Monday sports report

Here are scores and highlights from Monday’s Salem County sports calendar; this report will be updated

BASEBALL
Haddon Heights 13, Schalick 5
Pennsville 28, Penns Grove 8
Camden Academy Charter 10, Salem 8
SOFTBALL
Pennsville 17, Salem 0
Haddonfield 13, Salem Tech 2
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Triton 2, Salem Tech 0 (27-25, 25-18)
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown 21, Haddon Heights 8
TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Penns Grove 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – A division title and the number one seed in the South Jersey Group I baseball playoffs may be firmly in Schalick’s back pocket, but the Cougars know there’s a lot more work to be done.

The Cougars have three games between now and the start of the playoffs – starting with Monday’s 13-5 loss to Haddon Heights – and while the games might not count for power points they still carry a lot of weight.

“These are games we need to try to get heading in that right direction, where we’re playing our best baseball heading into next week,” Schalick coach Sean O’Brien said. “There’s a week gap between the games so I think if we end on a positive note it just sets us up nicely for that first round. So, we’re trying to get playing good baseball before we start next week.:

It didn’t start the way they wanted. The Garnets (15-6), the No. 2 seed in the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs, led for the entirety of the 3-hour, 12-minute marathon. They reached Schalick starter Jamari Whitley for two runs in the first inning, extended the lead to 5-1 in the third and then broke it open with seven in the fifth to threaten to run-rule their hosts.

The Cougars (16-7) scored in the home half of every inning the Garnets did, but it was never enough. 

“The three aspects of the game – pitching, hitting and fielding – we didn’t do any of them well,” O’Brien said. “It’s hard to beat a good team when you don’t do those things well. They’re a scrappy team, they find ways to get runs, and we just didn’t do our job overall today. That’s what it came down to.”

The Cougars did manage to avoid the run rule by scoring just enough in the home fifth to keep the game going.

“I think offensively we’re too good to be held down for that long, so I knew we could still get some runs; it was just our mentality,” O’Brien said.

The Cougars just couldn’t get that timely hit to spark a big inning. They left the bases loaded in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings. The only production they got out of those situations was RBI singles by J.T. Fleming and Whitley in the fifth and Wyatt Cushane getting hit by a pitch in the sixth. They left 14 runners on base, 10 in scoring position.

“We’ve gotten better with less than two outs and bases loaded, but now with bases loaded with two outs it’s like a new challenge that we have to deal with,” O’Brien said. “We’re getting guys on, we’re just not getting them in, and you can’t do that against good team. You have to capitalize to stay in games and win games.”

Garnets leadoff man Ryan Govito had a big day. He singled in each of his first five at-bats and had a chance in the seventh to go 6-for-6, but Bo Schalick, the Cougars’ fourth pitcher, got the sophomore shortstop to line softly to second.

“Five is a lot, six would’ve been nice, but I did the job,” said Govito, who had a four-hit game earlier this season. “The last at-bat I was just trying to keep the approach simple, middle of the field, same thing as before. I was trying to get a fastball, but I didn’t; maybe swung at a bad pitch.”

Ricky Watt got the Cougars on the board with his eighth homer of the season in the first inning. 

“I saw five or six sliders before and then I finally got a fastball and got the barrel to it,” he said.

Watt had a double later in the game. He now has 97 career hits. 

“I want to get it before playoffs hit,” he said. “I hadn’t really thought about (100 career hits) a whole lot; it’s not the No. 1 thing on my mind. But I’m excited about it.”

PENNSVILLE 28, PENNS GROVE 8: Jeff Wagner hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, Mason O’Brien homered and Steve Fatcher and Logan Cowperthwait each had four RBIs. The Eagles scored 10 in the third to break it open and 11 in the fourth.

CAMDEN ACADEMY CHARTER10, SALEM 8; The Cougars answered Salem’s six-run fourth with five in the bottom of the inning to tie the game, then pushed across runs in the fifth and sixth to win. Andry Placencia scored the go-ahead run on a ball that got away at the plate and Lenox Angeles singled home the insurance run. Austin Davis had two hits and three RBIs for the Rams, Troy Carey had two RBIs.

SOFTBALL
PENNSVILLE 17, SALEM 0: The Eagles scored 10 runs in the first inning and Savannah Guglielmo pitched a four-inning no-hitter.

HADDONFIELD 13, SAEM TECH 2: The Bulldogs pulled away from a 3-2 lead with seven runs in the fifth inning. Shelby Drummond had two hits for the Chargers and scored their first run on a steal of home.

TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 5, PENNS GROVE 0
Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Anthony Pacheco, 6-0, 6-0
Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Juan Ortiz, 6-0, 6-0
Carter Willis (P) def. Jesus Arredondo, 6-3, 6-0
Jacob Cheeseman-Coen Rinnier (P) def. Jordan Hernandez-Fernando Palacios Lima, 6-0, 6-0
Lucas Thomas-Matthew Forino (P) def. Alan Lopez-Jeremy TeJada, 6-2, 6-0
Records: Pennsville 17-6, Penns Grove 5-8.

Haddon Heights’ Ryan Gavin had five hits in his first five at-bats Monday against Schalick. The Cougars finally got him out in the seventh. Top photo: Schalick’s Ricky Watt crosses the plate after hitting his eighth homer of the season in the first inning.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of May 18-23

MONDAY, MAY 18
BASEBALL
Haddon Heights at Schalick
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Salem at Camden Academy Charter
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Salem
Haddonfield at Salem Tech, 4:15 p.m.
BOYS GOLF
Salem/Cumberland Championship, Centerton CC, 8 a.m.
Woodstown vs. Deptford, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
Salem/Cumberland Championship, Centerton CC, 8 a.m.
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Highland at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Haddon Heights

TUESDAY, MAY 19
BASEBALL
Clayton at Penns Grove
Gloucester at Salem Tech
Pennsville at Schalick
Pitman at Woodstown
Salem at Glassboro
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Clayton
Woodstown at Pitman
Schalick at Pennsville at Pennsville LL, 6 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick vs. Cumberland, Running Deer, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Clayton at Penns Grove
BOYS LACROSSE
Bishop Eustace at Woodstown
VOLLEYBALL
Clearview at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
Nike Elite Meet, Delsea

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20
BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove
Salem Tech at Wildwood Catholic
Schalick at Collingswood
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Salem
Schalick at Middle Twp.
Atlantic Tech at Woodstown, 4:15 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Timber Creek at Woodstown

THURSDAY, MAY 21
BASEBALL
Mainland at Pennsville
Salem Tech at Gloucester County Christian
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Kingsway
Salem Tech at Camden Co. Tech

On the money

Schalick smacks Mainland to clinch top seed in SJ Group I playoffs, Hartley throws complete game, Sepers gets his 100th career hit; includes scores and highlights from Friday’s Salem County sports calendar

BASEBALLSOFTBALLTENNIS
Schalick 10, Mainland 4Clearview 9, Pennsville 7Overbrook 3, Woodstown 2
Woodstown 4, Oakcrest 1Salem 12, Bridgeton 1BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Camden Academy 13, Salem Tech 9Camden Academy at Salem TechTriton at Salem Tech
GIRLS LACROSSE
Paul VI 21, Woodstown 8

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – When Evan Sepers contemplated what the 100th hit of his high school career might look like, he usually thought of it being some kind of hard liner into the outfield or something even more majestic. Something more along the lines of the 101st hit he got in his second at bat Friday.

