Category: VOLLEYBALL

Danger, high Wattage

Red-hot Schalick catcher’s walk-off homer in tenth lifts Cougars over Overbrook; includes scores and highlights of Thursday’s Salem County sports action

THURSDAY’S SCORES
BASEBALL
Schalick 11, Overbrook 8, 10 inns.
Pennsville 16, Clayton 2, 5 inns.
Pitman 11, Salem 0, 5 inns.
Pleasantville 10, Penns Grove 0
SOFTBALL
Glassboro 21, Penns Grove 0
Pennsville 18, Clayton 1
Pitman 17, Salem 4
Schalick 13, Overbrook 4
BOYS GOLF
Woodstown 172, Cumberland 210
TENNIS
Delsea 5, Pennsville 0
Overbrook 3, Schalick 2
Timber Creek 3, Penns Grove 2
Woodstown 4, Haddon Heights 1
TRACK
Glassboro 75, Woodstown 66
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Penns Grove
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Triton 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-13, 25-13)
BOYS LACROSSE
Holy Spirit 5, Woodstown 4
GIRLS LACROSSE
Holy Spirit 13, Woodstown 9

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE — It is not “normal baseball” they play when Overbrook and Schalick get together on the diamond, but one thing that is normal is the way Ricky Watt has been delivering for the Cougars this season.

The teams have played some of the craziest games their coaches can remember since they’ve been involved in the series, a series that has had triple plays, big plays, big hits and walk-offs – and they added another crazy chapter to it Thursday.. 

Schalick walked it off 11-8 on Watt’s three-run homer with none out in the bottom of the tenth, but not before Overbrook rallied twice to force extra innings and cut down the game-winning run at the plate to complete a ninth-inning-ending double play to extend the game or the Cougars made two nice plays in the infield late to keep the Rams at bay.

Is that crazy enough for you?

“At our place it’s usually not as crazy, but at their place it’s … never a normal game, let’s put it that way,” Schalick coach Sean O’Brien said. “Luckily we’ve come out on top.

“The games are always tight, especially at their place. It’s always a back and forth. There’s always one team that’s up and the other team comes back. It’s not normal baseball I would say. Because the games are always tight, I can’t even say we’ve won this many games (in the series). I don’t even know, but I know the games are always competitive.”

Wyatt Cushane led off the Cougars’ winning rally by reaching on an error and leadoff man Evan Sepers drew a walk. Overbrook coach Greg Himes passed on the idea of putting Watt on to load the bases because there were equally dangerous hitters behind him. Jamari Whitley already had two hits and Bo Schalick was 4-for-5 with four RBIs.

Watt fouled off the first pitch, then brought the game to a dramatic close with his homer to center.

“I was just trying to hit the ball hard,” he explained. “There were guys in scoring position, I was just trying to put a ball in play. I got a little jammed, I didn’t get all of it. We’ve got a pretty big field. I didn’t think it was going to go out, but I guess I just got enough of it.

“I’d say my home run against Woodstown last year (in the Elmer Classic), that was probably my favorite one so far, but this one’s coming a close second.”

The energy Watt brings to the Cougars is, well, electric. The latest blast was his fourth homer in five games this season (in 16 at bats) and the third game in a row he’s gone yard. The junior catcher, who wears No. 5, had five hits and five RBIs in the game – both career highs – and is now batting .812 for the season (13-for-16) with 14 RBIs and a slugging percentage of 1.750.

The Cougars are 7-1 all-time in games Watt homers.

“It’s funny, last year he would get overlooked because we had Luke (Pokrovsky) last year,” O’Brien said. “People don’t realize how good of a player Ricky really is. 

“He’s come into the season locked in. He’s looked good all preseason, during practices, during games; he’s just consistent. He was already a good player, but he just worked so much harder to be where he’s at. I’m kind of surprised how hot he is, I thought he might cool down a little bit, but he’s such a good player I think he’s going to be pretty consistent this year.”

The Cougars thought they had the winning run an inning before Watt’s heroics. Courtesy runner Will Sieminski was on third with one out after he was sacrificed over following Cole Hartley’s leadoff double. Mason Hollywood lofted a fly to a drawn-in outfield that Chase Terramagra caught in medium centerfield. Sieminski tagged, but Terramagra’s throw came straight through without a relay and catcher Connor McNally reached back up the line to tag the runner for the final out of the inning.

“We were selling out on that right there,” Himes said. “That was a do-or-die situation. We brought them up in that situation. If you look at the book before that, he’s the kid who lined out to end that inning. He’s young and I thought what a good learning experience for him. He was in his feels a little bit and we told him you’d have to make a play. What a good learning experience for him to know I did what I could do, the kid made a great play, now I have to go make a better one. That’s gonna pay dividends for us in the long run. It’s about the playoffs.”

Cushane robbed Terramagra of a potential go-ahead RBI in the top of the inning with a lunging snag to the glove side to end the inning with runners at first and second. 

The Rams, who suffered a late-inning loss at Pennsville earlier in the week, rallied twice to tie the game. They were down 6-2 when Schalick starter Whitley left the mound, then scored four in the sixth to tie it the first time. Whitley gave up two hits and struck out 10 in his five innings.

