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ABOUT THE COVER
Sometimes, high school kids have to grow up a lot faster than they want to, or might be ready to. That’s just the way life is sometimes. Not everyone gets dealt the same hand, and when presented with difficult circumstances it can be easy for teenagers to retreat inside themselves and lean on that built-in excuse of a death in the family to not have to face up to the expectations of success at school or on the athletic fields. But David Richardson and Karyn Marker, although they are not with us anymore, have left their legacy in the form of their children. Aidan Richardson and Lexi Marker are both seniors at Cedar Creek High School, and not only are they outstanding lacrosse players, but also leaders in the hallways and classrooms in Egg Harbor City. David Richardson passed away in February and Karyn Marker died in 2010, when Lexi was just 8 years old. Lexi and Aidan, good friends from grade school, have leaned on each other for support as they navigate the teenage years and all the pressures that come with high school, academically, socially and in athletics. And not only are they surviving, they are thriving, which is not only a testament to the parents they lost, but the ones who remain, Tim Marker Sr. and Aidan’s mom, Toni. Flip to page 10 to read this intriguing story. — Dave O’Sullivan, Staff Writer
GLORY DAYS MAGAZINE General contact: 609-788-4294/advertising@acglorydays.com Dave O’Sullivan, Publisher: sully@acglorydays.com On Twitter: @GDsullysays Giuseppe Ungaro, Managing Editor: gungaro@acglorydays.com On Twitter: @GDgisepu Amy D’Adamo, Graphic Design: advertising@acglorydays.com Bill Lynskey, Director of Advertising: bill@acglorydays.com STORY IDEAS/ADVERTISING: Have a story you’d like to see told in Glory Days Magazine? Want to get your business noticed with a marketing campaign in our digital or specialty print platforms? Call us anytime at 609-788-4294. Volume: 6 Issue: 21 Overall Issue Number: 128. Cover Photography: Dave O’Sullivan. 2019 Glory Days Magazine. All rights reserved.
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MAKING HEADLINES Sully takes a closer look at the athletes, coaches and teams who are generating news and highlights in the Cape-Atlantic League and throughout South Jersey.
u Last of the unbeatens: Entering the third week of the baseball
season, there was only one Cape-Atlantic League team with an unblemished record. Clayton Sands (pictured) and the Mainland Mustangs went 5-0 through the first two weeks and led Absegami by a half game in the CAL National race, but there are some challenges ahead before the calendar rolls over to May. On April 23 Mainland hosts Absegami, and two days later the Stangs travel to EHT. They’ll also kick off this year’s Coaches vs. Cancer tournament on April 26 against Holy Spirit (7-1) at Northfield’s Birch Grove Park at 7 p.m. u Heck of a weekend: Jess Ingram’s weekend was better than yours. In four games at the Overbrook tournament she allowed just 12 hits in 28 innings, three earned runs, collected three wins for Mainland (8-3) and struck out 38! Pleasantville’s Quentin Bundy also had a fantastic weekend at the Bridgeton Relays, helping the Greyhounds finish second in the small schools division while also earning Track Athlete of the Meet honors.
glory days digital Want the best high school sports coverage every day of the week? Visit glorydaysonline.com for game coverage, features and more! You can also like us at facebook.com/acglorydays, and follow Sully on Twitter @GDsullysays. Get the best. Every day.
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BOYS LACROSSE
‘It’s a brotherhood’
Lower Cape May coach Chris Boyle touched by rival Ocean City’s pregame gesture at start of season
By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Staff Writer he Lower Cape May Regional boys lacrosse team opened its season on March 29 with one of its toughest games on the schedule, at Ocean City, a team that finished second to Mainland Regional in the Cape-Atlantic League last year and one of the better teams in all of South Jersey. Caper Tigers head coach Chris Boyle knew it was going to be a tough night — but it was even tougher for a much different reason than trying to match up with the Red Raiders’ prolific offense. It was the first time Boyle had to step onto a lacrosse field for a game without one of his biggest fans — older brother Jeff Boyle. The pair had been inseparable lacrosse buddies throughout their lives, but three weeks before the start of the 2019 high school season, Jeff Boyle lost his nine-month battle with liver cancer. He was just 53 years old when he died, and somehow younger brother Chris, 49, had to find a way to soldier on through the Caper Tigers’ season while dealing with a tremendous personal loss. The Red Raiders dominated the Tigers to the tune of a 17-3 victory, but through its first seven games Lower Cape May had posted a 5-2 record, the Caper
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Glory Days Magazine photos/Dave O’Sullivan
Lower Cape May boys lacrosse coach Chris Boyle, third from left, gathers with members of his brother’s team after the Caper Tigers took on Ocean City in their season opener. Jeff Boyle passed away at age 53 a few weeks prior to the season after a nine-month battle against liver cancer. Tigers obviously responding to the passion of their head coach while giving their all in memory of Jeff, a guy who loved the game until the day he died. Prior to the game, Ocean City coach Joe LaTorre found out about Jeff’s passing, and decided to honor him by presenting Chris with Ocean City’s No. 33 jersey — Jeff’s number — from its American flag inspired uniform from a year ago. It was the uniform Ocean City wore during last year’s CAL championship game against Mainland. LaTorre explained to his team why Ocean City was giving away a jersey
to a rival team because he wants his players to understand there are things that are more important than the game of lacrosse. “Honestly, I could care less about what happened during the game. Before the game, we had a little ceremony for coach Boyle, whose brother passed away recently. To me, that’s more important to our guys than a win or a loss. For the time being, ev-
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April 17, 2019 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 7 Boyle, from page 6 erybody understood that it’s bigger than lacrosse. Jeff Boyle was a guy who everybody looked up to — a big lacrosse guy, loved lacrosse more than most guys I know,” LaTorre said. “It’s a good feeling when your kids understand it’s a bigger world outside the game. It’s a brotherhood. Even though we’re out here competing against them, it’s a brotherhood of guys who know each other. I said to them, ‘you’re going to see these guys 10 or 20 years down the line, and it’s bigger than a win or a loss.’ Are we happy we won? Yes, but I’m more happy that there’s a lesson to be learned from this.” “The fact that Joe LaTorre took the time to make a point to his team about my brother, one, speaks volumes about him, and my brother loved the game of lacrosse. He played until the day he died,” coach Boyle said. “To honor him the way they did means a lot to my guys, to learn from that and build on that. (Jeff) played on a travel team until the day he died, and the guys he played with traveled from Maryland to be here tonight. I initially wanted my brother, when it was getting near the end, to be here on the sideline with me, and when that couldn’t happen, these guys traveled up here for him. It’s a brotherhood, it really is. And that’s why Joe preached to his team, ‘I don’t even know this guy, but I know his brother, and if it’s the same kind of character that Jeff had, we have to honor him today.’” Coach Boyle said after that seasonopening game that he’s proud of how his players have rallied around him, and they continue to do so. This season they are wearing stickers on their helmets that say “JB33” to honor the coach’s brother. “My guys have really rallied and we’ve come together a lot. We preach family, just like Ocean City does, every day. He’s looking down on us and telling me to get up and power through every day. We played a lot of lacrosse together, I’m 49 and he was 53, and we played a lot of travel lacrosse and looked forward to it every time. He respected me just as much as I respected him, which was cool coming from an older brother. Some days are harder
