CAL basketball, wrestling
All-Stars
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Volume 20 • Issue 13
P. 49
St. Joe seeks third-straight South Jersey crown
Veterans lead a talented Lady Wildcat team
by Kevin Troilo
GAzETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—The St. Joseph Lady Wildcats
softball team is coming off a strong season where
they captured the South Jersey Non-Public B championship with a win over Mater Dei. Under the direction of head coach Candi Steinhauer, they entered
the tournament as the top seed and rolled through the
competition, never winning any of their three games
by less than nine runs.
Their season came to an end with a grueling 2-1
loss to Lodi Immaculate in the Non-Public B state
championship
game,
their
second in as
many years. A
win would have given them the first girls’ state
championship in school history.
The Lady Wildcats were led by senior catcher Carly Testa, who is now playing at Caldwell College.
Testa was named first team all-state and led New Jersey in runs scored (67) while batting .617 and driving
in 43 runs, all from the leadoff spot. She added 21
stolen bases and finished her career at St. Joe as the
all-time leader in hits, tallying more than 200 during
her four years as a Wildcat.
Graduating alongside Testa was power hitting third
baseman Mikaela Power. Power finished 2015 with a
batting average better than .500 and drove in more
than 50 runs. She finished her career at St. Joe with
more than 100 hits and is now playing her college
softball at Georgian Court.
Losing Testa and Power will be the biggest challenge for this team as the season gets underway. Not
only will they miss their bats in the lineup and their
gloves in the field, but finding players to fill their
leadership roles will be no easy task.
Luckily for St. Joe, they bring back a number of seniors who have plenty of varsity experience under
their belts.
Four-year starter Taylor Sirolli returns and will be
the number one pitcher in the Wildcat rotation. Not
only will Sirolli be asked to lead the girls from the
rubber, she figures to play her fair share of shortstop
and outfield when she’s not on the mound. Her ability to swing the bat will be key and she may leadoff
at times throughout this season.
Other seniors include three-year starters Cara
THG/Dan Russoman. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
HHS hoping to improve in 2016 Wildcats chase league title
See WILDCATS, Page 51
Senior Taylor Sirolli returns to lead St. Joseph’s softball team as the
Wildcats chase a third-straight South Jersey title in 2016.
by Kevin Troilo
by Dan Russoman
HAMMONTON—Having a
young roster at the high school
level is a tricky situation. On
one hand, you’re developing
the talent through on-field experience and watching the
team grow together as the season continues. At the same
time, the absence of varsity experience among starters can
cause for some rough patches
throughout the year. For the
Hammonton boys’ baseball
team, 2016 is about focusing
on not allowing their lack of
experience be the determining
factor of their season.
HAMMONTON—St.
Joseph High School’s
baseball team won the
South Jersey Non-Public
B championship in
2014. Last year, the
Wildcats were once
again one of the top
teams in the section, as
well as the Cape Atlantic
League but fell short of a
title, finishing with a 168 record.
Veteran head coach
Tom Carney, entering
GAzETTE STAFF WRITER
Gary Sarno is coming into
his 15th season as the manager
of the Blue Devils. Last season, his group finished 8-14,
something they’re looking to
improve on this year.
“We hope to improve as the
season goes along and surprise
a lot of teams before all is said
and done,” Sarno said.
Hammonton said goodbye
to senior starters John Mai-
GAzETTE STAFF WRITER
THG/Dan Russoman. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Izick Flores takes a lead off third base during Hammonton’s scrimmage against Audubon last week.
mone, Pete Berenato, Alex while Flores hit just below
Ballisteri and Austin Jeffcoat. .300. The team is excited about
Maimone finished last second the arrival of Stephen Restucon the second team all-Royal cio, a freshman P/OF, who
Division. The loss of four key Sarno said has the chance to
components has opened the make an impact right out of the
door for new players to step in gate. Restuccio’s fastball
and contribute. They’ll bring comes at batters quickly, and
back five seniors, a list that in- he can consistently throw in
cludes: P/OF Gianni D’Anto- the mid-80s. He has the ability
nio, OF Brady Montag, C Ross to drive the ball to all fields
Restuccio, 2B Trevor Rucci and should hit near the top of
and P/OF Izick Flores. D’An- this Blue Devil lineup. Having
tonio played well last season,
See DEVILS, Page 52
finishing with a .344 average
the second year of his
second stint at St. Joe, is
confident that the Wildcats will once again be
in the hunt for a champi-
See ST. JOE, Page 54
THG/Dan Russoman.
To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Lady Devils have high goals
St. Joseph outfielder John Payne connects for a hit.
by Dan Russoman
GAzETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—After capturing
the South Jersey Group III title in
2014, Hammonton High School’s
softball team took a slight step back
last season, finishing with an 11-7
record while falling in the opening
round of the sectional tournament.
Despite some key losses to graduation, the Lady Blue Devils return a
solid lineup of veterans this season
and appeared poised to once again
challenge for not only a South Jersey
championship but a Tri-County Royal
Division title as well.
“We always expect to compete for
the league and South Jersey title.
We’ve had a successful program for a
long time, and we want to continue to
build on that,” head coach Eric Shul-
Concussions force parents to make a tough choice
Dan Russoman
The subject of concussions has become
one of the major issues in sports the last
few years, and last week Ar izona Cardinals
head coach Bruce Arians created some
controversy when he told Sports Illustrated’s Peter King that, “People who say they
won’t let their son play [football] are
fools.”
Criticism of Arians’ statement was swift
and harsh, as many felt he was underplaying what has become a serious threat to the
future of the sport.
The NFL has done a poor job both recognizing and addressing the problems of
concussions in its game as well as the
long-term effects repeated head trauma has
on its players.
But Arians’ comments along with many
recent studies and media attention raise the
question of whether or not playing football
is worth the long-term impact that head injuries may create for athletes.
Those concerns have led many to push
not only the NFL but the NCAA, high
school and youth programs to radically
change rules, all in an effort to reduce the
number of concussions suffered by football players.
Almost everyone involved with the
game on any level has been asked if they
would allow their child to play football.
Many have opted not to, concerned about
exposing their child to an unnecessary risk
for permanent injury.
I don’t have a son, so it’s hard for me to
say whether or not I’d let him play foot-
ball, but the guess is that I would if he
wanted to play the game.
I began playing organized football when
I was nine-years old and stopped when I
was 21. I suffered many injuries. I still
have knee, shoulder and ankle problems as
a result of playing football. Long ago, I accepted that each day will bring its share of
pain and discomfort.
I also suffered at least one concussion in
high school. It was not a fun experience.
Was it worth it? To me, it was.
I’ve been around athletics my entire life.
Every sport has an inherent risk for permanent injury. There are concussions in soccer, basketball and baseball. They just
don’t get the attention that football does,
and no one wants to ban or change those
sports.
See HHS, Page 53
I’m not an expert on concussions nor do
I want to be. I also don’t feel they’re at
epidemic levels in the sport of football.
Are parents “fools” for not allowing
their kids to play? Probably not. But
they’re not fools for letting them play either, as some would like you to believe.
Any parent needs to protect their child.
The decision to play football has been
made more difficult, but it’s too simple to
dismiss the sport because of the fear of potential injury.
There is risk with almost everything in
life. But there are also rewards.
To play or not to play, neither choice is
foolish.
Dan Russoman is the sports editor of The Gazette.
Watch him on “Gazette Sports Week” every Wednesday afternoon at www.hammontongazette.com. Follow Russoman on twitter @Dan Russoman.