, Allah, Goodson) 3:29.87; 4. Salem (Buzby, Seals, Bergen, Gregory) 3:32.67 Discus: 1. Jack Day, Seneca 137-6; 3. Ethan McLean, Schalick 134-9; 6. Jack Benfer, Schalick 121-10 High jump: Donovan Weathers, Salem 6-4; 6. Tommy White, Penns Grove 6-0 Long jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 22-1; 2. David Stewart, Schalick 21-3.25; 4. William Roy, Penns Grove 21-1.5 Pole vault: 1. Mason Henry, Deptford 13-6; 4. Caleb Jenkins, Schalick 11-6 Triple jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 45-11.5; 2. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove 44-3 Javelin: 1. Kaden Roane, Deptford 170-0; 6. Gary Simonini, Schalick 149-0 Shot put: 1. Humberto Cuellar, Eastern 53-7.5; 4. JaKai Ingram, Penns Grove 47-7.5
WOODSTOWN — Haddon Heights played small ball to produce three runs in the third inning and three pitchers held Woodstown to a run and struck out 10 on the way to a 3-1 victory Saturday morning.
The Garnets parlayed two bunt singles, a sacrifice, an intentional walk and two hit batsmen into their three runs. The hardest hit ball of the inning was CJ Lovelidge’s line single to right that brought home the first run.
The Wolverines got one of the runs back in the third on Chase Harding’s bases-loaded walk. They had the tying runs in scoring position with one out in the seventh, but couldn’t get them home.
Drew Sutton had three of Woodstown’s six hits, going 3-for-3.
Haddon Heights
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WP: Cole Simon. LP: Stone Hassler.
Softball
MILLVILLE — Pennsville scored a run in the first inning of its first game in the 41st annual Ron Vinick Tournament, but couldn’t push one across the rest of the day and lost to St. Joseph 6-1 and Absegami 1-0.
Kylie Harris’ sacrifice fly for the first out brought Lily Edwards home in the first to tie the St. Joe game, but after that the Eagles managed just five more hits. They did opened the sixth with a Harris single and Avery Watson’s double, but St. Joe reliever Elaina Portalatin struck out the next three batters to end the game.
The Eagles’ second game was a true pitchers’ duel. Pennsville’s Kelsey Cook scattered five hits and struck out two. Absegami’s Meghan Johansen allowed three hits, struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.
The game’s only run was scored in the fifth on a passed ball with two outs. The Eagles put two runners in scoring position with one out in the fifth, but Johansen got the next two batters on a strikeout and ground out to end the threat. They put the tying run in scoring position with two outs in the sixth, but couldn’t bring it home before the game clock expired.
Girls lacrosse
WOODSTOWN — Delaney Walker scored six goals and five other players scored multiple goals as Woodstown routed Washington Twp., 21-3.
Angelina Lindenmuth and Arianna Hyman each scored four goals, while Isabella Lindenmuth, Emma Morgan and Emma Perry all had two apiece.
The 21 goals were the most the Wolverines have scored in a game since a 23-10 win over Haddon Heights in April 2022.
Walker, who scored 86 goals last season, is now 22 goals shy of 200 for her career. Morgan needs one more for 100.
College softball
REGION XIX SCORES Mercer 8-8, Salem CC 0-0 Brookdale 7-4, RCSJ-Gloucester 2-13 Northampton 14-15, Middlesex 7-10 RCSJ-Cumberland at Camden Bergen 7-9, Ocean 4-11 Delaware Tech 5-4, Lackawanna 4-5 Raritan Valley at Morris
MERCER 8-0, SALEM CC 0-0: The second-place Vikings held the Mighty Oaks off the scoreboard in the doubleheaand to two hits in each game.
Game One was close until the Vikings walked it off with five runs in the sixth inning before anyone got out.
SCC starter Raegan Wilson kept Mercer off the board for three innings, facing one batter over the minimum, but the Vikings broke the scoreless tie with two runs on three alternating singles in the fourth and added another in the fifth. The Vikings sent eight batters to the plate in the sixth with the final two runs scoring on passed balls.
The Mighty Oaks were hitless until Lilly Peverelle’s leadoff single in the fourth. Megan Koski had their other hit, a leadoff single in the fifth.
The Vikings jumped out early in the nightcap, scoring three in the first on a steal of home, reigning GASC Player of the Week Karisa Krawiec’s solo homer and Ammonie Wertz’ RBI triple.
They add two in the third and reached the run-rule threshold with three more in the fourth.
The Mighty Oaks managed only three bases runners against Mercer pitcher Ashley Haywood. Kasen Ervin and Emme Witter had Salem’s two hits and Peverelle drew a walk.
Rodriguez returns to the Salem CC softball team, inspires Mighty Oaks to earn a split in their doubleheader with Howard
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – It really was a good Friday for the Salem Community College softball team.
The Mighty Oaks split their Good Friday doubleheader with Howard CC, winning the nightcap 8-5 after dropping the opener 10-7, but the big takeaway was head coach Angel Rodriguez was back in the dugout for the first time since going in for heart surgery March 19.
The 29-year-old fourth-year head coach underwent triple bypass heart surgery March 24 and has been resting and recovering since. He returned to his Gloucester County home Sunday.
“It’s nice to get out, it was nice to just kind of be in the environment again and just kind of pick up where I left off,” he said. “I don’t think there was any preparation of what to say walking out there other than it was good to be back.”
“It’s like a puzzle piece is back to our big puzzle,” said freshman designated player Sawyer Simmons.