The Cougars retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth on Whitley’s sacrifice fly and Bo Schalick’s third RBI hit of the game, then Overbrook retied it with two from the bottom of the lineup off Hartley in the seventh. The Rams scored the tying run on a squeeze bunt by Frank McLaughlin the looked like it might go foul, but hit a bump in the skin infield and stayed in play.

“That’s Overbrook baseball,” Himes said of his team’s resiliency. “Since I’ve been here seven years it’s the way that we like to play. It’s who we are as a town, it’s who we are as a personality.

“We have a young group. The past couple years we had a playing group that played together since they were probably 8 years old. This playing group is really figuring out the speed of the game. It’s great to see us executing on stuff early on.”

Hartley didn’t allow another run and only one hit after McLaughlin’s game-tying squeeze. That’s the element that stands out to the game’s hero.

“I wouldn’t have hit that ball if Cole didn’t keep us in the game,” Watt said. “I think that’s probably the biggest highlight.”

Overbrook catcher Connor McNally (lower photo) reacts after putting the tag on Schalick’s Will Sieminski to deny the potential winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. (Top photo) Ricky Watt celebrates his winning three-run walk-off homer in the tenth.

PENNSVILLE 16, CLAYTON 2: Logan Streitz had a pair of two-run doubles in a 10-run first inning and Jeff Wagner hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs. Dante Cummings went 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

Logan Cowperthwait started and gave the Eagles (4-0) four shutout innings before giving way to Grady Sanders in the fifth. Cowperthwait gave up one hit, a first-inning single, and struck out five.

PITMAN 11, SALEM 0: Liam Bailly spun a five-inning one-hitter, striking out seven and facing three batters over the minimum. After giving up a walk in the first inning, Bailly retired nine in a row until Troy Carey singled to right with two outs in the fourth.

The Panthers took control with an eight-run second inning, capped by Steven Clifford’s two-run double. Clifford had two hits and three RBIs.

PLEASANTVILLE 10, PENNS GROVE 0: Joseph DeLaCruz and Edriarlyn Caraballo held Penns Grove to two singles. Liam Irvin and Angel Maldonado had the Red Devils’ two hits.

Softball

PENNSVILLE 18, CLAYTON 1: The Eagles erupted for 10 runs in the first inning and cruised to their second straight win. The heart of the Eagles’ lineup — Graillyn Weber, Kylie Harris, Avery Watson and Kenzie Widener — were a combined 10-for-12 with 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored. Weber and Watson both had three hits. Three Pennsville pitchers combined to hold the Clippers to five hits.

SCHALICK 13, OVERBROOK 4: The Cougars overcame a 2-1 deficit with six runs in the fourth inning to remain undefeated. A Seven players had multiple hits and three had multiple RBIs as the Cougars remained undefeated. AAAA Lauglin led the assault with three hits, including a pair of RBI singles in the fourth-inning rally. Liv VanAcker, Paige Sparks, Khloe McGrath, Alex Shimp, Emma Cain and Kassidy Sickler had two hits apiece.

PITMAN 17, SALEM 4: The Panthers took control with 13 runs in the second inning. Emery Sharpnack had three hits and two RBIs, while Kendall Bennett had two hits and three RBIs.

GLASSBORO 21, PENNS GROVE 0: Scarlett Saicic went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two Glassboro pitchers combined to hold the Red Devils to one hit.

Tennis

DELSEA 5, PENNSVILLE 0
Zeph Kell (D) def. Sawyer Humphrey, 6-2, 6-1
Eli Croce (D) def. Lucas Cooksey, 6-3, 6-3
Zach Natalie (D) def. Carter Willis, 6-1, 6-0
Jacob Bramble-Jude Thompson (D) def. Coen Rinnier-Jacob Cheeseman, 6-1, 6-2
Marcus Salgueiro-Thomas Maronski (D) def. Ian Peacock-Matthew Forino, 2-6, 7-5, 10-6
Records: Delsea 5-0, Pennsville 3-4

OVERBROOK 3, SCHALICK 2
Connor Kustera (O) def. Gabe McFeeley, 6-1, 6-0
Gabe Martinez (O) def. Reece Loatman, 6-4, 6-1
Colin Campbell (O) def. Tyr Brattlie, 6-1, 6-2
No doubles reported.
Records: Overbrook 3-1, Schalick 3-2

TIMBER CREEK 3, PENNS GROVE 2
Kyle Clark Blanding (TC) def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-3, 6-1
Adam He (TC) def. Anthony Pacheco, 6-2, 6-2
Juan Ortiz-Adam Gonzalez (PG) def. Gabriel Castro-Keenan King, 6-2, 6-4
Jesus Arredondo-Rene Ruiz (PG) def. Shawn Allen-Stephen Fehon, 6-0, 6-0
Only matches reported.
Records: Timber Creek 2-1, Penns Grove 1-1

WOODSTOWN 4, HADDON HEIGHTS 1
Owen Peakes (HH) def. Drew Stengel, 6-2, 6-2
Mason Shimp (WO) def. Gavin Ewing, 6-1, 6-1
Luke Shaw (WO) def. Cameron Wilson, 6-1, 6-1
Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro (WO) def. Joe Foster-Andrew D’Amelio, 6-1, 6-0
Connor Miller-Josh King (WO) def. Michael Fitter-William Zetusky, 6-2, 6-0
Records: Woodstown 4-2, Haddon Heights 1-4

Golf

WOODSTOWN 172, CUMBERLAND 210: Woodstown’s Greyson Hyland won medalist honors with a 42 that included back-to-back birdies on Holes 6 and 7 at Town & Country Golf Links. Teammates Jack Bucksar and Logan Jones both shot 43.

