Post Tagged with: "Middle School Baseball"

High School, Middle School Students Receive Awards for Athletic Participation, Leadership, and Team Success

Seniors who received the Billy Robinson Award and the Cougar Award.

High school and middle school students who played on an ACS sports team during the 2022-2023 school year received recognition for their participation, leadership, and athletic abilities at Athletic Awards Programs on June 2 and 5.

At the High School Athletics Awards event on June 2, it was a time to celebrate and reflect on a distinguished year of achievement as Athletic Director Pam Hitchner gave an overview of each team’s accomplishments. Hitchner also took time to thank and recognize ACS parents and volunteer Terry Vogel, and her husband, Paul, for their 28 years of service in support of ACS Athletics. In particular, Mrs. Vogel had overseen concession sales at home athletic games, helping raise thousands of dollars for ACS athletic programs.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner recognized and thanked Paul and Terry Vogel for their 28 years of volunteer service to support ACS athletics.

The evening culminated with the announcement of special recognition awards. Seniors Cruz Lewis and Paige Noble were chosen by the Athletic Department to be the recipients of the 2023 Billy Robinson Award, which recognizes one high school boy and one high school girl for significant achievement, Christian testimony, and athletic ability. Robby Barberio, Maddie DeNick, and Reyna Lewis received the Cougar Award, which is given to seniors who have demonstrated outstanding Christian character, leadership, responsibility, and commitment in the area of athletics. The five athletes are pictured above.

There was a lot to celebrate in the achievements of the various Varsity teams. In the fall sports season, the Varsity Boys Soccer team, under head coach Chris Lopez, finished the regular season in second place and advanced to play in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Championship match against King’s Christian School. The game ended in a tie of 2-2, with goals scored by Chase Leach and Malachi Vasquez. The game then went into double overtime, with both teams still tied. King’s Christian won in penalty kicks 4-2 and ACS finished the season in second place.

The Lady Cougars Varsity Soccer Team, under head coach Carly Witherow, finished in 3rd place in the regular season and lost in the conference consolation game to Calvary Academy. Ten ACS soccer players were named TSCAC All-Stars. Witherow, in her 11th year as head coach, was recognized for being the longest serving soccer coach and most winning soccer coach, leading ACS teams to 5 TSCAC Championships and twice being named TSCAC Coach of the Year. She is stepping down as head coach this year.

In winter sports, both the Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball Teams were the TSCAC Champions, winning hard-fought battles in their February 25 championship games held in the ACS gym. The No. 1-seeded Lady Cougars had an undefeated season, and the No. 2-seeded Varsity Boys’ Team pulled off an upset, beating No. 1-seeded Pilgrim Academy 54-45, a team that had been undefeated all season. Eight ACS players were named TSCAC All-Stars, senior Paige Noble received the 2023 TSCAC MVP Varsity Girls’ Basketball Award, and Varsity Girls’ head coach Kaylee Breunig received the 2023 TSCAC Varsity Girls Basketball Coach of the Year Award.

In the spring, the Varsity Girls Softball Team was tied for first place in the regular season, and went on to win the TSCAC Championship Title on June 3, beating Pilgrim Academy. The Varsity Boys Baseball team finished in third place in the regular season and won their TSCAC consolation game, beating Calvary Academy, finishing the seasons in third place. For the second consecutive year, 11th grade shortstop Evangelina Kim received the conference MVP Award in softball and Varsity Girls Softball head coach Dara Kimmerley received the Softball Coach of the Year Award. Ten ACS Varsity Baseball and Softball players were named TSCAC All-Stars.

Cheer team head coach Morgan Gibson and assistant coach Michelle Wheeler with the team.

The Varsity Cheerleading Team, under head coach Morgan Gibson and assistant coach Michelle Wheeler, made history again this year. For the second consecutive year, the Cheer Team was named the  National Champions in The ONE Varsity Intermediate School Cheer Division. The ACS Cheer Team had earlier won first place in its category at The ONE Cheer and Dance Finals held April 1-2 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In both the April and Finals rounds of competition, the scoring was based on execution, technique and degree of difficulty, as well as the ability to inspire a crowd.

