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Monday, April 16, 2007 By Mike Ballard RAPTOR OF THE WEEK
Freshman Dave Taraschi broke the Rutgers-Camden golf program record by shooting a 1-under-par 69 to win individual medalist honors at the Tom Ruggieri Invitational II April 10. Taraschi not only finished five strokes ahead of the runnerup and was the lone golfer under par that day, but he broke the former Rutgers-Camden record of 71, which was set by Chris Binder at the Susquehanna Spring Invitational April 7, 2005.
SOFTBALL (20-12/6-4 NJAC) April Tues. 10* Rutgers-Camden 6-6, The College of New Jersey 3-0 Upcoming Games Tues. 17* Richard Stockton College (DH) 3:30 p.m. The Lady Raptors posted a 5-1 mark in six games last week, including a 3-1 mark in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Along the way they saw senior right fielder Autumn Millett (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) set new program records for most home runs (12) and total bases (98) in a season and most career games played (173). The Raptors swept doubleheaders against The College of New Jersey (6-3 and 6-0) April 10 and Neumann College (5-2 and 10-7) April 11. They closed the week by splitting an April 14 conference doubleheader against Kean University, losing the opener, 3-1, and winning the nightcap, 4-0. The results lifted the Raptors to 20-12, giving Rutgers-Camden its sixth consecutive 20-win season under Head Coach Carl Taylor. In the final twinbill of the week, Kean University sophomore Maryelise Gierke threw a three-hitter in the opening game and Rutgers-Camden sophomore Natalie Powell (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) hurled a three-hit shutout in the nightcap at Rutgers-Camden Community Park. Gierke allowed only one unearned run, walked three and struck out four in winning a 3-1 pitchers’ duel against Lady Raptors senior Megan Farrell (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep). Farrell allowed seven hits and three earned runs. She didn’t walk a batter and struck out two as her record fell to 6-4. Two of the Cougars’ seven hits were solo home runs. Junior shortstop Johanna Hedler led off the game with a first-pitch home run, her third homer of the season. Sophomore second baseman Sara Steinman hit her fifth homer of the season in the sixth inning. Kean’s other run came in the fourth inning on an RBI single by sophomore catcher Vicki Lanza. Rutgers-Camden scored an unearned run in the second inning following a leadoff single by junior first baseman Kathleen Dreitlein (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston). She advanced on a passed ball and a ground out and scored on a wild pitch. Steinman and Lanza each collected two hits for the Cougars. Powell turned the tables with a three-hitter in the nightcap, despite walking nine, as she raised her record to 7-3. She struck out nine in hurling her second NJAC shutout of the week and winning her third decision of the week. Powell received plenty of defensive support as the Lady Raptors turned double plays in three consecutive innings from the fourth through the sixth. Two were turned by senior shortstop Alaina Giles (Willingboro, NJ/Holy Cross), while the fifth-inning twin-killing started with a foul fly caught in left by Farrell, who threw a strike to senior catcher Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) for a putout at the plate. Rutgers-Camden scored the only run Powell needed in the first inning on back-to-back two-out doubles by freshman third baseman Steph Skroski (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) and Dreitlein. In the fifth inning, second baseman Kim Zlupko (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) hit her first home run since transferring to Rutgers-Camden for her senior season. Zlupko ripped a two-run shot to left field, plating Giles, who had reached on a fielder’s choice. The Raptors added their final run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Dreitlein. Kean junior Kristen Hennings took the loss, allowing 10 hits, four earned runs and one walk. She fanned six. Skroski had three hits, while Dreitlein and sophomore center fielder