WOODSTOWN: Jack Bucksar 43, Greyson Hyland 42, Nate Valente 44, Logan Jones 43; Alejandro Vazquez 46, Lucas Fulmer 46.
CUMBERLAND: Cristian Godinez 52, Joseph Nolan 45, Giuseppe Impellizzeri 55, Thomas Marguglio 58; Brian Feliciano 60

Boys lacrosse

HOLY SPIRIT 5, WOODSTOWN 4: Connor Haney and Bob Waddington scored two goals apiece, but the Wolverines fell to remain winless. Nehemiah Carter was credited with two assists.

Girls lacrosse

HOLY SPIRIT 13, WOODSTOWN 9: Taylor Lyons scored five goals and Grace Marczyk had four to hand Woodstown its first loss of the season.





Venturing out

Salem Rams get board approval to open 2026 football season in Ohio; also scores and highlights from Wednesday’s Salem County sports schedule

WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
BASEBALL
Penns Grove 21, Salem 4
Woodstown 3, Glassboro 0
SOFTBALL
Salem 23, Penns Grove 0
Woodstown 10, Gloucester Catholic 7
TENNIS
Kingsway 3, Woodstown 2
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Westhampton Tech at Salem Tech
BOYS GOLF
West Deptford 164, Woodstown 194
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Cecil 5-1, Salem CC 0-11

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – Kemp Carr is the type of coach who will play any team, anytime, anywhere, so when he came up empty going through New Jersey trying to find a Week Zero game for his Salem High School football team he went searching.

Wednesday night, the Salem City school board overwhelmingly approved a trip that will have the Rams opening their 2026 season in southwest Ohio, playing a historically strong program in a stadium that once was home to a team that would become a seminal NFL franchise.

The Rams will open their season Aug. 29 against Ironton, Ohio. The town is on the Ohio River, about eight hours from Salem, in the wedge between Kentucky and West Virginia.

The game will be played in Tanks Memorial Stadium, the original home of the Ironton Tanks, the legendary independent pro team (1919-30) that evolved into the Detroit Lions.

“I’m extremely excited for the kids having the opportunity to play other schools outside the state,” Carr said, “but also an opportunity for folks to see how we represent and play football for the state of New Jersey coming out of Salem as well as being able to give them some exposure to two colleges … so it’s a recruitable moment.”

Kemp sought out “several” in-state teams to complete the Rams’ schedule, but nothing materialized. He thought he had a game in West Virginia, but it fell through, too. He dropped an inquiry into the Ohio scheduling portal and said six responded positively within 30 minutes. He said he chose the Fighting Tigers because they were the first to respond.

The trip also will include an educational component as the team will make visits to Marshall University and Ohio University while there.

“The biggest thing for us, and it’s not just athletics, we really try to get our kids exposed to things that are outside of Salem County and outside of New Jersey and this is just another example of us being able to do that for our students,” retiring Salem principal John Mulhorn said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for them.”

The Rams are trending upward after falling on some tough times the last couple years. They had their first winning season since 2022 last year, going 6-5 and reaching the second round of the South Jersey Group I playoffs after going winless the year before.

The last time they played out of state was 2023 when a late-developing scheduling snafu had them opening the season against Allentown’s Executive Education Charter in Lafayette College’s Fisher Stadium. They hosted Conwell-Egan (Pa.) in 2018.

“We’re glad we’re going to have a Week Zero game,” Carr said. “Last year we basically got Pleasantville at the last minute. Knowing that you’re going to have a Week Zero game in April feels a lot better than you getting that game in July or the end of May. This is good stuff.

“This is something that’s happening all over the state; we’re not the only ones. There are multiple teams that are going to be playing out of state. There are some New Jersey teams going to Florida and going to Texas. We’re just happy to get on a bus and go to Ohio.”

Ironton will give them a test. The Fighting Tigers have gone 60-8 since 2021 and produced 14 Division I players the last three years, but in 2026 they will be looking to bounce back from sanctions related to what the Ohio High School Athletic Association called “serious and pervasive” recruiting violations spanning 2018-25. Among its penalties were a ban from defending the 2024 Division V state title it retained, a fine, probation (three years) and coach suspensions for 2026..

District superintendent Sommer McCorkle told Huntington, W.Va., television station WSAZ in a statement last fall there would be “systemic changes” to local policies on enrollment and transfers following the OHSAA’s investigation and findings. Trevon Pendleton was retained as the Fighting Tigers’ head coach but the school board eliminated the athletics director position he held.

Last season they were officially 8-2, but won nine games on the field before having their final game forfeited. They put up 42 points in eight of their nine wins and 55 or more in all four of their games after the loss with a single-game high of 70. They played teams from New York, Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania as well as Ohio.

The Fighting Tigers will have one game under their belt when they play the Rams. Their season opener takes place the same week Salem plays Camden in its preseason scrimmage.

“We don’t duck no smoke,” Carr said. “Iron sharpens iron and it can’t do anything but make us better one way or the other, no matter what the outcome is. We’re going to learn from it. We’re going to have an opportunity for a get-better moment. This is what you want to do. They’re extremely excited about it over there and so are we.”

