WDHS Sports Week in Review/Preview: All About the Playoffs

With the spring season in the home stretch, playoffs and championships have taken center stage. Both lacrosse teams competed in home playoff games, while the golf team earned a share of the conference title and the track teams got standout performances at the Haddonfield Invitational.

This week, the playoffs begin for the baseball and softball teams.

Below is a look at the last seven days of local sports action, as well as a glimpse at this week’s schedule.

GOLF

One week after defeating Haddonfield, the golf team officially claimed a share of the Colonial Conference title. The Eagles , sharing the title with Haddonfield—who they split with this season—after a 175-205 win over Audubon at Beckett Golf Club Thursday.

Kevin Brockway paced the Eagles with a 41, Matt Santarelli and Ritchie Stolz each shot 44 and Ryan Henry fired a 46 as West Deptford got back-to-back wins on back-to-back days at the Swedesboro course.

Earlier in the week the Eagles at the Central/South Group 2 sectional tournament at Wildwood Country Club. Senior Kevin Brockway (10th) and freshman Ritchie Stolz (13th) led the Eagles, shooting 84 and 86, respectively, as the team combined for a 366 on the day.

Matt Santarelli (95), Ryan Henry (101) and John Meagher (102) rounded out the scoring for the Eagles.

SOFTBALL

The Eagles earned a No. 6 seed and will host No. 11 Willingboro Tuesday. Willingboro entered Monday with an 8-9 record. A win by West Deptford will pit it against a familiar foe, as the winner of No. 3 Haddon Heights and No. 14 Collingswood would be waiting.

The Eagles enter the playoffs on the heels of a dominant week. Marissa Linquist allowed just one hit over five innings in West Deptford’s 12-0 win over Lindenwold. Linquist also went 4-for-4 at the plate, with three runs and two RBIs. Sydney Ponto homered and scored three runs.

Two days earlier, the Eagles scored another shutout in a 10-0 win over Sterling.

BASEBALL

It may be late in the game, but the West Deptford baseball team found some positive momentum heading into the postseason. The Eagles recorded a double-header sweep of Woodbury (7-0) and Lindenwold (11-1) Tyler Castellano, Brendan Glass and Joey Pinto had two RBIs each in support of Putter Angert, who struck out seven over five innings against Lindenwold.

The double-header sweep helped ease some of the sting of a loss to Haddonfield just a day earlier.

The Eagles had , leading the Bulldawgs 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Haddonfield stormed back to tie the game and eventually pulled out a 5-4 win in nine innings.

No. 15 West Deptford takes on No. 2 Buena today in the first round of the Group 2 playoffs. The Eagles are the defending champions.

BOYS' LACROSSE

For the second-straight year, the Eagles earned a home playoff game and delivered a victory in front of their fans. After falling in a 2-1 hole, the Eagles controlled possession and win over Red Bank in the Group 1 playoffs. Michael Reardon scored four goals and Zach Kaestner netted three in support of goalie of Brendan Gill, who made eight saves.

The Eagles will have their hands full in the quarterfinals as they travel to take on No. 4 Rumson, which improved to 17-0 with a 16-4 win over Newton in the first round.

GIRLS' LACROSSE

West Deptford added another achievement to its already impressive season as it recorded its second-ever playoff win. The No. 7 Eagles dominated play against No. 10 Lower Cape May to the tune of an Emily Whalin netted a team-high four goals, while Rachel Krott and Mackenzie Thayres each had three.

West Deptford’s run came to an end in the second round as No. 2 Allentown in a 15-5 win. Jess Hill scored three goals and Maddie Waschko added two in the loss. Whalin contributed three assists.

BOYS’ TRACK

Nick Pulli won the Most Outstanding Field Athlete award and runners piled up wins in the 800, 3200 and 4x400 as West Deptford’s boys’ track team got in a solid tune-up ahead of sectionals at the Haddonfield Invitational Thursday night.

Pulli threw 156-11 in the discus to win that event, which also saw a solid performance by Todd Jarrell (150-10), and finished second in the shot put by two and a half inches, throwing 49-11.

Elsewhere in the field, the Eagles scored top-10 finishes in the javelin from Brandon Holmes (fifth at 138-11) and Jarrell (seventh at 132-10).

Shai Mumford was fourth in the long jump (20-2.5) and Sean Weidler was second in the pole vault, leaping 11 feet.

On the track, the boys got a one-two finish in the 800 from Leo Impagliazzo (2:06.04) and Dale Johnson (2:08.52) and a one-three finish in the 3200 from Phil Palmer (10:18.7) and Ray Parsons (10:24.25).

GIRLS’ TRACK

Megan Kirschling brought home four and the Most Outstanding Performer award, and Samantha Budd blistered the field in her specialty as West Deptford lit up the Haddonfield Invitational Thursday evening.

Kirschling thoroughly dominated her disciplines—she won the high jump, tying her meet record at 5-6, leaped 34-11 in the triple jump, went under 15 seconds in the 100 hurdles and helped the 4x400 relay team to a win to finish out the night.

Budd won the 800, clocking a 2:16.3 in the 800.

BOYS’ TENNIS

The Eagles dropped a 3-2 decision against Woodbury. No. 2 singles player Steve Marchunt and the second doubles team of R.J. Eckley and Mike McKendry recorded the points for the Eagles (5-12).

THIS WEEK

–The baseball team travels to take on Buena in the opening round of the Group 2 playoffs today at 4 p.m.

–The softball team hosts Willingboro in the first round of the Group 2 playoffs Tuesday at 4 p.m.

–The boys’ lacrosse team travels to face Rumson in the second round of the Group 1 playoffs Tuesday at 4 p.m.

–The golf team competes in the Colonial Conference Tournament Tuesday and the Gloucester County Open Thursday.

–The boys’ and girls’ track teams compete at sectionals at Buena Friday.