The track program continued to grow this year. The Cross Country Club, in its third year, competed in meets with King’s Christian School and at the Homecoming 5K Run. Over 90 middle school and high school students participated in the spring track program, with ACS high school boys’ and girls’ track teams winning first place at the TSCAC Track Meet hosted at ACS on May 11. The teams also competed at the Mid-Atlantic Christian School Association (MACSA) Invitational Track Meet at Messiah University.

During the program, the head coaches of the various teams presented certificates and special awards to their players, including the Coaches Award, Most Valuable Player, and Most Improved Player. The coaches participating in the program were: Girls Soccer — Carly Witherow; Boys Soccer — Chris Lopez; Girls Basketball — Kaylee Breunig and Dara Kimmerley; Boys Basketball — Drew Carney; Girls Softball — Dara Kimmerley; Boys Baseball — Carl Phillips; and Cheer — Morgan Gibson (head coach) and Michelle Wheeler (assistant coach).

The high school award recipients were:

Varsity Girls Soccer: Paige Noble (MVP); Maddie DeNick and Eden Wilson (co-Coaches Award); Alicia O’Donnell (Best All-Around Player)
Varsity Boys Soccer: David O’Donnell (MVP); Malachi Vasquez (Coaches Award); Chase Leach (Best Defensive Player); James Papanikolaou (Best All-Around Player)
Varsity Girls Basketball: Paige Noble and Evangelina Kim (co-MVP); Reyna Lewis (Championship Performance)
JV Girls Basketball: Skyler Shivers (MVP)
Varsity Boys Basketball: Noah Stokes (MVP); Charlie Costello (Coaches Award); Noah Gibbs and Caleb Vogel (Championship Performance)
JV Boys Basketball: Jericho Thomas (MVP); Caden Kim (Coaches Award); and Judah Dawkins (Most Improved)
Softball: Evangelina Kim and Taylor Sutton (co-MVP); Paige Noble (Coaches Award)
Baseball: Charlie Costello (MVP); Robby Barberio (Coaches Award); Josh Merlino (Most Improved)
Cheer: Haven Sanchez (MVP); Mackenzie Flynn (Coaches Award); Tara McCorkle (Most Improved)

Middle School Athletic Awards

At the Middle School Athletic Awards program on June 5, students who participated in soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, and track were recognized and honored. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner thanked the coaches for another outstanding year of competition in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League, of which ACS is a member. The middle school boys’ teams came in first place in soccer, basketball, and baseball and the middle school girls had winning records in soccer and softball. In the spring, the Middle School boys’ and girls’ track teams came in first place in the TSCAC Track Meet.

During the Middle School program, Hitchner also thanked and recognized four new first-year head coaches for their efforts — Becky Pineo (girls soccer), Silas Nixon (boys soccer), Jen Domsic and Sydney Pearson (girls basketball and softball). The other head coaches of Middle School teams, who presented certificates to their players and spoke about their accomplishments, were boys basketball coach Josh Clark and boys baseball coach Charlie Costello.

Middle School Girls Soccer Coach Becky Pineo and her team.

During his remarks, Middle School Boys Soccer Coach Nixon noted that coaching 25 players at different skill levels was the most difficult task he had ever undertaken, but they worked hard and came together as a team that ended up placing first in the league with an undefeated record. Coach Pineo emphasized the importance of displaying Christian character on the athletic field. “Playing sports doesn’t prove our character, but reveals our true character,” Pineo said.

Coaches Domsic and Pearson praised the athletes on both the Middle School Girls Basketball and Softball Teams for working hard to acquire new skills and abilities. “We started from scratch with some of our players, but we persevered and fought hard, and even in our losses we kept fighting,” Pearson said. She noted that the Middle School Girls Softball Team finished with a winning record of 7-3 with all new players.