Marissa Van Cleef (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) each added two. Millett ripped a third-inning double to give her 98 total bases on the season, breaking Michelle Schlichtig’s program mark of 97 set in 2006 In the sweep of Neumann, Millett hit a home run in each game, set the Rutgers-Camden program records for home runs in one season and added the mark for most games played in her career to power the Lady Raptors over the Knights. The Lady Raptors broke open a 2-2 game in the bottom of the fourth inning of the opener when Van Cleef hit a one-out single to left field and scored on Millett’s record-setting home run to center field. It was her 11th homer of the season, breaking her tie for the club mark with Becky Johnson, who clubbed 10 homers in 2004. The Raptors added an insurance run in the sixth inning on a walk and stolen base by Millett and a run-scoring single by Skroski. Rutgers-Camden had scored a pair of unearned runs in the first inning off of Neumann sophomore Angela Sebasto. The Knights, however, tied the game in the top of the fourth on back-to-back homers by Sebasto and senior center fielder Kristen Lawlor. Van Cleef (6-3) hurled a seven-hitter, walking one, striking out four and allowing two earned runs to collect the win. Sebasto (7-2) scattered 11 hits and three walks in her six-inning complete game. She struck out one and allowed five runs, three earned. Van Cleef had three hits for the Raptors, while Millett went 2-for-2 with three runs and two RBIs. Skroski and Baney also added two hits. Baney also hit the fifth sacrifice fly of her career, setting a program record. Sebasto and junior right fielder Lauren Gallagher each went 2-for-3 for the Knights. In the nightcap, Neumann scored three first-inning runs off Powell, aided by a two-run single from Lawlor, before Rutgers-Camden mounted a comeback. The Raptors scored two unearned runs in the first and tied the game in the second on the first career home run by freshman second baseman Andrea D’Anduono (Lanoka Harbor, NJ/Lacey Township). Rutgers-Camden took the lead for good in the third on a line drive RBI single off the glove of the third baseman by freshman left fielder Mary Beth Foley (Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit). The Raptors added a four-run fourth, which included a solo homer by Millett – her 12th of the season – and a three-run home run by junior designated player Amber Parker (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken). A two-run sixth, which included an RBI single by Baney, gave the Raptors a 10-3 lead, but Neumann scored four times in the seventh inning before Powell nailed down the win. The big hits in that frame were a two-run ground-rule double by freshman first baseman Jen Goslin, an RBI double by Lawlor and a run-scoring triple by junior designated player Audrie Porter. Powell hurled a complete game, allowing 13 hits and no walks, while striking out three. She surrendered seven runs, six earned. The nightcap was the 171st career game for Millett, passing the old program record of 170 held by Celeste Chinappi (2002-05). Parker, Millet, D’Anduono and Dreitlein, who was playing catcher in the nightcap, each had two hits for Rutgers-Camden. Millett, who finished the night 4-for-6 with four runs and three RBIs, had 11 total bases on the evening. Goslin had three hits for Neumann, while Lawlor, Porter and sophomore catcher Caitlin Hanrahan each had two for the Knights. Farrell and Powell combined to hold The College of New Jersey to nine hits as the Scarlet Raptors swept a NJAC doubleheader from the Lions in Ewing April 10. The Lady Raptors scored two quick unearned runs in the top of the first inning of the opener following a pair of singles by Van Cleef and Millett. Van Cleef scored on an error and Millett came home on a two-out double by Baney. After the Lions scored in the fourth on an RBI single from senior center fielder Jen Hughes, the Lady Raptors countered with two runs in the top of the fifth. Millett singled, Skroski doubled and Dreitlein delivered an RBI single. Skroski later scored on a wild pitch and Parker added an RBI single. Trailing, 5-1, the Lions added