Years from now they’ll remember it as a frozen rope, but truth be told the milestone hit didn’t make it to the pitcher’s mound.

The Schalick senior got his 100th career hit in the first inning of the Cougars’ 10-4 win over Mainland that ostensibly earned them the No. 1 seed in the upcoming South Jersey Group I baseball playoffs for the first time.

It was a two-strike chopper in front of the plate that rolled into the no-man’s land between the pitcher and catcher and he beat it out without a throw for a single. To take a phrase straight from the golf course, they don’t ask you how, they just ask how many.

“I saw when it hit the ground it jumped into fair play so I just put my head down and started running,” Sepers said. “I saw the first baseman just kind of drop his arm as if he wasn’t going to catch a baseball. I didn’t know whether or not the catcher bobbled it or it went foul. It was just kind of wildin’ all over the place.

“I was hoping it was going to be a line drive, maybe an RBI single or maybe if I got lucky got hold of one and hit one out – that would’ve been the ideal hit for 100 – but I’m just glad I hit 100. That’s something I set my mind on since the start of the season. I knew the number (to reach it) was going to be big. The most hits I’ve had in a season before this was 31 last year. I’m just thrilled that I hit 100. It’s something I’ve had my mindset on since I walked in here as a freshman and hitting it is just like a dream come true.”

Sepers’ second hit was a more like he dreamed the first one would be. He ripped a solid single into right field. He went 2-for-3 in the game and is now working on a 10-game hitting streak in which he’s batting .548 (17-for-31). 

He reached his milestone hit in 240 career at-bats. Cougars coach Sean O’Brien, who described Sepers as “one of our best pure hitters,” said the RCSJ-Cumberland signee would’ve gotten to the number sooner had he not been injured (and limited to 21 at-bats) his sophomore year.

Next up on the Cougars’ 100-hit watch is catcher Ricky Watt. He needs five for the milestone after going 1-for-2 against the Mustangs to extend his hitting streak to eight games.
Both of Sepers’ hits were part of four-run innings that staked the Cougars to an early 8-0 lead. It was such a dominating start, all nine spots in their order had reached base at least once through 19 batters.

Bo Schalick had RBI singles in each of the first two innings – the first one scoring Sepers – and had a two-run single in his third at-bat to give the Cougars a 10-2 lead after three innings. Dante Zappala kept the Cougars off the board over the last three innings to give the Mustangs a chance to get back in it, but Schalick right-hander Cole Hartley proved too tough to solve.

The Cougars (16-6) caught the Group 3 Mustangs (14-8) ripe for the picking. Mainland was coming off a win over St. Augustine Prep the day before and was playing its fourth game in as many days, but coach Billy Kern wasn’t making any excuses.

“They’re young, they play a lot of games all the time, doubleheaders, things like that,” he said. “No excuses. We just kind of no-showed the first inning or two. They’re a good team, (you) can’t fall behind like that or else you’re going to pay the price like we did.

“We didn’t come out throwing strikes, fell behind, pitch count got high right away and offensively we started pressing a little bit. Tried to do too much a little bit too early, but again, no excuses. Give credit to their pitcher. He threw a fantastic game.”

Hartley pitched what he called “my best game overall.” He threw a complete game, giving up four hits and striking out six, and in the two innings the Mustangs did get something going he got through it with a minimal amount of damage.

Hartley went into the seventh inning 15 pitches under his limit. O’Brien wanted to give him every chance to finish and the pitcher responded to the trust by quickly retiring the Mustangs on three fly balls.

“I knew I had to go against a tough team today and I was feeling it and I wanted to dominate,” Hartley said. “I went against Clearview a couple weeks ago and I started off good, four scoreless and one hit, but I lost it in the fifth inning and I was like I’m not letting that happen today. I was going to go the full distance and get us the No. 1 seed for sure.”

The Cougars went into the game on top of the South Jersey Group I power points standings. A win over an elite Group 3 team on the next to last day before the cutoff will make it virtually impossible to be overtaken.

“We knew if we could secure a win today it would guarantee (the No. 1),” O’Brien said. “There was no guessing. We don’t need other people’s help. We were going to take care of business ourselves. 

“We really just wanted to come here and be competitive and play well. We’ve played well against good teams like this but we haven’t pushed through yet, so it was really good to push through against one of those top teams. We’ve hung around with those other teams but we just kind of came up short, so it was good to actually push through.”

Mainland0022000-441
Schalick442000x-1071
WP: Cole Hartley. LP: Ryan Bradly. 3B: Ryan Bradly (M).

WOODSTOWN 4, OAKCREST 1: Luke Fraley hit his third homer of the season and two pitchers gave up four hits and an unearned runs in the Wolverines’ third straight victory. Ty Coblentz and Tommy Tucci each had two hits for Woodstown (15-8)

CAMDEN ACADEMY CHARTER 13, SALEM TECH 9: The Cougars pulled away from a one-run game with six runs in the home fifth, sending Salem Tech to its fourth straight loss. Jorge Rodriguez’ bases-loaded, two-run single got the bigger inning started. The Chargers had 11 hits, with Chase Pompper, Cole Sacks, Logan Hearn and Brayden McAllister having two apiece.

Schalick senior Evan Sepers follows through on his high chopper in front of the plate that became his 100th career hit Friday against Mainland. The ball is the white spot at the top of the fence.

Softball

SALEM 12, BRIDGETON 1: Avah Brown pitched a five-inning no-hitter with 14 strikeouts to help the Rams (2-16) snap a 13-game losing streak. Isla Bohn had two hits and Xiomara Cano-Merced and Jaylynn Dickerson each drove in a pair of runs. The Rams broke the game open with a seven-run fourth inning.

CLEARVIEW 9, PENNSVILLE 7: Ella Redheffer’s RBI double in the sixth snapped a 6-6 tie and Ava D’Alessandro singled home and insurance run before the inning was over to lift the Pioneers (15-7). D’Alessandro went 4-for-4 and Redheffer had three hits and drove in a pair of runs Lily Edwards had three hits and Avery Watson had three hits apiece for the Eagles (13-6). Edwards also drove in three runs.