“It definitely feels like we’re back together as a family and it feels like the family is complete,” said interim head coach Mackenzie Freas said.
Simmons saw Rodriguez’ truck pull up in the parking lot and shed a tear and freshman infielder Savannah Palverento said she caught a glimpse of him from second base, but for the most part the players weren’t aware their coach was at the facility until he was announced and making his way towards the dugout between games. He watched all of Game 1 on the team’s Gamechanger page in the press box after his arrival because he didn’t want to interrupt a game in progress.
“I think it was good surprise for them,” he said.
The players and coaches exchanged hugs and tears in the outfield between games. Rodriguez spent all of Game 2 in his usual coach’s chair in the dugout where he “encouraged and managed well,” allowing his assistants to handle the in-game responsibilities as he has all season. At least one player said his presence influenced her play in the nightcap. He presented his observations to the team, as he usually does, in the post-game post-mortem, a meeting moved to around first base instead of the customary right field, no doubt to conserve his energy.
He plans to travel with the team to Saturday’s region doubleheader at Mercer and be with them the rest of the season, although restricted to limited activity. He returns to his doctor for a follow up exam April 15.
“I feel great,” he said. “This is the best I’ve felt since I had (it). I don’t know what the doctor’s cure is, but I found mine.”
“It’s just really good to see Angel back out and able to be out in some fresh air watching some softball on the road to recovery,” athletics director Bob Hughes said. “Obviously our thoughts are never far from here, especially when we’re here, and we just want him to have a speedy and thorough recovery.”
Catcher J.J. Aguirre agreed seeing Rodriguez’ walk out onto the field between games put a little more pep in the Mighty Oaks’ step in the nightcap.
“It was the voice they wanted to hear again,” Freas said.
“With him back it kind of gave us that motivation like now we’re playing for him, he’s here, we need to be better,” Palverento said.
The first game was a back-and-forth affair with two lead changes and two ties through the first three innings. The Mighty Oaks fell behind 8-6 through five, but got it back to 8-7 on Aguirre’s leadoff homer in the sixth and had the tying run in scoring position with one out. The Dragons added two insurance runs in the seventh when Jalyn Rambally ran down a tailing fly in left but couldn’t hold it in her glove.
Simmons hit the first home run of her entire life in the second inning to give the Mighty Oaks a 3-2 lead. It came in her 30th college at-bat. He didn’t have one in 121 plate appearances at-bats at Pennsville and never hit one in the Pennsville Little League.
“It was electrifying,” she said. “It lit a fire under my butt. Made me want to keep hitting more and more and just get more at bats.”
With Rodriguez comfortably in his coach’s seat, the Mighty Oaks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap, then broke a 4-4 tie with three in the fifth. Koski had an sacrifice fly, Palverento an RBI double and Tiana Wilson an RBI single in the winning rally. Palverento went 3-for-3 in the game, Koski had three RBIs and Aguirre went 4-for-4 with another home run.
Jordyn Busch gave the Mighty Oaks a complete game in the circle and was her sharpest late. After the Dragons pushed across the tying run on a throwing error with two outs in the fourth, Busch retired the next eight in a row into the seventh to give her team every chance to retake the lead.
“I have been struggling with getting out of my head a lot and I came back in the dugout and Coach Angel just told me to relax and take a deep breath and I did and just threw the ball,” Busch said. “I know how to pitch, I just had to remember that for a minute. That little reminder from him just helped set it all in. It’s different hearing it from him.”
Players on the Salem CC softball team wipe away tears Friday as head coach Angel Rodriguez visits them for the first time since undergoing heart surgery last week. (Top photo) Angel Rodriquez talks with Tiana Wilson (19) and Sawyer Simmons (6) between games of their doubleheader (Photo by Tyler Hacker).
Heads-up base running move helps Salem Tech rally to win inaugural home baseball game, Chargers softball rallies past Highland, and more
THURSDAY SCORES BASEBALL Pennsville 8, Paulsboro 3 Salem Tech 15, Wildwood Catholic 9 SOFTBALL Salem Tech 14, Highland 11 Paulsboro 19, Penns Grove 1 BOYS GOLF Pitman 180, Woodstown 182 Schalick 165, Overbrook 204 BOYS TENNIS Woodstown 4, Pennsville 1 COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC 21-20, Monroe-Bronx 0-1
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – For all the runs that scored in the game on balls put in play, the game-winning run in Salem Tech’s historic home opener Thursday was scored on a heads-up play by a runner on the base paths.
Lucas Clement caught the pitcher and catcher napping between pitches with two outs in the fifth inning of a tie game and smartly stole home to give the Chargers the lead for good in an eventual 15-9 win over Wildwood Catholic in the first home game in their baseball history.
Clement was stationed at third, having moved around the bases on a walk, stolen base and passed ball, and was studying the interaction between Crusaders catcher Ash O’Donnell and reliever Theo Margarites, who had just come into the game moments earlier. The window opened and he was gone.
“I was standing over there for a while,” the senior third baseman explained, “and I realized every time that pitcher got the ball he just never gave me any attention. As soon as he caught the ball and started walking back I realized I can get home. I didn’t know if (coach John Helsel) would be a big fan of that with it being two out, but as soon as he threw the ball back I just saw my chance and took it.
“I went on my own. I didn’t know if he was going to be happy about it, but I knew if I got home it’d be a good thing and put us by a run. He hasn’t spoken to me about it yet; he’s my trade school teacher, so we’ll see. He might never allow me to do that again.”