SALEM RAMS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Week 0: at Ironton, Ohio
Week 1: Paulsboro
Week 2: Audubon
Week 3: at Schalick
Week 4: Overbrook
Week 5: Woodstown
Week 6: at Clayton
Week 7: at Burlington City
Week 8: at Pennsville

Baseball

WOODSTOWN 3, GLASSBORO 0: Drew Sutton’s two-run single to right in the sixth inning extended the lead and two pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout as the Wolverines avenged a walkout loss to the Bulldogs in their last game and snapped a two-game losing streak.

Sutton’s hit, his second of the game, came after Ty Coblentz and Luke Fraley opened the inning with singles. The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead in the second on Noah Williams’ two-out RBI single.

Walker Battavio pitched the first five innings of the shutout for the Wolverines. He allowed three hits, walked none and struck out seven. Freshman Talyn Priore worked the last two innings, giving up a hit and striking out one.

PENNS GROVE 21, SALEM 4: Liam Irvin had two doubles and six RBIs and was the winning pitcher as the Red Devils picked up their first win of the season.

Softball

WOODSTOWN 10, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 7: Senior Ellie Wygand’s first career homer, a two-run shot to left field, capped a five-run seventh inning that broke a 5-5 tie and lifted the Wolverines to victory. The homer came in her 188th career at-bat.

Lila Bowling got the winning rally started with a one-out double. Leah Clark singled home the go-ahead run. Another run scored on an error and Macie Moore singled home another run, setting the stage of Wygand’s homer.

SALEM 23, PENNS GROVE 0: Julliana Love hit an inside-the-park home run and Avah Brown pitched a four-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts as the Rams scored their first win of the season.

Love went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs. Her homer came in a seven-run second inning. MMMMM Johnson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Tennis

KINGSWAY 3, WOODSTOWN 2
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Aidan Shoemaker, 4-6, 6-4, 15-13
Nate Bradley (K) def. Mason Shimp, 6-2, 6-0
Jimmy Wilkes (K) def. Luke Shaw, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Shiven Shah-Nolan Steurer (K) def. Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro, 7-5, 7-5
Connor Miller-Josh King (WO) def. Aiden Barnes-Aiden Totten, 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 10-1
Records: Kingsway 4-0, Woodstown 3-2

Boys golf

WEST DEPTFORD 164, WOODSTOWN 194: Brady Cobb parlayed his local knowledge of Riverwinds Golf Club into two birdies and a 1-under-par 35 to win medalist honors and lead the Eagles to victory. Greyson Hyland posted Woodstown’s low round (42).
WEST DEPTFORD: Brady Cobb 35, Ben Perticari 39, Grayson Ryer 43, Chase Dunda 47.
WOODSTOWN: Nate Valente 50, Alejandro Vazquez 51, Greyson Hyland 42, Lucas Fulmer 51; Blake Bialecki 51, Austin Wood 56.

College softball

NORTH EAST, Md. — The Salem CC softball team split its doubleheader at Cecil College with each team’s winning pitcher delivering a gem.

Jordyn Busch threw a one-hitter as the Mighty Oaks won the nightcap 11-1 to earn the split. Cecil won the opener 5-0 with Taylor Stapleford spinning a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts

The only hit Busch allowed in the five-inning nightcap was a one-out single in the second inning. She gave up an unearned run, walked three and struck out six.

Lilly Peverelle, J.J. Aguirre and Emme Witter all had a pair of hits for the Mighty Oaks. Aguirre and Sawyer Simmons both drove in a pair of runs.

The no-hitter in the opener was Stapleford’s second of the season. The only balls the Mighty Oaks put in play against her were Peverelle’s ground out in the sixth inning and Savannah Palverento’s bunt to the pitcher in the seventh. She retired the last 13 batters she faced.

This week’s schedule

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

Big blast

Woodstown senior’s first ever homer highlights sixth-inning rally that lifts Wolverines over Schalick in back and forth game

WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
Gateway 10, Penns Grove 0
Pennsville 12, Pitman 0
Woodstown 9, Schalick 6

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Noah Williams couldn’t have picked a better time to hit the first home run of his life. Not the season. Not his career. His entire 17-year-old life.

WILLIAMS

The Woodstown senior outfielder launched a three-run homer into the football stadium with nobody out in the sixth inning Wednesday to give the Wolverines the lead in an eventual 9-6 win over rival and defending South Jersey Group I champion Schalick. 

It was him first homer in 24 varsity at-bats – he had 20 last season – but it had been longer since he’d gone yard. A lot longer.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever hit one in a Woodstown uniform, not even before high school; that’s my first one ever,” he said. “I’ve been close a couple times, but that was by far my farthest hit.”
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A quick and very unscientific post-game measurement set the blast at 340 feet in the air and 386 feet from home plate to where Woodstown athletics director Joe Ursino picked up the ball.

“It was awesome,” he continued. “I didn’t think it was going at first, but once I saw the right fielder going back I knew it was over. It’s an unreal feeling. I’ve never felt like that in my life. I honestly felt like I was going to throw up, if I’m being honest.