Girls Lacrosse

PAUL VI 21, WOODSTOWN 8: Emma McCarthy scored a career-high nine goals to move within three of 300 for her career to lead Paul VI (9-6). Delaney Walker (221) and Emma Morgan (124) each scored three goals for Woodstown (7-7)


Thursday sports report

Here are scores and highlights from Thursday’s Salem County sports calendar

BASEBALL
Pennsville 7, GCIT 2: Grady Sanders’ two-run double capped a four-run fifth inning that gave the Eagles a 6-2 lead and control of the game. Logan Cowperthwait and Jeff Wagner broke a 2-2 tie with an RBI single and Logan Cowperthwait singled home a run a few batters later before Sanders’ game-breaking hit. Mason O’Brien threw a complete game, holding the Cheetahs to three hits and striking out eight.

“We’re playing confident baseball right now, that’s all we can ask for,” said Pennsville coach Matt Karr, whose team is 6-2 in the month of May. “Just keep playing really good competition and get ready for playoffs.”

Clayton 16, Salem Tech 11: The Clippers took control with 11 runs over the fifth and sixth innings. Kevin Mosley hit a game-tying homer in the fifth and Jameson Emerle hit a two-run homer in the sixth. Mosley and Jaiden Keller drove in four runs apiece. Daulton Sites had three hits and two RBIs for the Chargers. Cole Sacks and Logan Hearn had two hits apiece.

SOFTBALL
Woodstown 6, Glassboro 4: Leah Clark turns back Glassboro in seventh, Ellie Wygand homers, but denied her 100th career hit; separate story posting soon.
Delran 7, Schalick 1: Chloe Carucci’s two-run homer capped a four-run third inning and Mary Masterson held the Cougars to four hits and struck out 10. Kassady Sickler gave Schalick a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the second.
Bridgeton at Salem Tech

GOLF
Woodstown 159, Overbrook 184: Woodstown’s Nate Valente shot 1-over 37 to win low medalist at Kresson GC. Teammate Alejandro Vazquez was a shot back.

GIRLS GOLF
Schalick 165, Delsea 182: Schalick’s Lena Virga and Delsea’s Claudia Bui shared medalist honors (40) at Washington Twp. Municipal.

BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown 12, Timber Creek 2: Bryce Downer records his 700th career save, Wolverines win fourth straight; separate story posting soon.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Riverside at Salem Tech

TENNIS
Pennsville 4, Burlington Twp. 1: The Eagles’ No. 1 doubles team of Coen Rinnier and Jacob Cheeseman won their 13th match in a row. No 2 singles Lucas Cooksey has won 14 straight.

PENNSVILLE 4, BURLINGTON TWP. 1
Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Adam Mortaja, 6-1, 6-3
Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Jay Patel, 6-0, 6-1
Caleb Shin (BT) def. Carter Willis, 7-5, 6-2
Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Prabhnoor Ghotra-Taylor Lahr-Tirado, 6-3, 6-2
Lucas Thomas-Ian Peacock (P) def. Vincent Contrati-Ashan Wickamanyake, 6-0, 6-2.
Records: Pennsville 16-6, Burlington Twp. 10-9.

Woodstown senior Bryce Downer (20) and lacrosse coach Bryan Sperry celebrate the goalie surpassing 700 career saves in Thursday’s win over Timber Creek.

Big day for Eagles

Pennsville softball players set two milestones in bounce-back win over Gloucester Catholic; Woodstown’s Wygand, Schalick’s Sepers, Watt closing in on 100 hits; also includes scores, details from Wednesday’s Salem County sports schedule

SOFTBALL
Pennsville 6, Gloucester Catholic 3
Schalick 10, Glassboro 8
Wildwood 10, Salem 0
Woodstown 17, Penns Grove 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLOUCESTER – It was a milestone day for the players on the Pennsville softball team. Lily Edwards scored her 100th career run for the first run of the game and Graillyn Weber hit a pair of doubles to set the school’s single-season record as the Eagles bounced back from a bad loss to Millville the day before and topped Gloucester Catholic 6-3 to move within one win of an undefeated division season.

Edwards led off the game with a double and scored her milestone run on Weber’s 16th double of the season, breaking the record Kylie Harris set each of the last two years. Weber’s second double of the game came leading off the third inning and she later scored a game-tying run on a single by Avery Watson.

“I’m really happy about it and honestly I had forgotten before the game about the record, which definitely made it easier to accomplish because I wasn’t really thinking about it,” Weber said. “But I couldn’t have done it without my teammates because we had a great game.”

Weber may have forgotten about the record she was chasing, but Edwards had been counting down the runs and the 100 hits she’s closing on for the last couple weeks.

“For me it’s big because I missed my whole sophomore season (with a broken back) so just to accomplish something like that, that big, means a lot to me,” she said. “I definitely was looking for it. I knew it was going to happen. With Gray (Weber) and Kylie (Harris) behind me I knew I was going to get it, but I knew I needed to run really fast.”

It takes a lot of success at the plate to score 100 runs. She’s scored all those runs off 89 hits, 17 walks, eight HBPs and a couple of fielder’s choices. It’s not certain how many times she’s reached on an error. She’s scored in every game but two this year, and one of those was a shutout the third game of the season.

“My 100 hits is my main goal for high school softball,” she said. “You don’t get that recognition like travel ball or anything, but high school is the time to do it. It’s going to really nice to get it, hopefully.”

The Eagles came from behind twice to beat the Rams for the second time this season. They trailed 2-1 in the first inning and 3-2 in the fourth before scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead for good. Harris hit the go-ahead RBI triple, Watson followed with an RBI single and Kelsey Cook delivered a run-scoring ground out later in the inning. Weber pitched a scoreless seventh to wrap up a complete-game victory.

Watson, the Eagles’ senior shortstop and clean-up hitter, went 4-for-4 in the game. She also had a single in the first, a single in the fifth and another RBI single in the seventh.

“The game was important to us as a division game and I wanted to help be the fuel we needed to pick up the team after a tough loss the day before,” Watson said. “I have plenty of long at-bats where I’m looking to find my perfect pitch and fouling off what I don’t like, and that’s what I did today. I found a good mix of patience and aggression at the plate that helped contribute to our win.”

The Eagles (13-5) can complete an undefeated run through the TCC Classic Division with a win at Salem Monday.

WOODSTOWN 17, PENNS GROVE 0: Ellie Wygand went 4-for-4 with two RBIs, Lexi Taylor was 2-for-2 with three RBIs, Grace Hitchner drove in three runs and three Woodstown pitchers combined on a four-inning no-hitter.

