Category: VOLLEYBALL

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Aug. 21-Sept. 5; weekday events 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage

MONDAY, AUG. 31
BOYS SOCCER
x-Absegami at Woodstown
x-Pennsville at Penn Tech
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Penn Tech at Pennsville
GIRLS TENNIS
West Deptford, at Pennsville 3:45 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 1
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Gateway, 9 a.m.
x-Woodstown at Gloucester, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Salem Tech at Paulsboro
Woodstown at Vineland

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2
BOYS SOCCER
Cape May Tech at Salem Tech (NJTAC Tournament)
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Woodstown at Washington Twp.
VOLLEYBALL
Buena at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 3
FOOTBALL
Overbrook at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Woodstown at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Paul VI at Delran, 6 p.m.
Wildwood at Lindenwold, 6 p.m.
Egg Harbor at Lower Cape May, 6 p.m.
Hunterdone Central at Hillsborough, 6 p.m.
Cherry Hill East at Eastern, 6 p.m.
Camden Eastside at Gloucester, 6 p.m.
Moorestown at Cinnaminson, 6 p.m.
Hopewell Valley at Trenton, 6 p.m.
Bishop Eustace at Gateway, 6 p.m.
Haddon Twp. at Palmyra, 6 p.m.
Timber Creek at Vineland, 6 p.m.
Williamstown at Pennsauken, 6 p.m.
Cedar Creek at Ocean City, 6 p.m.
Pleasantville at Shawnee, 6 p.m.
Seneca at Haddonfield, 7 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Pitman
Salem at Glassboro
BOYS SOCCER
Woodstown at Pennsville
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville at Woodstown

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4
FOOTBALL
Burlington City at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Penns Grove at Buena, 6 p.m.
Woodbury at Pitman, 7 p.m.
Cherokee at Burlington Twp., 5 p.m.
Ewing at Hightstown, 6 p.m.
Glassboro at Mainland, 6 p.m.
Millville at Washington Twp., 6 p.m.
Florence at Bordentown, 6 p.m.
Belmont Charter (Pa.) at Southern, 6 p.m.
Northern Burlington at Lenape, 6 p.m.
Princeton at Allentown, 6 p.m.
Audubon at Sterling, 6 p.m.
Delsea at Rancocas Valley, 6 p.m.
Holy Spirit at Camden, 6 p.m.
St. Joe (Hamm.) at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Bridgeton at Highland, 6 p.m.
Atlantic Tech at Hammonton, 6 p.m.
Absegami at Oakcrest, 6 p.m.
Nottingham at Notre Dame, 6 p.m.
Clearview at WW-Plainsboro, 6 p.m.
Hamilton West at Lawrence, 6 p.m.
Triton at Cherry Hill West, 6 p.m.
Kingsway at Winslow, 6 p.m.
Steinert at Robbinsville, 6 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Middle Twp., 6 p.m.
Willingboro at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
Riverside at Camden Catholic, 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Salem
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Paulsboro
Schalick at Delran
COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY
Salem CC in West Chester Open
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Salem CC at Harcum, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 5
FOOTBALL
Paulsboro at Salem, noon
Collingswood at Haddon Heights, 11:30 a.m.
Maple Shade at KIPP, noon
Holy Cross at Pemberton, noon
St. Augustine vs. Atlantic City, 4 p.m.

This week’s schedule

The start of regular-season high school football and Salem CC’s inaugural game highlights the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Aug. 24-29; football games from WJFL, x-scrimmage

MONDAY, AUG. 24
BOYS SOCCER
x-Penns Grove at Deptford, 10 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Deptford at Penns Grove, 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Lower Cape May, 10 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Clearview at Woodstown, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY, AUG. 25
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Audubon at Schalick, 10 a.m.
x-Highland at Salem Tech, 10 a.m.
x-Salem at West Deptford, 10 a.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Vineland at Schalick, 9:30 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Salem at Cumberland, 10 a.m.
x-Schalick at Vineland, 10 a.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Schalick at Buena

