Pequannock tops all-stars for state softball title
By: Justin Feil
PARSIPPANY The West Windsor 10-year-old all-star softball team had every chance to hang its head as it slipped farther and farther behind Pequannock in the state final. It never happened.
After dropping a 13-4 decision, maybe the smiles weren’t quite as big but there was nothing but pride from the latest 10-year-old representative of a highly successful West Windsor Little League organization.
"It’s been a good run," said West Windsor 10s manager Hector Mendez. "No one expected us to get this far. To get to this point in this state tournament is a good experience. It’s been fun fun for the players, the parents and the coaches. I’m proud of the team.
"I’m proud they’ve been able to get this far. We showed we’re one of the best teams in the state at the 10-year-old level. We finished second, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of."
West Windsor had won the last two state championships as the 10-year-old level, and it was rival Pequannock, the Section 2 champion, that stood in the way of a third. West Windsor, the Section 3 champion, won the first meeting of the teams, 7-3, last Sunday to knock Pequannock into the losers’ bracket.
Pequannock came out of the losers’ bracket to defeat West Windsor, 3-0, Thursday on a no-hitter. That win forced the "if necessary" game to decide it all Friday in the double-elimination tournament. Even after the outcome there was a sense that if the teams met again, there could be another outcome.
"I think we’re pretty evenly matched teams," Mendez said. "It wouldn’t surprise me if we came back and beat them tomorrow. It just depends on how the pitching and hitting is.
"Our pitching is fairly equal. Our defense is pretty equal. We both run our organizations similarly which is why we compete against them in the finals."
West Windsor managed five hits Friday, but left six runners on base. A big difference was that West Windsor walked just four times while Pequannock earned 13 walks while putting together 10 hits.
"We hit the ball all day," Mendez said. "They’re just a good fielding team. Our problem today is we didn’t get the ball over the plate. That’s the old saying walks will kill you."
But nothing could get the West Windsor spirit down. Pequannock scored three times in the top of the first inning, but West Windsor was quick to answer. Nicole Baxter walked, stole second, went to third on one wild pitch and scored on another. After Pequannock again built a three-run lead with a run in the top of the second, West Windsor roared back to tie it, 4-4, as Baxter was involved again. With the bases loaded and one out, she hit a high pop up that was ruled an infield fly, but the ball fell in and two Pequannock miscues allowed all three runners to score on the play. It seemed to be the last of the luck for West Windsor.
"I felt pretty good about it when we tied the game up," Mendez said. "Then they went ahead again."
Pequannock scored twice in the third inning, three more times in the fourth inning, three more times in the fifth inning and once in the sixth inning.
"Their manager was smart," Mendez said. "He saw we were having difficulty getting the ball over. He had them taking. I would do the same."
In addition to her game at the plate, Baxter also pitched the final 2Ð innings for West Windsor. She was forced into duty when West Windsor’s usual other pitcher, Kaitlin Perrine, left for vacation after Thursday’s game. Baxter allowed just one walk.
"It’s the first time she pitched in the postseason," Mendez said. "She did a great job of it. She’s a great ball player. Nothing fazes her."
Baxter is one of the girls from the 10s team that will have a chance to make next year’s 11- and 12-year-old all-star team that also has a history of success. There will be few surprised if the West Windsor 10s team goes on to similar success after they came so close to a state title.
"I hope that in another year or two, we’ll be back in this tournament," Mendez said. "And I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ll come back to face Pequannock again. I just hope that the result will be a little different."