SCHALICK 10, GLASSBORO 8: Khloe McGrath’s three-run homer gave Schalick the lead and highlighted a seven-run fourth inning that erased a 5-1 deficit. The win completed the Cougars’ first undefeated run in the Diamond Division since 2021.

WILDWOOD 19, SALEM 0: Emma Contreras went 4-for-4 with four four RBIs and pitched a four-inning one-hitter, facing one batter over the minimum. Julliana Love had the Rams’ hit, a leadoff single in the second inning.

BASEBALL
Schalick 13, Glassboro 3
Vineland 12, Pennsville 9
Woodstown 12, Penns Grove 0
Wildwood 17, Salem 7

SCHALICK 13, GLASSBORO 3: The Cougars erased a 2-1 deficit with 10 runs in the third inning and sealed up back-to-back division titles for the first time in school history. Jamari Whitley and Evan Glaspey had three hits apiece, Evan Sepers had three RBIs and Whitley struck out nine in a five-inning complete game. Sepers (99) and Ricky Watt (94) are closing in on 100 career hits.

WOODSTOWN 12, PENNS GROVE 0: Luke Fraley went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs, Walker Battavio went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and Colton Williams pitched a five-inning one-hitter striking out seven. Josh Widen had the Red Devils’ lone hit.

WILDWOOD 17, SALEM 7: The Warriors were out front 15-0 to offset Salem’s seven-run outburst in the fourth. Trevor Troiano went 4-for-4 with five RBIs and is 8-for-8 with seven RBIs against Salem County foes the last two days. He’s 10-for-13 in his last three games overall. Jovanni Rios hit a three-run triple in the Rams’ big inning and was out at plate trying to stretch it into a homer.

VINELAND 12, PENNSVILLE 9: The Eagles trailed 9-2 after two innings, but battled back and brought the tying run to the plate in a seventh-inning rally but ran out of steam. Logan Streitz went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Mason O’Brien and Dante Cummings had two hits apiece.

VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Timber Creek

TENNIS
Delsea 3, Woodstown 2
Pennsville 3, Pitman 2

DELSEA 3, WOODSTOWN 2
Zeph Kell (D) def. Drew Stengel, 6-3, 6-0
Eli Croce (D) def. Mason Shimp, 7-5, 6-2
Zach Natalie (D) def. Luke Shaw, 6-1, 6-3
Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Jacob Bramble-Jude Thompson, 6-3, 6-4
Josh King-Connor Miller (WO) def. Seth Bui-Thomas Maronski, 6-0, 6-2
Records: Delsea 17-2, Woodstown 12-7

PENNSVILLE 3, PITMAN 2
Nolan Russell (PI) def. Sawyer Humphrey, 6-4, 6-2
Lucas Cooksey (PV) def. Liam Etter, 6-0, 6-1
Ben Williams (PI) def. Carter Willis, 6-3, 6-3
Jacob Cheeseman-Coen Rinnier (PV) def. Spencer Bianchini-Jonah Raymer, 6-4, 6-4
Matthew Forino-Lucas Thomas (PV) def. Ayden Epley-Ezra Ralph, 6-1, 6-0
Records: Pennsville 15-6, Pitman 13-7

Scrappy baseball

Pennsville uses grit, luck to get past Glassboro; includes scores, details from Tuesday’s Salem County sports calendar

BASEBALL
Pennsville 4, Glassboro 1: Eagles take lead with four in fortuitous fifth inning; full story below..
Wildwood 12, Penns Grove 2: Trevor Troiano goes 4-for-4; Wildwood holds Penns Grove to one hit through five innings while opening 7-0 lead. Bristol Scott, Tim Zamorano drove in Penns Grove’s runs in sixth.
Piscataway Magnet 15, Salem Tech 7: NJTAC Group 1/2 Tournament semifinals. Chargers led early, but Piscataway (21-2) pulled away from a 9-7 game with six in home sixth..
SOFTBALL
Woodstown 11, Deptford 1: Karly Spears and Macie Moore combine for four hits, four runs and three RBIs from bottom of Wolverines’ lineup. Leah Clark allows two hits, none after the first inning, and struck out eight to surpass 200 in her career (201).
Millville 16, Pennsville 2: Thunderbolts put Eagles back on their heels with seven in top of the first inning. Pennsville’s Graillyn Weber ties Kylie Harris’ single-season school doubles record (15), Harris hits her 49th career double.
Buena 12, Salem Tech 11: Chiefs score three runs on passed balls in home seventh to walk it off. Izzy Roberts had three hits and Carmen Mott three RBIs for the Chargers
GOLF
Schalick 161, Cumberland 196: Schalick’s Anthony Sepers posts 2-over 38 at Centerton CC for medalist honors. Teammate Jaxson Weber shot 39.
GIRLS GOLF
OLMA 214, Schalick 225: OLMA’s Eva Acerba and Schalick’s Lena Virga shared medalist honors (48) at Centerton CC
TENNIS
Middle Twp. 5, Schalick 0: See below
Pennsville 4, Washington Twp. 1: See below
GIRLS LACROSSE
Holy Cross 13, Woodstown 12: The Lancers scored twice in the final 1:31 to win. Caroline Tobin and Brielle Mosteller scored six goals each for Holy Cross. Delaney Walker scored four (217) for Woodstown, Emma Morgan scored three for her 200th career point.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Middle Twp.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at West Tech

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – At least one time every year Pennsville’s home field becomes a true advantage to play at home.

It certainly was Tuesday when the skin infield of Ed Rieger Field that the Eagles have come to love played a key role in the inning that propelled them to a 4-1 come-from-behind victory over Glassboro.

The game carried some serious implications for the South Jersey Group i playoff bracket and it very much played like a playoff game. The Eagles trailed 1-0 going to the home fifth of a tight pitching duel between aces Jude Dempster and Gavin Spears, but they came out of the inning with a 4-1 lead thanks in part of the subtleties of the infield. 

The inning started when Spears reached on a one-out dropped third strike and escalated into a bases-loaded situation on Mason O’Brien’s single and Jeff Wagner getting hit by a pitch. Logan Streitz followed with a fly ball to the gap in left center that centerfielder Jimmy McMahon had in his glove and couldn’t hold allowing the tying run to score.

With the bases still loaded, Stevie Fatcher lofted a high pop behind first that was circled under by first baseman Aidan Evangelisti but eventually fell between three fielders. The Bulldogs thought it should have been an infield fly rule out, but the umpires didn’t see it that way and the Eagles had a 2-1 lead.

Then came the play that makes the skin infield both feared and famous. Grady Sanders hit a routine grounder to the right side. It looked like it would be the third out of the inning, but at the last instant it took a wicked hop into second baseman Kody Harrell’s upper body. The sophomore infielder recovered the ball, but in his haste to get the out his throw to first was wide and two insurance runs raced home.

