16 minute read
Phillies’ Power Duo
by The Voyager
By JOSEPH LOVERDI ‘22 Sports Editor
The Philadelphia Flyers of the past decade have been associated with one man and one man only: Claude Giroux. Giroux was selected 22nd by the Flyers in the 2006 NHL Draft, and made his debut with the team in February 2008. His early career with the Flyers was defi ned by his shootout win against the New York Rangers in the last game of the 2009-10 season; this fi red the Flyers into the playoffs and ultimately began a run to the Stanley Cup Finals. However, that was the closest Giroux would ever get to the Stanley Cup in a Flyers uniform. The Flyers were a consistent playoff team for most of his tenure in the orange and black, and Giroux was a huge part of that as he was an easy lock for 80+ points a season. But the Flyers could never get past the second round after 2010, despite all of the talent they’ve had since then. Giroux has also been captain since 2011, and was the longest-tenured captain in franchise history. He led the NHL in assists with 68 while scoring 102 points in the 2017-18 season—his best season to date—and has been named an all-star seven times, winning the All-Star Game MVP in 2022. He never got that ring while in Philadelphia. So, to see the news that Giroux waived his NTC, no-trade clause, to be traded to the Florida Panthers, arguably the best team in hockey, for prospect Owen Tippett (the 11th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft who’s struggled to crack a stacked Florida lineup), a 1st round pick in 2024, and a 3nd round pick in 2023, is incredibly sad. Giroux gave everything he had for the Flyers, scoring 900 points during his 15 years with the Flyers, second only to Bobby Clarke in franchise history. His fi nal game was his 1000th career game, an emotional 5-4 win over the Nashville Predators where Giroux took a lap of honor and was named fi rst star. The trade, while an absolute heist on Florida’s part (the return, compared to proposed packages from Colorado and Boston, is worse, and even then the Flyers could’ve gotten better prospects like Mackie Samoskevich and Grigori Denisenko), marks the end of an era. The Flyers are no longer contending for a playoff spot, and Giroux wants a ring which he probably won’t get in a Flyers uniform. He could come back this offseason, as he is a free agent, but for now, he’s going to Sunrise, and I’m sure all Flyers fans will wish him the best. Giroux will undoubtedly go down as one of, if not the, greatest Flyers of all time. And so it kind of hurts to see him light it up in Florida immediately upon his arrival, but it’s not exactly a surprise. In Sunrise, Giroux is sharing a line with MVP candidate Jonathan Huberdeau, who has scored 104 points and leads the league in assists with 77, and Sam Bennett, who’s recovered from a shaky spell with the Calgary Flames to blossom into a solid top 6 forward with Florida (his 45 points are a career high, continuing the strong form he’s shown with the team following his trade there last season). Giroux himself has been a point-per-game player, scoring 11 points in his fi rst ten games with the Panthers, who have already clinched a playoff spot and look to win the fi rst Stanley Cup in their franchise history. Meanwhile, Owen Tippett has immediately established himself as a fi xture in the Flyers’ top 9. Tippett has long been seen as a skilled player whose path to the Panthers’ forward corps was blocked by their insane forward depth, and even then as a part-time player he looked decent, scoring 18 points in 45 games as a bottom 6 player. The change of scenery has benefi tted Tippett well, as while 3 points in 11 games with your new team isn’t the most impressive, he’s been doing all of the little things right, looking like a possible cornerstone of the lineup for years to come if things keep heading in the right direction. Overall, it’s tough to see Giroux go. His legacy will be that of a class act who always put 110% effort in every shift and bled orange and black, but it’s undeniable that he wants a ring, and Florida probably gives him the best chance to get that.
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Longtime Flyers captain Claude Giroux’s trade to Florida signals the end of an era in Philadelphia as they shift towards an “aggressive retool.”
Photo from Wikimedia
Phillies bring power to the plate with Schwarber, Castellanos
By ANDREW SHINKLE ‘22 Editor-in-Chief
It’s been a long time coming for the Phillies. For the past decade, they have been stuck in a perpetual postseason drought with no relief. In 2019, the team leveled up in a big way with face of the franchise Bryce Harper, but the team somehow fell short of even a winning record. Fans are becoming exceedingly desperate for a postseason-bound Phillies team. With two of their most recent signings, the MLB world has been put on notice — the Phillies aren’t messing around. Outfi elders/designated hitters Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos both signed massive multi-year contracts in Philadelphia, taking the team’s lineup to the forefront of the National League. In order to make the signings happen, Phillies owner John Middleton awarded $79 million over four years to Schwarber, and $100 million over fi ve years to Castellanos. For the fi rst time in franchise history, the Phillies are above the luxury tax threshold (faux salary cap), which is listed at $230 million for the 2022 season. Middleton is showing his commitment to assembling a winning team, which is reassuring for a fanbase ready to win. Schwarber, who won a World Series in 2016 with the Cubs, brings a potent lefthanded bat to complement Harper. Last year, between the Nationals and Red Sox, he had a career year, batting .266 with a .374 on-base percentage and a .928 OPS. He spent much of his time as a leadoff hitter, and will likely serve the same role with the Phillies this year.
