Staff Report

The Cape-Atlantic League baseball and softball tournaments enter the semifinal round today, and two schools — Egg Harbor Township and Vineland — are still alive in both. The EHT softball team is the No. 1 seed and got a bye into the semifinals, and for good reason. The Eagles are 19-1 and have scored 36 runs in their last two games. They are a true juggernaut in the state. Can Vineland, a team that lost just 9-8 to EHT two weeks ago, upend the Eagles and earn a berth in Friday’s championship game?

Here’s a look at both tournaments, the schedule, how each team has been playing lately and some players to watch:

BASEBALL

Semifinals today at higher seed, championship game at highest remaining seed on Friday.

No. 3 Vineland at No. 2 St. Augustine Prep

No. 5 EHT at No. 1 Buena Regional

Egg Harbor Township (13-8): The Eagles rode star pitcher Cameron Flukey into the semis, as he racked up nine strikeouts in Monday’s 4-1 win over No. 4 Lower Cape May in the tournament’s opening round. In the last five games, the Eagles are 3-2, but have won three straight, including a 5-4 win over St. Augustine Prep on Friday. The offense has come alive, as the Eagles have scored 27 runs in the last three games. PLAYERS TO WATCH: Troy Sabott (junior pitcher, 2.79 ERA, 23 Ks in 32 2/3 innings), Braeden Thies (senior OF, hitting .273 but has team-high three homers), Jason Salsbery (junior SS, leads team with 27 hits and 16 RBIs, also has 17 walks and 13 stolen bases).

Vineland (15-8): The Fighting Clan rallied to beat Absegami, 5-2, in the opening round and got a huge outing out of the pen from Nikolas Bancroft. He’ll be available today if Vineland needs him, and they probably will as St. Augustine Prep is a tough team for any pitcher to throw a complete game against. Vineland has gone 3-2 in its last five games, but the two losses were at Ocean City and against a tough Bishop Eustace team. Vineland has played a tough schedule, which will bode well for the Clan in tournament time. PLAYERS TO WATCH: Yoan Feliz (junior OF, he has 20 hits, three homers and 16 RBIs and is hitting .300 in the heart of Vineland’s order), Yenuelle Rodriguez (senior, UTIL, team-high 26 hits, also has 22 runs scored an 11 stolen bases), Anthony Rakotz (senior OF, hitting .343 with 27 runs, 19 walks and 11 steals).

St. Augustine Prep (16-6): The Hermits are used to playing in championship games and even though they have a lot of new starters this year, they’ve been getting it done they way they usually do. The Hermits have won three of their last five, including wins over Vineland and Egg Harbor Township, and four of their six losses this year have been by two runs or less. They’ll have Marco Levari available to pitch today, so watch out. PLAYERS TO WATCH: Marco Levari (senior P, 1.65 ERA in nearly 30 innings, 30 Ks and only seven earned runs allowed), Jake Meyers (junior OF, hitting just .265 but 19 runs scored, 10 RBIs, four doubles and a team-high 22 stolen bases), Gabe Gillespie (sophomore C, hitting .344 with 17 runs scored and a team-high 17 RBIs).

Buena Regional (20-2): The knock on the Chiefs all year is that they’ve been playing a soft schedule with seven post-grad players (covid bridge rule that allows for an extra year of high school eligibility), but as the schedule has gotten tougher so has Buena. In the past 10 days the Chiefs have wins over Audubon, Cedar Creek and Cinnaminson, and they’ve won four of their last five. PLAYERS TO WATCH: Joey Kurtz (senior P, 1.19 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 41 innings), Zachary Strouse (senior OF, hitting .333 with 15 RBIs and 11 runs scored), Tre Carano (senior SS, leading team with .427 average that includes 32 hits, 25 runs, 20 RBIs and 18 stolen bases).

SOFTBALL

Semifinals today at higher seed, championship game at highest remaining seed on Friday.

No. 5 Vineland at No. 1 Egg Harbor Township

No. 3 Ocean City at No. 2 St. Joseph Academy

Vineland (12-8): The Fighting Clan have been inconsistent all year, but have started to find their rhythm. In the last six games, Vineland is 5-1, including wins over Ocean City, Millville and Holy Spirit — teams that have combined for 40 wins this season. PLAYERS TO WATCH: Skyy Santiago (junior P, 2.84 ERA, only 32 earned runs allowed in 79 innings), Madison Cantoni (senior C, leads team with three home runs, is hitting .344 and has a team-high 23 RBIs), Gyanna Porreca (junior INF, hitting .387, 24 hits, 15 RBIs, eight runs scored).

Ocean City (18-7): The Red Raiders have been one of the hottest teams in South Jersey since the calendar flipped to May. This month, Ocean City is 12-1 with its only loss coming against Vineland. The Red Raiders have had three different winning streaks this year of three games or more. PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jessica Mooney (freshman P, 1.62 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 90 innings of work), Gabrielle Bowen (senior INF, .319 average, 17 runs, 22 RBIs, four homers, seven steals), Brooke Douglas (freshman INF, team-high five home runs to go along with 13 runs and 16 RBIs), Mackenzie Segich (senior OF, .453, 43 hits, 29 runs scored, 19 stolen bases).

St. Joseph Academy (16-5): The Wildcats are one of the top teams in South Jersey, and they’ve been showing it lately. They’ve won six of their last seven, the only loss a 4-1 setback against EHT. Ava Fisher is one of the hardest throwers in the state and can be dominant on any give day inside the circle. PLAYERS TO WATCH: Ava Fisher (junior P/INF, 2.74 ERA, 172 strikeouts in 115 innings pitched, as a hitter she’s batting .433 with 29 RBIs), Alaina Dorsey (freshman OF, hitting .426 with 26 hits, 22 runs, 12 RBIs and 11 steals), Abby Willis (sophomore INF, has 27 hits, 25 RBIs and 17 runs scored).

Egg Harbor Township (19-1): The Eagles’ lone loss came a week ago to another state power, Donovan Catholic. Other than that, EHT has handled everybody, proving it can win close games as well as put teams away with the bats when needed. PLAYERS TO WATCH: Madison Dollard (junior P, 1.26 ERA, 185 strikeouts), Madison Biddle (senior SS, hitting .400 with 21 RBIs and 19 runs scored), Sofia Spatocco (sophomore OF, .418 average with 27 RBIs, 20 runs scored and nine home runs).