“We’ve been talking a lot lately about just finding a way,” Eagles coach Matt Karr said. “Ugly, pretty, whatever, just find a way. And that starts with just putting the ball in play and doing your job. Heads up play there by Gavin. Instead of standing there feeling sorry for himself he finds his way on base. Everything we’ve been preaching this season and always here, just give the guy behind you a shot. Whatever your job is at the moment go to the plate and do it and trust that the guy behind you is gonna pick you up and finish it off.

“Another thing I talk about all the time is luck. I really believe that part of the baseball game is creating some of your own luck. Some of those things that happened that inning, we had to put ourselves in situations for it to be capitalized on. Could’ve been nobody on and that pop up happens and falls and doesn’t mean anything. but we had guys on and we were fighting, so we created our luck in that situation. When you’re facing a pitcher like (Dempster) you have to almost ugly it up a little bit, fight, claw and find a way.”

Spears calls it “scrappy baseball … that’s what we symbolize around here.”

A similar scenario took place here 51 weeks ago when the Eagles scored a one-run extra-inning victory over Pitman. They fell behind that day 1-0 in the first, tied it in the seventh on a ball that got away from the catcher and won in it the eighth with the help of two fielding errors by two normally sure-handed infielders.

“We’re becoming one of the far and few between fields where it’s a skin infield; I don’t know how many of them are left in South Jersey, I would guess not many,” Karr said. “Here, as dry as the weather’s been, this field hardens up and our guys get the luxury of practicing and playing on it every single day. We were watching them take I/O and I told the guys, half-heartedly joking, Ed Rieger’s hardening up, you know what that means. Put ‘er in play and see what happens. It always finds a way. We love the home-field advantage.”

“This field is probably the worst I’ve ever seen in my life,” Sanders said. “On this infield, there’s been many black eyes that I’ve seen; I got hit over the forehead last year. Especially over there (waving to the right side), that’s one of the hardest spots in the infield. It’s great to play here. This is the most challenging place to play. Everywhere else feels like a joy ride. I love playing here. It makes me a better defender. It makes everybody here a better defender.”

“Basically anything that’s hit hard on the ground (is) guaranteed a base hit here,” Spears said. “It’s not the best place to play but for us I’d say it is. Any team coming in here is going to have a hard time fielding the ball. We get to work out here every single day, so we’re kind of used to it. This is just our home.”

Once the Eagles grabbed the lead, Spears had to go out and defend it. He went out and gave them a shutdown sixth, working the corners to retire the Bulldogs on a soft liner to second and two strikeouts. He allowed five hits and struck out eight in going the distance for his longest outing of the season. The Bulldogs scored their run in the first inning – on back-to-back walks to open the game, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly – then were blanked the rest of the game.

“We went up to Cherry Hill West for the Diamond Classic and threw him out there against one of the top teams in the state and he went out and battled his butt off,” Karr said. “We told the boys after the game I don’t know if you guys knew that we needed an ace or had an ace, but you’ve got a guy. We know when 10 toes the rubber we’re going to have a shot to win. Every start he’s been on the mound we’ve been right there or we’ve won. Our guys feel that. When they’ve got their guy on the mound they come out feeling different that day. He gives us that shot in the arm.”

“I never really considered myself an ace; I always feel like there’s things to work on, even in this game,” Spears said. “It’s good to know they have trust in me. I know my fielders have my back. I know they’re going to make every play that’s out there.”

Dempster was equally impressive for the Bulldogs. He held the Eagles to four hits over five innings and struck out 11.

The win allowed the Eagles to switch places with Glassboro in the SJ Group I power points standings. Glassboro was sixth and Pennsville seventh to start the day, but they flipped after the game. Schalick is No. 1, Woodstown No. 3. The power point window closes after Saturday’s games.

Glassboro1000000-153
Pennsville000040x-452
WP: Gavin Spears. LP: Jude Dempster. 2B: Brennan Crosbee (G).

SJ GROUP 1 POWER POINTS STANDINGS
Top 16 through May 12
1. Schalick (14-6), 2. Haddon Twp. (12-8), 3. Woodstown (13-8), 4. Wildwood (15-7), 5. Maple Shade (11-8), 6. Pennsville (12-6), 7. Glassboro (9-11), 8. Audubon (8-9), 9. Buena (10-10), 10. Gateway (11-8), 11. Paulsboro (5-13), 12. Riverside (6-10), 13. Pitman (7-12), 14. LEAP (8-9), 15. Cape May Tech (5-12), 16. Palmyra (4-12).
On the bubble: Clayton (5-11), Burlington City (5-8), Penns Grove (3-13).

TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 4, WASHINGTON TWP. 1

William Minchin (WT) def. Sawyer Humphrey, 6-2, 6-3
Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Steven Pisano, 6-3, 6-4
Carter Willis (P) def. Aaron Negin, 6-1, 6-3
Coen Rinner-Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Josh To-Leo Yang, 6-3, 6-3
Lucas Thomas-Matthew Forino (P) def. Ben Steinberg-Ravi Patel, 6-3, 6-3
Records: Pennsville 14-6, Washington Twp. 5-13.

MIDDLE TWP. 5, SCHALICK 0
Michael Ratchford (MT) def. Gabe McFeeley, 6-0, 6-2
Miles Stafford (MT) def. Reece Loatman, 6-0, 6-3
Michael Zuzulock (MT) def. Tyr Brattlie, 6-1, 6-2
Kenny Martin-Dante Duca (MT) def. Cooper Halperin-Jack Genievich, 6-2, 6-2
Dylan Jenkins-MJ Murnagham (MT) def. Angelo Boston-Gavin McGrath, 6-2, 6-0
Records: Middle Twp. 17-1, Schalick 7-10.

Monday sports report

Here are the scores and details from games on Monday’s Salem County sports calendar

BASEBALL
Woodstown 3, Clayton 1: Chase Harding scored on a passed ball with Ty Coblentz batting to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead and Coblentz completed the at-bat with a sacrifice fly. Three Woodstown pitchers scattered five hits and struck out 11.
Schalick 19, Salem 0: Mason Sanchez went 2-for-2 and pitched the first two shutout innings with five strikeouts. Cole Hartley had three RBIs.

SOFTBALL
Deptford 8, Salem Tech 6: Molly Bulger and Soph McGuire (3 RBIs) both went 4-for-4 for the Spartans
Woodstown 5, Clayton 1: Talia Guardascione singled home the first run in a four-run first inning that got Woodstown going.
Pennsville 7, Glassboro 4: Kylie Harris’s leadoff homer broke a 4-4 tie and kicked off a three-run eighth inning for Pennsville. Savannah Guglielmo threw two innings of no-hit relief for the win. Lily Edwards scored her 99th career run.
Schalick 6, Salem 0: The Cougars won for the second time this year at the Elmer LL complex.