a run in the fifth on a solo home run by senior second baseman Tara Harrigan, and tacked on a run in the sixth on a run-scoring single by freshman third baseman Rachel Greeby. The Lady Raptors tacked on an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI single by Giles. Farrell finished with a six-hitter, walking one and striking out four. She allowed three earned runs. For the Raptors, Skroski had three hits, while Millett, Baney and Giles each added two. The Lions received two hits apiece by Hughes and Harrigan. In the second game, Powell shut down the Lions on three hits to earn her fourth shutout. She walked one and struck out two. The Lady Raptors took the lead for good in a three-run first inning, featuring a bases-loaded walk to Baney and a two-run double by Parker. Dreitlein drew an RBI walk in the second for Rutgers-Camden, which also added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Parker singled and pinch-runner Valeri Bohn (Delran, NJ/Holy Cross) scored on a wild pitch in the fifth. Dreitlein hit her sixth home run of the season in the sixth. For the game, Millett went 3-for-4, while Dreitlein was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Parker also went 2-for-3 and drove home two runs. BASEBALL (12-15/1-8 NJAC) April Mon. 9 Rutgers-Camden 8-4, Catholic University 7-3 (first game 12 innings) Upcoming Games Mon. 16 at The College of New Jersey 3:30 p.m. May The Scarlet Raptors played four games during the week and all of them went down to the final at bat. Early in the week, Rutgers-Camden swept Catholic University (April 9) at Campbell’s Field by scores of 8-7 and 4-3, when junior right fielder Joe Midili (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) poked game-winning singles in the 12th and seventh innings, respectively. On April 14 in Newark, the Raptors saw Rutgers-Newark win a pair of games in the bottom of the ninth inning, 6-5 and 8-7. The second game was especially painful for the Raptors, who took a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth before allowing eight runs. In the opener, Midili singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning as the Raptors outlasted the Cardinals, 8-7, in a marathon that lasted 3:54 and tied the Rutgers-Camden record for the longest contest in program history. The game was the seventh 12-inning game in Rutgers-Camden baseball history and the first since the Raptors outlasted The College of New Jersey, 3-2, on April 13, 2006 in Camden. In a game that featured 36 players, 27 hits and five more innings than the regularly-scheduled seven frames, Rutgers-Camden started its decisive rally with a one-out walk in the 12th by senior pinch-hitter Butch Amato (Haddon Heights, NJ/Paul VI). Freshman first baseman Paul Painter (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) followed with a single to left field and freshman Tim Wasco (Riverside, NJ/Riverside) ran for Amato at second base. Midili followed with his single to left field, scoring Wasco with the winning run. With Rutgers-Camden holding a 5-4 lead, Catholic tied the game in the top of the seventh with an unearned run on a two-out RBI single by sophomore third baseman Joe Devine. Both teams scored in the ninth, with the Cardinals scoring on an RBI single by sophomore catcher Patrick Quintana and the Raptors countering on a run-scoring single by freshman shortstop Dennis O’Hanlan (Riverside, NJ/Riverside). Catholic took another lead in the top of the 10th with an unearned run, but Rutgers-Camden tied the game again when senior Mark Wickersham (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) ripped a pinch-hit double and was replaced by junior pinch-runner Andrew Lihotz (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast). Lihotz scored on a pinch-hit single by Painter. Rutgers-Camden freshman Perry Tate (Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield) worked the final five innings with two-hit ball to collect his first collegiate victory. Tate, 1-0, allowed two runs (one earned) and one walk, while striking out five. Freshman Connor Miehm took the loss for Catholic, dropping to 0-3. He worked 2.1 innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Quintana had three hits in the game for the Cardinals. In the nightcap, it appeared that Rutgers-Camden wouldn’t need any late-game heroics. Sailing along with a 3-0 lead behind senior southpaw Tim Whitman (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East), the Raptors watched the Cardinals tie the game in the top of the seventh with two outs on an RBI single by junior shortstop Joseph Maca and a two-run single by senior center fielder Pedro Rivera. In the bottom of the seventh, freshman catcher Vince Giunta (Sewell, NJ/Clearview Regional) drew a one-out walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Scott Fruits (Turnersville, NJ/Paul VI). Sophomore first baseman Matt Gabrielski (Atco, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) singled Fruits to second, setting the stage for Midili’s game-winning hit to center field. The Scarlet Raptors scored a pair of first-inning runs when Wickersham and Gabrielski were hit by pitches with the bases loaded. They added another run in the sixth inning when senior left fielder Mike Morris (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) doubled and scored on a single by junior third baseman Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton). Whitman (2-1) picked up the win, scattering eight hits and three walks in his complete-game performance. He allowed three earned runs in the top of the seventh and finished with six strikeouts. Sophomore Billy Robbett took the loss, working 1/3 of an inning and allowing two hits, one walk and the decisive run. He falls to 2-1 on the season. Rivera, Maca and junior catcher Paul Yantosh each had two hits in the game for the Cardinals. Park was the lone Raptor with two hits. The tables turned against Rutgers-Newark as the Raptors were swept in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader. After dropping a 6-5 decision in the opener, the Raptors took a seven-run lead into the bottom of the ninth inning of the nightcap, only to see the Scarlet Raiders rally for eight runs and an 8-7 victory. In the opener, Rutgers-Camden rallied from a 5-3 deficit to tie the game in the top of the ninth. The rally, sparked by a leadoff single from sophomore second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional), was capped by a game-tying two-out single from senior center fielder Nate Buchter (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional). In the bottom of the ninth, however, Newark senior shortstop John Farmer and senior first baseman Bill Mercurio opened the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Senior center fielder Brent DiMarco laid down a bunt single, which was thrown away, allowing Farmer to score the winning run. DeMarco went 4-for-4, including a two-run single in the first inning. He also scored a run in the third on a double by sophomore designated hitter Christian Diaz to give Rutgers-Newark a 3-1 lead. Junior left fielder Doug Ford doubled home a run in the fourth for the Scarlet Raiders, while Farmer made it a 5-2 game with a sacrifice fly. Amato drove home a run in the second on a fielder’s choice and added RBI singles in the fourth and eighth innings. He went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Buchter and senior catcher Tom Terrill (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) each had three hits for the Raptors. Buchter’s two runs scored gave him 99 for his career, one shy of becoming the sixth player in program history to score 100 runs. Rutgers-Camden appeared to have the nightcap under control, and senior starter Jason Ronca (Eastampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) left after eight innings of five-hit shutout ball, leading 7-0. The Raiders promptly exploded for eight runs on four hits, three walks, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly to pull out a stunning 8-7 victory. Freshman right fielder Anthony Yeswita had a three-run double in the frame. Senior second baseman Tom Callari singled home DiMarco with the winning run. The rally made a winner out of senior reliever Tom Reynolds, who worked the final five innings, allowing four hits, one walk and two unearned