“I was pumped. I was so pumped. It means everything to me. My dad’s here, my whole family’s watching me. Even my dog’s here. It was awesome. I thought I’d hit one (eventually), but I didn’t think it would be in this situation. It was surreal.” 

The Wolverines (2-0) staged multiple comebacks before taking the lead for good under Schalick’s sixth-inning, three-error collapse. The Cougars (2-1) led 3-0 on Ricky Watt’s three-run homer in the first and 6-4 after Evan Glaspey’s two-run double in the top of the sixth.

They answered Watt’s homer with two runs in the home first on Tommy Tucci’s bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly by Williams. It stayed that way until fifth when they took a 4-3 lead on Drew Sutton’s two-run single.

“We came back all game long, every inning,” Woodstown coach Marc DeCastro said. “We didn’t always score, but we were on every inning. We didn’t give them any inning. It was when it was going to break through.

“We came back twice to take the lead twice, but I thought through six innings we came back every single inning. We were down right away, turned that into 3-2 so it was already a win. From there we had people on, people on and just couldn’t get that one hit until we got it in the sixth.”

The Wolverines sent nine batters to the plate in their big inning. It started with a walk and a single and then the Cougars threw away Stone Hassler’s bunt allowing the tying run to score. Williams followed by hammering an inside fastball into the football stadium. Sol Elmer restarted the process with a walk, was sacrificed to second and took off for third forcing another bad throw that allowed him to score.

Schalick coach Sean O’Brien agreed it was just a matter of time before the Wolverines broke through.

“It was kind of coming because we played poorly all game long,” he said. “They had many opportunities to break the game open and they didn’t do it, so it was a matter of time before it happened. They deserved to win the game. They played better than we did. We put together two innings to hit and that was it, that’s all we did.”

Another key element to the win was freshman Talyn Priore coming in to pitch with bases loaded and none out in the sixth. He came in to face the heart of Schalick’s order after the Wolverines’ intentionally walked Watt to load the bases and put out the fire on 13 pitches with a fly to Williams in left and two strikeouts looking. He got the win.

“We needed this so much,” Williams said. “It’s a big moment for us.”

Top photo: Woodstown’s Noah Williams reacts to hitting his first-ever home run, a go-ahead blast in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s win over Schalick. (Photo by Michelle Tucci)

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WP: Talyn Priore. LP: Mason Sanchez. HR: Ricky Watt (S), Noah Williams (WO)

PENNSVILLE 12, PITMAN 0: The Eagles opened their season with five-inning combined no-hitter from Logan Streitz and Mason O’Brien.

Streitz worked the first 2 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out four. O’Brien came on in the middle of a count with the bases loaded and finished the game on 19 pitches (16 strikes), including the purest of immaculate innings — three pitches in the fifth inning.

“The plan from the get-go was to throw him between 50 and 60 pitches,” Eagles coach Matt Karr said of Streitz. “I told him after the game we didn’t take him out for lack of trusting you. Today is April 1, I want you playing meaningful baseball June 1. No sense pushing it. It’s a marathon not a sprint.”

The Panthers put only five balls in play against the two Pennsville pitchers, including a fly ball to right in the first inning that Jeff Wagner turned into an inning-ending double play. It was the only ball they hit to the outfield.

“We were just so dialed in we get to the third inning and I’m looking at my coaches and ask, ‘have we made a play in the field,'” Karr said. “I’m trying to count the balls they put in play.

“We didn’t even know (about the no-hitter) until we got out to left field after the game. I think it was (assistant coach Ryan Wood) who said ‘Did they have a hit?’ Then the guy doing the Gamechanger for us said, nope, a no-hitter.”

The hitters supported their pitchers’ effort with nine hits. Gavin Spears and O’Brien both had a pair at the top of the lineup. Stevie Fatcher had four RBIs.

Pitman00000-005
Pennsville4026x-1290
WP: Logan Streitz. LP: Drew Keefe.

GATEWAY 10, PENNS GROVE 0: Colin Murray held the Red Devils to one hit and a walk over five innings and struck out 12 and hit a two-run double in the five-run second inning that broke the game open.

Dylan Hyatt had the only Penns Grove hit, a one-out single in the first inning. Murray struck out eight in a row after the hit and retired 12 straight before walking Ronniel Terrero in the fifth. He faced one batter over the minimum.

The Gators scored a run in the first, then took control with five in the second highlight by Enzo Gambale’s two-run single and Murray’s double. Nick Watts had two hits and three RBIs.




‘First of many more’

Salem Tech scores its first baseball win in school history in rout of Lindenwold; includes reported scores and highlights from Monday’s Salem County sports calendar


BASEBALL
Salem Tech 24, Lindenwold 2
Schalick 5, Glassboro 0
Wildwood 26, Salem 2
Woodstown 15, Penns Grove 2
GOLF
Gloucester Catholic 170, Salem Tech 208
Woodstown 187, Pennsville 222
Schalick 164, Wildwood 245
Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Penns Grove 4, Glassboro 1
Pennsville at Wildwood
Schalick 3, Clayton 2
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Highland 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-19, 25-15)
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at St. Joseph
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown 18, Cedar Creek 11

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

LINDENWOLD — Sometime during the course of the day Tuesday, the players on the Salem Tech baseball team are going to pass around a shiny new baseball that each will sign his name until there’s no space for another. When the last player has signed one of them is going to take that baseball and run it back up to the school where it will be set in a place of honor for posterity.