GIRLS GOLF
Williamstown 195, Schalick 206: Williamstown’s Kaci Adams was medalist (45). Cali Fisler posted the low round for Schalick (48)

VOLLEYBALL
Washington Twp. 2, Salem Tech 0: 25-7, 25-8

GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown 16, Triton 3: Delaney Walker (5 goals) now at 213

BOYS LACROSSE
Millville at Woodstown

TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 5, SCHALICK 0
Sawyer Humphrey (P) def. Gabe McFeeley, 6-0, 6-0
Lucas Cooksey (P) def. Reece Loatman, 6-1, 6-0
Carter Willis (P) def. Tyr Brattlie, 6-1, 6-0
Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman (P) def. Cooper Halperin-Jack Genievich, 6-0, 6-0
Ian Peacock-Lucas Thomas (P) def. Angelo Boston-Gavin McGrath, 7-5, 6-0
Records: Schalick 6-8, Pennsville 12-6

WOODSTOWN 5, TIMBER CREEK 0
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Kyle Clark Blanding, 6-4, 6-1
Luke Shaw (WO) def. Derek Sarpong, 6-1, 6-1
Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Adam He, 6-1, 6-3
Vincent Merendino-Josef Hummel (WO) def. Gabriel Castro-Keenan King, 6-0, 6-0
Josh King-John Hood-McGinley (WO) def. Stephen Fehon-Shawn Allen, 6-1, 6-1
Records: Woodstown 12-6, Timber Creek 3-11

Pitman at Penns Grove

TRACK
SPARTAN SPRINT NIGHT
GIRLS

4×100: 1. Kingsway 47.98
400: 1. Noemi Haller, Kingsway 55.72
100 Hurdles: 1. Nyla Jackmon-Smith, Clearview 14.62
100: 1. Talia Griscom, Kingsway 12.22
800: 1. Savannah Freeland, Camden Catholic 2:21.07
400 Hurdles: 1. Kenya Nobles, Kingsway 1:05.05
200: NiaLeila Cuascut, Washington Twp. 25.69

BOYS
4×100: 1. Cherry Hill West 42.94
400: 1. Elijah Capra, Highland 48.72
110 Hurdles: 1. Jasiah Gibbons, Williamstown 14.48
100: 1. Joshua George-Oyewole, Williamstown 10.94
800: 1. Zacchaeus Harrigan, Glassboro 1:58.01
400 Hurdles: 1. Zacchaeus Harrigan, Glassboro 56.44
200: 1. Micah Brown, Washington Twp. 22.67

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of May 11-16; all events start at 4 p.m. unless noted

MONDAY, MAY 11
BASEBALL
Schalick at Salem
Woodstown at Clayton
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Woodstown
Pennsville at Glassboro
Salem vs. Schalick, Elmer LL, 6 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
Schalick vs. Williamstown, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Washington Twp., 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Triton
BOYS LACROSSE
Millville at Woodstown
TRACK
Woodstown in Deptford Invitational
TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Timber Creek, 3:45 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove

TUESDAY, MAY 12
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Salem Tech at Piscataway Magnet (NJTAC)
SOFTBALL
Deptford at Woodstown
Millville at Pennsville
Salem Tech at Buena, 3:45 p.m.
Wildwood at Penns Grove
GOLF
Woodstown vs. Lower Cape May, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
Schalick vs. OLMA, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Middle Twp. at Schalick, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Timber Creek, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Washington Twp.
TRACK
Woodstown at West Deptford, 5 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at BCIT, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Holy Cross at Woodstown
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Middle Twp., 4:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Salem at Wildwood
Pennsville at Vineland, 7 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Glassboro
Wildwood at Salem
Woodstown at Penns Grove
GOLF
Schalick vs. Delsea, White Oaks CC, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
Schalick vs. OLMA, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Middle Twp., 4:15 p.m.
TENNIS
Delsea at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick
TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Timber Creek

THURSDAY, MAY 14
BASEBALL
Clayton at Salem Tech
GCIT at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Bridgeton at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Glassboro
Delran at Schalick, 4:15 p.m.
GOLF
Woodstown vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:30 p.mm.
GIRLS GOLF
Schalick vs. Delsea, White Oaks CC, 3:30 p.m.
TENNIS
Delsea at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Burlington Twp. at Pennsville
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Timber Creek
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Riverside at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 15
BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove
Mainland at Schalick
Oakcrest at Woodstown
Salem Tech at Camden Academy Charter
SOFTBALL
Bridgeton at Salem
Camden Academy Charter at Salem Tech
Clearview at Pennsville
Delran at Schalick, 4:15 p.m.
BOYS GOLF
Woodstown vs. Overbrook, Kresson GC, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
Schalick vs. Delsea, White Oaks CC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Triton at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Timber Creek
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Paul VI, 6 p.m.
TENNIS
Overbrook at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals

SATURDAY, MAY 16
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Cedar Creek, 11 a.m.
Woodstown at Buena, noon
Oakcrest at Woodstown
Penns Grove at LEAP
SOFTBALL
Bridgeton at Salem
Clearview at Pennsville
LEAP at Penns Grove
TENNIS
Overbrook at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Pitman
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Triton at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Camden Catholic, 11 a.m.
TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals

Friday sports report

Here are the scores and highlights from Friday night’s Salem County sports calendar; includes Saturday’s schedule

FRIDAY’S GAMES
SOFTBALL
CLEARVIEW 11, SCHALICK 4: Sienna Garrison hit her eighth homer of the season and Ella Redheffer homered twice as Clearview rallied from a 4-0 deficit. Garrison’s three-run homer in fourth inning put the Pioneers (13-5) ahead 6-4. Redheffer’s first homer got them on the board in the third and her second gave them an 8-4 lead. Khloe McGrath had three hits for the Cougars (11-4). Emma Cain had two.

DEPTFORD 16, SALEM 6: The Spartans (7-11) broke it open with a 10-run third inning. Teyla Solimon had a two-run single and bases-loaded walk in the big inning. Solimon, Brooke White and Sophie McGuire all had three RBIs in the game.

