FLORENCE: Tennis team wins state opener

Baseball, softball squads also victorious in first playoff games

    The Florence High School boys tennis team opened play in the Central Jersey Group I playoffs with a 4-1 win over South Amboy on Monday in a match played at Rancocas Valley.
    Florence swept all three singles matches. Josh Partyka defeated Kevin Kotsak, 6-2, 6-2, at first singles. Troy Scanlon defeated Luke O’Connor, 6-1, 6-2, at second singles. Nathan Manthey defeated Mateuz Radon, 6-1, 6-2, at third singles.
    “Troy Scanlon, with improved serves and forehands, won the first point for us,” Florence Coach Ovi Dragos said. “Shortly after, Nathan Manthey won with the same score. Both of them, with improved shots and tactics, dominated the matches but it wasn’t so easy how the score may show. Josh Partyka clinched the winning point for the team with a smart game, great shots and a lot of patience in the long rallies.”
    The team of Chris Fox and Kyle Pukenas defeated Alec Hall and Lukasz Gremza, 3-6, 6-4, 10-8, at second doubles for Florence’s other point.
    “Kyle and Chris, despite losing the first set, came back and won 10-8 in the tiebreak of the third set,” Dragos said. “It was a great win for their confidence.”
    South Amboy’s Dan O’Connor and Chris Ikan defeated Joe Malone and Arnold Petras, 1-6, 6-1, 6-1, at first doubles.
    “Joe and Arnold started very well, but did not play the best game in the next two sets,” Dragos said.
    Dragos is hoping for a better showing in the next match from Arnold and Malone. He was very pleased with their dedication and willingness to practice after the match.
    “For a team with only one senior, three juniors and three sophomores, this is a good result,” Dragos said. “It proves that with hard work and determination, next year a lot better results and expectations can come true.”
    Florence was defeated by Moorestown Friends, 3-2, on Friday in a regular season match.
    Troy Scanlon and Nathan Manthey won their singles matches.
    Florence defeated Holy Cross, 5-0, on Tuesday, May 11.
    Troy Scanlon, Nathan Manthey and Zach Hoffman won their singles matches. The teams of Chris Fox/Kyle Pukenas and Arnold Petras/
Kush Patel won their doubles matches.
    BASEBALL
    The Florence High School baseball team defeated Keyport, 11-0, in the opening game of the Central Jersey Group I playoffs on Monday. The game was stopped after five innings by the 10-run blowout rule.
    Jake Dewitt pitched a three-hit shutout over those five innings. He also had a hit, run scored and two RBI. A.J. Sorcella had three hits, three runs scored and a RBI. Greg Perri and Heath Fillmyer both had a hit, run scored and RBI. TJ Lovenduski had a hit, two runs scored and a RBI. Ian Groover had a hit and two RBI.
    Florence will advance on to host a quarterfinal round game on Friday.
    Florence defeated Westampton Tech, 10-0, on Friday in a regular season game.
    Greg Perri tossed a four-
hit shutout, striking out 11 batters in the process. Ian Groover supplied the offense with a three-run homer and RBI double. Tom Napolitan had a RBI triple.
    Palmyra defeated Florence, 7-5, on Tuesday, May 11.
    Jake Dewitt (two runs and RBI) and Jake Foehr (two RBI) both had four hits each. Heath Fillmyer (RBI) and Jon Zoppina both had a run scored and hit.
    Florence defeated Northern Burlington, 9-8, on Thursday.
    Jake Dewitt allowed two runs in four innings pitched. Heath Fillmyer had three hits.
    SOFTBALL
    The Florence High School softball team defeated Henry Hudson, 7-0, in the opening game of the Central Jersey Group I playoffs on Monday.
    Emily Million tossed a three-hit shutout. She walked one batter and struck out 11. Million also had a good offensive game, connecting for three hits and a RBI. Gina Bruno connected for a three-
run double.
    Emily Million tossed a two-hit shutout as Florence defeated Medford Tech, 7-0, on Thursday in a regular season game.
    Carey Million backed her sister’s pitching by hitting a homer. Gina Bruno had a RBI triple. Sydney Worek had two hits.
    BOYS TRACK
    The Florence High School boys track team placed 15th (6 points) at the Burlington County Open this past Saturday at Maple Shade.
    Marcus Rawls placed third in the 100 (11.29) to provide Florence with all of its points.
    GIRLS TRACK
    The Florence High School girls track team placed 15th (4 points) in the Burlington County Open this past Saturday at Maple Shade.
    Drew Bristol placed fourth in the long jump (15’ 7 ½’).