Ocean City donated its No. 33 jersey from last year’s CapeAtlantic League championship game to coach Boyle in honor of his brother. than others, but when I get through the day and get to practice, I have to bring my energy. The kids feed off that,” Chris said. “I’ve known these guys since they were in fifth and sixth grade coaching them in rec lacrosse, so they know that I’m passionate and they see when I’m down, and they try to build me up now, which is cool. It’s a life lesson.” What also helped is the fact that several of Jeff’s teammates traveled all the way from Maryland to Ocean City to be on hand for that game because they knew how much Jeff was fighting for his life to get one more chance to stand alongside his brother on the sidelines of a Lower Cape May game. They stood in for their teammate and had special T-shirts made up to commemorate his fight against cancer and his passion for lacrosse. Chris said that kind of devotion made quite an impact on him, as did the celebration that was planned the following week to remember his brother. “It’s hard, but we’re going to get through it. We had a celebration of life, 200 to 300 people showing up from all over the country, to pay their respects,” Chris said. “His name was Jeff Boyle and he wore No. 33, so we have “JB33” stickers on the back of our helmets that a friend of mine made up. We break out every huddle with ‘JB33!’ He’s with all of us, and that is what’s getting us through every day.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
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SHORE HARDWARE INSIDE LACROSSE
Open lines of communication the key for EHT Coach Williams meets with each player after every game to help build relationships
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lot of high school coaches will meet with players individually throughout the course of a season if need be, if they see an athlete struggling or a dramatic change in attitude, or if they think a certain player is getting frustrated because of a lack of playing time. Egg Harbor Township girls coach Melissa Williams, who is in her second year, takes that approach to the next level, as she meets with each varsity player individually after the game, while the junior varsity game is starting. She said she wants to have open lines of communication at all times, and wants her players to know not only what they might have done wrong during the course of the game, but also what they did well. “Honestly, a lot of coaches have an open-door policy. I want to get feedback as much as I can. High school athletes are sometimes so nervous or afraid to talk to their coach, and if we bring it to tomorrow there’s a lot of forgetting. I want to tell them what’s on my mind right now,” Williams said after a recent win over Absegami. “If a girl comes off the field, it’s for a reason and I want them to know why. We call it ‘my vault.’ My vault is on the sideline, and we try to get feedback. What stood out to you during the
Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O’Sullivan
EHT girls coach Melissa Williams meets with each player after every game so that her players better understand her decision making. game? What do you need help with? Was there something you were confused with? Really, I’m just trying to get them to that next level through transparency. I’ve coached at the college level for two years and it’s a big leap. To be able to come off the field and talk about it is huge.” Williams said she’s trying to prepare her players for more adult interactions that they’ll have on the college level, not only with coaches, but also professors, and even as they start getting to the age where they have to interview for jobs. “With my girls, they know that not only am I their coach, I’m also their mentor, their therapist, they
can talk about it all with me. With some of the girls, we’re very close but they know once we get on the field I’m their coach and they know the boundaries. That’s something I need to teach because at the college level, the coach is going to be the same way and these girls need to be grown-ups, they need to be able to have face-to-face conversations,” she said. “Nowadays it’s all behind the phone, but with us there’s no texting, no phone call, it needs to be face to face. They have to be able to go to the next level and be adults, and I’m trying to teach 14-, 15- and 16-yearolds that.” Williams said that her hands-on approach to giving and getting feedback goes a long way toward creating a bond, and players’ trust in her. “Sometimes we have tears and sometimes they are dealing with stuff at home or at school,” Williams said. “It’s all about the balance. Can you manage your time? It’s all about time management and in college, that’s huge. At the high school level, when you add in extra-curricular activities, sports, homework, they really have to manage their time and that’s a lot of what we talk about. (A kid might say) ‘coach, I have three big tests this week, can I not come to practice?’ And I say, ‘listen, you’re going to come to practice. You have to manage your time better on the weekends. You have to pick and choose what comes first.’ Here, it’s family, school, lacrosse. If those aren’t your top three priorities, this isn’t for you.” — Dave O’Sullivan, Staff Writer
NEWS & NOTES u Passing the test: The Ocean City boys recently faced a big early season challenge when the Red Raiders went on the road to take on Cherokee. Ocean City took a 4-1 lead into halftime, then iced a 10-4 win with a 4-0 advantage in the fourth quarter. Anthony Inserra continued his hot start, racking up seven points on four goals and three assists, but perhaps the biggest reason the Red Raiders got off to a
6-1 start this season is because Billy Kroeger is unstoppable on faceoffs. Against Cherokee, the senior won 14 of 18 faceoffs, and he’s been consistently around that percentage all season. u Room for two: Mainland and Absegami are battling for the top spot in the boys CAL National race, as the teams were a combined 4-0 in conference play and 8-3 overall through April 13. The teams will face off on April 26, just
two days after Mainland battles rival Ocean City. u Tough Tigers: The Lower Cape May girls squad jumped out to an 8-0 start, including 5-0 in the CAL American to take the lead on Ocean City (7-1, 2-0), a team they’ll face on the road on April 17. Marissa Giancola and Carina Raymond combined for nine goals and seven assists in a recent 18-12 win over Atlantic City.