Quite the contrary. Helsel wants the Chargers to be aggressive. They stole 10 bases in the game, six in a five-run second inning that staked them to a 6-0 lead.
Clement’s mad dash wasn’t the only time the Chargers’ speed got them a run. Courtesy runner Brayden McAllister didn’t slow down coming around third in the second inning when Landon Haley was called safe on a close two-out play at first similar to the one that got Phillies manager Rob Thomson tossed in the first inning against Washington earlier this week. It got that five-run outburst started. And Chase Pompper scored all the way from first in the sixth inning when he stole second and the attempt to get him at second sailed into center field.
“I like putting a little pressure on them; pressured people crack,” Helsel said. “I thought (Clement’s dash) was a great heads-up play. I have no problem with that. I want to be aggressive. I tell them keep their eyes open. If they throw over, go. They’ve got to catch the ball, throw the ball and catch it again to get you. I’ll take that chance.”
The third and fourth innings nearly did the Chargers in. They had trouble fielding pop ups in the infield in the third and the miscues allowed the visitors to tie it. The Crusaders tacked on three more in the fourth to get Tech starter Bryce Harris out of the game.
The Chargers missed an opportunity to answer the Crusaders’ big tinning when they loaded the bases with three straight one-out walks, but couldn’t get the runners home. They had a threat in the fourth, too, but only got one run out of it.
Jack Beal replaced Harris on the mound for the Chargers and he gave them three innings of shutout relief. The hard-throwing right-hander four hits and struck out five. The Crusaders loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but he put out the fire with a strike out and a game-ending grounder to second.
“I was just trying to keep it so they weren’t scoring any runs and could come back and win,” Beal said. “I was a little pumped up because it was the first game at Vo-Tech so I was trying to throw a little harder. I was really trying to get the first (home) win for the team.”
The Chargers’ entire fifth-inning rally came with two outs and once they got to the top of the order. Pompper got it started by reaching on an infield throwing error that got him to second. Cooper Coles and Clement delivered RBI singles to tie it. Clement scored the go-ahead run with his dash then Harris delivered a two-run single to make it 12-9.
Coles went 3-for-3, reached base all five times he came to the plate, scored five runs and was a homer shy of hitting for the cycle.
The Chargers tacked on three more in the sixth on Pompper’s run around the bases, an RBI single by Clement and Jaxson Raymond’s RBI double.
“This was a good game because, I told them, it showed character,” Helsel said. “After the Cumberland (10-run) first inning they all started fighting. I just was worried they were going to do what they did at Cumberland (after falling behind). But they overcame that and showed character by doing that.”.
Prior to first pitch school officials commemorated the inaugural home game with superintendent Jack Swain throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. It came in a little high, but when Salem Tech supporters talk about this day years from now they’ll say it was right down the middle.
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WP: Jack Beal. LP: Carter Givner.
PENNSVILLE 8, PAULSBORO 3: It might not have been as impressive as the day before, but Mason O’Brien pitched out of another bases-loaded no-out situation and kept the game from getting away.
The junior left-hander came in to start the sixth inning with a 5-2 lead after starter Gavin Spears threw 72 pitches and fanned 10 through the first five. He gave up a walk, back-to-back singles and another walk to force in a run to start his outing, then struck out the next three hitters to put out the fire.
In Wednesday’s combined no-hitter against Pitman, O’Brien entered in mid-count with bases loaded and none out and got out of it with a short fly to left and two strikeouts. He got through the next inning on three pitches, an ultra-immaculate inning he called “pretty cool,” and finished with 19 pitches total, enough to tell head coach Matt Karr he wanted to pitch the next day.
“The coaches have a lot of trust in me and when they have a lot of trust in me then I believe in myself more,” O’Brien said. “I have the confidence in going out there and being capable of getting all those three outs with no one scoring or maybe one run scoring. I’m just thankful to my coaches for believing in me in those situations and allowing me to come in.”
“Mason is one of our leaders, (he’s) been starting since his freshman year,” Karr said. “There are not many other people I trust more than him. He and (Logan) Streitz are our leaders.”
The Red Raiders (0-3) had lost their first two games by a combined score of 39-3, but they led 2-1 after Kayden Weber’s open-field home run in the third. The play developed when Eagles outfielder Stevie Fatcher ran full-speed into the left field fence Aaron Howard style and chipped three teeth while the ball bounded away.
Fatcher stayed down for a while allowing Weber to round the basis. Once he got to his feet Fatcher stayed in the game and, Karr said, “gave us a big shot of energy by showing his toughness.”
The Eagles (2-0) took the lead in the bottom of the inning on Dante Cummings’ RBI single and a run-scoring error. They extended it in the fourth on O’Brien’s RBI single and Streitz’ sacrifice fly.
The Eagles answered the run Paulsboro got off O’Brien in the sixth with three in the bottom of the inning. Streitz had a two-run single and Fatcher’s sacrifice fly brought home the final run.
Cummings had three hits for the Eagles, while Spears, O’Brien and Grady Sanders each had two.
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WP: Gavin Spears. LP: Julius Scott. HR: Kayden Weber (Pa).
Softball
SALEM TECH 14, HIGHLAND 11: Morgan Fogg and Carmen Mott hit back-to-back run-scoring doubles to highlight a six-run sixth inning rally that lifted the Chargers (5-1) to their season-best third straight win.
Fogg’s double snapped an 11-11 tie and gave the Chargers their first lead of the game. Mott followed with a two-run shot to extend the lead.