TENNIS
PITMAN 4, SCHALICK 1
Records:
Schalick 6-8, Pitman 12-6

MIDDLE TWP. 5, WOODSTOWN 0
Michael Ratchford (M) def. Drew Stengel, 7-5, 6-4
Miles Stafford (M) def. Mason Shimp, 6-1, 6-0
Darp Patel (M) def. Luke Shaw, 6-1, 6-1
Kenny Martin-Dante Duca (M) def. Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro, 6-1, 6-4
Michael Zuzulock-MJ Murnagham (M) def. Connor Miller-Josh King, 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 10-8
Records: Woodstown 11-6, Middle Twp. 16-1

COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region XIX Tournament
Camden 12-6, RCSJ-Cumberland 2-5, Camden wins series 2-0
Middlesex 11-14, Northampton 6-4, Middlesex wins series 2-0
RCSJ-Gloucester 10-13, Montgomery 2-1, RCSJ-G wins series 2-0


SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
BASEBALL
Lee Ware Tournament, Woodstown
Woodstown vs. Camden Catholic, 10 a.m.
Cherry Hill East vs. Washington Twp., 10 a.m.
Consolation game, 1 p.m.
Championship game, 1 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Fred Powell Invitational, Williamstown
Woodstown vs. Williamstown, 9 a.m.
Mainland vs. Cumberland, 9 a.m.
Cherry Hill East vs. Absegami, 9 a.m.
Moorestown vs. Cedar Creek, 9 a.m.
Woodstown vs. Mainland or Cumberland, 11:30 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region XIX Tournament
Salem CC at Brookdale (2), 11 a.m.

It’s clinching season

Softball, baseball teams from Pennsville, Schalick all clinch pieces of Tri-County division titles with wins around the region; Woodstown baseball gives DeCastro 100th career win

BASEBALL
Clayton 20, Salem 14
Woodstown 9, Overbrook 3
Pennsville 5, Wildwood: 3
Schalick 27, Penns Grove 4
SOFTBALL
Clayton 17, Salem 6
Schalick 20, Penns Grove 2
Woodstown 13, Overbrook 6
Pennsville 12, Wildwood 6
TENNIS
Pennsville 4, GCIT 1
Williamstown 3, Penns Grove 2

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — The biggest rule in playing sports is always be ready because you never know when your number will be called. If that’s the golden rule, the silver rule is control what you can control … and if you happen to get some outside help along the way that’s, well, gravy.

Pennsville softball followed both rules to the letter Thursday in beating Wildwood 12-6 to clinch their third straight Tri-County Classic Division title and second straight outright.

The Eagles (11-4, 8-0 Classic) went into the day with a chance to clinch the division by beating the Warriors and a Pitman win over Gloucester Catholic. Both results happened, giving the Eagles a three-game lead in the loss column with two division games to play, but the only game the Eagles worried about was the one right in front of their dugout.

“I wasn’t really paying attention who was playing what; I didn’t say anything to them about it,” Eagles coach Beth Jackson said. “We talk about the controllables. You can only take care of yourself individually and how you react and what you do. I’ve been telling myself that a lot. In life you can only control what you can do. You can’t control anybody else. You can’t control the strike zone. You can’t control what the other team does. You have to focus on you and what you can do and at the of the day we have to focus on what we do and what they do as a team.

“Help always helps, but first and foremost you have to take care of business with your own and then if there’s other help that’s great. But if you can take care of business yourself that’s your main focus because you want to take care of it yourself.”

Graillyn Weber was scheduled to start in the circle for the Eagles, but she felt too sore to be effective and 10 minutes before first pitch Savannah Guglielmo was moved from left field to the circle and four positions in the lineup shifted. Jackson said it was the first time in her 17 years as coach she can remember making that late a pitching switch. Luckily, all three Pennsville pitchers warm up before games for just such a contingency.

It was Guglielmo’s fourth career start and third this year, but first in such a significant game. The sophomore right-hander went all seven innings, giving up five hits, walking six and tying a career-high with nine strikeouts. Jackson said she did a “nice job.”

“I knew she could do it,” Weber said.

“When I’m warming up I’m always trying to make sure I’m focused just in case something happens like one of these moments, last minute,” she said. “I always try to set goals for myself during a game especially things last minute. Today it was make sure I throw strikes. I just tried to stay calm and into the game.”

Of course, it’s a lot easier to pitch when you have the kind of lineup Pennsville puts on the field. Virtually every time the Warriors scored, the Eagles came back the next half inning to put up a crooked number.

The Warriors scored a run in the second to tie the game 1-1, the Eagles put up four in the bottom of the inning. The Warriors got two in the fourth to make it 5-4, the Eagles got them back when they came in to bat. They eventually broke it open with four in the fifth after their first five hitters all reached safely.

Although she didn’t pitch, Weber still played — at short, moving Avery Watson to third – and came within an extra Wheatie at breakfast of hitting three balls out of the park. She still had a pair of doubles to the warning track that drove in three runs. “I do that all the time,” she said. “I need to start doing pushups or squats or something.”

Kylie Harris had three hits, including a solo homer in the first inning and her 48th career double. Kelsey Cook had two hits at the bottom of the lineup.

“I’m honestly never worried,” Guglielmo said. “I feel like you just have to have confidence throughout the game. You’ve just gotta stay calm and focus on the game and whatever happens happens. You just have to have confidence in yourself and your teammates.”

Wildwood0112002-654
Pennsville140241x-12123
WP: Savannah Guglielmo. LP: Emma Contreras. 2B: Addison Troiano (W), Lily Edwards (P), Graillyn Weber 2 (P), Kylie Harris (P). HR: Kylie Harris (P).
Sophomore right-hander Savannah Guglielmo threw a seven-inning complete game as Pennsville’s last-minute starting pitcher in the division-clinching game.


WOODSTOWN 13, OVERBROOK 6: Ellie Wygand continued to wield a hot bat for the Wolverines, going 4-for-5 with a three-run homer in the seventh inning. The Wolverines pulled away from a 6-5 lead with four runs in the sixth, highlighted by Kendall Young’s two-run single and a couple RBI ground outs. The top four hitters in the Woodstown lineup – Wygand, Talia Guardascione, Leah Clark and Young – were a combined 11-for-19 with eight RBIs. Madison LaPalomento drove in three runs from the 5-hole.

SCHALICK 20, PENNS GROVE 2: The Cougars scored nine runs in the first inning and went on to clinch their first Diamond Division title since 2021. They put 11 hits together with 11 errors and nine walks to score the win. The Cougars are now 7-0 in the division, hold a two-game lead in the loss column over Woodstown, their closest pursuer, and have one division game remaining. 

CLAYTON 17, SALEM 6: Gabrielle Searle had three hits and three RBIs and Lana Kastrava struck out 10 from the circle to lead the Clippers. The Rams scored two in the top of the first, but Clayton answered with four in the bottom of the inning and never lost the lead. The Rams cut their deficit to 8-6 in the third, but the Clippers got one back when they came in to bat and then broke it open with six runs in the fifth.