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VIC’S SUBS COVER STORY
Glory Days Magazine photos/Dave O’Sullivan
Cedar Creek High School has a pair of driven, mentally tough seniors in its lacrosse programs. Aidan Richardson and Lexi Marker both are outstanding athletes on the field and have overcome some tough obstacles off the field, as each has had to endure the loss of a parent to cancer.
soldier on Cedar Creek’s Aidan Richardson and Lexi Marker have vowed to be mentally tough and take advantage of the opportunities they get in life, because that’s what the parents they lost would have wanted them to do By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Staff Writer t first glance, it doesn’t seem as though Cedar Creek seniors Aidan Richardson and Lexi Marker have much of anything in common. Aidan is a football and lacrosse player, a strapping young man who stands about 6-foot-4 and is stoic in his demeanor. Lexi, a field hockey and lacrosse player, as well as a swimmer, has the curly blonde hair and an outgoing personality. But a deeper dive into the life stories of these two outstanding young student-athletes reveals they actually have a lot in common. Both have lost a parent to cancer, Lexi’s mom, Karyn, passed away in 2010
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when Lexi was just 8 years old. She and her older brother, Tim Jr., have been raised by their father, Tim Marker Sr., for the last nine years. Aidan’s father, David Richardson, a detective in Oklahoma, passed away in February after battling colon cancer. Aidan has three other siblings, Taryn (19 years old), Aaron (16) and little Joie (3). Both Karen and David also were graduates of Absegami High School. Aidan and Lexi both also are outstanding lacrosse players. Marker recently scored her 100th career goal, and Richardson is one of the better defensive players in the league and has helped Cedar Creek become a competitive program the past couple of years. Their athletic ability can be traced directly back to
their parents who passed away. David Richardson played football at Absegami and then at West Virginia, where he played in the 1996 Gator Bowl. Karyn (nee Fortis) Marker played basketball and ran track at Absegami before graduating in 1988. Lexi’s uncle, Steve Fortis, is the athletic director at Absegami and cousins Julianna, Kailyn and Jackie have made names for themselves as Braves athletes. Perhaps the most important thing Richardson and Marker have in common, however, is their friendship that dates back to middle school, and their ability to handle the devastating loss of a loved one at relatively young ages. “It was hard, being young. All the years until freshman year in high school I struggled with learning to look at my dad as both the mother and father figure, but when I got to high school I had to realize this was the hand I was dealt and I needed to adapt. Now, I’m really close with my dad, I tell him everything. Before that I was scared to talk to him about stuff. It was tough to get through that, but it did make me
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April 17, 2019 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 11 Creek, from page 10 independent. I feel like I’m a lot more emotionally strong now,” Marker said. “She never really talked to me about her health. We all kind of knew what was coming and I understood, so we really didn’t have many conversations like that. She was always happy, and that’s how I always try to be. She always had a smile on her face and was always trying to make the best of every moment, and that’s what I try to do with my life.” “It sounds bad but it helps me the most when I can take my mind off of it. I try to do things I know would make him proud. Before he passed away, he was saying, ‘don’t get off track, do what’s right,’ and that’s what I’m trying to do for him. I’m trying to stay on track and do right for him,” Richardson said. “We took two weeks out of school and that helped a lot because I was around family. When we went to his funeral it was all positive things, it was like a celebration of his life and everybody had good things to say about him. We even heard stories that we had never heard about him before, and we saw some of his fraternity friends we never got to meet before. He always wanted us to meet them but we never got a chance, so we were able to meet a lot of people he wanted us to and we got to connect with them, so that was nice.” Both have complimented the other on not only each one’s ability on the lacrosse field, but also having the mental fortitude to get through difficult times and stay on track for bigger and better
Richardson said he plans to enlist in the Marine Corps as a reservist after graduating, the first step in a journey he hopes leads him to becoming a state trooper. things once they graduate from Cedar Creek. Marker plans to attend Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where she’ll play lacrosse while also studying to become an orthopedic surgeon, while Richardson plans to enlist in the Marine Corps as a reservist as a first step toward becoming a police officer, just like his father. “He’s one of my best friends. When I heard about his father, I let him know I’m always here for him because I know what he’s going through,” Marker said of Richardson. “I know it must be hard for him now since he’s older and had a strong bond with his dad. We’ve always been close. He hasn’t talked much about it, but I just try to make sure he’s doing alright.” “We go way back to elementary
school,” Richardson added. “I’m proud of her for scoring her 100th goal and I feel like she’s a leader, not only in lacrosse, but in the other sports she plays. She’s just a leader in general. She’s been there for me and was one of the people who said that if I needed anything she’d be there for me, and I appreciate that because she went through something like this and she knows what it’s like.”
Mental toughness
Marker and Richardson are the types of athletes coaches love, not only because of their ability but also because they already know that life is tough and have learned to soldier through the hard times. Having mentally tough athletes is certainly an advantage to a coach as teams go through the ups and
downs of a high school sports season. “He’s been a huge asset to our program. We had a pretty good season last year and he was a big part of that. He’s huge on defense and getting the ball up the field. Transition is a big part of lacrosse and he provides huge value in that. He’s pretty unstoppable when he starts moving up the field. He’s one of the guys other coaches are aware of,” boys lacrosse coach George Cappuccio said of Richardson. “This year he changed from No. 11 to No. 22 in honor of his dad and some guys will be like, ‘oh, my God, who’s No. 22?’ He’s always been one of those guys that other coaches want to know who he is. He’s been a starter since freshman year and there aren’t a lot of guys who can do that. As soon as he stepped onto the field he was a varsity level guy. When he came in, he and a couple other guys really helped build a nice core. We were one of the worst teams in the CAL but now we’re competitive.” About Marker, Cappuccio said, “She’s one of those kids you notice in the hallways, she’s very outgoing and is a really funny kid. I haven’t had her in any classes, but she’s one of those kids who everyone around the school knows.” “(My teammates) are like my brothers, and it’s the same with Lexi, and they said if I ever need anything I can come to them,” Richardson added. “And (football coach Tim) Watson, coach Cappuccio, those guys both said if I need them or need to talk, anytime, they are there for me. I really appre-
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April 17, 2019 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 13 Creek, from page 11 ciate the coaches and my brothers at this school. I’m trying to do my best to handle it.”
Something to play for
Both Marker and Richardson commemorate their mom and dad, respectively, in each game they play. Richardson has “Rest Easy, Dad” written on the tape on one side of his helmet and his father’s badge number “241” on the other side. He’s even changed his jersey number this year to 22, the number his dad wore at West Virginia. Before each game, Marker tapes up her left wrist and scrawls “R.I.P. Mom” in black ink on it. “I feel like it gives me something else to play for. Her giving birth to me and giving me a beautiful life, I feel like I have to make something of it. When I’m out on the field, I try to make the best of any moment. I feel like I have been helping this program. I don’t really focus on myself at practice, I try to help the other players because the stronger we get as a team the better chances we’ll have to win. Even though we haven’t had a winning program here, I feel like I’m helping other people realize that lacrosse is a great sport. I feel like I’m helping to set the foundation for this program,” Marker said. “I feel like I have a lot of mental toughness. One of the main things I’ve learned from losing my mom is that I’m a mentally tough individual and I can get through anything that is put in front of me.”