The Chargers, currently seventh in the South Jersey Group II power points standings, trailed 11-9 entering the inning. Shelby Drummond got the rally started when she circled the bases with a double and error. Claire Kier singled home Izzy Roberts to make it 11-10. Kier scored the tying run on a passed ball.
Roberts swent 4-for-4 at the plate and then set down the Tartans in order in the seventh, with two strikeouts, to close out the game.
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WP: Shelby Liber. LP: Soledad Vasquez-Milstein
PAULSBORO 19, PENNS GROVE 1: The Red Raiders erupted for 12 runs in the first inning and held Penns Grove to two hits for the game. They had only four hits, but took advantage of 15 walks. Yeneris Garcia and Nyasia Numan had Penns Grove’s two hits.
Golf
PITMAN 180, WOODSTOWN 182: Joey Zubert played his final five holes on the front nine at Town & Country Golf Links in even par to shoot a 4-over-par 39 and win medalist honors in the tight match. Jack Bucksar posted Woodstown’s low round (41). PITMAN: Max Pappalardo 49, Jake Bowen-Ashwin 44, Joey Zubert 39, Logan Sharpnack 48, Luke Friscoll 53, Dane Collum 52. WOODSTOWN: Jack Bucksar 41, Alejandro Vazquez 44, Logan Jones 46, Austin Wood 51; Greyson Hyland 53, Chris Porreca 54.
SCHALICK 165, OVERBROOK 204: Michael Nelson birdied his final hole to pick up two shots on the leader and share medalist honors with teammate Seth Fisher at 4-over 40. All four of the Cougars’ counters at Kresson CC were in the 40s SCHALICK: Anthony Sepers 42, Michael Nelson 40, Seth Fisher 40, Hunter Dragotta 43; Bradford Foster 45, Dylan Sheehan 51. OVERBROOK: Jeffrey Boyd 48, Joseph Linane 56, Mark Scott 52, Harry Cieslak 48.
Tennis
WOODSTOWN 4, PENNSVILLE 1 Drew Stengel (WO) def. Lucas Cooksey, 4-6, 6-4, 10-3 Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Mason Shimp, 7-6, 7-5, 10-3 Luke Shaw (WO) def. Carter Willis, 6-0, 6-0 Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Matthew Forino-Ian Peacock, 6-0, 6-1 Connor Miller-Josh King (WO) def. Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman, 6-1, 6-2 Records: Woodstown 3-1, Pennsville 3-2.
College softball: SCC sweeps
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — The Salem CC softball team made a long and fruitful trip to Flowers Park, sweeping Monroe-Bronx 21-0 and 20-1.
It’s the first time the Mighty Oaks (15-9) have scored 20 runs in both games of a doubleheader since the revival of the program
The Mighty Oaks pounded 26 hits in the doubleheader (12 and 14), while Raegan Wilson (three) and Emme Witter (two) scattered five hits and both struck out nine in the circle.
In the opener, Megan Koski and J.J. Aguirre both went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Lilly Peverelle homered..
The Mighty Oaks hit four homers in the nightcap. Aguirre hit two of them and had six RBIs. Witter and Tiana Wilson hit the others. Witter went 4-for-5.
Schalick ends four years of frustration against its archival, uses big inning, inspired play by freshmen to take down Woodstown
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES Pennsville 5, Pitman 1 Gloucester Catholic 19, Salem 0 Schalick 9, Woodstown 6
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – The players on the Schalick softball team, veterans and newcomers alike, had been looking forward to Wednesday’s game with Woodstown for 10 months, ever since that bitter 3-1 loss in the South Jersey Group I quarterfinals.
In their offseason workouts. In their preseason practices. Even in the hallways during the school day, in the final hours before the game, the meeting with their rivals was on their minds.
With that singular focus guiding their play, the Cougars willed their way to an historic 9-6 win over the Wolverines Wednesday.
“I think me and a few of my teammates have been hyped this whole year, talking about it all year, how we were going to come back and get it and get revenge for how it ended last year,” infielder Liv VanAcker said. “Last year was such a good team and we were so close. And then talking to the previous graduates they were like you’ve gotta get this for us, and that motivated us even more.
“Throughout the school day we were hyped in the hallways, talking to each other, hyping each other us. The bus ride here was hype and when we got here we knew we were just going to get it.”
VanAcker, the second baseman in the middle of one of the biggest plays in last year’s playoff game, delivered two hits and three RBIs and freshman Kaylee Broglin provided seven strong innings in her first varsity start to lead the attack.
It was Schalick’s first win over the Wolverines in coach Rick Higinbotham’s four seasons and its first in the series since May 6, 2021, snapping a 11-game losing streak.
“It’s been a long time coming, but it feels good,” Higinbotham said. “It’s important because it’s a division win. I was telling the girls we need to stack division wins. Glassboro earlier in the week was a division win and then this one, so we need to keep stacking division wins. So it’s important. I wouldn’t say playoff-level important, but it’s important. Satisfying, very much.”
VanAcker had an RBI double in the third inning when the Cougars (2-0) took a 3-0 lead and a two-run single in the five-run fourth that gave them control of the game.
They sent 10 batters to the plate in the big inning. After a leadoff out, the next seven hitters all reached safely. Noelani Whitley single home the first run and kept the bases loaded. VanAcker cleared the bases with her single and accompanying error and she scored on Khloe McGrath’s single.
“I was looking for that pitch,” VanAcker said of her single. “I was ready for it and I saw it coming in.”
“I told the girls to go up with a plan and they all had a plan that inning,” Higinbotham said.
