Wednesday , July 26 , 2023

Volume 27 • Issue 30

Courtesy photo .

Hammonton Little League ’ s All-Stars display their Section IV championship flag . Hammonton defeated Haddonfield to win the title last week and advance to the state finals .

by Dan Russoman

GAZETTE SPORTS EDITOR

HADDONFIELD — A three-run rally in the top of the eighth inning gave Hammonton Little League ’ s 12U All-Stars a 13-10 victory against host Haddonfield as they won the Section IV championship for the first time since 1987 .

The win sends Hammonton to this week ’ s state championships in Secaucus . The state champion will advance to Eastern Regionals in Connecticut .

The victory against Haddonfield on July 20 , capped a three-victory comeback for Hammonton , which won the tournament from the loser ’ s bracket .

Hammonton had opened section play

by Jennifer McGraw FOR THE GAZETTE

Nestled in the Hammonton community lies Camp Tuscaloosa , but on July 22 , it became Camp Chaos . Hosted by ShoreStar Wrestling in partnership with StandAlone Wrestling , the three-hour professional wrestling event brought the community together for something they haven ’ t seen in ages .

Going to the game ?

The Little League state tournament is at Secaucus July 26-30 , at Buchmuller Park .

Directions : to Buchmuller Park ( 150 Plaza Center , Secaucus , NJ 07094 ). Take Rt . 206 North to New Jersey Turnpike North . Take Exit 15X-16E-18E on left to merge onto NJ Turnpike North toward Lincoln Tunnel , UD-46 . Continue on NJ Turnpike , then take Exit 16E to merge onto NJ-495 E toward Secaucus , Park-Ride . Exit left onto Paterson Plank Road . Keep right toward Secaucus Park-Ride . Turn left onto Paterson Plank Rd . Turn right into Plaza Center and the field is on the right .

on July 14 with a 4-2 win against South Vineland , but then dropped its second game to Haddonfield , 11-2 .

Needing to win to remain in the tournament , Hammonton first beat South Vineland 13-3 to advance to the finals , where it needed to defeat Haddonfield twice to

For $ 20 , families gathered for an afternoon of games and other activities . Local vendors lined the entrance , including the favorite Wholly Bowls and Fruta Mex .

Fifteen minutes before the first bell , the kids rushed to the ring to get as close to the action as possible . The rules for the evening were simple - cheer for whom you want to win and

See WRESTLING , Page 10 take the title . In the first game of the finals on July 19 , Hammonton won 3-1 , then clinched the championship the next evening with its 13-10 , extra-inning victory .

See CHAMPS , Page 46

Jennifer McGraw / THG

ShoreStar wrestler Primal Fear roars at the crowd before competition . More photos on Page 12 . hammontongazette . com

by Mohammed Fuad GAZETTE EDITOR

A Hammonton resident was charged with two counts of criminal mischief last week after reports of cable lines being cut to two buildings .

Hammonton Police said Joseph Tomasello , 49 , of Hammonton , was observed on video surveillance from July 17 cutting cables to a commercial building in the 100 block of 12th Street .

Tomasello was also charged with cutting cable lines on another building in the 100 block of 12th street on July 18 .

Police also reported a receiving stolen property charge over the weekend , Hammonton Po-

See POLICE , Page 2

by Mohammed Fuad GAZETTE EDITOR

The Lake Water Quality Advisory Committee was presented a chart at its monthly meeting on July 11 that showed the left side of Hammonton Lake contains pH levels of 5.79-7.43 , while the right side has levels of 7.43- 8.93 .

The U . S . Environmental Protection Agency ’ s pH criteria for lake water quality ranges between 6.5 and 9 . The agency ’ s website points out that most animal species cannot survive in water in which the pH is below 5.0 and above 9.0

Stockton University Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Emma Witt pointed out after consulting with a Stockton University marine biologist that the lake ’ s difference in pH levels aren ’ t driven by chemical introduction on the lake but by phytoplankton growth , which can change the lake ’ s pH .

“ That could be driven by temperature increases , you could get

See LAKE , Page 3

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