runs. Reynolds (1-3) fanned three. Terrill went 3-for-4, including a solo home run and a pair of doubles, for the Raptors. Giunta and Morris each had two hits for the Raptors, while Buchter went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. He also drew his 70th career walk to move into second on the career charts, seven behind all-time leader Brian Murphy (2001-04). OUTDOOR TRACK April Sat. 14 at New Jersey Invitational (at The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ) Men: 1. TCNJ, 135; 2. Lincoln (Pa.), 103; 3. Ithaca, 99; 4. Stockton, 63; 5. Haverford, 61; 6. Oneonta, 59.50; 7. NYU, 47; 8. Moravian, 44; 9. CCNY, 38; 10. Rutgers-Camden, 33; 11. Misericordia, 20; 12. (tie) New Jersey City and Keystone, 17; 14. Widener, 15; 15. Swarthmore, 13.50; 16. Ramapo, 12. Women: 1. Ithaca, 127; 2. TCNJ, 107.83; 3. Stockton, 90.33; 4. Moravian, 90; 5. CCNY, 62; 5. Lincoln (Pa), 62; 7. Haverford, 58.50; 8. Cabrini, 32; 8. Widener, 32; 10. Ramapo, 27; 11. Misericordia, 22; 12. Oneonta, 19; 13. Swarthmore, 15; 14. New Jersey City, 12; 15. Keystone, 2.33; 16. Rutgers-Camden, 1. Rutgers-Camden School Records: * Jonathan Salamon, 400 M, 50.67 (Old: 51.79 by David Lee at the Mason-Dixon Invitational, April 20, 2001) * 4x400 (Mike Fox, Akeem Lloyd, Stefon Coleman, Jonathan Salamon), 3:24.54 (Old: 3:25.86 by Matt Collins, David Lee, Russell Panetta and Ray DePasquale at the Penn Relays, April 27, 2001) Upcoming Meets Thur. 26-at Penn Relays Sat. 28 at Lions Invitational May 5 NJAC Championships Rutgers-Camden sophomore Jonathan Salamon (Bridgewater, NJ/St. Joseph-Metuchen) set a program record in the 400-meter dash and anchored the record-setting 4x400 relay to highlight the Scarlet Raptors’ strong performance at the New Jersey Invitational April 14 in Ewing. The Rutgers-Camden men scored 33 points to finish 10th out of 16 scoring teams in the event won by host school, The College of New Jersey (135 points). In the women’s competition, the Lady Raptors scored one point to finish last among 16 scoring teams. Ithaca College won the event with 127 points. Salamon’s 400-meter time of 50.67 broke the old school mark of 51.79 set by David Lee at the Mason-Dixon Invitational April 20, 2002. He finished eighth in the event. Lee also was part of the old record-holding 4x400, which held the school mark of 3:25.86 (from the Penn Relays on April 27, 2001) until Saturday. Salamon anchored the Rutgers-Camden team which finished fourth in a record-setting 3:24.54 time. Included on that team were junior Mike Fox (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley), freshman Akeem Lloyd (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) and sophomore Stefon Coleman (Penns Grove, NJ/Penns Grove). Salamon has erased three of Lee’s records from the charts in the last three invitationals. He also lowered Lee’s program mark at 800 meters with a 1:55.62 March 31 at the Danny Curran Invitational. Lloyd turned in one of the Raptors’ outstanding performances with his second-place finish at 800 meters (1:55.77), barely missing Salamon’s school mark. He finished a close second to TCNJ’s Jeff Zodda (1:54.91). The Scarlet Raptors also received five points with a fourth-place finish in the shot put (13.30 meters) by freshman Mark Smith (Vineland, NJ/Vineland), while junior Ian Chrzanowski (West Deptford, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) finished seventh in the same event (12.88 meters) to earn two points. Chrzanowski finished fourth in the discus, meanwhile, with a throw of 37.36 meters to earn five points, while Smith was eighth (34.54 M) to earn one point. Freshman Jon Anderson (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) finished fifth in the javelin (48.08 meters), while Fox was seventh in the 1,500-meter run (4:04.53). Junior Michael McClain (Sewell, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) finished 12th in the triple jump (10.29 meters) and 13th in the long jump (5.09 meters), while sophomore Travis Stewart (Runnemede, NJ/Triton Regional) was 12th at 1,500 meters (4:07.67). On the women’s side, freshman Ayla Maldonado (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) scored the Lady