Castellanos started his career with the Tigers, and was drafted by current Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski. He’s an extra base hit machine, having led the MLB in doubles in 2019 with 58. The Phillies have lacked an all-around right-handed threat in their lineup, and Castellanos should fi ll that role wonderfully. Schwarber and Castellanos immediately make the Phillies a dangerous team. Scoring runs should not be a problem with a lineup this deep and potent. On the other hand, defense will be a massive liability, and a potential blockade for a deep playoff run. Both Schwarber and Castellanos are poor fi elders, and will not make run prevention easy for Phillies pitching. With the addition of the DH to the National League, A decade after the both players will not
Phillies were last likely be in the fi eld simultaneously. relevant in the MLB, In his fi rst plate apthey now have their pearance — and the Phillies’ fi rst of the most exciting roster season — on Opensince those days. ing Day, Schwarber hit a deep home run to right fi eld. It was an electric start to his time in Philly, and there are certainly going to be more similar moments to come. Castellanos struck out three times, but fi nished his day with a crucial RBI double to give the Phillies more insurance in their eventual 9-5 victory. However, through the Phillies’ fi rst couple weeks of action, they were far from dominant, sitting at a 6-10 record on April 24th after a primetime matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers. They lost the game 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel, which was perhaps more infl uenced by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez’s inconsistent strike zone than the teams’ abilities. Schwarber struck out looking against closer Josh Hader in the 9th inning on an New additions Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos make the Phillies an instant contending team. Photo by Wikimedia/Canva.com
outside pitch, and voiced his frustration against Hernandez in a fi t of rage. The Phillies are supposed to be an offense-fi rst team, but the bats have scuffl ed a bit so far to start the season. Hitters all down the lineup haven’t had great approaches in their at-bats, and that’s concerning. However, there’s a long way to go in the 162-game season, and they should bounce back to being a top-fl ight offense in the National League. If the lineup can continually lay waste to opposing pitching, then the Phillies have a good chance of fi nally returning to the postseason. However, we’ve seen that the Phillies hitting is not infallible. When the lineup goes cold, the pitching and defense are more vulnerable and weak for opposing teams to exploit. But with a lineup as loaded as the Phillies, those days will hopefully be few and far between. Coming off an MVP award, Harper now has plenty of complementary players at his service, and the team should bash their way into the thick of the NL East division race. A decade after the Phillies were last relevant in the MLB, they now have their most exciting roster since those days. With the team they have put together, it’ll be exciting to see where they end up at the season’s end. The next time you visit Citizens Bank Park, get ready to see some fi reworks.
By JUSTIN MILLEVOIX ‘23 Staff Reporter
With a 19-4 red hot season last year, Eastern’s volleyball team is looking to send shockwaves throughout New Jersey this season. So far, they are off to a great 12-3 start as of May 6th. The previous season, they took the Olympic Conference victory over Cherry Hill East by three games. They started off slower this year with a 2-2 record, but three of those four games were away games. The volleyball team gets hot very easily as it’s shown in the last few years. Last season, they ended 19-4 and went on three different four-game win streaks throughout the season. Whenever they lost a game, it seemed a guarantee that they were going to win the next four. All four of their losses last season were on the road, but when they are at home, you are almost certain that they’ll come out on top. Another incredible stat the team achieved last season — they outscored all of their opponents at home 22-2. If this year’s volleyball team doesn’t get it right, it might be time to look for answers. More than half of the team’s players are seniors; Dipam Patel, Dhruv Patel, Dhruv K. Patel, Pawandeep Singh, and Aadan Plank are all currently playing their final season with Eastern. So, with them gone next season, you’re going to be asking a lot out of players like Cain Joynes, William Noh, Satkirt Singh, and Akash Kundu. Dhruv Patel is currently leading the team in assists with 151, and Cain Joynes is second with 31 assists. Here’s what Cain Joynes had to say about the team’s slow start through the first few games. “We came into this season with high expectations, and we still plan to meet them. However, early in the season, we’ve fallen behind a bit. I don’t feel like there’s anything that we can’t overcome. A bounce back win against Cherry Hill West was a reset button for us, and we look to play better, and more consistently, going forward. I wouldn’t say there’s any added pressure. I know what Coach Armour expects of me and the guys around me. We can’t let any of the outside noise into what we know we can accomplish. I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge of next year. I’ll be a returning player, and my role will expand. Coach Armour will expect my best, and I plan on giving him, and the team, nothing less than that. I want to become a better leader. Taking on a heavy load as a junior has made me realize that I’m capable, skill wise. However, I have to be able to keep a level head. The team looks to me for high energy, so if I don’t bring it, we all suffer from it,” he said. Joynes is leading the juniors in all statistics except for digs with 48 kills, 12 blocks, and 31 assists. Pawandeep Singh had this to say about the slow start, and what part of his game he’s trying to improve. “More chemistry is needed, as all the seniors from last year have graduated, and we are building from a lot less than what we had last year, in terms of manpower. The main part of my game that I’m trying to improve is my
load as a junior has serve, while pressure pushes me to be a made me realize that I’m capable, better leader,” he said. Pawandeep is the team leader in kills with 128. He is also the team leader in skill wise.” blocks with 49, along with sixteen digs on the season so far. Since April 12th, the volleyball team has gone on a massive ten-game win streak, outscoring all of their opponents 20-3. They are now 123, and are 6-0 against teams in the division, with their mid-season run that puts them in first place in the Olympic Conference. The season has four games remaining, and it will be exciting to see how this promising season will come to an end.
