By: Sean Moylan
Don Oberg’s "Dazzling Dozen" from East Windsor went out and pounded the first three District 12 10-year-old Little League All-Star softball teams it faced to advance out of pool play and into the Final Four.
Using a combination of great hitting and sensational plate discipline for walks, East Windsor crushed West Windsor, 19-10, in its opener played at West Windsor last Thursday.
East Windsor, which once trailed 4-0 in the contest, used a seven-run fourth inning to grab a 14-7 lead it would not relinquish. Alyssa Giampolo and Kristen Manochio each went 2-for-3. One of Giampolo’s hits was a key RBI single in the third. Giampolo was also the winning pitcher in the contest. East Windsor also took advantage of several bases on balls.
East Windsor’s then won a well-played 8-5 game over Cranbury Plainsboro on Saturday afternoon at West Windsor.
"My daughter (Amanda Oberg) pitched and she did well, but she had a rough last inning," said Oberg, East Windsor’s manager.
But the terrific bottom line was Oberg won the game. Oberg also had a hit, three walks and scored four times. Most of the times she scored she was driven in by either Giampolo or Manochio, who both had great days at the plate and each drove in a pair of runs.
"Deanna Gardner and Marielle Donlon each had key hits for RBI," added Oberg.
On Sunday at East Windsor, Giampolo was back in the circle and she even more dominating in a 20-5 win over New Egypt.
Giampolo pitched the first three frames to pick up the win and she did not allow a run. Manochio closed the game out for East Windsor, which won in four innings after putting up 12 runs in the top of the third. Carly DeCristafaro doubled and drove in two runs for the winning side. Manochio and Giampolo each had RBI hits and knocked in three runs apiece. Hailey Brennan (two RBI) had a big RBI hit as well. Moreover, Oberg, Caitlin Hoagland, Joanne Zapata and Leah Chiorello each drove in a pair of runs in East Windsor’s nine-hit assault on New Egypt.
"In our first and third games we spent a lot of time walking," added Oberg, who has gotten some stellar play out of shortstop/outfielder Lise Malherbe and infielder/outfielder Mia Caglieris as well. The "Dazzling Dozen" is strong and playing as a team
"It’s great (to advance out of pool play), the kids have worked hard," said Oberg, whose team’s next goal will be to attempt to capture a District 12 title.
East Windsor (3-0) was scheduled to have played Washington at Washington last night (Thursday) in its last pool play game. It’s an important game because of Final Four seeding.

