The future may look bright for the Pitman boys tennis team, but the present isn’t too shabby, either.
Bolstered by an outstanding sophomore class that includes six starters, the Panthers put together their second straight memorable regular season this spring. They posted a 15-2 record and continued a streak of Tri-County Conference Classic Division championships that started in 2017.
The success has carried over to the postseason, as Pitman defeated Overbrook 5-0 on Monday in the first round of the South Jersey, Group 1 Tournament for its first playoff win in five years. Now the fifth-seeded Panthers have a chance to reach the sectional semifinals for the first time since 2016 if they can get past fourth-seeded Gateway on Wednesday.
Needless to say, Pitman coach Fred Georgette is proud of his young group, many of whom started last year as freshmen.
“Last year I set the bar high and they exceeded it,” he said. “We went 15-4 and were undefeated in the Tri-County, all divisions. So this year I said, ‘OK, you guys are sophomores, you’ve been working on your game, let’s set the bar higher. Let’s get out of the first round, let’s try to make it to the South Jersey final.’ We’re 16-2 and we went undefeated again in the Tri-County, all divisions.
“I keep setting the bar higher and they keep trying to reach it. I’m going to share with them … that we haven’t made the semifinals since 2016, and that’s going to give them some incentive too.”
The Panthers should also be motivated by trying to avenge one of their two regular-season losses. They dropped a 3-2 decision to Gateway on May 3, a match in which sophomore third singles Maddox Marker suffered an injury and had to retire. He was losing in the third set against Noah LeGoff at the time.
Marker, who is 12-1 during team play, had to sit out the following match as well, which Pitman lost to Haddon Heights 3-2.
“He’s a good player so it’s going to be interesting to see what happens,” Georgette said. “We had an injury that put us down, but he’s back and healthy and our team is healthy. We’re playing well and we’re looking forward to the rematch.”
Another toss-up match is at first doubles. Pitman sophomores Aiden Hausmann and Chase Rollins, who are 18-0 in team play, knocked off Gateway’s Matt Masengale and Ryan McCormick in three sets on their way to the Gloucester County Tournament final. The Pitman duo also won the regular-season match, 7-5, 6-3.
“That’s going to be very close,” Georgette said. “That could be the determining factor, who wins at first doubles.”
Pitman’s other point during the regular-season meeting came from first singles Zack Kraemer, one of only two seniors on the team. He is 15-1 during team play and was the runner-up at the county tournament.
“His leadership is unparalleled,” Georgette said. “All of the players like him. We don’t have any juniors on the team, and there’s one other senior who is brand-new to the team. So he’s been a good role model in a fun way, in an athletic way and in a competitive way. He really get these guys going and they follow his lead.
“His style of play is unorthodox, there’s no question about it. They call him a pusher because he gets the ball back but he’s also athletic enough to get to everything, and he has a net game and he hits overheads. Most pushers just get the ball back but he has a lot to add to that and it has served him well.”
In addition to third singles, Gateway’s points during its previous win over Pitman came from junior Julian Hernandez at second singles and the second doubles team of senior Ryan Scheeper and junior Joshua Hummel. The Gators are 8-8 and, like the Panthers, are also seeking their first trip to the sectional semifinals in six years.
For Pitman, no matter what happens on Wednesday the Panthers should be in the mix in Group 1 the next two years. Not only are the sophomores strong players but they are also determined to improve. They spent last offseason working with local tennis guru Bob Fisicaro and Georgette expects that to continue.
“We have a good relationship and he’s been able to help the sophomores and even Zack Kraemer,” he said. “I can’t work with them once school starts (per NJSIAA rules), but he was able to work with them all summer and into November, just doing skills and drills and constantly hitting balls. These guys all have a desire to get better.
“We have a young team that is pretty talented so we’re excited to see what happens this year and in the future as well.”
UPSET SPECIAL: Last year was a season for the ages for Penns Grove, which posted its first winning campaign in George Rhea’s 20-plus career as head coach. The Red Devils have followed it up with another solid season this spring, and now they have a playoff victory to celebrate as well.
Penns Grove, the 10th seed, edged seventh-seeded Pennsville 3-2 on Monday in the first round of the South Jersey, Group 1 Tournament. They avenged a 4-1 loss to their Salem County rivals from the regular season and improved to 8-1 overall.
Senior first singles Julian Pinder won a thriller over Ryan Harrison, 6-2, 6-7 (9-11), 7-6 (7-4). The Red Devils also won marathons in both doubles matches for their other two points: Jonathan Schmid and Edgar Castro Lopez outlasted Noah Flitcraft and Ryan Lamb, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) at No. 1, while Juvenal Rodriguez and Avery Peterson rallied for a 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 win over Mike Angelo and Mason Gant at No. 2.
Penns Grove will face second-seeded Middle Township in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.
ON A ROLL: Delsea has evened its record at 9-9 thanks to a four-match winning streak. The latest victory came in South Jersey, Group 2 on Monday, as the 11th-seeded Crusaders traveled to Tabernacle and took down sixth-seeded Seneca, 3-2.
Delsea’s second doubles team of Nathan Croce and Cole Marsh had the match of the day, a 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Jarret Holland and Nick Brower.
The Crusaders advance to a quarterfinal matchup against third-seeded West Deptford. The Eagles defeated Delsea 5-0 on April 28, so the Crusaders will look to see how much progress they’ve made in the last month.
STILL KICKING: Three teams from the South Jersey Times coverage area are alive in South Jersey, Group 4. Fourth-seeded Kingsway blanked 13th-seeded Rancocas Valley and will now host fifth-seeded Eastern in the quarterfinals. Sixth-seeded Millville will travel to third-seeded Toms River North after knocking off rival Vineland 5-0.
And the biggest challenge of all awaits eighth-seeded Williamstown. The Braves slipped past ninth-seeded Southern 3-2 and will now face top-seeded Cherry Hill East, a perennial power.
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