The Middle School Boys Basketball Team had a remarkable season, with 23 straight victories and finishing in first place in the league. Coach Clark said the word “perseverance” best described the team. “This was a very special team that I was very proud to coach,” Clark said. “They never gave up and always showed up for every game and every practice.”

The Middle School Boys Baseball Team, under Coach Costello, finished the season tied for first place in the league. Coach Costello noted that while success on the athletic field is something to enjoy and be proud of, that the most important goal is to fear the Lord, quoting Proverbs 9:10 — “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

 

Middle School Baseball, Softball Teams Making Their Mark at Midway Point in Season; Teams Face St. Joe’s on Monday

Now midway into their seasons, the Middle School Boys’ Baseball team is undefeated with a 4-0 record and the Middle School Girls’ Softball team has a strong 5-2 winning record in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League. Both teams will play St. Joe’s at home on Monday afternoon. Come on out and cheer our teams to victory.

On May 10, the 14-member Boys’ Baseball Team played a double-header against Pilgrim Academy and won both games handily under the 10-run rule. Against the Alder Avenue Middle School in Egg Harbor Township, 7th grade starting pitcher Ethan Costello threw a no-hitter and ACS won that game 12-2.

“We have a lot of talented players who are strong hitters at bat and we are working hard in every practice to help our players develop and strengthen their skills in every area,” said head coach Charlie Costelllo, in his 2nd year at the helm. He is assisted by Jayson Benson, Russ Cook, and Vincent Falcone. In addition to pitcher Ethan Costello, Coach Costello has five other players who rotate onto the mound – 8th grader Johnny Cook, who also plays catcher; 7th grader Luke Odell; 7th grader Aidan Schlemo, who also plays outfield; and 8th grader Jeriko Thomas.

The other players on the team are: Logan Benson (1st base), Colton Carney (outfield), Eli Casey (shortstop), Calvin Costello (2nd base), Micah D’Anna (outfield), Josh Maxwell (catcher), Alex Newhall (outfield), Justice Settles (outfield), and Luca Sulivan (3rd base).

The 17-member Girls’ Softball Team welcomed a new starting pitcher this season – 7th grader Emilee Richards – and her strong skills on the mound and at bat have helped ACS advance to a 5-2 record. Serving as relief pitchers are Ashlee Alford and Annalena DiMaio. Richards has two home runs so far this season. Other leading hitters on the team include 8th grader Skyler Shivers, who hit a triple and a double in the May 10 double-header against Pilgrim Academy, shortstop Hazel Burgan, catcher Marley Odell, and outfielder Alexis Shropshire. Other team members are: Alexis Andujar, Stephanie Ballester, Ava Barberio, Gianna Flynn, Keira Frontino, Rielly Kisielewski, Lydia McCarthy, Gerliana Merette, Nadia Pearson, and Anyae Welch.

In the Pilgrim Academy double-header on May 10, ACS split the difference, winning the first game 24-14 and losing the second game 13-12. Mike Bohs, in his 5th year as head coach, is optimistic that the team will finish the season with a strong winning record. He even hopes to post a win the next time ACS faces the Alder Avenue Middle School team, which has a pitcher throwing 50 mph pitches. “We will continue improving and supporting each other to be effective as a team, whether we’re at bat or in the field,” Bohs said. He is assisted by ACS 2021 alumnus Sydney Pearson.

 

New Batting Cage Installed in Time for Baseball, Softball Seasons

A new batting cage is open and ready for use by students on the ACS middle school and high school baseball and softball teams, built by the ACS facilities staff during the first week of March.

“We are very blessed to have a facilities team that was able to envision and build this new batting cage, just in time for the baseball and softball seasons,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “The COVID-19 pandemic limited our seasons over the past two years, so we’re looking forward to a full season and this new batting cage will help strengthen our skills when we go up to bat.”