Giving credit
Both Marker and Richardson know
Not only is Marker one of the top players in the Cape-Atlantic League, she also plays two other sports and carries a 4.0 gradepoint average. that one of the big reasons they’ve been able to get through the death of one parent is because of the strength of the other who was left behind. Tim and Toni aren’t about to let their children lose focus or make excuses. “He has a full-time job, he built the house we live in now, he rebuilds cars — he does everything. He’s the best. I can’t thank my dad enough. Back when I was younger, I didn’t understand how important he was (to the family) but now I understand how great of a job he’s done in raising me and my brother. I’m really grateful for him,” Marker said of her dad. Added Richardson, about mom Toni, “My mom does a lot for me. Through my whole life she has been there for
me and done so much for me. She even got me started with lacrosse. She’s my rock. She’s the person who gets me through my days. She’s talked to me about staying on track. She puts her feelings aside and puts us first to make sure her kids are OK, then she worries about her, and I really admire her for that. I also have other people, like my uncle, my grandmother, my grandfather — my whole family has always been there for me and always will be. That’s just the kind of people they are.”
Life lessons
The Marker and Richardson families both have been profoundly affected by death, which at some point is a fact of life for everyone. A husband has lost a
wife, a wife a husband, kids have lost their mother or father. But through it all, Aidan and Lexi — and their siblings — are proving that good parents, even if they leave us much too quickly, create good, strong sons and daughters who will make an impact on a lot of people’s lives as they grow, mature and enter the world beyond high school sports. “The biggest impression he had on my life was him being a cop. The whole reason I want to become a cop is because of my dad. I always looked up to him for that, and since first grade I always wanted to become a cop,” Richardson said. “When I graduate, I want to give back to these teams (at Cedar Creek). I’m going off to the Marines, but after boot camp I want to come back to some of the practices and games and help out with some of the younger guys and try to be a leader for them.” “Me and my brother didn’t get along when we were younger, but after my mom died that was a turning point. Through middle school we still fought a little bit but we started to get closer, and now we’re really good friends. We call it the Marker triangle now, with us three,” Lexi said. “This whole experience has made me really independent, more appreciative of everything I’ve been given in life, and I feel like I’m emotionally and mentally tough now. Anything that is put in front of me, I know I can face it head on and get it done.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
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bunting family pharmacy BASEBALL REPORT
AROUND THE HORN u Next man up: Mainland is the kind of team that can weather a tough injury because it always has guys ready to step in and contribute, and that’s been the case so far this year as the Stangs got off to a 5-0 start despite the absence of Chase Petty, who was expected to be one of Mainland’s top pitchers. He is dealing with a knee injury and the timetable for his return is not known yet, but guys like Devin Sharkey and Hunter Rich have been picking up the slack. u ‘Spoilermakers’: Holy Spirit took offense to the Press of Atlantic City labeling the Spartans as a “spoiler” in the CAL United Conference, and has taken to calling itself the “spoilermakers” in a play on words with Purdue University’s mascot, the Boilermakers. Spirit was on fire right out of the gate, winning its first seven games, including big wins over EHT and Buena. Keep an eye on sophomore outfielder Shane Solari, this kid can flat out hit. And Steven Petrosh’s bat is coming around, too.
GAMES TO WATCH u Thursday, April 18, 4 p.m.: Atlantic City at Pleasantville: These are two young teams trying to build up their programs. A win here would be a nice confidence booster for either squad. u Saturday, April 20, time TBD: St. Augustine Prep at Tom Heinkel Tournament: The Hermits, one of the top teams in the state, will start to get involved with weekend showcase events, kicking things off at Bishop Eustace. u Tuesday, April 23, 4 p.m.: EHT at Buena: The Eagles are trying to rebound from a disappointing 0-3 start, so this will be a big test to see if they have straightened things out. u Thursday, April 25, 11 a.m.: Mainland at EHT: The Mustangs came into this week as the last remaining undefeated team in the CAL. This will be a good road test for the Stangs, and also a chance for EHT to pick up a big win.
Pirates building with youth
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t might not be easy for a high school baseball coach to find any positives in a 7-1 loss early in the season, especially when it comes against a team that has been the class of the conference for several years and in a game in which his team was looking to make a statement that it should be taken seriously in the Cape-Atlantic League National Conference race. Add to that the fact that Cedar Creek allowed four runs in the final two innings against Mainland Regional, and Pirates coach Ryan Flannery had every reason to be upset. But, while he was upset with the four errors his team made that led to unearned runs that blew the game open, Flannery knows that game provided some valuable pressure-situation experience that his players can build on in the future. This is a young team that is only going to get better, and we saw a glimpse of the kind of arms the Pirates have on their pitching staff. Guys like Steven Kaenzig, Luke Vaks, Sean Brady and David Hagaman (pictured) provide a very solid foundation on the mound for Flannery. Hagaman is just a sophomore, and a lanky 6-foot-3 athlete who already throws his fastball in the mid-80s with ease. “I think we just have to get some game experience and be in those close situations. A team like Mainland, they’ve been in those situations for years and you can tell their comfort level. We’re just getting there, so we can look at Mainland and say that’s a team we want to emulate. It happened against Ocean City as well, and those are two perennial powerhouses we want to try to emulate. You can go with the old Bill Belichick saying that most games are lost, not won — I give credit to Mainland, but we have to do a better job of playing defense, and playing the entire seven innings. We’ve been good in spurts, but our inexperience is showing that we need to do better for seven innings,” Flannery said. “David is doing well on the mound, we also have Luke Vaks, who is a junior, and Steven Kaenzig, another junior who started today. That’s definitely the heart of our team and the best part of our team, but, with good pitching you have to play good defense. That’s the next step for us. Being this young and inexperienced, our goal is to focus on ourselves. The wins and losses will come, but our goal is to focus on day-by-day. As cliche as that sounds, just build brick-by-brick and build every day. Our goal is to see change from March to May, and maybe into June. Credit to the kids, our offseason program has been revitalized the last couple years with the kids buying in, the weight room has been a huge part of our program, and we just hope that continues to show success.” Another luxury Flannery has is a starting catcher who is just a sophomore and already has a year of varsity experience under his belt. Dan DiGiovannantonio (or just “Gio” if ya like), is one of the better backstops in the CAL already even though he’s a second-year player, and he’s starting to provide some pretty good offense as well. The lineup should give teams like Mainland, Ocean City and Absegami fits this year, and in the coming years. Leadoff man Russell Riek can get on base and Hagaman, when he isn’t pitching, plays shortstop and bats in the No. 3 spot in the order. The 3-4-5 hitters of Hagaman, Brady and Elian Castillo is a tough stretch of lineup for any opposing pitcher to navigate through. — Dave O’Sullivan, Staff Writer
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PLAYERS EDGE
SOFTBALL REPORT DUGOUT CHATTER u Freshman sensation: Mainland (8-3, 3-1) was tied with rival Ocean City (4-1, 3-1) atop the CAL National standings entering the third week of the season, and a big reason is the play of rookie Bella Canesi, who has been absolutely mashing at the plate. In the first 30 at-bats of her career she had racked up 14 hits, 10 runs, eight RBIs, two doubles and two homers. She also has 17 Ks in 14 innings as a pitcher. u Next in line: EHT always has good pitching, and sophomore Haley Korsak is the latest who has the potential to be really good inside the circle.
