PENNS GROVE — Earlier this month, the Penns Grove Regional Exchange Club presented its 2023 Scholar Athlete Awards to the outstanding senior male and female scholar-athletes at Penns Grove, Pennsville and Woodstown high schools.
The recipients have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics and other extracurricular activities. Each received a $250 check and a congratulatory citation from the New Jersey District 3 legislators and the Salem County Board of Commissioners.
This year’s winners were Ali Bowman and Jared Vandersteur of Pennsville, Mya Walker and Connor Smith of Penns Grove, and Giuliana Guardascione and Will Haines of Woodstown.
Penns Grove athletics director Anwar Golden, an Exchange Club member, served as master of ceremonies. Mike Maconi, the head scorer for the Philadelphia Phillies and a Penns Grove grad, was the keynote speaker.
Month: June 2023
Sutton, Parsons power Salem LL
Resilient Salem will get another shot at South Vineland in District 3 winner’s bracket game Sunday
By Riverview Sports News
ELMER – The Salem Little League 12U All-Stars have been nothing short of resilient during this District 3 Tournament. They used the long ball Friday to put together their second dramatic win in as many nights, this time rallying to beat East Vineland 6-3 in the opening game of the district championship series.
Salem now plays South Vineland in a winner’s bracket game 5 p.m. Sunday in Millville. East Vineland and Millville American play in an elimination game at 7.
“That’s what we talked to them before the game about, that tonight was the most important one, get this one and set yourself on a path,” Salem manager Brian Dolbow said. “Sunday’s game is against the other winner and if we can pull that one out, we’re in the driver’s seat.
“We were just trying to lay it out in front of them and kind of challenge them a little bit. This is the path and the best, easiest, path is to stay in the winner’s bracket. If we can pull one out on Sunday we would be in a really good position.”
Salem lost to South Vineland 4-3 in eight innings in their first game of pool play.
Salem trailed twice against East Vineland, 1-0 in the first inning and 3-2 in the second, but rallied both times to take the lead.
Pitcher Drew Sutton hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give his team its first lead, 2-1. Gabe Parsons drilled a three-run shot in the third to snap a 3-3 tie and put his team up for good.
“These kids never quit,” coach Brian Sutton said. “They don’t ever give up, they keep fighting.”
Sutton pitched into the sixth inning before he reached his pitch limit. In 5 2/3 innings he allowed four hits, no earned runs and struck out eight. He’s only allowed two earned runs and struck out 31 in three tournament appearances (15 2/3 innings). He’s also 8-for-10 with two homers and six RBIs at the plate.
Taryn Priore got the final out, throwing three pitches. Sutton and Priore know what it takes to win here, having played on last year’s Alloway district championship team.
Parsons, who had the game-winning hit in Salem’s walk-off win over Buena Thursday to earn its spot in the playoffs, went 2-for-2 with three RBIs. He has homered in three straight games and is 6-for-11 with 12 RBIs in the tournament.
“He’s a special player for 12 years old, that’s for sure,” Dolbow said. “He’s just got lightning-quick hands. Super athletic. He’s a heck of a hitter. For a 12-year-old kid, he’s got a very good swing, good mechanics and, obviously, he’s super athletic. He can play anywhere. He’s very versatile, helps us out a ton that way.”
East Vineland took a 3-2 lead with two runs in the second. Salem tied it in the fourth when Ben Parkell scored on a passed ball. Parsons hit his game-winning homer two batters later.
“They’ve fought hard every game we’ve played,” Dolbow said. “These boys have got some mental toughness about them for 12-year-olds. They’re able to shake it off and get to the next play. That’s the kind of mentality we’re looking for as coaches.”
DISTRICT 3 LL PLAYOFFS
Game 1
East Vineland 120 000 – 3 4 2
Salem 204 00x – 6 4 3
WP: Drew Sutton (1-0). LP: Luca Buono. 2B: Wesley Perkins (EV). HR: Drew Sutton (S), Gabe Parsons (S).
Game 2
South Vineland 101 051 – 8 14 1
Millville American 000 200 – 2 8 0
Salem walks it off
Run in bottom of the sixth sends Salem 12U into District 3 championship round; Elmer no-hits Pennsville in their final game
By Riverview Sports News
BUENA — The Salem 12U Little League All-Stars scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to beat Buena 7-6 Thursday night for the final spot in the four-team District 3 championship series.
It was the completion of Tuesday’s game, suspended by weather in the bottom of the third inning with Salem leading 6-1.
