By Jashvina Shah, Special Writer
Robbinsville’s 12-year-old softball squad grabbed its District 12 championship banner last Wednesday night at Tantum Park and jogged across the base path and around the field, cementing their status as a powerhouse team.
”There’s definitely a dynasty here,” Robbinsville manager Keith Motusesky said. “Last year we ran into East Windsor, who has a dynamite team, and they were just better than us, to be honest with you. They were a super team. But every other year we feel our team’s as good or better than anybody else.”
Robbinsville has been successful in District 12 softball lately, winning five district tournaments, the State Championship twice and making it back another two times.
Fueled by Sara Motusesky and Sophie Billings, Robbinsville scored 11 runs in five innings to defeat West Windsor, 11-1. Motusesky and Billings each knocked in two runs for Robbinsville, while Annie Brunner drove in the championship-clinching tally in the fifth inning.
On the mound Megan Kratz led the majority of Robbinsville players who took the field together as 10 and 11-year-olds.
”It’s kind of like the same makeup,” Motusesky said. “They know each other and they know each other’s tendencies. When there’s a ground ball hit, some, like Sara will know where Chelsea is going. You don’t have to say anything. They know each other more than we know them, to be honest with you.”
The team came together in what Motusesky called their toughest match of the tournament to aid pitcher Kratz both defensively and offensively.
”We really work on the fielding a lot and we just tell our pitchers throw the ball over and let our defense make plays,” Motusesky said.
The defense was not entirely solid, as multiple errors allowed West Windsor to load the bases twice and threaten to score in the first inning. But the defense stepped up to help Kratz, who struck out three on the night, pitch around those trouble spots.
Kratz missed the first two games of the tournament after injuring her ankle in practice. Following the game, Kratz admitted she was happy to return, although she was somewhat nervous.
”It was disappointing because this is my favorite sport,” Kratz said of her injury. “I love it and it’s our last year. I was just afraid that I wouldn’t be back in time to win this.”
Due to the rules, the injury forced Kratz to watch from the bleachers — not even from the bench with her teammates and friends — making the tournament’s beginning difficult.
”They really like each other, they root for each other, even the girls that are coming in and out for each other,” Motusesky said. “There’s no bad or ill will, they play other sports with each other and are really good friends.”
But from her perch afar, Kratz noticed how well the team worked together.
”We worked really hard in practices,” Kratz said. “It’s like coach said, if we work hard in practice the rest will be fun.”
Motusesky tabbed Kratz’s pitching performance as a tournament key but continued to praise the rest of his roster.
”They’re just good players and they play well. They have confidence and they just play and that’s the beauty of it,” Motusesky said. “They don’t think. They just play the game and enjoy it and that’s the most important thing.”
Robbinsville, the heavy tournament favorites, defeated West Windsor at the tournament’s inception, 10-1. Despite the early victory, Motusesky said his squad was never overconfident.
”The coaches keep them grounded and the kids keep each other grounded,” Motusesky said. “In practice we have all the pitchers pitch against our hitters so they get good competition for both the pitcher and the hitter. It keeps them focused.”
The district run is over for the Robbinsville squad, but they must face the District 11 champions and the Section 3 Tournament in Lincroft to return to the State Championship.
”Robbinsville’s aspirations, not to sound cocky or lofty, but our aspirations are really to try to win the state championship,” Motusesky said. “This same team won it as 10-year-olds two years ago so we know the competition’s going to be hard but we think we’re up to the task.
”That’s our goal really, just to win the state championship.”

