WDHS Sport Week in Review/Preview: Records Fall, Wins Pile Up

It was a pretty successful week of sports around , highlighted by Megan Kirschling’s record-breaking performance in the jump at the Woodbury Relays Saturday. Meanwhile, the baseball team put a few checks in the win column and the girls’ lacrosse team matched its win total from last season.

Below is a complete look back at the week in sports, as well as a glimpse at this week’s schedule.

GIRLS’ TRACK

Megan Kirschling broke her own in the high jump at the Woodbury Relays. Kirschling cleared five feet, 10 inches to easily claim the individual title. Her jump was the best in New Jersey so far this year and tied for third-best in the nation, behind a pair of girls who have jumped six-feet. Kirschling also placed fifth in the triple jump.

Other were provided by the distance medley team of Millie Kipp, Nicole Pinto, Karen Knoblock, Samantha Budd, which placed second and the 4x800 team of Knoblock, Michelle Cullen, Kipp, and Budd, which finished fourth.

Earlier in the week, the Eagles easily handled Collingswood, 111-29, and squeaked by Lindenwold, 73-67, to move to 6-1 on the season.

BOYS’ TRACK

The Eagles got big performances from their sprinters, as Connor Smith and Shai Mumford won the 100 and 200, respectively, and throwers Nick Pulli (shot put, javelin) and Todd Jarrell (discus) also won their events as the Eagles beat Collingswood, 81-59, and Lindenwold, 81-49, to get the sweep Tuesday.

Pulli also had a big performance at the Woodbury Relays, claiming sixth in the shot put. Meanwhile the 4x200 team of Smith, Kevin Cianfarini, Kyle Perry and Alex Hilbmann placed fifth.

SOFTBALL

It was a tough week for the Eagles, who went 1-3. West Deptford went toe-to-toe with a talented St. Joe’s squad on Monday, only to fall 3-2. The team responded the next day, taking out its frustrations on Haddon Township to the tune of a . The Eagles smashed the ball all game, pounding out five doubles.

The hot hitting would not last, though, as West Deptford managed just one run in a pair of lopsided losses to Haddon Heights (9-1) and Williamstown (10-0). The loss to the Braves came in the opening round of the Hammonton Tournament. The consolation game, scheduled for Sunday, was postponed.

BASEBALL

After , the Eagles started to find its footing last week. It wasn’t a great week, but it was a step in the right direction. West Deptford competed in six games in six days, going 3-3 to bring its record to 3-7. Two of the wins came I conference play with West Deptford taking down Collingswood (9-7) and Haddon Heights (11-1).

Against the Panthers, West Deptford rallied for six runs in the final two innings to score its first win of the year. Tim Krott had a two-run triple in the sixth, while Tom Jakubowski had the go-ahead two-run hit later in the frame.

Jakubowski also had the biggest hit against the Garnets as he smacked a grand slam as part of a nine-run second inning.

The Eagles also acquitted themselves well in the annual Pop McKenna Classic, beating Burlington City before falling, 3-2, to Gloucester Catholic, the top-ranked team in South Jersey. Freshman pitcher Isaiah Easterling was solid on the mound against the Rams, striking out three while allowing just four hits in 4 1/3 innings. Easterling also delivered in relief in the 4-3 win over Burlington City.

BOYS’ TENNIS

The tennis team was left still searching for its first win of the season after losses to Haddon Township and Sterling. The Eagles nearly broke into the win column against the Knights, but came up on the short end of a 3-2 score. No. 1 singles Kai Narayanan had a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win and the second doubles team of R.J. Eckley/Mike McKendry had a 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3) win.

BOYS’ GOLF

Haddonfield has been a thorn in West Deptford’s side for the last decade, and that continued last week as the Bulldawgs handed the Eagles their first conference loss of the season 167-193. Kevin Brockway and Matt Santarelli each posted a 46, while Ritchie Stolz shot a 47. The 193 was good enough to best Haddon Heights, which shot a 207 on the day.

West Deptford—which will get a crack at Haddonfield at home later in the season—also took down Sterling, 174-215. Santarelli was the low man, shooting a 39.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

It was another winning week for the lacrosse team which scored wins over Bishop Eustace (10-5) and . Brendan Gill was a star against the Rams, posting an eye-popping 30 saves. Zach Kaestner and Michael Reardon did the bulk of the scoring, sending home three goals each.

The Eagles saw their five-game losing streak come to an end two days later in a 12-1 loss to Eastern.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

West Deptford matched its win total from all of last season when it picked up its sixth win last week. West Deptford split a home-and-home series with Kingsway and earned a 15-7 win over Delran. The 13-10 win over Kingsway featured a dynamic second-half performance by both offenses.

The game was tied 3-3 after the first half, but the teams combined for 17 goals in the second session. Paige Paratore and Rachel Krott had the biggest scoring efforts, depositing five and four goals, respectively.

THIS WEEK

–Kirschling will look to make another statement in the high jump when she competes at the Penn Relays Thursday.

–The baseball team will look to finds its grove with conference games against Sterling (Tuesday), Paulsboro (Thursday) and Haddon Heights (Friday).

–The boys’ tennis team will look to find the win column today when it takes on Paulsboro, weather permitting.

–The softball team takes on Sterling (Tuesday) and Audubon (Friday).

–The girls’ lacrosse team looks to continue its winning ways against Sterling (today) and Paul VI (Wednesday).

–The golf team returns to RiverWinds Thursday to take on Haddon Heights.