Broglin was told she was starting against the Cougars’ biggest rival the day before and responded by scattering six hits and striking out five. The first three hitters she faced reached to load the bases, but she got out of it with back-to-back strikeouts and an inning-ending ground out. The Wolverines threatened or scored in every inning but the sixth against her, but she never let it faze her.
“It was every opportunity,” she said. “I felt like (Higinbotham) really had faith in me that I could help them win. Especially because we hadn’t won against them in a while it just felt like a great opportunity for me to prove myself and show them that I’m capable of taking on teams like this.
“It made me think I really have to do good, I have to push myself and dig deep not just for me but for my team, too, because I know how much this means to everyone. It felt like I did really good and that I earned my spot.”
Broglin was one of four freshmen starters in the lineup who Higinbotham said “are contributing and doing well.” Designated hitter Noelani Whitley had three hits at the top of the order. Third baseman Paige Sparks had two hits and was one base three times. And second baseman Khloe McGrath had an RBI single and reached base twice.
The Wolverines, meanwhile, might have been in a hole after Schalick’s big inning, but they kept fighting. It was 9-4 going to the bottom of the seventh but it wasn’t over. Lila Bowling’s one-out triple made it 9-5 and courtesy runner Ella Winchell raced home on Ava White’s grounder.
Kendall Young kept the inning alive when she beat out an infield single, allowing the tying run into the on-deck circle. But Broglin ended the threat with a game-ending pop to second.
PENNSVILLE 5, PITMAN 1: The Eagles scored three runs in the third inning with a squeeze bunt, sacrifice fly and RBI single to take the lead and Graillyn Weber scattered five hits and struck out five.
Lily Edwards, Weber and Kenzie Widener all had two hits for the Eagles (2-0). Edwards and Weber got the third-inning rally started with a single and double, respectively. Kylie Harris squeezed the first run home, Weber rode home on Avery Watson’s sacrifice fly and Widener singled home Harris.
They extended the lead with two in the seventh. Weber had an RBI double and another run scored on an error.
Before the game, catcher Harris announced her commitment to Division III Shenandoah (Va.) University. She chose the Hornets over Salem CC and had offers from Ramapo and RCSJ-Cumberland.
“I think it was because the area and the coaches and the girls,” Harris said. “When I went on the phone and talked with coach (Olivia) Scarbrough, I could tell from the start she was someone I wanted to be coached by and wanted to be around for the next four years. When I went down to visit I had an opportunity to have lunch with all the girls. They’re so wonderful, so amazing.”
One of her travel ball teammates and the daughter of her travel team coach also are committed to play there.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 19, SALEM 0: The Rams bounced back from their loss at Pennsville with four-inning no-hitter by Shaili Monaghan. She walked one and struck out nine. Riley Friend drove in five runs to lead the offense.
Scores and highlights from Tuesday’s Salem County sports calendar; Woodstown, Salem Tech score softball wins; tough day for Salem CC baseball, softball
SOFTBALL Salem Tech 24, Pilgrim Academy 13 Woodstown 8, Sterling 3 BOYS TRACK Penns Grove at Glassboro BOYS TENNIS Pennsville 5, Glassboro 0 Woodstown 5, Clearview 0 COLLEGE BASEBALL Montgomery County 26, Salem CC 4 COLLEGE SOFTBALL Lackawanna 10-2, Salem CC 2-0
By Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — The thing Woodstown softball coach Rob Hildebrand really likes about his lineup is its capability to deliver from any spot at any time regardless of the situation, but they’re especially tough late in the game.
That ability was on full display in the fourth inning Tuesday when the Wolverines scored six runs with two outs to break open a one-run game and power an 8-3 win over Sterling.
“I’ve never had an opportunity to coach a team on any level, and I tell them all the time, where we get better every single time we get another at bat against a pitcher,” Hildebrand said. “We only get stronger as the middle of the game goes on and like our third at-bat every game that’s when everybody starts hitting. I’m proud for them to be able to hit the ball.”
Kendall Young’s three-run double and Talia Guardascione’s inside-the-park homer highlighted the big inning. The Wolverines (2-0) led 2-1 going into the fourth and then sent 10 batters to the plate to break it open.
Brianna Hitchner scored on Ellie Wygand’s ground out that was the second out of the inning and cleared the bases. Guardascione followed by slashing her homer past a drawn-in left fielder to the fence. Madison LaPalomento scored on Grace Hitchner’s single and after Lila Bowling and Macie Moore drew walks to load the bases Young brought them all home with her double.
Hildebrand called Young’s hit a “sign of relief.” The Wolverines loaded the bases in the third with nobody out and only scratched out a couple runs.
Guardascione’s homer was the second of her career. Her first also was an inside-the-parker, against Salem last season.
“She’s the two-hole hitter and they play her in a lot in the outfield,” Hilderbrand said. “When they play her in like that she burns them. She’s so fast, I knew she was going to score when she came around second.”
The Wolverines took a 2-0 lead in the third on RBI singles by Grace Hitchner and Moore.
Leah Clark went the distance in the circle, allowing five hits, one earned run and striking out four. She retired the first seven batters she faced and faced the minimum through three innings.
SALEM TECH 24, PILGRIM ACADEMY 13: The first-year Chargers took advantage of 11 walks and 11 errors to score a school-record 24 runs and win for the fourth time in five starts.
Shelby Drummond went 3-for-3, Claire Kier had three RBIs, Kate Liber and Morgan Fogg both had two hits and two RBIs. Drummond has hit in all five games and is hitting .769 (10-for-13) for the season. Kier also has hit in all five games.