The Chargers made history Monday afternoon. They won the first game in their baseball program’s history, routing Lindenwold 24-2.

“Being the first coach is an honor and getting the first win’s an honor,” head coach John Helsel said. “I’m so happy for all the kids and for Mr. Swain (superintendent Jack Swain) because I know he really loves baseball. I’m glad I could get us our first of many more to come, I believe.”

Jaxon Raymond was credited with the inaugural win. He pitched the first four innings, giving up one hit and striking out 10. Jack Beal pitched the fifth, giving up one hit and striking out the side.

Raymond didn’t give up a hit until the fourth, faced only two over the minimum through the first three innings and struck out the side twice.

“I would say (he pitched) good, just from the amount of strikes I threw (43 in 82 pitches) and how fast I got out of innings,” Raymond assessed. “JI felt I wasn’t going to do good and started a little flat, (but) halfway through the first inning just more strikes were coming through the zone.”

“He was a little shaky in the beginning, but once he got his command down he was good,” Helsel said. “He had a little trouble with that mound – it was a little rough where they were landing – but once he got used to it, he was all right.”

The Chargers (1-1), who lost their inaugural game 13-0 at Cumberland, were as prolific in this game as they were in winning their two preseason scrimmages. They banged out 14 hits and took advantage of 12 walks and seven Lion errors. Cooper Coles went 3-for-5 with five RBIs. Chase Pompper had two hits and three RBIs. Lucas Clement had two hits and two RBIs, and Shamus Smith and Raymond had two hits apiece.

Take away the 10-run first inning of the Cumberland game and the Chargers have outscored their opponents 24-5 over their last nine innings.

“They showed me they bounced back and didn’t let that (Cumberland) game bother them,” Helsel said. “We played well. We had some real good hits. We were sound defensively.”

Pompper scored the first run in school history when he raced home on Coles’ inaugural RBI single after reaching on an error and going all the way to third on a passed ball. Coles scored on Clement’s RBI single. Clement scored on a wild pitch and Harris’ sacrifice fly made it 4-0. They added four more in the second and then broke it open with 11 in the third.

The Chargers also gunned down their first runner attempting to steal when freshman catcher Logan Hearn nailed Julius Hammond trying to steal second in the second inning.

This Chargers play their first home game in school history Thursday against Wildwood Catholic.

Salem Tech (1-1)44(11)05-24141
Lindenwold (0-3)10010-227
WP: Jaxon Raymond. LP: Aidan Ryan.

SCHALICK 5, GLASSBORO 0: Ricky Wattt went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and starting pitcher Jamari Whitley threw 3 2/3 innings of no-hit ball with eight strikeouts to lead Schalick over Glassboro, 5-0, Monday.

Cole Hartley broke a scoreless tie with a two-run single in the third. Watt doubled the lead with a two-run double in the fourth. Evan Glaspey’s grounder to short produced the Cougars’ fifth run. Evan Sepers had two hits for the Cougars.

Three Schalick pitchers held the Bulldogs to two hits and struck out 13. Whitley faced 15 batters and threw 66 pitches in his first start of the year. Mason Hollywood went the next 2 1/3, giving up one hit and striking out three. Mason Sanchez pitched the seventh, giving up a hit and fanning two.

The defending South Jersey Group 1 champs have given up just one run in their first two games.

Schalick (2-0)0022010-5100
Glassboro (0-2)0000000-021
WP: Jamari Whitley. LP: Ryan Newell.

WOODSTOWN 15, PENNS GROVE 2: Talyn Priore went 4-for-4 in his varsity debut, three pitchers scattered two hits and the Wolverines pulled away from a one-run game with an 11-run third inning.

Drew Sutton came on after starter Cole Begley struggled out of the gate and gave the Wolverines 2 2/3 innings of no-hit relief with five strikeouts. Stone Hassler went the final two innings without allowing a hit and fanning six of the seven batters he faced.

Eighteen Wolverines got at least one plate appearance and 14 reached base. Priore was their only batter with multiple hits. Ty Coblentz, Luke Fraley and Tommy Tucci drove in two runs apiece.

Woodstown (1-0)21(11)10-1590
Penns Grove (0-1)20000-220
WP: Drew Sutton. LP: Liam Irvin.

WILDWOOD 26, SALEM 2: Nolan Mawhinney had a two-run double and Owen Bannon a two-run single to highlight an 11-run second inning that broke the game open. The first three runs in the inning scored on bases-loaded walks.

Bannon had five RBIs in the game. Gianni Troiano went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and Trevor Triano scored six runs.

Three Wildwood pitchers held Salem to three hits, two by Jonathan Bower. The Rams scored both their runs in the fifth inning. Bower led off with a triple and scored on Izaiah Santiago’s ground out. Cole Sayers scored on a double steal.

Wildwood (2-0)2(11)643-26152
Salem (0-2)00002-2310
WP: Will Auly. LP: Rudulfo Perez.

Tennis

PENNS GROVE 4, GLASSBORO 1
Andrew Miller (G) def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-4, 7-5
Stuart Mondragon (PG) def. James Pence, 6-4, 6-4
Anthony Pacheco (PG) def. Seth Taylor, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
Juan Ortiz-Adan Gonzalez (PG) def. Nico Tsoukalis-Vincent Pasquarello, 6-0, 6-0
Jesus Arrendondo-Rene Ruiz (PG) won by forfeit
Records: Penns Grove 1-0, Glassboro 0-1
NOTE: It’s the fourth year in a row the Red Devils have won their season opener.