GAMES TO WATCH u Wednesday, April 24, 11 a.m.: Washington Township at EHT: Two traditional South Jersey Group 4 powerhouses go at it during Spring Break. u Wednesday, April 24, 4 p.m.: Cedar Creek at Vineland: The Pirates have been one of the top teams in SJG2 the past couple of years. They’ll test themselves against last year’s Group 4 state championship finalist. u Thursday, May 2, 4 p.m.: Mainland at Ocean City: It’s always a dogfight when these two schools get together. The Stangs will be looking for some payback, as Ocean City scored a 3-0 win in the first meeting.
Ortega in control for Vineland
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ome high school softball pitchers can simply overpower hitters. Their velocity is such that they can afford to just sling it up there and challenge hitters to make contact, if they can. Vineland junior Nicole Ortega has some pretty good juice on her fastball, make no mistake about it, but what makes her special is her pinpoint control. That was on display during a recent 2-0 win over Egg Harbor Township, as Ortega went all seven innings without walking a batter, and didn’t really even come close to issuing a free pass. Eagles hitters started realizing early on that they better start swinging at one of the first couple of pitches, otherwise they’d get a quick trip back to the bench after a strikeout. Ortega had a perfect game going into the bottom of the fourth, and finished with just two hits allowed while striking out seven. “Nicole is very poised on the mound and hits her spots so well, doesn’t get rattled, and has great stuff. She’s already had such a great career and she’s only a junior, so I’m looking forward to her junior and senior years,” said Vineland coach Kristina Kulik. Ortega has had an outstanding career so far, posting a 26-8 record (through April 11 of this season) and has 226 strikeouts compared with just 46 walks in 215 innings. She’s also a heck of a hitter, as through her first two seasons she had 29 hits and 31 RBIs. Her catcher, Devin Coia, said having Ortega inside the circle makes calling a game a breeze. “With Nicole, pretty much everything is always on and we feel confident throwing anything, even a 3-and-2 change-up,” said catcher Devin Coia. “One thing about catching her — I’ve caught a million pitchers in my life and I don’t think I’ve seen a pitcher with more command with all her pitches. She always works ahead, and that’s awesome. She can hit her spots and she throws everything with movement. We really rely on that movement and her consistency with hitting her spots.” — Dave O’Sullivan, Staff Writer
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BASEBALL
ACCC, Villanova team up for youth camp By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Staff Writer n the competitive world of junior college baseball, Atlantic Cape Community College — led by head coach Rod Velardi and assistant Bert Rosica — have made interacting with local South Jersey communities a priority as they continue to build up the Buccaneers’ program. To that end, ACCC recently teamed up with Villanova University’s baseball program to put on a clinic for kids of all ages. Rosica said he wasn’t sure what to expect, as this was a first for the Buccaneers’ program, but was pleasantly surprised when about 75 youngsters showed up to the Sand Castle in Atlantic City on March 29. “We wanted to do something with a Division I school, and having been down in Virginia for 23 years, I got to know Pete Wilk at Georgetown. I said, ‘Pete, can you connect me with either St. Joe’s or Villanova? Because we’d like to do something with them.’ He introduced me to Kevin (Mulvey, Villanova head coach), and Kevin and I had lunch one day, talked about our programs. Our thinking was this — we wanted our ballplayers to get exposed to Division I players, go out to dinner, have guys from each team get up and talk. We just wanted to see what that’s like,” Rosica said. “We were wondering a few days before the event — we were going to have 30 guys from Villanova, 30 of our own guys, 60 college kids — what if we only have 20 kids come out? We’ll have three or four guys to every kid. But then it just started snowballing, and a big part of that was Rod getting the word out.” The clinic featured several stations, including infield and outfield defensive work, hitting, and also a Q&A session in the dugout with players and coaches from both colleges so kids
I Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O’Sullivan
In late March, dozens of kids got the chance to work out with ACCC and Villanova baseball players as part of a clinic the colleges combined to host at the Sand Castle in Atlantic City.