The Chargers broke a 2-2 tie with five runs in the third inning and then broke it open with nine in the fourth.
PENNSVILLE 5, GLASSBORO 0 Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Andrew Miller, 4-6, 6-0, 10-5 Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. James Pence, 6-0, 6-0 Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Seth Taylor, 6-1, 6-1 Coen Rinnier-Matthew Forino (P) def. Joy Patel-Vincent Pasquarello, 6-1, 6-1 Records: Pennsville 2-1, Glassboro 0-2.
WOODSTOWN 5, CLEARVIEW 0 Drew Stengel (WO) def. Dan Meader, 7-5, 6-0 Mason Shimp (WO) def. David Carter, 6-1, 6-1 Luke Shaw (WO) def. Cole Harper, 6-4, 6-2 Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Chase Roberts-Jared Wax, 6-3, 6-4 Connor Miller-Josh King (WO) def. Matt Kalpas-Raj Rana, 7-5, 6-2 Records: Woodstown 1-1, Clearview 1-2.
College baseball
MONTGOMERY 26, SALEM CC 4: The Mustangs continued to mash the baseball, setting a season high in runs while scoring in double figures for the fourth game in a row. They have scored 75 runs over the last four games.
The 26 runs were the most the Mighty Oaks have given up in a game since reviving the program. The previous high came in a 25-7 loss to RCSJ-Cumberland in April 2024.
College softball
LACKAWANNA 10-2, SALEM CC 2-0: Mackenzie Adolfson hit a two-run homer in each game for Lackawanna, but the swing in the second game was the dagger for the Mighty Oaks.
Salem’s Jordyn Busch and Lackawanna’s Ayahna Fleisher were locked in a scoreless pitching duel for five innings in the nightcap, but one pitch broke the ice. Adolfson launched a two-run homer to center to get the Falcons on the board.
The Mighty Oaks threatened in the seventh, getting two runners in scoring position with one out, but couldn’t get them home. Savannah Palverento and Bella Rappa opened the inning with singles and moved up on Sawyer Simmons’ sacrifice, but Fleisher got out of it with a pop out to the catcher and game-ending grounder to the pitcher.
Salem also had a runner in scoring position in the first inning with two outs but stranded her.
Adolfson’s two-run shot in the opener highlighted a four-run first inning. The Mighty Oaks cut their deficit in half in the third on an RBI single by Megan Koski and Bella Rappa’s bases-loaded hit batsman, but the Falcons answered with two in the bottom of the inning and walked it off with four in the fifth.
The doubleheader starts a busy week for the Mighty Oaks. They travel to Monroe-Bronx Thursday, host Howard CC Friday and visit Mercer Saturday.
Eagles score 5 after a moment of reflection to rally past Gloucester Catholic in season opener, Weber fans career high 10; Woodstown no-hits Penns Grove
MONDAY SOFTBALL Pennsville 8, Gloucester Catholic 5 Salem Tech 16, Lindenwold 5 Schalick 6, Glassboro 5 Wildwood 10, Salem 0 Woodstown 20, Penns Grove 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Between the top and bottom of the sixth inning Monday Pennsville catcher Kylie Harris, as she’s been known to do, called her teammates to a huddle in front of the dugout. Even though they trailed at the time, she told them with the ability she knows they have there still was time to pull out the game and they should try “any way you can” to make it happen, preferably in this next half inning they batted.
The Eagles answered her call, rallying for five runs in the home sixth to turn a day-long game of catch-up into an 8-5 season-opening win over Gloucester Catholic.
“We were definitely falling behind a little bit and I knew we had it in us to really get the ball rolling and after that we did,” Harris said. “I think that really gave us all a little push.”
Eagles coach Beth Jackson has been known to turn things over to her players once the game begins in recent years. She’ll give them words of encouragement and instruction in the pre-game and post-game huddles – and if anything needs to be added to the players’ moment – but once that first pitch is thrown she pretty much leaves it to them to provide the inspiration.
It’s not always the same player who delivers the message, and it doesn’t always happen in the sixth inning, but Harris, somehow, always seems to be in the middle of it.
“She does that a lot,” outfielder Kenzie Widener said. “It helps us get motivated and pumped up so we can get out of our heads and just keep firing at the ball. Even if we were down by one she would just give off this giant speech that would make us work together to win that game. I think that really got us together and helped us win.”
The Eagles needed something. They fell behind 3-0 in the first inning and trailed 5-3 going into the home sixth.
Reagan Wariwanchik got the rally started with a one-out single into right field. The Lions booted Gianna Evans’ double-play grounder to keep the inning alive and Gracie Mease loaded based with a bunt single. The next three hitters – the top of the Eagles’ talented lineup – all batted with the bases loaded and they all delivered.
Lily Edwards singled to make it 5-4. Graillyn Weber followed with a single to left to tie the game at 5. Harris gave them the lead with a sacrifice fly. And after Avery Watson walked to reload the bases, Widener, just looking to make contact to extend the lead, did just that and ripped a two-run single to make it 8-5. Widener went 3-for-4 in the game.
“It was a great comeback,” Widener said. “I think it was well deserved. We work our butts off out here. We did what we could to come back and win.”
“That’s the team I just know we are capable of being all the time and it was just so great to see the bats back,” Harris said. “I definitely think we had a little bit of nerves (because of the) first home game. I think we were just trying to get back in the groove, but that last inning, seeing that rally, it was so much fun.”
Now with a lead to protect, Weber finished off the Lions from the circle. And even when the visitors got a runner on in the seventh she didn’t flinch. Harris picked that runner off first to end the game.
