By: Sean Moylan
Knowing a spot in the Final 4 was already locked up, the Florence 10-year-old Little League All-Star softball team chose not to overuse its deep pitching staff in Tuesday night’s 17-7 loss to Lawrence. Heather Horner pitched an inning and Carey Million tossed the final three frames.
Now, Shannon Sweeney, Casey Cuyugan, Morgan Wright, Tiffany Britton, Million and Horner will all be fresh when Florence opens its Final Four play with a game against West Windsor at Washington Township on Friday night.
Florence manager Kevin Sweeney, who saw some good things in Tuesday’s loss, commented, "We played well defensively but our bats weren’t there."
Nonetheless, Sweeney did score twice.
The bottom line is the team is moving on. It played great in its other three games and finished pool play (2-2).
Florence used some nifty defense and some great late inning pitching by Sweeney to thump Lawrence, 18-14, at Washington Township last Thursday in the District 12 opener.
"That game, she (Sweeney) was a little shaky in the first. All the girls were nervous (because it was their first game)," said Sweeney.
However, S. Sweeney settled down to strike out nine batters in her complete game. She also delivered a big single that pushed in a pair of runs. Meanwhile, Carey Million and Devin Vogel each came up with pretty, unassisted double plays. Moreover, Morgan Wright knocked in a couple of runs.
Florence really showed its toughness with a 22-16 triumph against Allentown on Saturday.
Britton experienced the most magical moment of her young softball career when she tossed the final 2 2/3 innings to enable Florence to make an astonishing comeback. Cuyugan started and Wright pitched in relief of her. However, the two solid Florence hurlers could only hold Allentown to 14 runs.
In fact, when Britton entered the game in the third, Florence was down, 14-2. Yet, Britton held Allentown to just two more runs in a game which was called after five innings due to darkness.
"She had only pitched two innings her entire life and she went in and got the win," said Sweeney. "I said ‘I’m going to leave her in and let her go all the way.’"
It worked!
Of course, Florence batters also played their part in the victory. Sweeney went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Million (2-for-3, RBI), Vogel (a double, 2 RBI) and Wright (double, 2 RBI) also came through at the plate.
The good news on Monday night was Sweeney tossed a no-hitter versus Washington Township. The bad news was Washington won the game, 3-2.
"We lost on three fielder’s choices," said Sweeney. "I was really proud of all the girls."
Ashley Stoner knocked in Bordentown’s first run (scored by Heather Horner) in the first. She also made a slick, unassisted double play at first base.
Washington tallied single runs in the first, second and third innings to take a 3-1 lead. But Bordentown inched closer in the fourth when Million singled, stole second and third and scored on Sweeney’s RBI grounder.
"That was one of the best 10-year-old games I’ve seen. I was just so proud of them and the way they played," said Sweeney, who was very impressed with Washington’s pitching and catching as well.
"I couldn’t have done anything without my assistance coaches Chris Vogel and Barry Reed and my assistant coach/team mom/ telephone mom/ bus driverDonna Sadler. She’s kept all of the girls straight this year."
Now Florence will take on the big guns of the Final Four. The girls are ready to do battle and nearly everyone on the team will be willing to grab the ball and toss an inning or two if needed.