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26
BOYS SOCCER
x-Medford Tech at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
x-Camden Academy Charter at Salem Tech
GIRLS SOCCER
Woodstown at Haddon Twp., 9 a.m.
x-Bridgeton at Salem, 10 a.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Williamstown at Pennsville, 10 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Pennsville at Vineland, 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Ocean City, 11 a.m.
Schalick at Middle Twp.
VOLLEYBALL
x-Lindenwold at Salem Tech, 10:30 a.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 27
FOOTBALL
Pitman at Wildwood, 11 a.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Riverside at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Overbrook at Haddonfield, 7 p.m.
Pope John vs. Washington Twp, 1 p.m.
Princeton vs. Ocean City, 4 p.m.
Donovan Catholic vs. Kingsway, 5:30 p.m.
Nottingham at Northern Burlington, 6 p.m.
Seneca at Lenape, 6 p.m.
WW-Plaiinsboro at J.P. Stevens, 6 p.m.
Cinnaminson at Lower Cape May, 6 p.m.
Middle Twp. at Gateway, 6 p.m.
Pemberton at Cherry Hill West, 6 p.m.
Eastern at Hunterdon Central, 6 p.m.
Rahway at Willingboro, 6 p.m.
Middletown South at Cherokee, 6 p.m.
Lawrence at Lacey, 6 p.m.
Pleasantville at Mainland, 6 p.m.
Vineland at Delsea, 6 p.m.
Burlington Twp. vs. Passaic Tech, 6:15 p.m.
Hightstown at Holmdel, 6:30 p.m.
Sterling at Pt. Pleasant Boro, 6:30 p.m.
Shabazz vs. Atlantic City, 7 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-KIPP at Pennsville, 10 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Millville at Schalick, 10 a.m.
x-Pennsville at Palmyra, 10 a.m.
x-Penns Grove at Highland, 10 a.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Friends Central at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
x-Salem, Bridgeton, Nottingham at Cumberland, 10 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Bridgeton at Salem, 10 a.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 28
FOOTBALL
Maple Shade at Schalick, 6 p.m.
New Egypt at Buena, 6 p.m.
Woodbury at Deptford, 6 p.m.
Kinnelon vs. West Deptford, 10 a.m.
Camden Catholic vs. Pennsauken, noon
Wayne Valley vs. Rancocas Valley, 1 p.m.
Delran vs. Cherry Hill East, 2:30 p.m.
Shawnee vs. Old Bridge, 4 p.m.
Ewing vs. Franklin, 4 p.m.
Mastery Camden at Haddon Heights, 4:30 p.m.
Barnegat at Absegami, 5 p.m.
Williamstown vs. Timber Creek, 5 p.m.
Highland vs. Oakcrest, 6 p.m.
Conwell-Egan (Pa.) at St. Joe (Hamm.), 6 p.m.
Moorestown at Bishop Eustace, 6 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Paul VI, 6 p.m.
Bonner Predergast (Pa.) at St. Augustine, 6 p.m.
Clearview at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Long Branch at Hammonton, 6 p.m.
Hopewell Valley at Montgomery, 6 p.m.
St. Mary (Ruth.) at Notre Dame, 6 p.m.
Trenton at Pennsbury (Pa.), 7 p.m.
Warren Hills at Voorheen, 7 p.m.
New Hope-Solebury (Pa.) at South Hunterdon, 7 p.m.
Egg Harbor at Robbinsville, 7 p.m.
Glassboro vs. Immaculate, 8 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Salem at Camden Academy Charter, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Pennsville at Gloucester, 9 a.m.
x-Woodstown at Deptford, 9 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Cedar Creek at Schalick, 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Audubon, 10 a.m.

