By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
The Robbinsville High School softball team has faced pressure all season, so being the top seed in Central Jersey Group II isn’t anything too different.
The Ravens stayed unbeaten at 21-0 with a 5-0 win in the quarterfinals over No. 9 seed Carteret last Thursday.
”I think that us being undefeated, one way it does help us, each game that we played, there was that mentality, we had to win in order to maintain the undefeated record,” said Robbinsville head coach Christine Cabarle, whose team was scheduled to host No. 5 Delaware Valley in the semifinals Tuesday. “States is kind of the same way — we have to win to keep playing.”
Cabarle hasn’t seen any signs that her team is feeling the pressure, not during the regular season, and not now when they are playing for more history.
Said Cabarle: “It gets to me more than them.”
With a win Tuesday, Robbinsville would be playing for its first sectional crown Friday against the winner of No. 3 Voorhees and No. 2 Governor Livingston.
”We really haven’t seen a lot of competition yet,” Cabarle said after one state game win. “They haven’t been hard-fought wins, which I’d prefer they’d be a little more competitive. Now that we’re getting further along, I expect (Tuesday) to be more difficult.”
Against Carteret, Lauren Fischer struck out 14 while allowing just three hits. The Ravens strung together 10 hits and scored runs in each of the first four innings for all the run support that Fischer would need.
Becca Freeman had three hits, and Jackie Lazzaro, Erin Wojton and Christine Levering had two hits apiece. Nicole Piet drove in a pair of runs, Lazzaro had an RBI and Levering stole a base as she has continued to put pressure on opponents with her speed.
”Christine Levering, she plays second base and she’s outstanding,” Cabarle said. “She gets a lot of line catches out in right field. She’s a lefty batter for the first time this year, and her batting average is just getting better and better. She’s incredibly quick and she just lays down a slap and beats it out.
”It’s great when she gets on with Nicole Piet behind her. She’s been getting doubles, triples and driving in runs. She’s been outstanding also.”
Fischer had a hit and RBI and Piet had one hit for a Robbinsville team that continues to hit whoever they face.
”I think we’re in a really strong conference,” Cabarle said. “We see pretty good pitchers. Allentown has a good pitcher. My girls take BP from Fischer, so they’re ready.”
There has been no sense of satisfaction after winning their first Mercer County Tournament. The Ravens have returned just as hungry in the state tournament.
”They just want to win everything all the time,” Cabarle said. “Our goal from Day One is the same. In order to get to where we want to go, we have to take a whole bunch of little steps. They have to deal with every individual pitch and take care of the ball and make their teammates’ lives easier.
”They need to make good throws. They need to catch the ball, and they need to score runs early to take the pressure off of Fish. They’re excited.”
The Robbinsville softball team is looking to keep its unbeaten run going, with each win now drawing them closer to a state championship. It would be new to the Ravens program, but not as new to this collection of players.
”I think that our greatest advantage is most of our girls have played on some very competitive teams,” Cabarle said, “whether it’s the girls from the World Series or the girls who play soccer and won states. They all have a taste of high competitive play. Not necessarily in softball, but they’ve played in a high pressure situation and come out victorious. Hopefully that’ll come out in our favor.”

