Will represent at regionals
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
The Northern Burlington 8-and-under all-star softball team expected to do better this year with more than half of the team returning, but no one expected it to be this good.
Northern Burlington knocked off Hamilton, 11-1, in four innings in the if-necessary game to capture the Southern New Jersey state championship. They advance to the Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament that will begin Friday in Upper Merion, Pa.
”We felt better because they had more experience this year,” said NB manager Robin Blue, who had seven 7-year-olds on last year’s team that didn’t fare as well. “It was very new to them last year. This year, they were more experienced and knew what to expect more. But, as much as we have an absolutely great group of girls, this is very exciting. I knew we would do well, but to go to regionals is amazing.”
To get there, Northern Burlington has had to get very familiar with upending a talented Hamilton group. NB also defeated Hamilton twice in a row for the District 1 championship after Hamilton beat them in pool play, and the two were the final two teams left in the Southern New Jersey tournament as well.
”District 1 is definitely the dominant district,” Blue said. “They were aware that was the team that we had the one loss in districts to. They were very nervous.”
Northern Burlington moved into the championship with convincing wins over Mullica and Vineland. That set up another game with Hamilton in the winners’ bracket final, and Northern Burlington used brilliant defense for a 1-0 win.
”It’s coach pitch, so there are no strikeouts,” Blue said. “Our defense was fabulous. To hold that team to zero was amazing.”
Megan Berg scored the one run for Northern Burlington in the first inning. It was all the defense would need. Hamilton returned to beat Northern Burlington in the championship game of the double-elimination tournament, 5-3. Julia Mayernik was 3-for-3 and Madison Brooks was 2-for-2 in the losing effort.
The loss set up a winner-take-all final that after a first-inning run by Hamilton, was all Northern Burlington in the 11-1 mercy-rule win. Northern Burlington scored four runs in the first inning, one in the second and third innings and five runs in the fourth to end it at host site Egg Harbor. Berg had the game-winning hit and Jayda Kearney scored the go-ahead run. Blue saw a determined effort from her crew.
”We just made every play,” she said. “After that first inning when they scored the first run, they had two base-runners. That was it. Every other play was made in the four innings. Every out was earned because it’s coach pitch.
Joining the previously mentioned players in the championship effort was: Haylei Archer, Alexa Blue, Nicole Bondoc, Madison Brooks, Jordyn Corder, Julia Cottrell, Gabby Decker, Jayda Kearney, Maddie Saltstein, Madison Sisz and Abby Zucatti. Assistant coaches are Laura Archer, Dan Berg and Holly Berg. In going to regionals, Northern Burlington will actually be closer than they were at states.
”They are ecstatic,” the elder Blue said. “They are very excited. The whole town and Northern Burlington area has gotten really into and supported them and congratulated them.”
Teams that will be contending for the regional crown — the highest level contested at the 8-year-old softball level — are from Levittown, Pa., Hazlet, NJ and Luzerne County, Pa. Opening ceremonies are tonight, with NB opening play Friday.
”We know Hazlet,” Blue said. “They were our first scrimmage of the year. They are quite good. We know we have our work cut out for us. We’ve continued to practice through the heat.”
It’s paid off with a summer of softball that has extended farther than anyone on the Northern Burlington team could have dreamed.