By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
X @tortreports
MULLICA HILL — Ever since its South Jersey Group 4 title over Williamstown in 2021, the Clearview Regional baseball program has been looking to get back on the right track. Coach Derrick Reagan’s resignation last year opened the door to a world of opportunities to come for first-year coach Nick Core, and Thursday evening came the first of what he hopes will be many major milestones.
Core captured his first career playoff victory as Clearview defeated Highland Regional, 13-3, in five innings in the first round of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 3 playoffs.
“We’re hot right now, and we’re playing great baseball,” Core said. “When I first came in, one thing I wanted to do was really change the culture. The guys in sports and school were struggling a little bit. The baseball team, it’s been a couple of years since they’ve been pretty good. Overall, it’s about getting these boys excited to play baseball. We had a good student section here today, a good crowd here on deck. It’s just fun to get these guys going, they’re having fun. The energy’s great, and you love to see it.”
Senior Chris Wolf paced the Pioneers’ offense with a huge day at the plate, recording five RBIs on two hits. He also pitched two innings in relief, allowing no runs while fanning five. The Florida Tech commit took note of the way the team has come together during the past month. Dating back to April 30, the Pioneers have only one loss, going 10-1-1.
“This was a great game,” Wolf explained. “It really showed what we’ve been about the last 10-to-15 games. We’ve kind of shocked the world a little bit, you know? We’re hot at the right time. As a team, collectively, we’ve played great. Top to the bottom of the lineup, pitching has been unbelievable. Everyone just wants to win.
“I think it’s the bond we have,” he continued. “It’s like a brotherhood. It’s a great feeling from a player standpoint. Coach Core is a great guy, and, let me tell you, he’s doing something right because we’re winning. There were moments today where things might not have gone our way, but he had our players’ backs. He cares about us, he loves us.”
Junior Konnor Zwaan went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.
“It’s good to win for the team and to just have fun,” he said. “I just try to help the team in any way I can, put the ball in play and anything can happen.”
Clearview (14-10-1, 5-5 Tri-County Royal) has played arguably one of the most challenging schedules in the whole region this season, going up against teams such as Delsea, Washington Township, Gloucester Catholic, and Cherry Hill West. Clearview lost just 3-2 to West, this year’s Diamond Classic champion.
But the daunting road has helped the Pioneers prepare for a playoff run, and that was evident on Thursday. The reward is a trip to No. 3 seed Mainland on Wednesday. The Mustangs, who made a run to the Group 3 state championship last year, are 20-5, have won six straight and 12 of their last 14.
“We played all the top dogs in South Jersey,” coach Core said. “Gloucester Catholic twice, Kingsway twice, we played Cherry Hill West and Delsea. Mainland is a very good team and I have a lot of respect for Billy Kern and what he does there. He’s done a great job for a while now. But hey, we’re going there to win, and we’ll see how it shakes up. They have great pitching.”
In a season filled with ups and downs for Highland, the Tartans finished with an 11-14 record, with coach D.J. Gore winning his 300th career game earlier this season.
“At the end of the game, there were two freshmen on the field, and five sophomores,” said Gore. “They’re the building blocks for us in 2025. A great group of kids that went through their learning curves and ups and downs, but I think as you look at some footage, we show that we can play with the heavyweights of South Jersey. We shot ourselves in the foot a couple different times. They’re young kids, they make mistakes, and they get exposed. It wasn’t for the lack of effort or hustle, we just didn’t play our best baseball today.
“I have four coaches with me, three of them are former players. I think that number (300) is important for the program and everyone that’s been involved with the program. I’ve really been blessed to be surrounded by a really good group of kids, hard-nosed, tough kids from Blackwood. An administration that has supported us over the years, allows us to take our trips and do the things we like to do. I think it’s a reflection of everybody.”
