Vikings defeat Sussex Tech in H/W/S Tournament

Derek Lazier went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, four RBI and two runs and five pitchers combined on a two-hitter to lift the fifth-seeded Vernon Township High School baseball team to a 10-3 victory over 17th-seeded Sussex Tech in the second round of the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament on Saturday afternoon, May 6 in Vernon.

Vernon, which has won seven of its past eight games, improved to 10-3 this season.

The Vikings were scheduled to play at fourth-seeded High Point in the tri-county quarterfinal round Wednesday, May 10, with a trip to the semifinal round Saturday, May 13 on the line.

Vernon, which led Sussex Tech, 9-0, after three innings, was also keyed by Ian Schmid (1-for-3, walk, RBI, run), Ricky Healy (1-for-4, two runs), Colin Dignan (1-for-1, walk, two runs) and Matthew Baumann (2-for-2, walk, RBI).

Schmid pitched three innings and didn’t allow a hit with four strikeouts and one walk. He was followed by Matthew McGrogan (one inning, one hit), Gavin Bruno (one inning, one hit, two earned runs), Aden Karwoski (one inning, no hits, two strikeouts) and Joe Mancini (one inning, no hits).

Here is how other Vernon sports teams fared this week:

Softball

Vernon, the 14th seed, had its season-high six-game winning streak snapped with a 5-0 loss at third-seeded Sparta in the second round of the H/W/S Tournament on May 6.

Carly Amorosi and Elizabeth Peek each singled and had the only hits against Sparta’s Grace Conrad, who struck out 12 and walked none.

On Friday, May 5, Vernon (8-7) defeated Newton, 12-3, on the road led by Maryanna Cova-Gomez, who went 5-for-5 with four RBI and two runs; Amorosi, who was 4-for-4 with two runs; Leigh Rose Hart, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs; Audrey Baldwin, who was 2-for-4 with a double; and Kaylie Orlando, who singled and scored three times.

Hart pitched a six-hitter with nine strikeouts and no walks and didn’t allow an earned run.

The Vikings are slated to play host to Kittatinny at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 11.

Boys lacrosse

Fifth-seeded Vernon earned an 8-5 victory over fourth-seeded Sparta in the quarterfinal round of the H/W/S Tournament on May 6 in Sparta.

Ty Holden, Aidan Duffy and Gage Moskovitz each had two goals with Connor Sensbach and Jake delRosario adding one goal apiece and Kane Lynch totaling five assists.

The Vikings (5-6) were set to play at top-seeded Pope John in the semifinal round Tuesday, May 9. Second-seeded Delaware Valley and third-seeded Hunterdon Central were scheduled to meet in the other semifinal, with the championship game slated for May 13.

Lynch, a junior, leads the team in scoring with 14 goals and 20 assists.

Boys volleyball

After a two-match losing streak, the Vikings got back to their winning ways with a 25-22, 26-24 straight set victory at home over Chatham on May 5.

Vernon (8-5) was led by Tristan Santiago (eight digs), Ben Jurewicz (nine kills, two digs, 1.5 blocks), Caden Krzyzak (2.5 blocks), Josh Jean (three kills, three digs), Joe Petrucci (seven digs, five kills, two aces), Victor Silva (two kills, one dig), Juan Rico (three digs, two kills, one ace) and Pearse Esposito (21 assists, five digs).

The Vikings were scheduled to play host to Randolph at 4 p.m. May 11.

Girls lacrosse

Vernon, the sixth seed, was eliminated from the H/W/S Tournament with a 17-5 loss to third-seeded Sparta in the quarterfinal round on May 6 in Sparta.

The Vikings (4-7) had advanced to the quarters with an 18-3 decision over 11th-seeded Pope John on May 2 at home.

Sidney Van Tassel made five goals, one assist, three ground balls; Colleen Fraser four goals, three assists, five ground balls; Lexi Moskovitz two goals, one assist; Madison Andriola two goals; Lauren Waschek two goals; Abby Cawley one goal, one assist; Makenna Thomas one goal, one assist; and Cora Leiter one goal. Goalies Abby Sokolewicz and Shaelynn Castanaga Acerra made two saves and one save, respectively.