Buena came out fast on the restart, tying the game with five runs in the fourth. It loaded the bases in the fifth but failed to score.
Salem scored the winning run with none out in the sixth on a hit batsman and a single that got through the outfield.
Salem now plays East Vineland in the first game of the double-loss District 3 finals Friday, 5:45 p.m. in Elmer. South Vineland and Millville American play in the other first-round game at 8.
In the final American Division pool play game, host Elmer no-hit Pennsville 9-0. Elmer pitchers walked four and struck out 15.
DISTRICT 3 LITTLE LEAGUE (12U)
Friday’s Games at Elmer
G1: East Vineland vs. Salem, 5:45 p.m.
G2: South Vineland vs. Millville American, 8 p.m.
Sunday’s Games at Millville American
G3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
G4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 7 p.m.
July 5 at South Vineland
G5: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser, 5 p.m.
July 6 at East Vineland
G6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m.
July 7 at East Vineland
G7: If necessary, 7 p.m.
How sweep it is
Pennsville senior softball scores a pair of run-rule victories to sweep Elmer for this group’s sixth straight District title
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – For a team supposedly playing under the weight of some pretty high expectations, the Pennsville Little League Senior Softball stars sure are a loose bunch.
The players Wobble and line dance in front of the dugout before the game, they play country music between innings, the pitcher spins with a pretzel rod in her back pocket and, in a twist on an older theme, this year they give manager Chris Watson white eye-black moustaches on his upper lip.
There’s nothing it seems that fazes these girls.
That looseness translated into big things Thursday night. It produced an eight-run first inning in the first game of their District 3 championship series with Elmer and an eventual 15-0, 11-1 run-rule sweep for this group’s sixth straight district title.
Now they’re off until Monday after drawing a bye in the first round of the Section 4 Tournament they host. They’ll face the winner of Sunday’s game between Middle Twp. and the District 15 champs.
“I think the fact that we’re loose as a team helps us play better,” pitcher Jess Bretz said. “We’ve had games where we’ve been tight and all been overthinking everything that’s been happening. The fact we hit the “Wobble” before every game and we do the “Cotton-Eyed Joe” we bond together and being loose on the field helps us mold together better.”
Watson isn’t one to join in the fun, but he “let’s them be them.” He admits he allows them “get away with a little more than I should sometimes.”
This is a team with designs of going to the Little League Senior Softball World Series in Delaware later this summer and they played like it Thursday night.
They batted around in each of the first two innings of the opener, opening a 14-0 lead. Leadoff Lily Edwards accounted for five runs in the eight-run first, walking and scoring the game’s first run and later clearing the bases with a double and scoring when the cutoff throw to get her at third was wild.
They were having a high time of it. Seven starters had at least one hit in the game and they got runs from eight spots in the lineup. Bretz went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and Avery Watson went 3-for-3 with three RBIs.
“We just have to come with energy; it just gets us excited and relaxed and in the zone,” Edwards said.
Sometimes, however, they can have too much of a good thing. It was a little slower to start in Game 2, but they got it going again and erupted for seven in the second inning of what was a come-from-behind win.
They sent 10 batters to the plate in their big inning. Kylie Harris had the big hit, a two-run single. Edwards, Bella Rappa and Sawyer Simmons also drove home runs in the inning.
“I have to watch them and make sure they maintain that energy because every once in a while they dip and they dipped a little today at the beginning of that second game and it showed,” Watson said. “They get flat, they get tired. As soon as that energy drops so does our play. I think all the girls have realized that so they’ll start poking each other and getting each back up again. It’s kind of become our identity.”
Bretz pitched a four-inning no-hitter in the first game and a five-inning two-hitter in the nightcap. She struck out seven in the first game, nine in the second.
She allowed five base runners in the opener and got out of a jam in the second inning. She got the final out of the gem when catcher Kylie Harris threw through to pick off a runner at second base.
The first hit Bretz allowed all night was Aubrie Rennie’s single in the first inning of the nightcap and Rennie scored on a wild pitch. Elmer loaded the bases in the second, but Bretz got out of it unscathed and then retired the last nine in a row.
In 16 innings over three district tournament games, the hard-throwing right-hander allowed one earned run, seven hits and struck out 31.
This group of Pennsville softball players has been collecting district titles for the past six years, a run that started as 10Us; only a walk-off loss their first year together kept it from being seven straight. Three players – Savannah Palverento, Avery Watson and Kloi Tighe – have been on all of them.
And while the post-game celebrations may not be as spirited as they once were, the winning never gets old.