TCC DIAMONDALLDIVTCC CLASSICALLDIV
Schalick11-37-0Pennsville11-48-0
Woodstown9-74-2Pitman13-86-3
Glassboro10-72-3Wildwood8-84-4
Overbrook5-132-6Gloucester Cath7-83-3
Penns Grove1-130-6Clayton5-102-5
Salem1-130-8

Baseball

Woodstown baseball coach Marc DeCastro pours over the data he uses to prepare his Wolverines for a game. DeCastro scored his 100th career coaching win Thursday.

PINE HILL — Woodstown pulled away from a tie game with seven runs in the third inning and four relievers allowed one run and four hits over the final four innings as the Wolverines beat Overbrook 9-3 and handed coach Marc DeCastro his 100th career coaching victory.

To commemorate the feat, the players presented their sixth-year head coach a poster and signed baseball. DeCastro is now 100-60 with a state championship in 2022. Thursday was his third attempt at the milestone win.

“Our kids have said things to me along the way and I kind of had an idea that they wanted to celebrate it some way,” he said. “I said something similar to this before, I don’t particular care about the accomplishment, but I care about the fact that the people that I coach care enough to want to celebrate it. At least that means to me that the relationship I have with them is a good one and one they want to be a part of something like that. Whether it means anything to me is kind of irrelevant. It’s important to them and anything that’s important to them is important to me.”

It wasn’t just another game. The Wolverines needed it to keep alive any hope they had of sharing the TCC Diamond Division title with rival Schalick. They remain one game behind the Cougars with one division game to play.

Luke Fraley had three hits to lead the offense. Noah Williams and Tommy Tucci had two hits apiece, while Walker Battavio and Ty Coblentz both had a pair of RBIs. 

Their big inning started by loading the bases on a walk and two singles. Tucci broke the tie with pop single. The Rams looked like they were going to get out of it, retiring the next two batters, but Chase Harding walked to force in a run, Battavio doubled home two, Luke Fraley singled home another and Coblentz singled home two.

“Even before the seven-run inning I thought every out we made was really good contact,” DeCastro said. “Any time you have a seven-run inning it’s surprising, but with the contact we had in the first and second innings we were going to score eventually, it just so happened we scored in a big bunch. Overall, it was probably one of the better offensive performances that we had.”

Blake Rodriguez worked the first three innings on the mound for Woodstown and gave up four hits, two runs and struck out three. He was followed to the hill by Talyn Priore, Tucci, Drew Sutton and Carter Smathers. 

The milestone adds on to the long-standing DeCastro family coaching legacy. His father was a long-time successful Haddon Heights American Legion baseball coach. His brother Jamie is a 700-game winner in basketball, and brother Greg coached in college. DeCastro credits them all with helping him develop into the coach he has become.

“I’ve learned a lot from the people who came before me,” he said. “My dad coached me my whole life. I was taught how to play the sport from him and then continued to learn as I got older from different people, paying attention to Jamie and learned how he goes about winning, big games and general character-based stuff. There’s a lot that goes on in our family of coaches.”

Photo by Michelle Tucci

PENNSVILLE 5, WILDWOOD 3: The Eagles broke a 2-2 tie with three unearned runs in the fifth inning and Mason O’Brien basically gave them a quality start in relief as they completed a season sweep of the Warriors and clinched their fifth straight Classic Division crown.

The Eagles had runners at first and second with two outs in the fifth, then scored the go-ahead runs on a pair of errors on infield grounders hit by Stevie Fatcher and Logan Cooperthwait. Grady Sanders singled home the third run of the inning.

“It’s a great feeling to accomplish that against a good team on the road,” Pennsville coach Matt Karr said. “Today had a playoff game feel to it and it’s always fun to play in those type of games.”

Both teams scored twice in the first, with Wildwood knocking out Pennsville starter Logan Streitz with two outs. O’Brien put out the first with a strikeout and was unyielding the rest of the way. He pitched the final 6 2/3. scattering five hits, allowing an unearned run and striking out eight while walking only two.

“He pitched lights out,” Karr said. “He had to come in relief earlier than we expected and went the distance.”

SCHALICK 27, PENNS GROVE 4: The Cougars used a dominating performance in their fourth game in as many days to clinch at least a share of their second straight Diamond Division title. They hold a one-game lead over Woodstown with one division game to play.

The Cougars broke on top with nine in the first inning, then erupted for 15 in the second. Ten players had at least one hit, 10 scored at least one run and 11 drove runs home. Jamari Whitley went 3-for-4 with four runs and four RBIs. Ricky Watt had two hits and four RBIs. Evan Glaspey, starting pitcher Will Sieminski and J.T. Fleming all had three RBIs.

The Cougars were playing their fourth game in as many days. They’ve won all four. They were scheduled to play Collingswood Friday before taking on Clearview Saturday in the second round of the Diamond Classic — an MLB like six games in six days — but the game was reschedule for May 20.

CLAYTON 20, SALEM 14: The teams put on a scoring fest over the final three innings to rival their basketball series with the Clippers outscoring the Rams 19-8 over the stretch to win the game. Jaiden Keller and Jameson Emerle drove in five runs apiece for Clayton

The Rams scored all their runs on only three hits, but with the help of 12 walks, 11 hit batsmen and four errors. They got an inside-the-park grand slam in the fifth inning to answer the Clippers’ four runs in the top of the inning and take a 10-5 lead.

TCC DIAMONDALLDIVTCC CLASSICALLDIV
Schalick13-56-1Pennsville11-68-0
Woodstown11-75-2Wildwood13-75-2
Overbrook8-94-4Pitman6-103-4
Glassboro6-103-4Clayton5-102-5
Penns Grove3-120-7Salem0-140-7

Tennis

WILLIAMSTOWN 3, PENNS GROVE 2
Ethan Torres (WI) def. Stuart Mondragon, 6-0, 6-1
Joshua Gailliout (WI) def. Anthony Pacheco, 6-0, 6-0
Sal Everhart (WI) def. Juan Ortiz, 6-3, 6-1
Jesus Arredondo-Doel Torres (PG) def. Ben Passaro-Brett Quintavalle, 6-4, 6-2
Jordan Hernandez-Fernando Palacios Lima (PG) def. Aryan Patel-Ayaan Patel, 6-0, 6-1
Records: Williamstown 5-7, Penns Grove 4-5.

PENNSVILLE 4, GCIT 1
Records:
Pennsville 12-6, GCIT 1-15.

Golf

EGG HARBOR TWP. — Woodstown and Schalick both shot 260 as a team and finished tied for 33rd at the Carl Arena Memorial at Blue Heron Pines GC. Logan Jones shot Woodstown’s low round (83 with two birdies). Seth Fisher was low man for Schalick (82 with two birdies). Mainland won the boys title, while Moorestown won the girls crown.