Athletes of the Month, April 2023

The Catholic Star Herald highlights the Diocese’s student athletes who stood out during the month of April.   

Emma Douglas

Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Newfield

Softball

Through the first 10 games of the season, Emma Douglas struck out 143 batters and tossed three shutouts, compiling a 1.71 ERA as the Villagers went 5-5. In the batter’s box, the OLMA junior hit .441, scored 10 runs, and carried an eight-game hitting streak into the month of May.

On April 11, Douglas struck out 31 batters in a 12-inning game against Holy Spirit High School. And on April 24, Douglas fanned 17 batters and recorded her 400th career strikeout in a 2-0 win over Ocean City.

---

Riley Dundee

Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill

Lacrosse

Fresh off of a 60-goal junior season, Riley Dundee carried the momentum into her senior year and notched a major milestone on April 17 by scoring her 100th career goal in a game against Cherokee. Through April, the Radford University commit has buried a team-leading 19 goals, including an eight-goal effort in a thrilling 13-12 win over Paul VI on April 24. Camden Catholic escaped a tough early schedule with a 3-3 record in its first month of the season. Dundee had tallied 114 career goals heading into May.

---

Stanley Marczyk

Holy Spirit High School

Lacrosse

Stanley Marczyk recorded his 100th career goal on April 24 in a 14-8 loss to highly-touted Ocean City and added number 101 two days later in a 14-2 win over Egg Harbor Township.

Marczyk, a Holy Spirit senior, scored 54 goals last year, including a seven-goal performance in the Cape-Atlantic League semifinal. Marczyk showed that same explosive scoring ability this year with a five-goal game against Absegami on April 20. The Spartans were 5-5 entering the month of May.

---

Jack Orr

Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Pennsauken

Golf

After shooting his way to a fourth-place finish at the Camden County Championships on April 24, Jack Orr, a Bishop Eustace senior, finished the month of April strong by carding first place in a dual match against Timber Creek on April 25 and taking the top score in a quad meet against Lenape, Paul VI and Rancocas Valley on April 26.

Orr finished first in four of six matches in April and averaged less than four strokes over par per nine holes during the month. He has led the Crusaders to six straight wins through May 1.

Orr continued his hot streak into May by shooting a 71 in the Carl Arena Tournament at Riverwinds Golf Club to become the first player in school history to win the prestigious event. Orr, along with teammates Aiden Devine and Sam Morris, won the team event for Eustace’s first championship since 1985.

---

Natalya Slonis

Paul VI High School, Haddonfield

Golf

The Paul VI girls golf team started the season red hot by winning its first four dual matches, which included a perfect 3-0 April with victories over Cherry Hill East, Cherry Hill West and Seneca.

Sophomore Natalya Slonis led the way as the Eagles’ top scorer in all three April matches with a 46, 49 and 50, respectively. Slonis also helped Paul VI finish third in girls team scoring at the Camden County Championships on April 24.

---

Joseph Vaccarella

Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City

Baseball

Joseph Vaccarella has made one of the best pitching rotations in the state even stronger. Following up on a fantastic freshman year, the sophomore hurler’s shining moment came April 23 as the Rams defeated Saint Augustine Prep 2-0, in a battle of two of the top programs in New Jersey. Vaccarella threw five shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven. Through April, he carried a 3.00 ERA and 20 strikeouts in four appearances.