By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
The Robbinsville Little League 12-year-old softball team’s first loss of the postseason motivated it to never have another one.
The all-stars responded to a loss to Pennsylvania champion Avon Grove on Saturday in pool play of the Eastern Region Tournament in Bristol, Conn., with nine runs in the first inning of their next game on their way to a 10-4 win over Sharpsburg (Md.) Little League on Monday.
”We really wanted to play the game and win,” said Robbinsville pitcher Mackenzie Medders. “It motivated us.”
Medders got plenty of run support in the first inning as Chelsea Manto slapped a hit to start off the bottom of the inning, stole second and scored on an error to get things going.
”I kind of do my thing,” Manto said. “I don’t think about leading off, I just think about hitting the ball and where I’m going to hit it.”
Shea Walsh walked, Medders singled on a bunt, and Olivia Moser’s bunt scored one run. Medder scored on a wild pitch, and Alexa Petito doubled home Moser, then scored on a wild pitch. Grace Maslak singled to score Sara Toscano, who had singled, and Amanda Allen, who had walked. Maslak’s two RBI led Robbinsville in a balanced offensive attack.
Said Maslak on Monday: “I really felt like we were going to hit a lot better today because we practiced hard yesterday.”
Maslak stole home, and Manto scored her second run of the inning on a wild pitch after reaching by fielder’s choice.
”We were really in the mood to play,” Manto said. “We really wanted to get them. We were hitting and hitting. It felt really good.”
Robbinsville picked up another run in the second inning when Petito walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a single by Ava Dominguez before scoring on a wild pitch. The 10 runs were a vast improvement over their 2-0 loss to Avon Grove, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
”I think we were more into the game and excited,” Petito said Monday. “We kept on going with the runs. We wanted to play so badly that day. We did the best we could and it showed off.”
Petito was the tough-luck loser against Pennsylvania despite allowing just four hits. Pennsylvania scored both of its runs in the fifth inning.
”We made more of a mental mistake than an error,” said Robbinsville manager Anthony Manto. “Our girl tried to tag the girl instead of throwing to second base and missed her. That cost us two runs and they got a really big two-out hit.
”We tried to squeeze with one out and it looked like their one player ran into their player and they called obstruction on our player. We would have cut the lead in half with still our top of the order coming up and one out. We made two small mistakes and you can’t do that against a really good team.”
Robbinsville had opened the region tournament with a 3-1 win over Mid Island (N.Y.) Little League. Medders struck out six and did not allow an earned run. She singled in the third inning and scored a run. Manto walked to lead off the first inning, stole second and third and scored on an error. Having played with last year’s Robbinsville team that reached the region tournament, Manto came in knowing what to expect.
”I think I was more prepared for what we were going to see in the competition,” Manto said. “They’re much better teams — harder, faster pitching and better defense.
”We have to hit stronger and swing faster and play defense much harder and be ready all the time.”
Robbinsville had one final game in pool play scheduled for Wednesday against Nanticoke Little League, the Delaware state champion. With a win, Robbinsville would be in good position to advance to the semifinal round as one of the top two teams in its pool.
”We’re really looking forward to the game on Wednesday,” Petito said. “It all leads up to the semifinals. If we win, we have a good shot at getting into it.”
If they can put together a second straight win heading into the semifinals, they will also have some momentum. Topping a solid Maryland team was a good start.
”I think it boosted our confidence a lot,” Maslak said. “It felt good to beat a good team.”
Medders was in control from the start, and it helped her to pitch with a big lead. She wasn’t afraid to make a mistake, and she was plenty determined to earn the win for Robbinsville and get them back on track.
”I felt good today,” Medders said. “I felt energetic since we lost the last game. I felt like I had to do good.”
Every team has been competitive with Robbinsville in the region. Robbinsville advanced to the region with a 14-1 win over Pequannock in the state championship.
”I tell our team all the time, we really only need to beat them by one,” said Anthony Manto. “Whether we win by 14 or one, it’s the same outcome. The girls were not going to be denied when they got to that final game.”
Robbinsville has gotten used to a higher level of play in the region tournament. Each of their first three opponents used their top pitcher against the New Jersey champions.
”We’re all at the same level,” Medders said. “Every team is really good.”
The newcomer to the Robbinsville all-star team also knows what it will take to push her team into the elimination round, where it will play for a trip to the World Series.
”Energy, confidence,” Medders listed. “Staying on each other’s back and helping each other out.”
Robbinsville had a brief scare against Maryland when Medders was hit on the elbow with a pitch before she went out for the final inning, but she overcame some original tightness to finish out the game.
”It hurt at first and I was a little shaky when I got on the mound,” she said. “Once I started warming up, I felt much better.”
And once the Robbinsville softball team saw how well it could bounce back, it felt good about its chances to be one of two teams out its pool to advance. The all-stars were scheduled to tour the ESPN Studios in Bristol on Tuesday before resuming their pursuit of the region crown Wednesday.
”It’s been pretty exciting,” the elder Manto said. “We went to it last year and I know what to expect. We have a lot of young kids on the team, and it’s the first time probably a lot of them have been away from their families for an entire week.
”I think the girls have done a really nice job of putting the ball in play, executing the things that we execute and our base-running has been really, really, really good. I wish our defense was a little better, but the girls have been playing every day, they’re away from their house and sleeping in dorms. There’s a lot of distractions, but they’re doing well.”

