HAMMONTON—A matchup of two Cape Atlantic League softball powers did not go well for Hammonton High School last week, as Cedar Creek’s powerful lineup bashed three home runs in a 10-2 victory that gave the Blue Devils their first loss of the season.
The visiting Pirates received home runs from Kileen McNeill, Kelsey McFadden and Chaneyl Johnson as they pounded out 17 hits in the win.
The game matched a pair of defending South Jersey sectional champions. Hammonton won the Group 3 title last year, while Cedar Creek took home the Group 2 title.
Cedar Creek took the lead in the top of the first when Olivia Catalina doubled and scored on an RBI single from Allison Amadio. McFadden followed with a two-run homer to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead.
Hammonton scored once in the bottom of the second, but Cedar Creek added a run in the fifth and led 4-2 heading into the sixth inning.
In that frame, the Pirates broke the game open with a six-run rally. McNeill delivered the big hit, a pinch-hit grand slam.
Gracie Ravenkamp finished the game 3-for-3 for Hammonton with an RBI and Alexa Panagopoylos had two hits and drove in a run.
April Lewandowski took the loss, striking out four.
Last weekend, Hammonton played in the Rancocas Valley Elite Tournament.
The Blue Devils lost their first game, 10-0, to Washington Twp. Hammonton managed just three hits in the loss.
Hammonton rebounded to beat Vineland 11-7, holding off a late charge by the Fighting Clan for the win.
The Blue Devils led 8-5 after scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, then added three in the fifth before Vineland closed the gap with two runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh.
Krista Tzaferos doubled, scored twice and drove in four runs in the win, while Riley Lancaster added three hits, scored twice and had a pair of RBIs. Both Lancaster and Panagopoylos tripled for the Blue Devils.
Hammonton followed that victory with a 5-4 win against South Brunswick. Lewandowski notched the win, allowing just five hits.
Panagopoylos went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in and two runs scored in the win.
Playing for third place, Hammonton lost to Kingsway 8-7. The Dragons used a four-run first inning rally to take control of the game and held on to top the Blue Devils by a run.
Lancaster had three hits and drove in four runs for Hammonton, while Victoria Esau scored three times.
Earlier this week, the Blue Devils hosted Buena and played at Egg Harbor Twp. (EHT) in a pair of key Cape Atlantic League games. Both ended too late for this edition.
On April 14, Hammonton plays at Our Lady of Mercy Academy (OLMA) at 4 p.m.