SCHALICK 3, CLAYTON 2
James Mai (CL) def. Gabe McFeeley, 6-2, 6-4
Tyr Brattlie (S) def. Jayden Sanchez, 6-0, 6-1
Michael Cummings (CL) def. Reece Loatman, 7-5, 7-5
Cooper Halperin-Christopher Chica (S) def. Robert Shultz-Malcolm Turpin, 6-4, 7-5
Angelo Boston-Gavin McGrath (S) def. Emmanuel Ansah-Bryne Contravo, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Schalick 2-0, Clayton 0-1.

Golf

WOODSTOWN 187, PENNSVILLE 222: The Wolverines counted three scores in the 40s at Sakima CC, led by medalist Nate Valente’s 44. Trevor Hann (49) posted Pennsville’s low round.

WOODSTOWN: Jack Bucksar 45, Nate Valente 44, Alejandro Vazquez 48, Lucas Fulmer 50; Julia Swierczynski 52, Blake Bialecki 52.
PENNSVILLE: Trevor Hann 49, Caden Thomas 52, Abigail Bohn 59, Keagan Kaminski 62; Makenna Minguez 63, Jack Haley 65.

SCHALICK 164, WILDWOOD 245: Senior Seth Fisher was bogey-free over his final six holes at Union League National and shot 2-over-par 38 to win medalist honors. Jaxon Weber and Anthony Sepers followed close behind with 41s. All six Schalick players posted rounds in the 40s.

SCHALICK: Jaxon Weber 41, Anthony Sepers 41, Seth Fisher 38, Reed Bucolo 44; Michael Nelson 44, Bradford Foster 49.
WILDWOOD: Angel Gonzalez 55, Jess Alamein 54, Sarai Salas-Lopez 66, Alex Vida’s 70, Kianely Velasquez 71.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 170, SALEM TECH 208: Medalist Chad Niederman birdied his first hole and went on to post a 2-over-par 38 at Sakima CC to lead the Lions. Teammate Zack Payne birdied his last hole and shot 41. Freshman Cohen Sutton (45) posted the Chargers’ low round.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC: Anthony Beach 44, Nicholas Kolodzey 47, Zack Payne 41, Chad Niederman 38; Emmit Kiniry 47.
SALEM TECH: Cohen Sutton 45, Thomas Conto 50, Hannah Kormann 56, Sophia Conto 57; Jonah Baynes 71.

This week’s schedule

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

Monday prep report

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Cape May Tech at Salem Tech 5 p.m.

GOLF
TRITON 170, WOODSTOWN 180
at Town & Country

Junior Brayden Skokowski made two birdies (14, 16) and shot 1-over-par 37 to win medalist honors and lead Triton to victory. Nate Valente posted Woodstown’s low round (42).

TRITON (170): Bradyn Skokowski 37, Colin Buri 45, Braydon Lewis 42, Nick Landi 46; Caleb Garcia 56, LJ Kukielka 55.
WOODSTOWN (180): Nate Valente 42, Logan Jones 46, Jack Bucksar 45, Greyson Hyland 46; Alejandro Vazquez 48, Chris Porreca 50.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of March 23-28; all events 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage

MONDAY, MARCH 23
BASEBALL
x-Penns Grove at Pleasantville
x-Woodstown at Deptford
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Cape May Tech at Salem Tech 3:45 p.m.
GOLF
Woodstown vs. Triton, Town & Country, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
Schalick vs. Washington Twp., Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 24
BASEBALL
x-Schalick at Highland
SOFTBALL
x-Camden County Tech at Woodstown
Cape May Tech at Salem Tech
x-LEAP at Penns Grove
TENNIS
Pennsville at Cedar Creek
GOLF
Woodstown vs. Clearview, Town & Country, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
x-Woodstown at Haddon Twp., 6 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Delaware County, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Raritan Valley, 3:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25
BASEBALL
Cumberland at Salem
x-Camden Tech at Schalick
x-LEAP at Penns Grove
x-Salem Tech at Winslow
x-Woodstown at GCIT
SOFTBALL
x-Penns Grove at Highland
Salem at Cumberland
x-Schalick at Camden Tech
GOLF
Schalick vs. Woodstown, Town & Country, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Clayton, The Birches, 3:45 p.m.
TENNIS
Lower Cape May at Schalick
TRACK
x-Bridgeton at Salem
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Cedar Creek, 5:15 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Delaware County at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26
BASEBALL
Cumberland at Salem Tech
x-Highland at Woodstown
SOFTBALL
Salem Tech at Clayton
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Kingsway, RiverWinds, 3:30 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. West Deptford, River Winds, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown vs. GCIT, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
x-St. Joseph at Woodstown
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at CCBC-Catonsville, 3 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27
BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech
SOFTBALL
Salem Tech at Gateway
TRACK
Woodstown at Pennsville
BOYS TENNIS
Mainland at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Cinnaminson at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28
TRACK
Schalick at Delsea, 11 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Morris at Salem CC, noon