could find out more about what it’s like being a college baseball player. “One of the things we incorporated was having the coaches talk to these kids about being good kids and doing the right things. That’s what Villanova baseball is all about, and that’s what Buccaneers baseball is all about. Our priorities are right,” Rosica said. “It’s about being a good person, God and family, being a good man for others, excelling academically and then having fun and working hard playing baseball. Those are the exact lessons we’re passing on to these kids.” Rosica and Velardi have been preaching the benefits of junior college baseball for many years now, and this clinic was an opportunity to expose the experience to even more young players. It was also a chance for Buccaneers players to give back to the community, something the ACCC coaching staff is constantly preaching. “Our kids are great kids. We have kids on our team who work 40 hours a week, play baseball, go to school. Our team GPA is creeping up over 3.0 right now, so they are getting good grades. They’re doing everything right, and yet a lot of these kids don’t have money, they might have issues at home — they have all kinds of challenges that maybe kids who go to Villanova don’t have. We always say the impact Atlantic Cape has on a kid is so much more profound than another university, and the reason being is if these kids don’t go to Villanova they’ll go to another fine school, and they are going to do well. A lot of our kids, if they’re not on our team they might not be in college, and if they’re not in college heaven knows what they’re doing. But, they are with us now and they all
See ACCC, page 19
April 17, 2019 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 19 ACCC, from page 18 have the ambition to go to a four-year school, and that’s the key to our program. When I explained that to Kevin he literally said to me, ‘Bert, our guys are going to get more out of this than your guys.’ I understood what he meant by that,” Rosica said. “Kevin is a great guy, and the Villanova kids are all such nice kids. They’re like our kids. I told our guys before Villanova got here, ‘in terms of quality of character, in terms of your world acumen, in terms of your baseball acumen, in terms of academics and the way you guys are performing right now, I’ll stack you up against Villanova any day.’” Rosica said it’s important for young players to understand that junior college is a great option, for many reasons, including alleviating some of the financial stress parents might have when trying to get their kids into a four-year school. “There are a lot of kids on this field right now where Villanova might be
a stretch for them and might not be a possibility, but we are a distinct possibility, and once they get to us we can make it so that Villanova is a possibility,” he said. Ultimately, most of the young kids out on the field that day are far removed from even thinking about college, but it was good for ACCC to plant the seed while also having fun with the youngsters and providing them with a valuable experience as they continue to learn the game. “I remember when I was an 8-yearold Little Leaguer and the local high school guys came and put on a little clinic for us. I thought it was the most wonderful thing in the world to have these great big ballplayers come out and teach us baseball,” Rosica said. “To these little kids, a college athlete is no different than a professional athlete in terms of size. It’s a beautiful thing.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Atlantic Cape Community College assistant baseball coach Bert Rosica addresses youngsters at the recent clinic the Buccaneers hosted in conjunction with Villanova University.
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FOOTBALL
Papale’s son carving out own legacy Vinny Papale of Bishop Eustace, UDel, preparing for potential shot in the NFL By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Staff Writer lenty of 9-year-old boys go to the movies with their father. Not many 9-year-olds get to watch a movie ABOUT their dad. The feature film “Invincible” premiered in 2006, back when Vinny Papale was in grade school. It was the life story of Vince Papale — the former South Philadelphia bartender who earned a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976-78 after impressing then-coach Dick Vermeil at an open tryout. That storyline differs slightly from the real-life events of Vince Papale, as he was invited to a private tryout with the Eagles after a good couple of seasons in semi-professional football with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League, at the time a rival league to the NFL. Also, the movie portrays Vince meeting current wife Janet during the tryout period, but in fact he didn’t meet her until after his NFL career had ended. They were married in 1993 and had two children, Gabriella and Vinny. Gabriella now works for the Philadelphia 76ers and Vinny, 22, graduated from the University of Delaware this past December and is ready to take his shot at the NFL. “I was 9 years old when it came out and it was pretty cool. As far as truth, my mom wasn’t a Giants fan, they hadn’t met yet. Other than that everything else was pretty much true. I guess they just needed a love interest,” Vinny said during a recent pre-draft workout at Athletes Arbor in Northfield, owned by former Kansas City Chiefs player Dave Klemic.
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Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Vinny Papale, whose famous father, former Philadelphia Eagles player Vince Papale, had his life story chronicled in the blockbuster movie ‘Invincible’, recently was working out at Athlete’s Arbor in Northfield to prepare for what he hopes is his chance to either get drafted or signed by an NFL franchise.
His opportunity
While Vince Papale was a track star during his college days at St. Joseph’s, Vinny was all about football at Bishop Eustace before graduating in 2015, although he did also compete in lacrosse and track during his days as a Crusader. A broken collar bone his senior year derailed some of the bigger college aspirations he had, but Vinny signed on with the University of Delaware and had an outstanding career with the Blue Hens. For the past several months he has been training in the hopes of being drafted this year by an NFL team, or hooking on as an undrafted free agent. “Some of the bigger schools were after me for defense. I was a corner in high school and was getting recruited more as a safety, but Delaware was really the only school that recruited me
as a receiver, and that’s what I wanted to play in college. They were the only school that ended up offering me because I broke my collar bone senior year (of high school) and my season was cut short. I was getting a lot of interest from teams but once I broke my collar bone it seemed like all of that stopped. Delaware offered and I took it,” Vinny said. “One of the reasons I chose Delaware is because if you look at their track record, almost every year they have somebody going to the NFL, and in the FCS they are one of the best programs in the country. I knew that path from Delaware would give me a good chance of making the NFL.” He’s also been invited to a personal workout hosted by the Eagles, his father’s former team. “I was down in Florida training for
about two-and-a-half months to prepare for my pro day, which was a few weeks ago. I had that and got invited to the Eagles’ local pro day, which is April 17, then the draft is April 25-27. Either I’ll find out in that time frame, or if I go as an undrafted free agent, I should find out within 48 to 72 hours (after the draft) if I can sign with someone as an undrafted free agent,” said Vinny, a Cherry Hill native. “I don’t know how many people were invited (to the Eagles workout) but just to have them call my name, from being around the area and being a big fan, it’s obviously something that’s very cool and a little surreal, to be able to go in there where they practice and see everything.”
See Papale, page 21
April 17, 2019 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 21 Papale, from page 20
The transition
Bishop Eustace has a very small football program, typically with less than 40 players, which meant Papale had to play offense, defense and special teams. He developed quite an impressive skill set, but even he said playing college football is a whole different level. “I think the biggest transition from high school to college is the physicality of the game. In high school you can get by with some things, but once you go to college there’s no room for error. You can get hit really hard and, like they say, the game moves a lot faster. That cutoff in the skill from high school to college, it really is a big jump. Guys are a lot more athletic and can keep up with you a lot more, and are more physical. As a receiver going to college, it was a big jump because they start doing press coverage, which is something you don’t see that much in high school. So that was sort of a shock when someone jams you when they hike the ball. It took some getting used to,” said Papale, who graduated early in December with a degree in finance. “I think the biggest thing I learned in college was about myself, just watching myself constantly. When you think about it, (in college) you’re practicing pretty much year-round. I basically lived there year-round, we had meetings year-round and you’re watching yourself more than the games because there are only 10 or 11 games in a season. So, we were constantly practicing, watching myself, critiquing myself and being able to take things from the meeting room to the field. I know Delaware is in spring ball right now and that was always a big time for me to get better.”