Weber looked comfortable in her new role as the Eagles’ main pitcher. She gave up seven hits and hits and struck out 10, beating her career-high she established last year against the Lions (seven). After the Lions scored their three in the first, the junior struck out the side in the second and gave up just two runs and three hits the rest of the way – none over the final 2 1/3.
“I might have just thrown too much over the plate in the beginning,” she said, “but then I got used to the umpire and what his zone was and that helped.
“I’m definitely more confident this year, for sure. I’m excited to be pitching and I like it. I’m glad to be out there.”
Gloucester Catholic (0-2)
301
010
0-
5
6
2
Pennsville (1-0)
010
115
x-
8
11
2
WP: Graillyn Weber. LP: Maddie McGinn.
SCHALICK 6, GLASSBORO 5: Freshman starting pitcher Noelani Whitley’s inside-the-park home run with one out in the sixth inning gave the Cougars a 6-4 lead and freshman Kaylee Broflin turned back Glassboro’s threat in the seventh inning after the Bulldogs put the tying run in scoring position with one out.
The Cougars broke a scoreless tie with five in the fourth. They scored the first three runs when the Bulldogs misplayed a grounder off Whitley’s bat and scored the other two on an error on a bad throw to thwart a stolen base.
“Our freshmen pitchers did a great job today,” Cougars coach Rick Higinbotham said. :They were throwing strikes and keeping the ball down in the zone. I was pleased with their performance.”
WOODSTOWN 20, PENNS GROVE 0: The Wolverines opened their season by converting 14 walks and seven hit batsmen into 20 runs and three pitchers combined on a four-inning no-hitter. They already were leading 9-0 when they erupted for 11 runs in the third inning. Leah Clark, Madison Roback and Brianna Hitchner combined for the no-hitter, facing one batter over the minimum. The only two base runners they allowed reached on errors and one eventually got cut down at the plate.
Penns Grove (0-1)
000
0-
0
0
3
Woodstown (1-0)
54(11)
x-
20
6
2
WP: Leah Clark. LP: Domari Torres Caraballo.
SALEM TECH 16, LINDENWOLD 5: The Chargers erupted for 10 runs in the first inning and coasted to their third victory. Shelby Drummond, Isabele Roberts and Rachel Reed drove in three hits apiece. Drummond and Roberts both had two-run doubles in the big first inning. Roberts pitched the first two innings and retired all six batters she faced, striking out five.
Lindenwold (0-1)
003
2-
5
2
6
Salem Tech (3-1)
(10)60
x-
16
9
3
WP: Isabele Roberts. LP: Veronica Guardado.
WILDWOOD 10, SALEM 0: Addison Troiano went 4-for-4 with three extra-base hits and drove in five runs and Emma Contreras held the Rams to three hits while striking out 14 in six innings. Isla Bohn had all three Salem hits, singles in the first, third and fifth.
Recovery ‘going well’ for the Mighty Oaks softball coach as he works to return from heart surgery
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Salem CC softball coach Angel Rodriguez is back home in Brooklawn following successful heart surgery and plans to have a “very involved week” as he slowly returns to the team.
The fourth-year head coach, 29, underwent triple bypass last Tuesday after falling ill in his office the previous Thursday and has been making steady progress on his return to the dugout.
“Good news; I’m back HOME,” he wrote in a text message Monday. “Everything is going well per (the) medical team with healing. Walks have been much improved. (The) countdown until I can get back continues, but it’s very, very close.”
The Mighty Oaks have four doubleheaders this week, including two big road dates with Region 19 leaders Lackawanna (19-6) and Mercer (17-1). They went 5-3 in Rodriguez’ absence, including a first-ever modern era win over Delaware Tech and a record-setting sweep of Morris on Saturday.
Rodriguez hopes, but wouldn’t immediately commit, to attending Friday’s home doubleheader with Howard CC.
“I’m back on softball talks more with the staff more now,” he said. “There’s a good chance (he’ll be at Friday’s games), but I don’t want to commit to that just yet.”
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of March 30-April 4
MONDAY, MARCH 30 BASEBALL Salem Tech at Lindenwold Schalick at Glassboro Wildwood at Salem Woodstown at Penns Grove SOFTBALL Glassboro at Schalick Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville Lindenwold at Salem Tech Penns Grove at Woodstown Salem at Wildwood GOLF Woodstown vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick vs. Wildwood at Union League GC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Penns Grove at Glassboro Pennsville at Wildwood Schalick at Clayton BOYS VOLLEYBALL Highland at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at St. Joseph GIRLS LACROSSE Cedar Creek at Woodstown
TUESDAY, MARCH 31 SOFTBALL Salem Tech at Pilgrim Academy Sterling at Woodstown BOYS TRACK Penns Grove at Glassboro BOYS TENNIS Woodstown at Clearview, 3:45 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Montgomery County, 3:30 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Lackawanna, 3 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 BASEBALL Penns Grove at Gateway Pitman at Pennsville Schalick at Woodstown Wildwood Catholic at Salem Tech SOFTBALL Highland at Salem Tech Penns Grove at Paulsboro Pennsville at Pitman Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic Schalick at Woodstown GOLF Schalick vs. Washington Twp., Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Schalick girls vs. Clearview, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m. Salem Tech vs. Wildwood, Sakima CC, 3:45 p.m. TENNIS Clayton at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Triton at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Schalick at Glassboro BOYS TRACK Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Overbrook at Woodstown GIRLS TRACK Pennsville at Schalick, 3:45 p.m. Overbrook at Woodstown Penns Grove at Glassboro BOYS VOLLEYBALL LEAP at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. BOYS LACROSSE Woodstown at Lower Cape May COLLEGE BASEBALL Montgomery County at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, APRIL 2 BASEBALL Penns Grove at Pleasantville, 1:30 p.m. Wildwood Catholic at Salem Tech, 2 p.m. Schalick at Ocean City Woodstown at Haddon Heights SOFTBALL Clearview at Schalick Highland at Salem Tech Woodstown at Haddon Heights BOYS GOLF Woodstown vs. Pitman, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m. Schalick vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC BOYS TENNIS Pennsville at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Monroe-Bronx, 2 p.m.