Eastern Softball Preview
By DAWN BETNER ‘23 Staff Reporter
With the winter sports season coming to a close, it’s time to enliven our spring sports. The highlight here: Softball. Last season Eastern Girls Softball ended with a disappointing 5-15 record. This season they’re looking to rebound and make it to the playoffs. Starting left fielder, Maddy Specht, mentioned the need for a stronger bond within the team last year, and many of her teammates agreed. Third baseman Alexis Rosano, in agreement with pitchers Claire Suto and Amanda Ober, said the team needed to work on communication. With agreement on that, the girls can continue to bond on and off the field. Many of these girls play for the same organizations outside of Eastern, such as NJ Mystics and South Jersey Gators. All of them have been playing softball for over 5 years, and many of them plan to continue playing into their college careers. Although only 8 of the 11 girls played for Eastern last year, all of them are prepared to have a better season and make a name for themselves. Captain Bella Lynch says, “Last season went as well as it could after not being able to play the year before because of Covid. Personally, I didn’t play my best, and as a team we could have played better, but both me and my team have improved on communication and the physical aspect of the game.” Improvements in team chemistry are already being made, which should lead to the fall of all team conflicts. At the halfway mark in the season, EGS has a record of 2-7. All 11 girls along with Coach Gilmore agree that Cherokee was their biggest rival of the season. The two teams faced off on the afternoon of Monday, April 25th. They ended up losing 106. Sami Wakeley, another pitcher, is the leader in hits and strikeouts. She leads with 12 hits followed closely by Alexis with 11. She also leads in strikeouts with 74. Bella leads in RBI with a total of 9 followed by Alexis with 7 and Claire with 6. Lastly, Alexis is leading in both home runs with 2 and and runs with 9. Catcher, Jenna Haas, is tied with Alexis for runs. Coach Gilmore says, “I am looking forward to watching how this team will compete on the field. Our schedule will never be easy. But if we can go out and play hard and compete, stay together, support each other, we can be successful.” With this in mind, there is still hope for the end of the Eastern Girls Softball season. Dhruv K. Patel sets the volleyball for Pawandeep Singh during a game.
Photo supplied by Shubham Trivedi ‘24
Eastern Track Preview
By JUSTIN MILLEVOIX ‘23 Staff Reporter
The Eastern 2022 Winter Track Season has finally come to an end, and with the spring season starting up, there’s a lot to look forward to! Sprinters like returning senior and one of the many leaders of the team, AJ Brooks. Julian Jamison, a junior who tore his ACL recently, fought through rehab, and is now fully recovered and is running with the best kids in South Jersey with Jashad Kersey. With the Spring Season approaching here’s what Jashad Kersey had to say. “In the Spring Season I’m really looking forward to TJ (Triple Jump). I started it last year and I’m looking forward to showing improvement this year. Also I feel like we have a pretty solid spring team. I think we can get things done.” The Winter track season for Eastern was very impressive. The bonds and connections between the teammates helped improve the season and their performances. The meets easily showed that everyone had exceptional effort. Julian Jamison also spoke on how big of an effect the coaches had on all the runners: “The coaches helped push all the runners to their limits in practice to prepare their bodies for the upcoming meets. They each set up goals and standards that would help the team achieve personal and team records.” Ju-
lian’s fastest 50m time in the Winter Season was 6.92 seconds Overall, all the runners expressed they had a good time and they had their competitive moments. There aren’t any updates on how the team did ranking wise yet though but there’s still unfinished business. Now that the spring season has arrived it’s time for them to show off the skill and talent they gained from the winter season and showcase it here. Spring Track is certainly more competitive then winter in some aspects so it will truly test their condition and ”I feel like we have the work they put into the winter seaa pretty solid spring son. Unfortunately, team. I think we can Eastern started off the spring season get things done.” with a loss to Cherokee 84.5 to 55.5. Julian Jamison finished 2nd in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.20 behind teammate Walter Clymer 11.10. The third place time was 11.50 run by Silas Davis. The 110m hurdles was won by AJ Brooks with a time of 14.30. Second place was won by Carlos Oleaga with a 16.50 time. The 200m dash top 3 was tight with all 3 being eastern runners. Silas Davis ran 23.00, Julian Jamison ran 23.20, and Walter Clymer came in third with a 23.60. The team starting off with a loss is nothing to stress over. The 2022 team has more depth and speed than Eastern has ever had in the past few years. The Track season is young and there is plenty of time to turn things in the right direction.