Facilities Manager Jonathan Ireland oversaw the four-day project to build the 40-foot by 18-foot wood-framed cage, with assistance from facilities staff members Cisco Bernardino and Bill Smallwood. Ireland also enlisted help from local builder Mike Angerman, who donated his services to drill the 4-foot-deep holes for the wood support beams.

Hitchner said this new cage replaces an earlier metal-frame cage that was damaged in a storm.  “This new cage is built sturdy and strong and should last us for a number of years,” Hitchner said.

 

Baseball, Softball 2022 Season Preview, Tryout Dates

The Middle School and High School Baseball and Softball seasons will be getting underway in March. High School Tryouts will be on Monday, March 7 and Middle School Tryouts are on Wednesday, March 16.  Interested students should sign up in the gym.

We are welcoming back all of our head coaches this year who had strong seasons last year.  Both Varsity teams finished in second place in the regular season and advanced to play in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Championship finals, but lost in the finals and finished in second place overall. Both Middle School teams had winning seasons in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League, but league rankings were not finalized due to the impact of COVID-19 on the participation of public school teams.

Here’s the lineup of our coaches for the 2022 season:

Varsity Boys’ Baseball — Gus Casey, in his 2nd year as head coach, who served as co-head coach last season.

Varsity Girls’ Softball — Dara Kimmerley, in her 8th year as head coach.

Middle School Baseball — Charlie Costello, in his 2nd year as head coach.

Middle School Softball — Mike Bohs, in his 4th year as head coach.

The first games of the Varsity Baseball and Softball teams will be on Tuesday, March 29 at home against King’s Christian School. The Middle School season schedule will be finalized soon. Please check out the ACS website or ACS App under the “Athletics” tab or button for the game schedules of all our teams.  See you in the bleachers!

Middle School Baseball, Softball Teams Both Undefeated Going into Second Half of Season

We’re rooting for the Middle School Baseball and Softball Teams that are both undefeated at this half-way point in the season as they compete against public and non-public schools in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League.

The Middle School Boys’ Baseball Team is led by ACS parent Charlie Costello, in his first year as head coach, assisted by ACS parent Jayson Benson. The team record is 5-0, with several players pitching from the mound — Charlie Costello, Adam Schlundt, and Jayden Sanchez — and CJ Ford catching behind the plate.  The 12 members of the team are: Logan Benson, John Cook, Calvin Costello, Charlie Costello, Ethan Costello, Micah D’Anna, CJ Ford, Luke Odell, Seth Phillips, Jayden Sanchez, Adam Schlundt, and Justice Settles.

The Middle School Girls’ Softball Team is led by Mike Bohs, in his fourth year as head coach, and assistant coaches Jennifer DiMaio and Richard Jackson.  In addition to selecting a roster of players to compete in the games, Coach Bohs also decided to form a practice squad to give interested 6th grade girls an opportunity to improve their game.

The 14 members of the Girls’ Softball team are: Ashley Alford, Isabell Alford, Ava Barberio, Sophia Costello, Annalena DiMaio, Rebecca DiMaio, Ava Dixon, Gianna Flynn, Keira Frontino, Lydia McCarthy, Marley Odell, Skyler Shivers, Taylor Sutton, and Anyae Welch. The members of the 6th grade practice squad are: Alexis Andujar, Mackenzie Flynn, Kiera Loo, Nadia Pearson, Alexis Shropshire, and Shelby Tomlinson.

The Girls’ Softball team posted a close 4-3 victory at home on Tuesday, May 4 against Ocean City Middle School, with 8th grade pitcher Ava Nixon getting the win.

The ACS Middle School teams both play Friday, May 7 — the Softball team away at North Wildwood and the Baseball team away at Ocean City Middle School. Both teams will play at home again on Wednesday, May 12 against Doane Academy. Go Cougars!

Check the Middle School Athletic Calendar on the ACS website for all upcoming game schedules.