“I feel like it’s still very important to know what you need to do in order to get to where you want to get,” Palverento said. “Districts, yeah, it’s only one step, but it’s still an important step to get where you need to be.”
DISTRICT 3 SENIOR SOFTBALL
Game 1
Pennsville 861 0 – 15 11 1
Elmer 000 0 – 0 0 0
WP: Jess Bretz (2-0). LP: Ava Schneider. 2B: Kylie Harris (P), Avery Watson (P), Lily Edwards (P). 3B: Jess Bretz (P).
Game 2
Elmer 100 00 – 1 2 4
Pennsville 272 0x – 11 7 0
WP: Jess Bretz (3-0). LP: Ady Stewart.
SECTION 4 TOURNAMENT
At Pennsville
Sunday’s Game
Monroe vs. Middle Twp., 6 p.m.
Monday’s Game
Monroe-Middle Twp. winner vs. Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Wednesday’s Game
Monroe-Middle loser vs. Game 2 loser, 6 p.m.
Thursday’s Game
Championship Game, 6 p.m.
If necessary, 8 p.m.
Finished business
Pennsville picks up where it left off the night before, completes 10-2 District 3 Senior Softball win over Franklin Twp.
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
FRANKLINVILLE – It may have taken another day and another trip down U.S. 40, but the Pennsville Senior Softball stars finished what they started the day before, saved themselves a game and will play for a district title Thursday night on their own field.
Pennsville put the finishing touches on a 10-2 victory over Franklin Twp. Wednesday that started Tuesday and was suspended for weather after only 14 pitches in the top of the first inning. By completing the victory, they eliminated Franklin Twp. from championship contention in the District 3 Tournament and will now host Elmer in a potential championship doubleheader at 5:45 p.m. Thursday.
Had Franklin Twp. won, Pennsville would have had to play their final pool game against Elmer Thursday with the potential of tiebreakers determining the two championship teams in a title round starting Friday. If Pennsville and Elmer split Thursday, the winner-take-all “if” game will be played Friday.
The Section 4 Tournament starts Sunday in Pennsville.
“I’m relieved,” Pennsville manager Chris Watson said. “This was a huge game because if we did not win this then we’re probably playing on Friday … and nobody wants to play on Friday.”
Pennsville took a 3-0 lead into the restart, but it took them a little while to get started. Their first five batters of the day all struck out against Franklin Twp.’s Iris Chapman and Watson admitted he was “concerned,” but once they got to the top of the order again they started to pull away.
The first four batters in their lineup went a combined eight for 14 with seven runs and eight RBIs. Leadoff hitter Lily Edwards was 4-for-4 with three runs and two stolen bases. Kylie Harris went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the third inning and four RBIs. Pitcher Jess Bretz had a two-run single and three RBIs and Bella Rappa hit a homer before Tuesday’s suspension of play.
“I guess that’s just how the top of the order sparks us,” Watson said. “It’s like we need Lily to lead off a night. With all the home run hitters we have on this squad, and there are a lot of them, Lily is like our biggest weapon. She gets on base, she scores.
“We’ve been working on it (the top of the lineup) for years. We put Lily at leadoff three years ago playing Franklin Twp. in sectionals and she took them apart then, too.”
The restart wasn’t without a little drama. Franklin Twp. leveled a protest that the game should be restarted from scratch instead of resuming at the point of suspension. District 3 officials called the Little League Eastern District office for clarification and it was ruled the game would resume from the point of suspension.
It didn’t much matter. Pennsville outscored their hosts 7-2 in the innings that were played Wednesday. They broke it open in the third on Harris’ two-run homer and a two-run double by Savannah Palverento, taking a 7-0 lead.
“It was really important to jump on them early from the start, make sure we get that lead and maintain it,” Harris said. “It shuts the other team down right away so you can back them up more (and) go home early.”
Bretz was strong in the circle. She pitched all seven innings with a pretzel rod in her back pocket, but didn’t go to it once, although she was tempted. Last year during Pennsville’s 17-inning day in the Sectionals, the coaches brought her chicken tenders in the circle to keep her energy up.
Her energy and velocity was up plenty Wednesday. She allowed five hits, nine base runners and struck out 15. She threw 115 pitches, 77 for strikes. Ten of her first 12 outs were strikeouts and she had at least two strikeouts in six of the seven innings.
“The last two years we’ve been here I haven’t been nervous, but today was different because it’s a new team, we have a few new players this year,” Bretz said. “It helped my game today because I knew what I had to do and I had a job.