SATURDAY, AUG. 29
FOOTBALL
Salem at Ironton (Ohio), 1 p.m.
Paulsboro at KIPP, noon
Burlington City vs. Steinert, 5 p.m.
Southern vs. Bridgeton, 10 a.m.
Skyridge (Utah) at Hun, 11 a.m.
Atlantic Tech at Lakewood, noon
Hamilton West vs. Morris Knolls, noon
Simon Gratz (Pa.) at Camden Eastside, 1 p.m.
Cedar Grove vs. Gloucester, 1 p.m.
Collingswood vs. Pinelands, 2:30 p.m.
Monsignor Farrell (NY) vs. Holy Spirit, 4 p.m.
Camden at Imhotep Charter (Pa.), 6 p.m.
Erasmus Hall (NY) vs. Millville, 7 p.m.
Winslow vs. Neptune, 8 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Woodstown at Williamstown, 9 a.m.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Hudson Valley CC vs. Salem CC, Pennsville H.S., 1 p.m.

Countdown continues

Still much to do, but things moving along towards Salem CC football’s first camp, Rodriguez promoted to assistant AD, and more from the notebook

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT — The summer is supposed to be a time to unwind, relax and recharge, but when you’ve got a football program to get off the ground and opening day fast approaching there never seems to be enough time.

It’s 44 days before the opening of Salem Community College’s first fall football camp and 47 days before the first practice, and things are moving along.

Boxes of uniforms are all over athletics director Bob Hughes’ office, cartons of gear have been piling up in the field house, major practice equipment and storage containers have arrived, “mysteries” are being solved on the practice field, coaches still need to be hired and players are coming on board in droves.

“It’s still a work in progress,” head coach Jay Accorsi said. “There’s so much to do.”

During a conversation earlier in the week Accorsi said the Mighty Oaks have more than 70 players in the fold with the anticipation of hitting their minimum target of 80 during the weekend. He could have more than twice that many if he wanted with all the interest the program has received since it was announced in the fall and launched in January, but he’s trying to be “intentional” in the vetting process to “make sure it’s a quality operation.”

A stable of 110 players would have everyone feeling more comfortable going into camp, 80 gives them sufficient numbers to get underway.

“I was hoping we’d be done (on the player front), just selfishly, so I could get to football and everything else, but we’re going to go all the way into training camp in August; that’s just how it’s going to be,” Accorsi said. “I didn’t want it to be that way, the program’s just not there yet … We’re close, but we’re going to be doing it all the way through camp. It is what it is, but it just shows the numbers … We’re getting four or five emails, I’m getting three or four texts, every day.”

The program has announced more than 40 signees on its social media channels and that traffic is expected to increase as high school seniors are walking across the graduation stage still uncertain of their football plans and others are learning two potential JUCO landing spots in the region are moving up to the NCAA Division II ranks. The reach has gone into Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, where there is currently no NJCAA football.

The players who have committed/signed fill every position on the team except specifically kicker and punter, and Accorsi said they have players who can handle those specialties if the Mighty Oaks don’t land one in the signing class. Camp opens Aug. 3, with practices to start Aug. 6.

“When we hit the 80 mark it’ll be pretty big,” Accorsi said. “We’re close. We might hit it this week, and then that’ll be pretty big for me.

“That’s the one that’s kept me up. Not that I don’t think we could get to it – we will – it’s just getting there. We went from 60 to 70 just over the  (previous) weekend. That’s the next hurdle. I think when we get to 80-85 I’ll feel good and when we get everything situated down on the practice facility then I’ll feel really good. And then when I get the coaches, for me, that’s probably the last piece.”

He hopes to add two to five more assistants over the next two weeks. Athletic department officials are expected to announced ticket prices and other game-day details around the Fourth of July. They took to social media this weekend to show New Jersey football’s newest jersey.

Salem CC athletic directors Bob Hughes (R) and head football coach Jay Accorsi show off the Mighty Oaks’ new football jerseys.

