The Holbrook Little League’s 12U All-Star softball team won the District 18 championship for the second consecutive season this summer, and went on to compete in the Section 3 tournament. Holbrook Little League Softball’s 12U All-Stars, competing in District 18 for the second year, again came away with the championship, as the pitching of Kaylee Book and hitting of catcher Jamie Sheeran and outfielder Shea Lynn Sutton led a best-of-three series sweep over Manchester, 8-5 and 14-3, late last month.
The program emerged from the Jackson Recreation Softball program that it took over two years ago. It had 280 players across different age brackets from T-ball to 17U playing in the spring and 180 playing Holbrook softball last fall.
“This year, we have more hitters. And last year, we [only] had one pitcher,” said assistant coach Steve Dubiago, who is joined on the coaching staff by manager Ric Flores and assistant coach Stewart Bennion. “With four girls who can pitch, more hitting and a solid defense [this season], we’re more balanced.”
That was evident in the first game of the Section 3 tournament in North Wall on July 1, when Holbrook mowed down District 19 champion Lincroft, 12-2, in a game stopped after four innings by the mercy rule. Book allowed one hit in the abbreviated pitching stint against Lincroft, striking out seven and walking four, and she helped her own cause by smashing two hits. Sutton drove in three runs, and third baseman Iliana Flores and Sheeran each knocked in two while collecting two hits each.
The following night, Holbrook lost, 10-0, to national power Robbinsville, the repeat District 12 champion that finished third in the World Series in Portland, Ore., last year. Holbrook managed four hits in the game. It then suffered its second loss and an exit in the double-elimination tournament to Wall, 7-4, but not without a determined fight. Holbrook cut a 7-1 lead to 7-4 in the last inning, when center fielder Brianna Bennion lined a baseclearing triple before Holbrook reloaded the bases with a walk and a fielder’s choice before a game-ending strikeout.
“We popped up a lot and couldn’t string hits together,” Dubiago said. “We were probably overly aggressive — a good hitting team that was swinging early.
“But I’m very proud of them. They went farther than last year,” he continued. “They’re a good group of girls, many of them playing travel ball.” Flores is one of four returning players from last year’s 12U district championship team, along with Sutton, left fielder Angelina Lopiccolo and outfielder Madison Parrish.
The rest of this year’s team is made up of some players from last year’s 10U team that also won the district. “We have a real good hitting team, and if we reduce mistakes, we’re in the game,” said Dubiago, as Holbrook committed costly ones against Robbinsville. “Our morale has been good. The team and town are excited.”
The top five hitters in the batting order are Mikayla LaPlaca, Sheeran, Flores, Book and Lopiccolo.
Daniella Plaganis plays first base and is the No. 2 pitcher. Emily Dubiago plays second base, LaPlaca is the shortstop, and Flores and Sheeran play third base and catcher, respectively. Outfielders Lopiccolo and Paige McPaul flank center fielder Bennion.
Three of those starters are 11 years old — Dubiago, LaPlaca and Sheeran — along with backups Lauren Cannestro (infielder) and versatile player Bridget Sinclair, which is a good sign for the future.