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of March 15-22; all games weather permitting; x-scrimmage

MONDAY, MARCH 16
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Northampton at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17
BASEBALL
x-Gateway at Salem Tech
SOFTBALL
x-Paulsboro at Penns Grove
x-Salem Tech at Pennsauken Tech
BOYS LACROSSE
x-Woodstown at Absegami
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Northampton (2), noon

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18
BASEBALL
x-Millville at Pennsville
x-Salem Tech at Camden Academy Charter
SOFTBALL
x-Camden Academy Charter at Salem Tech
x-Middle Twp. at Schalick
TENNIS
x-Millville at Pennsville
BOYS LACROSSE
x-Delran at Woodstown

THURSDAY, MARCH 19
BASEBALL
x-Bridgeton at Salem
x-Schalick at Paulsboro
SOFTBALL
x-Gateway at Woodstown
x-Salem at Bridgeton
BOYS GOLF
Woodstown vs. Delsea, Wild Oaks GC
TENNIS
x-West Deptford at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Riverside

FRIDAY, MARCH 20
BASEBALL
x-Atlantic Tech at Salem
Pennsville at West Deptford
SOFTBALL
x-Salem at Lower Cape May
x-Salem Tech at Schalick
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Atlantic Cape at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Bucks at Salem CC, 3 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Atlantic Cape (2), noon

SUNDAY, MARCH 22
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Delaware Tech, noon

First in the fold

UPDATED: Salem CC’s startup volleyball program lands its first csignee, a local product from Salem Tech, and awaits approval of two assistants

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

Andrea Bartlett has spent the last three months building the new Salem CC volleyball program from scratch. Going places, seeing people, molding the program to her vision.

BARTLETT

Now that she has a player in the fold, it finally feels like she has a team.

The Mighty Oaks’ newest women’s program and their coach landed their first official signee and she’s coming from a lot closer than originally anticipated.

Their first player is Tiara Bazemore, an all-conference setter from Salem Tech.

“It’s super exciting to have a local athlete here at Salem,” Bartlett said. “Volleyball’s not a sport that’s hugely popular in South Jersey, so I’m super excited to find a home for those local athletes to come play at the next level.”

Bazemore is excited about being the program’s first signee, too.

“I think it’s a surreal feeling,” she said. “When you’re in high school you’re always thinking about playing to the next level and now that I have the opportunity it feels nerve-wracking but exciting. I can’t wait to play at the next level with SCC and I believe we’re going to have a first good season.”

It was anticipated the Mighty Oaks’ first signee would be a right-side setter from South Florida, but Bazemore’s paperwork beat her to the punch. The Mighty Oaks are still in on that player and anticipate this initial signing will open the door to a lot more.

“Now that I’ve signed my first one, I’ve had so much built up, now it’s finally coming to fruition,” Bartlett said. “Now I’m starting to get more contacts from people finally following up with me. It’s all finally coming together it feels like.”

Similarly, the two assistants she’s bringing on, Courtney Gallo and Mike Kerns, are going through the hiring process. Gallo is former Chestnut Hill setter from Wilmington and Kerns is a swim coach at Camden Academy Charter.

When it comes to players, ideally Bartlett would like to have a minimum of 10 to 12 players for her first season in the fall – two for each position – but it won’t really feel complete until she gets enough for an initial starting seven and then, she said, “I can really start getting into the nitty gritty of it.”

Bartlett was hired in November and brings a wealth of experience and success on the Delaware high school and club circuit. Athletics director Bob Hughes called her “the perfect coach” to launch the program.

The team will compete in the four-team Region 19 Division II – with Delaware Tech (Bartlett’s JUCO alma mater), Harcum and Morris, effectively replacing Lackawanna, which is moving to NCAA Division II – and look to play a 20-match first-year schedule. Several of the region’s Division III teams in South Jersey already have expressed an interest in playing.

The idea of starting her first program is both exciting and scary.

“To start it from the beginning you’re able to set the standards and the culture,” she said. “When you go into a program with athletes who are already there they are used to old coaching styles or what the culture used to be or these rules we used to have and I get to start from scratch so I could think of what do I want to do, what kind of environment do I want to create to make these athletes want to come play here and then we can just build from that.

“I don’t have to worry about what was previously done. I get to start it from the beginning. It’s a lot of pressure on me because it’s my first program and making sure I do set those right standards, but along with them growing Ill also grow and learn, too, and we’ll figure out kind of together what works and what doesn’t and build the program together.”

While it wasn’t necessarily planned to land a setter as her first commitment, it was a fortuitous happenstance. Bazemore recorded 173 assists this past season with 23 kills and 43 aces. She had 262 assists over the past two seasons.

“It is nice to know that I have a setter,” Bartlett said. “Having a setter first and picking up at least a couple in the beginning because that’s who’s essentially running my offense. And knowing I have at least one on the list is important.”

Because the Mighty Oaks are a true start-up, the focus of Bartlett’s first year will be on team culture, which means teamwork, growth and resilience. It’s not dissimilar to the way she develops a new bunch of players for her 17U club team who likely haven’t played together before.

“It’s all about finding kids with character,” Barlett said. “I can teach you volleyball … but it’s really hard to teach character. I’m trying to find kids who are willing to buy in and be all in for the team and not just for their own personal goals and be willing to put in the hard work.”