S. Jersey Boys: Eastern hands Cherokee first loss

Steve Volpe pitched a complete game and Nick Tierno went 3 for 3 at the plate as Eastern handed visiting Cherokee its first loss of the baseball season, 8-5, on Monday in an Olympic Conference matchup.

Volpe (2-0) scattered five hits, struck out eight and walked three, helping the Vikings improve their record to 7-3. Tierno scored twice and drove in a run, and Sean Hunter lined a two-run triple.

Also in the Olympic, Nick Gallo homered and Marc Menickella got the pitching win in Paul VI's 8-0 shutout of visiting Timber Creek.

Camden Catholic's Tyler Faiola, Ryan McCuin and John Trotman combined for seven hits, seven runs and five RBIs in a 14-8 win at Triton.

Tri-County. Kyle Gaff's grand slam and freshman Austin Darrow's first varsity win aided Gloucester's 6-5 thriller over visiting Highland.

 Colonial. Keith Michalski knocked in three runs with a single and a bases-empty homer as Audubon dealt visiting Woodbury a 12-2 setback.

Cape-Atlantic. Daron Moore's sacrifice fly plated Emilio Santiago with the run in Millville's 1-0 success against visiting Egg Harbor Township.

Absegami survived a seventh-inning rally by visiting Mainland to escape with a 6-5 win as Jordan Welch got the save with a bases-loaded strikeout. Ryan Irwin hit a 360-foot homer to right-center and Vaughn Champion scored three runs.

Nonleague. Nick Chieco made the most of his first varsity pitching start for Rancocas Valley, throwing a complete-game, six-hit shutout as the Red Devils blanked host South Brunswick, 2-0. Tyler Bayley doubled, singled twice and drove in both runs.

Owen Demmerly scored four goals and assisted on three others as Shawnee squeezed past visiting Haddonfield, 12-11, in an Olympic Conference matchup of two of the area's top teams. D. J. Carruthers added three goals and Rob DiOrio dished out two assists for the Renegades, while Haddonfield's Mike Walker scored five goals.

St. Augustine disposed of visiting Bishop Eustace, 15-2, with goalies Joe Gigantiello and David Wilson combining for seven saves and Tommy O'Neill scoring four goals.

In his first contest after winning his 100th career match, Lenape's Mike Humes swept Washington Township's Derek Alfinito, 6-1, 6-0, at first singles in the Indians' 5-0 Olympic Conference win.

Humes, who is 101-16, hit the 100-win milestone against Cumberland in Sunday's Moorestown Classic.