By Tim Morris
Manager Kirk Andersen had plenty of time to prepare the Freehold Township-based New Jersey Breakers softball team for the national championships.
Andersen knew last fall that the Breakers had qualified for the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) tournament in Salisbury, Maryland, so he made sure his club was tested by playing it in a number of tournaments leading up to the championships.
“We used the tournaments to get to the highest level,” he said. “We played so many games against quality competition.”
The Breakers captured the 18U USSSA national championship by defeating the Pocono Pride, 6-5, in a game won in the last of the seventh inning.
After an early loss in pool play, the Breakers reeled off nine consecutive wins to take the championship.
“We had good hitting the entire tournament,” Andersen said. “Our pitching, hitting and defense — all three phases of the game all came together at the right time.”
As if the championship wasn’t impressive enough, the Breakers won the 18U division playing with girls who are 15 and 16 years old (one player is just 14).
Competing against the bigger and stronger players wasn’t an obstacle for the girls. They were battle-tested from all those tournaments, and they were mentally prepared. They were not going to be intimidated and beat teams by playing fundamentally sound softball.
They had two pitchers that Andersen alternated, and they saw to it that no game got away from them. They had sound defense behind them, which made it even tougher for teams to score on them. Add to that an offense that was hitting on all cylinders, and you have all the ingredients for success.
The Breakers, who have a core of seven players who have been with Andersen since they were 11 years old, benefited from playing in the tournament last year. They finished fifth, which was proof they had what it takes to compete at the national level. They also learned that once you get out of pool play, the goal is to stay in the winner’s bracket as long as you can.
In 2015, the Breakers fell into the loser’s bracket early, which required them to play many more games. The toll that took finally caught up to them, but not before they had played their way up to fifth place. This year, once out of pool play, the Breakers remained in the winner’s bracket the whole way.
The core seven are Kayla Loges (outfield), Lauren Andersen (second base), Dara Ziobro (third base), Kiersten Withstandly (shortstop), Leah Churinskas (outfield), Deanna Hedrick (catcher) and Chloe Lewis (pitcher).
Completing the national champions are Marion Fopeano (first base), Amanada Edwards (third base), Tara Flavin (outfield), Delaney Cochrane (outfield), Brenna Dolan (pitcher) and Jess Weinthal (catcher).
The Breakers are from Freehold Township, Allentown, Monroe, West Windsor, Plainsboro, Toms River and Cranford.