The Marlboro High School softball team has become the standard-bearer in the Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD).
Following another successful season on the diamond, the Mustangs have validated their position as the area’s best.
Head coach Nick Scalzo’s Mustangs have earned their spot among the top 10 teams in the Shore Conference by establishing a winning tradition over the last few years.
Led by outfielder Macie Ditillo, who became the latest player to join the 100-career hits club, Marlboro was 15-8 and reached the quarterfinals in the conference and NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV tournaments.
With only three seniors graduating from this year’s team, the Mustangs could be even more dangerous in 2017.
Kate Kuzma’s youthful Freehold Township High School team (10-15) made great strides this year, winning the Monmouth County White Division championship by beating Monmouth Regional High School, 1-0, in the finals. It was just the confidence the young team needed moving forward. The Patriots gave the Mustangs a run for their money in the state playoffs before falling, 4-3, in the opening round.
Tricia Savino’s Howell High School team had one of the most potent offenses in the Shore. During a 10-12 campaign, Howell hitters slammed 20 home runs. Howell made a big run in the Monmouth County Tournament, reaching the semifinals.
Colts Neck High School (9-11) took great strides for head coach Julie Saporito-Acuna. Another club with predominately underclassmen, the Cougars played .500 ball in their division and made the state and conference tournaments.
Manalapan High School (8-12) joined Marlboro, Howell, Colts Neck and Freehold Township in the state sectional tournament.
Ditillo, an outfielder, and her Marlboro teammates top the 2016 News Transcript All-FRHSD Softball Team.
The infielders are Marlboro’s Lindsey Fhima, Jennifer Frometa and Phoebee Li; Manalapan’s Kristen Ruggiero; Howell’s Paige Eckert; Freehold High School’s Skylar Devorin; and Freehold Township’s Nicole Baptista. The catcher is Howell’s Vivian Montgomery.
Alongside Ditillo in the outfield are Howell’s Bridget Coulahan and Haylie Barnes and Colts Neck’s Payton Mahoney.
The pitchers are Marlboro’s Kaleigh Oplinger and Manalapan’s Rachel Hrevnak.
The utility player is Marlboro’s Bonnie Picone, and the designated player is Freehold Township’s Heather Lally.
Ditillo, a junior, had an outstanding season in the Shore Conference. She seemed to be in the middle of every Marlboro rally, either stirring things up by getting on base or driving in runs. Of her 38 base hits, 23 were for extra bases. She smacked 17 doubles, two triples and four home runs. She had 40 RBIs and scored 25 runs while batting .487. Her defense in center field can never be overlooked.
Ruggiero had a superb season, batting .484 with 28 RBIs and 19 runs scored. She cracked four homers. For a power hitter, the senior only had two strikeouts. Ruggiero also joined the career 100-hit club during the season (104 for her career).
Marlboro had one of the Shore’s best infields taking into account offense and defense. Li, a junior, batted .388 and scored 27 runs. Fhima batted in 24 runs and had six doubles and four home runs while batting .342. She’s a junior. Frometa, a senior, batted .389.
Picone ended her career on a high note, batting .350 and scoring 25 runs. The senior was the first Mustang to reach 100 career hits, doing so last season.
Montgomery, who is headed to the United State Military Academy, is as good an all-around catcher as there was in the Shore. Her batting average was .426 and she had 16 RBIs, two home runs and seven doubles. But her defense and handling of pitchers was equally impressive.
Eckert batted .420 and was the Rebels’ leading run producer with 22 RBIs. She hit nine doubles and three home runs, as the senior concluded her career with another highly productive season.
Barnes and Coulahan formed a solid outfield duo. Barnes, a junior, had 33 hits and batted .446. She had 16 RBIs with seven doubles and one home run. Coulahan, a senior, batted .426 with 14 RBIs and 10 extra-base hits (seven doubles, three home runs).
Mahoney, a sophomore, batted .516, rapping out 32 hits. She had two triples and a home run for a team that is on its way up.
Devorin came through with a .462 season that included five doubles and a pair of triples in her final year at Freehold. She’ll continue her softball career at Post University in Connecticut.
Baptista ended her Freehold Township career with a remarkable season in which she had 42 hits and batted .519. She was the team’s table-setter, scoring 20 runs and driving in 10. She displayed some power with seven doubles, a triple and a home run.
Lally, a sophomore, led the Patriots in RBIs with 20 while batting .324. She also scored 13 runs and belted two home runs.
Oplinger gave the Mustangs what they needed — a pitcher who would keep them in games and not walk batters. She went 11-7 with a 3.00 ERA. Like so many of her teammates, she’ll be back in 2017.
Hrevnak was a big reason the Braves saw the postseason. She went 8-8 and pitched to a 3.82 ERA. The senior was pretty effective with the bat, hitting .343. She scored 14 runs.
Student-athletes who have earned All-FRHSD honorable mention recognition for their performances during the 2016 season are Felicia Kuegler, Colts Neck (infield); Kiersten Withstandley, Freehold Township (infield); Vienna Chiercha, Manalapan (infield); and Jessica Zwerin, Marlboro (infield).