“I’m feeling this because we have expectations because we went so far last year and for some of the girls it’s their last year so we want to go as far if not farther this year.”
DISTRICT 3 LL SENIOR SOFTBALL
Pennsville 304 201 0 – 10 10 1
Franklin Twp. 000 110 0 – 2 5 2
WP: Jess Bretz. LP: Iris Chapman. 2B: Avery Watson (P), Kylee Harris (P), Savannah Palverento (P), Iris Chapman (FT), Laney Vecchio (FT). HR: Bella Rappa (P), Kylee Harris (P), Riley Hunter (FT).
Girls tennis schedule
Here is the 2023 girls tennis schedule for Salem County high schools; will be updated when schedules become available
Sept. 5
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Sept. 6
Woodstown at West Deptford, 4 p.m.
Sept. 7
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Sept. 11
Glassboro at Salem, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Sept. 13
Pennsville at Salem, 4 p.m.
Sept. 15
Woodstown at Cumberland, 4 p.m.
Sept. 18
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Sept. 19
Woodstown at Overbook, 4 p.m.
Sept. 20
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Sept. 22
Pennsville at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Sept. 25
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Sept. 27
Pennsville at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Sept. 28
Our Lady of Mercy at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Sept. 29
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Oct. 2
Kingsway at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Oct. 3
Schalick at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Oct. 6
Woodstown at Delsea, 4 p.m.
Oct. 9
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Oct. 10
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Oct. 12
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Oct. 16
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Oct. 17
Pennsville at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
Oct. 18
Overbrook at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Girls soccer schedule
Here is the 2023 girls soccer schedule for Salem County high schools; will be updated when schedules become available
Sept. 7
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Deptford Twp., 4 p.m.
Sept. 8
Woodstown at Deptford Twp., 4 p.m.
Sept. 11
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Sept. 13
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Salem at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Sept. 15
Gateway at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Cherry Hill West, 4 p.m.
Sept. 16
Schalick at Delsea, 10 a.m.
Sept. 18
Salem at Bridgeton, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Sept. 21
Overbook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Sept. 22
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Sept. 25
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Sept. 27
Pennsville at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Sept. 28
Highland Regional at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Sept. 29
Salem at Pennsauken Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Oct. 3
Overbrook at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Oct. 5
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Oct. 7
Schalick at Our Lady of Mercy, 4 p.m.
Oct. 9
Schalick at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Audubon, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11
Overbrook at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Oct. 13
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m.
Oct. 16
Gloucester City at Salem, 4 p.m.
Oct. 17
Glassboro at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Oct. 19
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Oct. 20
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Oct. 23
Ocean City at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.
Salem Co. Vo-Tech at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Boys soccer schedule
Here is the 2023 boys soccer schedule for Salem County high school teams; will be updated as schedules become available
Sept. 7
Overbrook at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pittman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Sept. 9
Gateway at Schalick, 10 a.m.
Sept. 11
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Sept. 13
Clayton at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Sept. 15
Buena at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Sept. 18
Salem at Pennsauken Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Sept. 19
Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m.
Sept. 21
Glassboro at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbook, 4 p.m.
Sept. 22
Audubon at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Haddon Heights at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Sept. 25
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Sept. 27
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Sept. 29
Pennsville at Paulsboro, 4 p.m.
Salem at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Palmyra, 4 p.m.
Oct. 3
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.
Oct. 5
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Oct. 7
Schalick at Woodstown, 5 p.m.
Oct. 9
Gateway at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
Paulsboro at Salem, 4 p.m.
Washington Twp. at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Oct. 11
Clayton at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Oct. 13
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Oct. 16
Salem at Gloucester City, 6 p.m.
Woodstown at Sterling, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17
Overbook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Oct. 19
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 4 p.m.
Oct. 20
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Oct. 23
Salem Co. Vo-Tech at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
Field hockey schedule
Here is the 2023 schedule for the Salem County high schools; will be updated as schedules become available
Sept. 7
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Sept. 8
Pennsville at Gateway, 4 p.m.
Sept. 12
Pennsville at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Deptford Twp., 4 p.m.
Sept. 14
Clayton at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Deptford Twp., 4 p.m.
Schalick at Clearview, 4 p.m.
Sept. 15
Cumberland at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Sept. 18
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Sept. 20
Overbook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Deptford Twp., 4 p.m.
Sept. 22
Bridgeton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.
