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The Monroe Thunder Under-12 girls travel softball team upped its record to 20-4-1 and placed second in the 14-team North Brunswick ‘Can You Take The Heat’ Tournament last week.
The finish at North Brunswick is their second trophy of the season, joining their first place finish at the Toms River Tournament earlier in the year. The girls are also in first place of the Millenium Softball League with a 5-1 record and three league games remaining on the schedule.
The trademark of this team is it’s fine pitching and defense. Katie Merrick and Carly Keane have pitched the bulk of the innings this year with some help from Nicole Ciarkowski and Mai Lee Pasileo. Over the first 25 games, Monroe has allowed an average of less than three runs per game.
The defense starts with the infield and catching. Keane and Alyson Felton share the duties at first base. Lindsey Curran has been outstanding at second base, as has Kristen Kunigonis at shortstop. Marissa Allamby handles third base while Pasileo, Felton and Stephanie Gigon share duties as catcher.
The team has turned a total of 14 double plays this year in a variety of ways to help them to their 20 wins. The catchers have thrown out many base runners and helped to keep a force place on as much as possible.
The outfield has also been outstanding. The outfielders include Sam Spiga, Kelsey Schobert, Stephanie Gigon, Michelle Mackin, Nicole Ciarkowski and Felton.
Monroe dropped its first league game of the year to North Brunswick, 3-1, despite three hits by Pasileo.
The next night, Monroe bounced back by defeating East Brunswick, 11-0, to run their league mark to 5-1. The scoreless game was broken open by a five-run fifth inning and Monroe was never challenged. Keane pitched the shutout and added three hits and three RBI’s. Pasileo, Allamby and Kunigonis each had two RBI’s and two hits and Gigon and Schobert added extra base hits for the winners.
In the opening game of the North Brunswick Tournament, Monroe defeated North Brunswick, 9-1, to avenge the loss from earlier in the week. Allamby and Pasileo each had a home run and three RBI to lead Monroe as Keane pitched well for the win.
Next, Monroe tied Shrub Oak, NY, 5-5. Monroe battled from a 5-2 deficit to tie it in the seventh. Allamby and Kunigonis had two hits each and Keane added three RBI. Curran scored three runs and turned a double play on a catch of a line drive.
The Thunder next defeated Doylestown, Pa., 11-1. Monroe scored six runs in the fifth inning to break up a close game. Pasileo pitched the complete game and added two hits. Allamby, Kunigonis and Felton also had two hits and Mackin and Spiga added extra base hits.
In the first game of the elimination round, Monroe easily defeated Mt. Olive, 15-0. Merrick pitched the shutout and Pasileo and Allamby (HR) each had four RBI. Kunigonis went 3-for-3 and played nice defense at shortstop.
In the semifinals, Monroe Defeated Shrub Oak, 2-1. The final out occurred when the Shrub Oak runner was tagged out at home plate by winning pitcher Keane. Monroe scored its runs in the first inning on a two-run run single by Allamby, which held up thanks to strong defense. Keane added two hits and Ciarkowski added a hit.
In the finals, the Thunder dropped a tough 2-1 decision to North Edison. Merrick allowed only three hits, but Monroe could manage only one run. Allamby had two hits, including a triple, and was driven in by Spiga’s double.
Monroe will play three league games this week and compete in the East Brunswick Tournament over the weekend.