FRIDAY, APRIL 3 COLLEGE SOFTBALL Howard CC at Salem CC, 3 p.m.
SATURDAY, APRIL 4 SOFTBALL Pennsville in Thunderbolt Tournament, Millville TRACK Salem, Schalick at Deptford Relays, 9 a.m. GIRLS LACROSSE Washington Twp. at Woodstown, 10 a.m. COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Mercer, noon
Salem CC softball sets modern era scoring records for the second time this season in sweep of Morris
REGION XIX SOFTBALL Salem CC 29-17, Morris 0-3 Delaware Tech 9-3, Mercer 0-9 RCSJ-Gloucester at Bergen Northampton 18-15, Camden 9-5 Lackawanna 8-20, Sussex 0-4 Brookdale 18-15, Middlesex 0-4
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – The Salem CC softball team batted around – twice – to start their doubleheader, batted around again at the end of it and scored a lot of runs in between. A lot of runs.
The Mighty Oaks set modern era school records for runs in a game and runs in a doubleheader Saturday when they rolled over Morris 29-0 and 17-3 at Watson Field.
It was their most prolific day since reviving the program four years ago. The 29 runs in the opener and 46 runs in the twinbill broke the records they set in a 16-6, 27-4 road sweep of Anne Arundel two weeks ago.
“It was very exciting knowing that we beat a record and set a new one that we can beat during this season, too, I’m sure,” outfielder Sawyer Simmons said.
“That’s always fun to do,” shortstop Lilly Peverelle agreed. “I think it did shock us a little bit how much we were able to score but … we’re an aggressive team, we know how to run the bases, we know how to be strong in the box and do our jobs.”
Just like the 27-run game against Anne Arundel, the Mighty Oaks scored 13 runs in the first inning of the opener against the Titans, who had been beaten similarly by Lackawanna in their first two games earlier this week. Unlike that Anne Arundel outburst, they were much more patient at the plate, with 18 batters sitting through 82 pitches and 11 walks in the first inning alone.
They had gotten so far in front, all 16 players available Saturday had gotten into the game when Tiana Wilson batted in the bottom of the second inning, another inning they batted around. The only player who didn’t get a plate appearance was starting pitcher Raegan Wilson – and interim coach Mackenzie Freas would’ve made it happen for the PO from Salem had she been made aware.
All 15 players who went to the plate scored at least one run in the opener and 13 had at least one hit and one RBI in the doubleheader.
“We were able to get everyone in off the bench, so I know for them that’s a really good feel-good game for everyone,” Freas said. “To see everyone come in and be able to produce runs at that high number it feels great … They need to know that whoever is behind them is going to be able to produce – and they did. I’m sure it makes them feel good like I have someone who will have my back.”
The Mighty Oaks batted around in the fourth inning, too, sending 14 batters to the plate and scoring more 10 runs. The first 10 batters all reached safely – seven with hits — and scored. Ava Ortiz drove in the single-game record-breaking runs with a two-run single, her second hit of the inning.
The second game was more of the same. They scored eight runs in the first inning – all with two outs – to answer the run Morris scored in the top of the inning. Savannah Palverento tied the game with an RBI grounds-rule double and Kasen Ervin gave them the lead for good with a two-run opposite-field single to right.
They added four in the third on Lilly Peverelle’s two-run homer and Jordyn Busch’s two-run double, and batted around in the fourth to score five runs. The homer was Peverelle’s second of the year. Her first came in the Anne Arundel doubleheader.
“I didn’t think it was going to go over because the wind was blowing in,” she said. “Then I saw that it was starting to trail and I was like ‘yes’ because it was an inside pitch and I kind of struggle with those but I’ve been getting them lately.”
Peverelle was on base five of her six times at bat and made several sharp defensive plays in the field, including a diving catch to her glove side on the first play of the the nightcap and turning a double play to end it. Simmons went 4-for-5 in the doubleheader, reached six times in her seven plate appearances and scored six runs.J.J. Aguirre had five RBIs in the doubleheader and Palverento had three hits with six RBIs and was on base six times in nine plate appearances.
“I knew I wanted to hit the ball every single time I went up, so when I was walking it was still good because you’re still getting on base and you’re doing a job that needs to be done,” Simmons said. “Then I would get back in the dugout and be like, oh, I’m almost up again, oh wow. It was definitely exciting.”
RODRIGUEZ UPDATE: Mighty Oaks head coach Angel Rodriguez is scheduled to come home from Cooper University Hospital in Camden Sunday after undergoing triple bypass heart surgery earlier this week. Rodriguez has been getting around and recently completed a walk of 300 steps. “I talked to him yesterday,” Freas said. “He sounded real good.” The players are looking forward to seeing him. “We can’t wait to get him back, most definitely,” Simmons said. “It’s great hearing all the good news we’re getting back.”