Sept. 25
Timber Creek at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Sept. 26
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Sept. 28
Deptford Twp. at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Oct. 2
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Oct. 4
Deptford Twp. at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Oct. 5
Cumberland Reg. at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Oct. 6
Salem at Audubon, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Williamstown, 4 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Delsea at Total Turf, Pitman, 5:45 p.m.
Oct. 9
Our Lady of Mercy at Schalick, TBD
Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.
Oct. 10
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 4 p.m.
Oct. 12
Schalick at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Oct. 13
Salem at Gloucester Co. Tech, 4 p.m.
Oct. 16
Deptford Twp. at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Oakcrest, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbook, 4 p.m.
Oct. 18
Oakcrest at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Salem at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Oct. 20
Clayton at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Thunder and lightning
Rappa’s homer highlights Pennsville’s fast start, but District 3 senior softball opener suspended in first inning; play resumes Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
FRANKLINVILLE – Imagine driving an hour to play a game, getting 14 pitches and four productive at bats, then having the bottom fall out and calling it a night.
That’s what happened to the Pennsville senior softball stars Tuesday night in their District 3 tournament opener at Franklin Twp.
Pennsville opened a 3-0 lead with its first four batters before their game was suspended with one out in the top of the first due to weather. Forecasts called for rain well into the night. The game will pick up at that point whenever it resumes.
District officials announced late Tuesday evening the teams would reconvene in Franklinville Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. to resume play. If Pennsville hangs on to win Franklin Twp. would be eliminated and Pennsville’s home pool play game with Elmer Thursday becomes a 5:45 doubleheader for the district championship.
“Everybody will tend to cancel pretty quickly,” Pennsville manager Chris Watson said. “The players and coaches wanted to play; we would’ve waited until 8 or 9 o’clock tonight to play that game. The girls were fired up. Each one of them wanted to be there and wanted to play, even if it was going to take all night.
“It’s in everybody’s interest to wrap this thing up by Thursday, including the district, because they want to send a strong team to sectionals and we need to wrap it up because sectionals (at Pennsville) start on Sunday.”
Nevertheless, it was a pleasant ride back for the Pennsville players, especially Bella Rappa. The rising Pennsville senior hit her first over-the-fence home run ever to highlight the abbreviated first inning.
Rappa had hit many balls off the top of the fence that bounced back into play before and did have an inside-the-park homer in last year’s regional tournament in Massachusetts, but the rising 0-1 pitch she hit to center Tuesday night was the first time an umpire waved his hand signaling her to touch ‘em all.
“I really didn’t think it was going to go over because it didn’t hit the full barrel of the bat,” Rappa said, “but it was kind of really cool when the umpire started waving his little finger around. To be able to trot the bases and know I just hit a solo home run was pretty cool.
“It’s always been on my mind like I would really like to hit a home run, but it’s not something I always strived for because we don’t always need it. I like to say small ball is more important than hitting the long ball. But it’s a nice feeling when you finally hit a long ball.”
One pitch to Bella Farina after Rappa brought the thunder, the umpires brought the teams off the field for lightning. Usually, it’s the other way around – the lightning, then thunder.
Pennsville came ready to play. Lilly Edwards led off with a single and scored on Kylie Harris’ double. Harris went to third on the throw to the plate and scored on Jess Bretz’ sacrifice fly. Rappa followed with her homer to make it 3-0.
Bella Farina came to the plate and drew a first-pitch ball before the Franklin Twp. coaches informed the umpires of lightning in the area and the game was halted.
“It was everything I would have hoped to start off a game,” Watson said.
“The whole team had really good energy,” Rappa said.
Three teams will come to Pennsville for the Section 4 tournament. The District 3 winner draws a first-round bye while the District 15 and 16 winners play. The Section winner also draws a first-round bye at the three-team state tournament.
District 3 12U LL Baseball
Some games did get played to completion Tuesday night. Millville American eliminated Elmer 4-2 and clinched the No. 2 seed in the American Division.
Salem and Buena, meanwhile, had their game suspended and they’ll resume Thursday at 8 p.m. in Buena. Before that, however, Salem will be out to keep its playoff chances alive with a 5:45 p.m. Wednesday home game against winless South Cumberland.
A Salem victory Wednesday would make that Thursday game with Buena for the No. 2 seed in the National Division. South Cumberland lost both of its first two games 15-0.
Pennsville and Elmer will play out their pool schedule Thursday 5:45 p.m. in Elmer.
So, the District 3 12U double-loss finals look like this:
Friday at Elmer
East Vineland vs. National No. 2 (Buena or Salem), 5:45 p.m.
South Vineland vs. Millville American, 8 p.m.
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