ROBBINSVILLE: Softball 12s rolling at regionals

By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
   The Robbinsville Little League 12-year-old all-star softball players spend plenty of time together in the summer.
   This week, their time together increases as they are on the road in Bristol, Conn., for the Eastern Region tournament.
   ”Being with the team is probably the best thing overall,” said Robbinsville third baseman Alexa Petito. “We’re with each other 24/7.”
   Robbinsville has bonded together in its quest to return to the Little League World Series. Robbinsville clinched the top spot in the Mid-Atlantic Regional pool of the Eastern tournament when it stopped Delmar, Md., 11-1, Wednesday to complete pool play. Robbinsville finished 4-0.
   ”We played great in the first three games,” said shortstop Amanda Allen on the eve of Wednesday’s game. “We had zero errors. We’ve been having good contact and having good defense.”
   The defense is the thing that stood out the most for Robbinsville through pool play. It’s a difference maker. Runs were not easy to come by in an opening 3-0 win over New City (N.Y.) Little League, a 6-0 win over Exton, Pa., before they broke out with a 13-3 win over Lower Sussex (Del.) Little League.
   ”I don’t have to worry about the ball getting through,” said Mackenzie Medders, who pitched the first two games of the Mid-Atlantic before Petito pitched the third. “Our defense is really strong. It’s one of our strongest things we have. If the ball gets hit, I know we have the people to back it up.”
   Most of the Robbinsville team is back from last year’s team that won the region, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. Robbinsville will face the fourth place team from the New England pool 5 p.m. today. With a win, they could face New York again in a rematch.
   ”New York was a great team,” said Robbinsville assistant coach Ed James. “They had some great swings. Pennsylvania was good. Connecticut and Massachusetts had a 2-1 game in the eighth game, so they showed good pitching and good defense. There are four or five teams here that have a shot at this thing.”
   Robbinsville is hoping that its winning experience from a year ago will pay off in the elimination round.
   ”It’s pretty much the same as last year,” said Robbinsville catcher Shea Walsh. “We still have a pretty strong team. We’re doing the same stuff as last year.”
   Added Allen: “It’s pretty similar to last year. I think we’re a little more comfortable to play on the fields this year, since we did last year.”
   The Robbinsville contingent was scheduled to visit ESPN on Tuesday. They enjoyed pizza at night at the local high school, and they have enjoyed playing together and representing Robbinsville.
   ”It builds up our team,” Walsh said. “We all become better friends. We just have a great time together.”
   Opening Ceremonies hadn’t even started when Robbinsville took to the field for its first game. It was the most challenging game it has had this summer with New York remaining close throughout the game. It was scoreless until the third inning when Olivia Moser singled home one run. Sara Mazalewski then scored on a New York error for another run in the inning. Allie Taylor delivered an insurance run in the top of the sixth and Medders was brilliant on the mound. She only struck out three, but walked just one and gave up only a single hit.
   ”It was like a slap in the face realizing these teams are going to be better than what we faced in districts and sections and states,” Medders said. “When we realized it, we knew how to beat them.”
   Robbinsville had more success offensively against Pennsylvania. Robbinsville scored in each of the first four innings while getting another gem from Medders, who struck out eight while scattering three hits in her second straight shutout.
   ”Our defense is really good,” Walsh said. “Everyone who’s put in their spot works hard to do what they can do and our pitchers are phenomenal.”
   Allen is one of the players in a new spot this season. She has moved from second base to the critical shortstop role and played well.
   ”At the start, I was pretty nervous to play shortstop,” Allen said. “I was really comfortable at second base. After practice and practice, I got used to it and I’m pretty comfortable now.”
   Allen also bats third in the Robbinsville lineup. Against Pennsylvania, she broke out with a 2-for-3 game with two runs and two RBI. Walsh was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Alyssa Whitman was 2-for-2 with a run scored. Emma Binder had a hit and RBI. Grace Maslak was 1-for-1 with an RBI. Medders drove in one run with one hit as did Moser. Petito and Taylor had a hit apiece. Devon Witt had a hit in her at bat and scored a run.
   ”I think we were a little tight against New York,” James said of the offense. “We got some timely hits to deliver some runs. Then (Monday against Delaware) our bats came to life. When we get back into the tougher pitchers in a couple days, hopefully we’ll get back to hitting.”
   Robbinsville closed pool play with a combined 24 runs in its final two games. Bolstered by an eight-run first inning, Robbinsville cruised to a 13-3 win over Delaware in five innings. Allen was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, Binder drove in three runs with a double, Hannah James knocked in one run, Mazalewski scored twice, Medders had a hit and RBI, Moser had a hit and RBI, Ashley Veisz scored two runs and had a hit and RBI, Walsh was 2-for-3 with a run and RBI and Whitman scored twice and had a hit and RBI. Petito struck out six and gave up just three hits in her regional pitching appearance.
   Said Petito: “A lot of the teams are really good, but we always try our hardest to beat them and have our best defense and have our A game so we can win.”
   Robbinsville put together another big offensive display Wednesday in an 11-1 win over Maryland. Robbinsville scored four times in the second inning and five times in the fifth inning to wrap up the game an inning short of regulation.
   ”We’re pretty confident going into the last game,” Allen said afterward. “We just want to continue to play well.”
   For the fourth straight game, Robbinsville did not make an error. It’s a trend that they want to maintain.
   ”I think that’s been the thing that’s been most impressive,” Ed James said. “These girls are making a lot of routine plays, and a lot of great plays. Without some of those plays, a lot of these innings could turn another way. Hopefully they’ll continue to have success in the field.”
   The girls have long ago bought into the importance of fielding their positions well. It’s a source of pride for the team.
   ”Our coach is saying it’s not how many runs, or how many hits, it’s how many errors we don’t have,” Allen said. “That’s the main thing he’s most proud of.”
   Allen and Walsh were each 2-for-4 on the day. Allen had a pair of RBI and Walsh had one RBI. Maslak knocked in a pair of runs. Moser was 2-for-3. Taylor scored twice as did Witt. Medders surrendered her first run of the tournament, but struck out eight and allowed just one hit.
   ”I think we realized what our competition is so we know what to bring to the table and we know what we have to do to beat them,” Medders said.
   Robbinsville knows there likely won’t be any more lopsided games for them. They expect tougher challenges like they had to start the tournament, and they aren’t scared by it.
   ”It’s actually very fun for our team to play in those games even though it’s nerve wracking,” Walsh said. “It makes the team work their hardest and do their best.”
   Robbinsville is looking forward to the upcoming competition. They have watched the teams from the other side of the region.
   ”There’s a couple other teams that came back from last year,” Walsh said. “We’re friendly with them. It’s cool to see them again and play against them again.”
   Robbinsville proved last year that they know what it takes to win and advance at this level.”I think it’s helping us,” Medders said. “I think last year and travel ball pitching us. We’re used to faster pitching. It’s helped us. We know what to bring to the plate.”
   And they have shown this year by taking the top spot in the Mid-Atlantic pool that they will be tough competition for any opponent in the elimination round.
   ”It gives our team more confidence,” Walsh said. “It shows we can beat some of these really good teams here. As a team, need to work hard and have strong defense and good pitching and we’ll be fine.”
   Said Petito: “It’s different from what we played in districts, sections and states. We had to get used to the tougher competition.”
   Petito sees tougher competition at the region this year than last year. It won’t be easy to defend their region title, but with a 4-0 start in pool play, Robbinsville is on track for its goal of returning to the World Series.
   ”I feel a lot of pressure is on us,” Petito said. “A lot of people expect us to win. We’re trying our hardest to do our best and keep winning.”