Posted: Apr 25, 2024
By Al Muskewitz
PENNSVILLE, N.J. – Caitlin LaGreca spun a shutout in the opener, the offense produced throughout the lineup and the Salem Community College softball team completed the home portion of its 2024 schedule with a doubleheader sweep of Camden County College Thursday, 8-0 and 13-1.
The Mighty Oaks (28-12) wrapped up their first season on Watson Field at the Pennsville Little League complex with an 18-2 record. They won their first 14 there and their last four.
"We closed it out doing what we normally do, put the ball into play, backing up our pitchers, just enjoying the game," Mighty Oaks coach Angel Rodriguez said. "So, we finally got back where we wanted to be to, so it's good.
"We felt at home here. We did what we needed to do for a lot of those games and we kept it simple. I definitely think the atmosphere, the new energy, the positive vibes we were getting here from the start just kind of collected in for all the games."
In the circle, LaGreca allowed just two inning-leadoff singles and five baserunners – none beyond second base – in the opener. Morgan Mecham gave up three hits, allowed five baserunners and struck out eight in the nightcap. Both faced only four batters over the minimum in the five-inning games.
At the plate, Ella Hayes hit her 11th home run of the season in the first game and Haylee Pickrell homered and drove in four runs in her final home game in Game 2. KiKi Beukman had three RBIs in the opener and Emilie Hamm had two hits and three RBIs in the nightcap.
Every spot in the line reached base at least once in both games and eight of the nine spots scored at least one run in both games.
"We saw things from top to bottom," Rodriguez said. "A lot of key players got some good at bats today, put the ball into play. We're going to rely on that depth heading into next week. It's all hands on deck, so that was good to see today just knowing that people can come in and do a simple job."
Hayes' three-run homer in the first inning got the Oaks going in the opener. Beukman drove in a run in the second and Faith Penn plated a run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly. Kalila Pace brough a run home in the fifth with she was hit by a pitch with bases loaded and Beukman walked it off with a two-run single.
The Oaks scored three runs in the first inning of the nightcap, too. Hamm had an RBI single and Pickrell an RBI triple. They tacked on six in the second inning, highlighted by Hamm's two-run double and RBI singles by Pickrell and KC Garcia. They added two more in the third and Pickrell's two-run homer in the fourth made it 13-1.
The Mighty Oaks wrap up their regular season Friday at Bergen Community College before heading to Mercer Community College next week as the No. 4 seed in the Region XIX Tournament.
PENNSVILLE, N.J. – Caitlin LaGreca spun a shutout in the opener, the offense produced throughout the lineup and the Salem Community College softball team completed the home portion of its 2024 schedule with a doubleheader sweep of Camden County College Thursday, 8-0 and 13-1.
The Mighty Oaks (28-12) wrapped up their first season on Watson Field at the Pennsville Little League complex with an 18-2 record. They won their first 14 there and their last four.
"We closed it out doing what we normally do, put the ball into play, backing up our pitchers, just enjoying the game," Mighty Oaks coach Angel Rodriguez said. "So, we finally got back where we wanted to be to, so it's good.
"We felt at home here. We did what we needed to do for a lot of those games and we kept it simple. I definitely think the atmosphere, the new energy, the positive vibes we were getting here from the start just kind of collected in for all the games."
In the circle, LaGreca allowed just two inning-leadoff singles and five baserunners – none beyond second base – in the opener. Morgan Mecham gave up three hits, allowed five baserunners and struck out eight in the nightcap. Both faced only four batters over the minimum in the five-inning games.
At the plate, Ella Hayes hit her 11th home run of the season in the first game and Haylee Pickrell homered and drove in four runs in her final home game in Game 2. KiKi Beukman had three RBIs in the opener and Emilie Hamm had two hits and three RBIs in the nightcap.
Every spot in the line reached base at least once in both games and eight of the nine spots scored at least one run in both games.
"We saw things from top to bottom," Rodriguez said. "A lot of key players got some good at bats today, put the ball into play. We're going to rely on that depth heading into next week. It's all hands on deck, so that was good to see today just knowing that people can come in and do a simple job."
Hayes' three-run homer in the first inning got the Oaks going in the opener. Beukman drove in a run in the second and Faith Penn plated a run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly. Kalila Pace brough a run home in the fifth with she was hit by a pitch with bases loaded and Beukman walked it off with a two-run single.
The Oaks scored three runs in the first inning of the nightcap, too. Hamm had an RBI single and Pickrell an RBI triple. They tacked on six in the second inning, highlighted by Hamm's two-run double and RBI singles by Pickrell and KC Garcia. They added two more in the third and Pickrell's two-run homer in the fourth made it 13-1.
The Mighty Oaks wrap up their regular season Friday at Bergen Community College before heading to Mercer Community College next week as the No. 4 seed in the Region XIX Tournament.