Raptors’ lone point with an eighth-place finish in the long jump (4.70 meters). Sophomore Becca Taylor (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) competed in both the discus (26.54 M) and shot put (8.25 M), finishing 16th and 21st, respectively. WOMEN’S CREW April Sat. 14 Knecht Cup (Cooper River, Pennsauken, NJ) Women’s Varsity Four Heat 1: 1. Mary Washington, 8:26.8; 2. Rutgers-Camden, 8:32.1; 3. Catholic, 8:47.8; 4. Susquehanna A, 8:58.7; 6. New York Maritime, 9:07.6. Final: 1. Marietta, 8:11.1; 2. Mary Washington, 8:15.3; 3. Rutgers-Camden, 8:20.4; 4. Catholic, 8:27.9; 5. Johns Hopkins, 8:30.5; 6. New York University, 8:33.1. Women’s Frosh/Novice Four Heat 2: 1. Lafayette A, 8:36.1; 2. Colgate, 8:51.7; 3. Rutgers-Camden, 8:55.4; 4. Carnegie Mellon, 9:02.2; 5. Lesley, 9:34.5. Men’s Varsity Four Heat 2: 1. Catholic, 7:04.1; 2. Hobart, 7:04.5; 3. Washington College A, 7:04.8; 4. Susquehanna, 7:11.9; 5. Rutgers-Camden, 7:52.6; 6. Haverford, 8:32.3. Men’s Frosh/Novice Four Heat 3: 1. Rutgers-Camden, 7:49.1; 2. Villanova, 7:52.0; 3. Duquesne, 7:55.1; 4. BCA, 7:59.9; 5. Manhattan, 8:29.4; 6. Fordham, 8:48.1. Petite Final: 1. USMMA, 7:32.0; 2. Villanova, 7:38.0; 3. Maryland, 7:43.7; 4. Duquesne, 7:44.5; 5. Rochester, 7:55.2; 6. Rutgers-Camden, 8:13.8. Upcoming Regattas Sat. 28 Atlantic Collegiate League Sprints May Sun. 6 Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Crew Championships Fri. 11- Dad Vail Regatta A miserable weather forecast for April 15 forced the entire Knecht Cup to be condensed into a one-day affair on April 14. The Scarlet Raptors turned in a fine performance as the Women’s Varsity Four finished second in its heat (8:32.1) to reach the finals, where it placed third (8:20.4). The women also saw their Frost/Novice Four boat finish third in its heat (8:55.4). On the men’s club side, the Men’s Frosh/Novice Four qualified for the Petite Final by winning its heat in a time of 7:49.1. It finished sixth in the Petite Final (8:13.8). The Men’s Varsity Four finished fifth in its heat (7:52.6). The crew program will participate in the Atlantic Collegiate League Sprints April 28 at Gifford Pinchot State Park in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania. GOLF April Tues. 10 Widener Invitational II 1 p.m. 1. Widener University, 304; Swarthmore College, 319; 3. Rutgers-Camden, 329; 4. Immaculata University, 390; 5. Chestnut Hill College, 415. Individual Medalist: Dave Taraschi, Rutgers-Camden, 69 Rutgers-Camden Scores: Taraschi 69, Matt Tomasic 79, Jim Spera 89, Rob Burgess 92, Justin Melendez 101 Upcoming Matches Wed. 18 Wesley College Invitational 12 p.m. Fri. 27 RU-Camden Scarlet Raptors Spring Invitational 12:30 p.m. Rutgers-Camden freshman Dave Taraschi (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial) set a program record, shooting a 1-under-par 69 en route to winning medalist honors at the Tom Ruggieri Invitational II April 10. The invitational, hosted by Widener University, was held at The Springhaven Club, a Par 70, 6,355-yard course in Wallingford, Penn. Taraschi, who has led the Scarlet Raptors in all four invitationals this spring, shattered the previous school record of 71, set by Chris Binder at the Susquehanna Spring Invitational April 7, 2005. He also lowered his spring average from a 78.0 to 75.8. Taraschi’s performance helped the Scarlet Raptors record their lowest score of the spring. Rutgers-Camden shot 329 as a team to finish third in the five-team event. Host Widener won with a 304. Widener’s Kyle Durham finished second behind Taraschi with a 74. Senior Matt Tomasic (Berlin, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) finished second on Scarlet Raptors with a 79, his best round of the spring. Junior Jim Spera (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) and senior Rob Burgess (Sewell, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) placed third and fourth on the Raptors with 89 and 92, respectively. Rutgers-Camden junior Justin Melendez (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown), appearing in the first tournament of his collegiate career, shot a 101. |
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