SUMMERTIME NOTES: Mighty Oaks softball coach Angel Rodriguez has been promoted to assistant athletic director where he’ll be responsible for, among other things in addition to his coaching duties, game management and sports information. Athletics director Bob Hughes said Rodriguez’ previous experiences in the athletic department “have made a tremendous impact on our programs” … The volleyball court has been installed in the field house in the run-up to that program’s maiden season in the fall … Men’s basketball has added depth to its roster in the offseason. The Mighty Oaks’ schedule is expected to have three JUCO Division II regular-season games, including Delaware Tech, no in-season tournament and scrimmages with Goldey-Beacom and Cheyney

ANNOUNCED SALEM CC FOOTBALL PLAYERS
PLAYERHOMETOWN/SCHOOL
Aiden AlexanderKingsway/Kutztown
Rabiou AlidouPhiladelphia/Audenried
Jayden Ali-WardLawnside/Sterling
Maxwell BattenWilmington, Del./St. Marks HS
x-DJ BinckNational Park/Gateway
Jerrell BurksBridgeton
Quyan CadePleasantville
Zahir CobbinsJersey City/Delran
Robert DalyPittsbrove/Schalick
Sam DaSilvaDelran
Jayir DavisCamden/Eastside
Jeremiah DaysMount Laurel/Lenape
Jordan Dozier-PinkettWildwood
Sean FerebeeWest Deptford/Williamstown
Sean GreshamFairfax, Va/Falls Church
Ryan GoodmondNewark, Del./Newark
M.J. HallWoodstown
Jacob HandPennsville
Aidan HillWilmington, Del./Brandywine
Xavier LeeNewark/William Penn HS
Jermar JonesWest Deptford/Chestnut Hill
Eric JordanWildwood
Darion JoynerBlackwood/Washington Twp.
Kahmaj KearneySmyrna, Del.
Ke-Marley MasonMarlton/Cherokee
Lamar McCoyMillsboro, Del./Cape Henlopen
Jamere MettsPhiladelphia/Clearview HS
Hayden MillerGlendora/Triton
John PettigrewBellmawr/Triton
Brian PritchettBridgeton/Sussex CC
Jovanni RiosSalem
Jack RobinsonMaple Shade
Kaleb RossElkton, Md./St. Elizabeth HS
Jeremiah RussellBridgeton
Jayden SanchezSewell/Washington Twp.
Ben SecoulerCherry Hill
x-Brody SelfridgeSewell/Clearview
Noah ShieldsBlackwood/Highland
Charlie ShuteNewark, Del./Conrad HS
Jamar SmithGlasgow
Raheem TomoneyPhiladelphia/Hudson Valley CC
Deven TompkinsBridgeton/Cumberland Reg.
William TorresWillingboro
Tyler WalkerManalapan/New Haven
Quaddi WallsClayton
Demere WhiteMillville
Demetris WilliamsClayton
Kielle WoodardBridgeton/Cumberland Reg.
Erik WorleySicklerville/Winslow HS

Tuesday sports report

Here are scores and highlights from Tuesday’s Salem County sports calendar; detailed stories will be posted on the website soon

BASEBALL
Schalick 12, Pennsville 3: Mason Sanchez looked like another pitcher named Sanchez in Philly market with masterful complete game win.
Woodstown 8, Pitman 0: Blake Rodriguez and Stone Hassler combined seven-inning no-hitter, facing the minimum 21 batters. The only base runner they allowed was a third-inning walk and he was erased on a double play.
Clayton at Penns Grove
Gloucester at Salem Tech
Salem at Glassboro

SOFTBALL
Clayton 26, Penns Grove 8: The Clippers erased an early 7-0 Penns Grove lead with 17 runs in the second inning.
Woodstown 5, Pitman 3: Ellie Wygand collects her 100th career hit in her first at-bat.
Schalick 6, Pennsville 5: Paige Sparks, down to her team’s last strike, hits go-ahead three-run homer in seventh, drives in five runs.

GOLF
Schalick 180, Cumberland 186: One day after beating the Colts in a three-way card playoff for the Salem/Cumberland Challenge team title, the Cougars edge them in a match to claim a share of the TCC Diamond Division title (with Woodstown).

TENNIS
Clayton at Penns Grove

BOYS LACROSSE
Bishop Eustace 9, Woodstown 7: The Crusaders outscored three goals in the fourth quarter to win. Connor Haney and Bob Waddington each scored three goals for Woodstown. Bryce Downer made 15 saves, finishing his Woodstown career with 731.

VOLLEYBALL
Clearview at Salem Tech

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.”

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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.

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.

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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