By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Nick Schiera didn’t want his West Windsor/Cranbury-Plainsboro 10-year-old all-star softball team dwelling on its first game of the District 12 Little League tournament.
Dwell too long and one loss could turn into two losses and a quick exit from the double-elimination tournament.
”After the first loss, they had their heads down,” said Schiera, the manager after his team’s 5-3 opening loss to Florence. “I told them there wasn’t a reason to hang their heads and I wasn’t leaving until everyone gave me a nice big smile. I told them to bring those smiles to the game (Monday).
”They came hyped up and ready to play. There was a different attitude tonight. They came ready to play.”
WW/C-PLL responded to their first loss with a resounding 16-0 win in four innings over New Egypt on June 24. The win brought plenty of smiles and sent them into the losers’ bracket semifinal against Robbinsville, in a game scheduled for June 27 that was played before early holiday deadlines.
”I really didn’t know how we’d do,” Schiera said. “I know East Windsor and Robbinsville usually have strong teams. We knew we’d have to go past them to get to the championship. We’ll find out how we are Thursday when we play Robbinsville.”
WW/C-PLL used a balance of tough pitching and strong hitting up and down their lineup to eliminate New Egypt. Alyse Dunn was a triple away from hitting for the cycle after having a home run, double and single and driving in six runs. Priyanka Kaul and Kate Kelly scored three runs apiece, while Julia Baber, Dunn, Jordan Guidi and Gianna Schiera scored twice.
”There were just a couple walks,” the elder Schiera said. “I think our bats woke up tonight. On Sunday, we scored three runs in the first inning and then no runs after that. But tonight, everyone was hitting. We made all the plays in the field.”
Kaul and Kelly combined for a no-hitter in the circle. Kaul struck out seven and did not walk a batter in her three innings and Kelly kept New Egypt hitless over the final inning.
”What I see as our strength is our pitching,” Schiera said. “On Sunday, we lost to Florence and our main pitcher wasn’t there. And tonight she came in and pitched very well. She had a no-hitter for three innings. We’re looking forward to seeing how we can do with everyone. We’ll have a full squad on Thursday.”
Schiera has confidence in four pitchers on his squad. Kaul, Kelly, Gianna Schiera and Alie Rome could all see innings if WW/C-PLL continues to win and has to play back-to-back days. Pitchers that throw three innings are not eligible to pitch the next day. WW/C-PLL couldn’t have pitched better Monday, and they are hoping to make that momentum into a run. The group is getting more accustomed to playing together and is figuring out how good it can be.
”This is a combination of West Windsor girls and Cranbury-Plainsboro girls,” Schiera said. “It’s six (from WW) and six (from C-P). A lot of these girls I don’t know at all. It’s my first time seeing them. We’ve been practicing almost every single day since we were allowed. They’re starting to gel.”
Emily Matcham, Kaleigh McCurren, Olivia Bernheisel, Kate Kiggio and Sophia D’Ovidio round out a team that saw it hit on all cylinders Monday. They showed a big improvement from their opener, when walks and a hitting slump after the first inning derailed their chances.
”It was a well played game,” Schiera said. “Our defense was good. Nobody I remember made any errors. We had a lot of walks. The other team only had one hit, I think. The walks were the major problem.”
WW/C-PLL kept its tournament title hopes alive with a strong comeback from that first game, and with it, there were smiles all-around the softball team.
”I’m having a lot of fun,” Schiera said. “I’ve been doing this for many years for my older daughter, and now I have my younger daughter doing it. It’s been fun.”
