By Sean Moylan, Sports Writer
In pool play, the Robbinsville 10-year-old Little League All-Star softball team completely obliterated its competition as it as posted a flawless 3-0 mark and outscored its opponents 45-2 along the way.
After defeating Cranbury-Plainsboro 23-0 in its tournament opener, Robbinsville crushed West Windsor 11-1 in five innings at Robbinsville on July 8.
Then this past Saturday morning Robbinsville wrapped up pool play by beating a very good Florence team, 11-1, in four innings in a game played at Cranbury-Plainsboro.
”Against Florence we jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first,” said Ed Horowitz, Robbinsville’s manager, who pointed to Megan Hevey as one of the big stars of that 11-run onslaught and the game in general. “Megan Hevey hit the ball well and she made a couple of nice plays in the field (at shortstop). She had a couple of hits in that first inning.”
According to Horowitz everyone in the lineup (Hevey, Hannah Olshevski, Gabby Manto, Gabby Horowitz, Licolina Orio, Michaela Petito, Christina Dottino, Natalie Martinez, Emily Langsdorf, Morgan Psiuk and Lexi Horowitz) either hit the ball well or ran the bases well in that great first frame.
Olshevski started for Robbinsville and hurled an inning. Then Manto pitched the second and L. Horowitz closed it out with two inning of work in the circle.
”All of our pitchers pitched extremely well,” said Horowitz, whose three hurlers combined to toss a one-hitter.
In Robbinsville’s 10-run five-inning, home win over West Windsor on July 8th, Gabby Horowitz was the big star.
”Gabby Horowitz actually pitched a no-hitter,” said Horowitz, who was proud of his daughter and his entire team. “She pitched well for me.”
The first time through the order Robbinsville did not pound the ball as well as it usually does. However, that quickly changed and Robbinsville began scoring runs in bunches.
”At first our bats were a little silent but once we saw (their pitcher) a second and third time we started to get hits,” noted Horowitz.
Olshevski cracked a pair of hits and knocked in three runs. Hevey (two hits, two RBI) and Manto (three runs scored) also had very good offensive days for the victors.
”All of our girls are doing exactly what we’re asking of them from the catchers and pitchers to the outfielders and infielders,” Horowitz said.
Robbinsville was scheduled to have played East Windsor in its District 12 Final Four opener this past Tuesday. Horowitz was expecting a competitive game. All of the Final Four games will be held at Allentown. Because Allentown does not have lights, no games will start after 6:00 p.m..