Believing in himself
Papale is 6-foot-1 and plays at around 205 pounds — not huge as far as NFL wide receiver standards go, but not small, either. He said he feels like he has what it takes to make an NFL roster, and he’s always felt that way. “In the CAA and FCS there is NFL talent, so, as far as my skill set goes, I’ve always believed I can make it to the next level. I’m not 6-foot-4 or 6-5, but I am a bigger bodied receiver and that’s something that has been said by scouts. I play physically and I think that’s one of the things that has helped me,” he said. “Even at that high school age I always had the mindset of not if I could play in the NFL but when. I always had that mindset. It’s crazy that it’s actually here now, but it’s exciting. I’m focused on Plan A right now, going with that old saying, ‘burn the ships.’ All my focus is on Plan A right now and I hope it works out. If it doesn’t, I’ll worry about that when the time comes.”
Papale’s advice
When it comes to today’s high school players, Papale said the best thing any athlete can do is to keep working hard, believe in yourself and keep your head
Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Former Bishop Eustace and University of Delaware wide receiver Vinny Papale recently worked out at Athletes Arbor in Northfield. He’s hoping to hear his named called at the upcoming NFL draft, which takes place April 25-27. on straight. You never know who is watching. And, also, consider every school that is willing to take the time to recruit you. “Everyone really is watching everything you do. Kids have to try not to get caught up in the whole big school recruiting thing. I went to a school like Delaware, which is not a huge school but has a great program, and that really worked out for me. I know kids are out there shooting for those huge schools, and it might not work out, but don’t let that get to your head. You can make it from anywhere. You see guys from all over the country making it, so just keep your head and make a name for yourself wherever you go, whether it’s a big school or small school,” Papale said. “If you do that, you never know. Anything can happen. Even to make it this far and have my name in the mix is crazy. It’s something I always dreamed about as a kid, and now it’s actually here. It’s surreal, hard to explain. Like I said with my advice for kids in high school, I just have to not let anything get to my head, keep working and something will come along.” It’s similar advice he got from his father, who is an iconic Philadelphia sports personality but always treats people as if he never became famous or had a movie made about him. “He told me to stay humble. With the movie that came out, I’ve had so many people come up to me and talk about my dad, and how even after the movie he’s never changed one bit. He treats everyone the same,” Vinny said. “As I go down this path and see all the stuff in the headlines — it’s pretty cool, but you just have to stay humble and level-headed. That’s something that he taught me.”
Now’s the time
Vinny said he knows he may only get one shot at
the NFL, so he’s doing everything he can to prepare himself and be in position to succeed if he does get the chance. “This is a different kind of training, with the combine type stuff and trying to train for the 40yard dash. It’s not as much football right now, but once that’s over I’ll start getting more into football (drills) and keep working on my skills. Obviously, at the next level, the game is going to move faster than it did in college. I’m just trying to get quicker with my footwork because defensive backs (in the NFL) are pretty fast,” he said. “I definitely have the skill to play in the NFL, it’s just a matter of getting the shot.” “It’s pretty cool seeing all the stuff that’s coming out now since I’m now taking my shot at the next level,” he continued. “It’s cool to see, and what (my dad) did was amazing because he didn’t play college football. He didn’t have that experience under his belt, so to see what he did was pretty amazing. He said there was an opportunity at a tryout, he took a shot and it worked out. He had one opportunity and he made the most of it. I guess you can see how it played out.” So now, Vinny Papale’s potential NFL dream is playing out, and who knows, maybe someday there will be a need for a sequel to “Invincible” with young Vinny Papale playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s in a position now where he’s daring to dream big, believing he has the talent and ambition to back it up. Said Vinny, “Sometimes I think about it. That would be surreal.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
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BASEBALL
New ACIT coach living in moment Coyle believes big-picture success depends upon small daily gains
Former EHT assistant and pitching coach Sean Coyle has taken over as head coach at ACIT.
By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Staff Writer tlantic County Institute of Technology is one of the fastest growing schools in South Jersey, the RedHawks have a very involved athletic director in Dr. Robert Wagner, and some nice facilities for the baseball program. All those factors combined made it an ideal place for Sean Coyle to make the jump from Egg Harbor Township assistant and pitching coach to the head man at ACIT. Coyle is in his first year as a head varsity coach as he takes over for Michael Anthony, who stepped down after last season and who helped build the RedHawks into a competitive team in the Cape-Atlantic League. Coyle said he’s looking to continue to build upon that foundation, and if the early results in 2019 are any indication, he’s well on his way to doing just that. Just a few years ago, ACIT was a fledgling program but now the school is Group 4 with about 1,400 students, and some college prospects are starting to make their way onto the RedHawks’ baseball diamond. Junior pitcher and shortstop Tony Santa Maria has already given a verbal commitment to Division I Iona University and likely will become the first Division I signee in school history during the 2019-2020 school year, and current senior first baseman Kyle Bronco is looking to hook on with a Division II or III program.
Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O’Sullivan
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Coyle cut his teeth under current EHT coach Bryan Carmichael, who has built the Eagles into one of the top teams in the Cape-Atlantic League and a program that has been getting some recognition at the state level the past couple of seasons. After eight seasons on the bench with the Eagles, Coyle said he was ready to make the leap to head coach. “I was very fortunate the past eight years with Bryan at EHT. He’s a baseball guru, and we were able to be the yin and yang together. A lot of the stuff I do is based on what we did at EHT. Some of the things I maybe press a little bit more on. I understand that maybe the depth isn’t there yet, but we want the depth to get there and that’s going to take some time, but we’ll eventually build it up,” Coyle said. “I’ve been a part of big games, big wins, big losses — you just have to take the good with the bad and understand that these are high school kids. They are so excited to be out here, they’re happy and they love the kind of baseball we’re playing — we’re bunting, we’re slashing, we’re stealing, putting pressure on
teams. That’s what we want to do, and we want to pound the strike zone, make the other team put the ball in play and keep our pitch counts down. We’re excellent defensively.” Through its first eight games, ACIT was 4-4 with wins over Middle Township, St. Joseph, Bridgeton and Atlantic City, and had played well against some of the top teams in the CAL American, such as Millville (7-4 loss) and St. Augustine (8-7 loss after leading 6-1 early). Players said they’ve adapted well to the change in the coaching staff. “It’s great to have a coach like him here, he’s doing great things for this program and he’s going to continue to do so. I have all the faith in him. It’s been a seamless transition, a lot of new stuff, a lot of great things happening,” Bronco said after the RedHawks’ season-opening win over Middle. Added Santa Maria, “The coaches we had before pushed us hard and it’s been a pretty seamless tran-
See ACIT, page 23
April 17, 2019 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 23 ACIT, from page 22 sition. Coyle has taught us things we need to know to become a better program, which is going to be beneficial down the line. I have all the faith in the world in these guys, we all have each other’s backs and we’re all aiming toward the same goal. I think it’s going to be tough to beat us this year.” Coyle said the transition has gone pretty smoothly for him as well. “I know coach Anthony, we went to the same high school and he’s a great guy. We’ve talked in the past and he’s been very supportive of everything. For me, I feel like I know a little bit about baseball and I’m just trying to get these guys to play the best baseball they can, playing hard and understanding that it takes zero talent to hustle. We put together really good practices where we’re always competing against one another,” he said. “We have goals, but our main goal is to win the next game. And we break it down even further into win the inning, win the pitch, win the at-bat. We get that focused. Ev-
ery time they step into the batter’s box there’s a new approach and something that needs to be done to help this team win. We preach the little things and when a bunch of little things keep adding up, they become big things.” Coyle said he won’t consider any big picture tweaks or changes until after the season. For now, as he’s getting his feet wet, he wants to simply focus on the here-and-now, and that’s the same thing he’s preaching to his players. “All I want these guys to do is live in the moment. When that ball leaves the pitcher’s hand, there’s nothing they can do about it, we just have to be able to make the plays after that,” Coyle said. “I’m still taking it day by day. At times, I sit back and think, ‘wow, a year ago I was at Egg Harbor Township with a great group of kids, and I love those kids, but I love these guys here, too.’ I love what we’re doing here and I just try to take it day by day. I just don’t get too far ahead of myself or I’ll lose my mind.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
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GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O’Sullivan
ACIT senior Kayla Sykes, the leading scorer in school history, recently signed with Division II Bloomfield College in north Jersey.
Sykes makes history, again, at Atlantic Tech By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Staff Writer hen Kayla Sykes came into Atlantic County Institute of Technology four years ago, she was big on basketball talent but short on confidence. She had torn her ACL as an eighth-grader and begged RedHawks varsity basketball coach Jason Vander Ryk to play her on the junior varsity team when she was a freshman. She didn’t think she was ready to handle the pressure of varsity basketball, and the physicality of playing against older kids. Coach Vander Ryk, however, didn’t want to hear it. He inserted her into the starting lineup in her very first high school game, and she embarked on a history making career. When her high school career came to an end, Sykes was the leading scorer in school history. She made some history again last
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week when she signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Bloomfield College in north Jersey, becoming the first NCAA Division II or Division I scholarship athlete in ACIT history. Bloomfield women’s basketball competes at the Division II level. The Bears play in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (against teams such as Felician, Holy Family, Caldwell, Concordia and USciences, among others) and went 6-22 this season but have a young team, including five freshmen this year. ACIT will have its first Division I scholarship student-athlete during the next school year when baseball player Tony Santa Maria signs with Iona, as the junior has already given a verbal commitment to the Gaels. “We’re really proud of her as a pro-
See Sykes, page 25
April 17, 2019 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 25 Sykes, from page 24 gram. What she has set for us, as an individual athlete but also what she brought to our basketball program as a player. And also what she’s taking forward with her to Bloomfield as an ACIT student-athlete, we’re really proud of her,” Athletic Director Dr. Robert Wagner said at Sykes signing ceremony. In her typical driven personality, Sykes said at the signing ceremony that she thought she could have done more during her high school career. But, she’s also proud that she’ll have the bulk of her college career paid for through athletic and academic scholarships. “It feels great, honestly, that all the hard work paid off. Now that I’ve had a chance to look back on my four years, I’m a little disappointed in myself because I feel like I could have
“We’re really proud of her as a program. What she has set for us, as an individual athlete but also what she brought to our basketball program as a player. And also what she’s taking forward with her to Bloomfield as an ACIT student-athlete.”
Dr. Robert Wagner ACIT Athletic Director
gone harder in everything I did. But I’m so glad that I made the right decision for me, my family, my friends who can come up and see my games. Bloomfield was very welcoming from the first time I set foot on campus. The coach, I like her and the way she handles her players, and it looks like I’ll be a great fit there,” she said. “It feels great. I never knew I would make it this far with my ACL injury. I didn’t think I would be so powerful on the court.” Sykes’ mother, Lonniyell, and
Vander Ryk have been two of Sykes’ biggest supporters throughout her career, something Kayla — who plans to study biology and physical therapy at Bloomfield — said she’s thankful for. “It means a lot to have somebody constantly in your ear who is telling you that you’re doing well and to keep it up. It means the world to me,” she said. “My coaches and teammates helped me on and off the court. They kept telling me to strive to do better and be more successful that I had been the last time. Coach Vander Ryk has
been a big support system. He always has my back, no matter what.” For now, Sykes said she’s just trying to soak in the last few months of her high school career. “I’m just taking it day by day right now,” Sykes said. “Even though graduation day is coming up soon, I’m just counting the memories and taking the memories I’ve made, and hopefully just keep creating memories because I know I’m going to miss this school so much.” And about that lesson “Coach V” taught her four years ago by throwing her to the wolves as a freshman? Sykes said, “I feel like I should never doubt myself again, even though I’m going to college and it’s going to be a more difficult level, I should never doubt myself. I know I can do it.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
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snapshots
Glory Days Magazine photos/Dave O’Sullivan
EHT second baseman Zoe Bork makes a throw to first during the Eagles’ recent 2-0 loss to Vineland.
Oakcrest leadoff batter and center fielder Ty’Rell Harris reacts after an at-bat against Absegami.
Ocean City senior Billy Kroeger controls a faceoff during the Red Raiders’ victory over Lower Cape May in late March.
Absegami’s Rudy Kreutzer delivers to the plate during the Braves’ 11-8 win over rival Absegami on April 12.
snapshots
Egg Harbor Township’s Gianna DiCaprio looks for a teammate to pass to during the Eagles’ win over Absegami earlier this month.
Glory Days Magazine photos/Dave O’Sullivan
Absegami second baseman Shane Nanek gets fired up with teammates after scoring a run late in the Braves’ 11-8 victory over rival Oakcrest.
Oakcrest pitcher Emily Tunney delivers to the plate during the Falcons’ recent game against rival Absegami.
Ocean City senior pitcher A.J. Campbell gets set to deliver during the Red Raiders’ rivalry game against Mainland in early April.
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