Vikings defeat Clifton, Newton as baseball season begins

After a season-opening loss at Jefferson, the Vernon Township High School baseball team rebounded with two big victories to cap the first week of the 2023 spring season.

Vernon, which bowed to Jefferson, 6-4, on April 4, came right back the next day and registered a 15-0, five-inning decision at Clifton, then bested Newton, 10-4, on April 6 in its home opener.

Against Clifton, Vernon hammered out 16 hits, including five doubles. Ryan Miller (3-for-3, walk, double, three RBI, three runs), Derek Lazier (2-for-5, four RBI), Ricky Healy (2-for-4, walk, two RBI, run), Anthony Marositz (2-for-3, double, walk, RBI, two runs), Ian Schmid (double, RBI, run), Jake Klein (1-for-3, walk, double, RBI, two runs) and Colin Dignan (2-for-3, double, RBI, two runs) led the way offensively.

The Vikings then produced 11 hits in their victory over Newton as Matthew Baumann went 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI. Schmid also drive in three runs by going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run. Marositz added two doubles, two walks, two runs and an RBI with Dignan driving in two runs and scoring twice.

Vernon (2-1) was scheduled to play at High Point at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 13 before playing at Mountain Lakes at 11 a.m. Friday, April 14.

Here is how the other Vernon sports teams fared last week:

Girls lacrosse

After two straight losses to open the season, the Vikings entered the win column with a 9-2 decision at Pequannock on April 8.

Sidney Van Tassel led the way with a five-goal, six-draw control, four-ground ball performance. Lexi Moskovitz (two goals), Abby Bonnema (one goal, one assist) and Makenna Thomas (one goal) also scored.

Vernon (1-2) is scheduled to play at Morristown-Beard at 4 p.m. Monday, April 17.

Softball

The Vikings and Passaic Valley battled through six scoreless innings before the latter scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the seventh to prevail, 1-0, on April 8.

Leigh Rose Hart pitched a three-hitter for Vernon with nine strikeouts and one walk. Jessica LeFort had three of the team’s eight hits.

Vernon began its season with a 9-0 loss at Jefferson, then suffered a 6-1 defeat at High Point on April 6.

The Vikings (0-3) were set to play host to North Warren at 11 a.m. April 13 before taking part in a tournament in Randolph beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 15.

Boys lacrosse

Connor Sensbach totaled a goal and an assist and Kane Lynch and Gage Moskovitz also scored but Vernon bowed to Sparta, 10-3, in its only game last week on April 4 in Sparta.

Damon Greenwood and Luca Vizzini each made nine saves in splitting time in goal for the Vikings (0-1).

The team is scheduled to play host to Madison in its home opener at 10 a.m. April 15.

Boys tennis

The Vikings won their only match of the week, posting a 5-0 decision over Hopatcong on the road April 4.

Morgan Freifelder (first singles), Michael Malolepszy (second singles), Michael Onysko-Koch (third singles), Alexander Keating and Luke Keating (first doubles), and Owen Young and Joseph Costa (second doubles) each won by straight sets.

Vernon (1-0) will play host to Kittatinny at 11 a.m. April 13.

Boys volleyball

Vernon (2-1) won its first two matches of the season, defeating Pope John (2-0 on April 3) and Jefferson (2-0 on April 5) before bowing to Passaic Charter (2-0 on April 7).

Pearse Esposito (36 assists, 10 digs, six aces), Tristan Santiago (22 digs, five aces), Josh Jean (14 kills, 11 digs), Ben Jurewicz (13 kills) and Joe Petrucci (13 digs, five aces) have led the way.

The Vikings were scheduled to play host to Morristown at 11 a.m. April 13.