The numbers themselves give a pretty good indication of how physically talented this year’s Robbinsville Little League 12-year-old softball team is, but they don’t tell the whole story.
For instance, they don’t indicate the softball IQ of the most important two positions on the softball field: pitcher and catcher.
In a world where coaches usually call the pitches and the hurler just carries out orders, RLL manager Mark Walsh and his lieutenants give complete freedom to catcher Shea Walsh and pitcher McKenzie Medders.
“We let Shea call the pitches for the most part; if she wants a little help I’ll help her out, but she’s on her own to call the game,” Walsh said. “We have a program we like to follow with certain hitters, depending on where they are in the lineup and what the hitters’ strengths are.
“Shea has done this long enough that she knows how to set up hitters. She called 95 percent of the pitches on our way out to Oregon (and the Little League World Series) last year. This year it’s almost the same.”
The fact Walsh gives the battery mates such freedom speaks volumes, as most coaches call the pitches even on the high school level. But since Medders moved to Robbinsville from Bordentown two years ago, the two gained a quick chemistry.
“They’re good buddies, which helps,” Walsh said. “McKenzie probably has a pretty good comfort level throwing to Shea.”
It would be hard to argue the results as Robbinsville was close to a second straight World Series at press time. The 12s advanced to the finals of East Regional Tournament after blitzing through pool play with a 4-0 record in which they outscored opponents, 34-4.
Robbinsville won the District 12 and New Jersey state tournaments handily as well, outscoring district foes, 27-0, and state opponents, 26-4.
The competition definitely got tougher in Bristol, Connecticut, where the regionals were held. But Robbinsville’s dominating performance in pool play should not have been a surprise, since eight girls returned from the 2013 team that finished third in the World Series.
The bright lights of Bristol aren’t quite as blinding to a group of veterans who went through it all last year.
“There’s an understanding of what these eight days are about,” Walsh said just prior to bracket play. “And I think those girls are able to achieve a balance between the softball end of it and the being-away-from-home end of it.
“All of our girls are doing well with that, even the girls for the first time. But it’s nice to have eight of them returning to make it almost seamless. They know what to expect, they know the drill, the practice schedule, the day to day type of thing.”
Not to mention, they are performing a craft at which they have been perfecting for a while.
“This group of girls has played a lot of softball together,” Walsh said. “We’re comfortable in the field; we’re comfortable at the plate. We’ve got a confidence in one another. No one puts a lot of pressure on themselves to carry the load. We’re a pretty deep team one through thirteen.
“In pool play, we’ve obviously pitched very well, we’ve hit the ball at times and we have not made many errors. We’ve been clean in the field. When we pitch well and play defense we are tough to beat.”
It all starts in the circle, where Medders is showing early glimpses that Robbinsville High could have another standout pitcher on the way. The hurler throws a fastball with natural movement that cuts in on right-handers, and mixes in a curveball and change-up.
“She throws strikes, which is obviously the key,” Walsh said. “She and Shea have been together for a lot of games and there’s a comfort level there. She’s also a heck of a competitor. You put all that together and you’ve got a heck of a pitcher.”
Going around the infield, Olivia Moser is on first, Allie Taylor is at second, Amanda Allen is the shortstop and Alexis Petito is on third. From left to right in the outfield are Ashley Veisz, Grace Maslak and Devon Whitt. Hannah James will rotate into second base depending on if Petito pitches.
Other contributors include Emma Binder, Sara Mazalewski and Alyssa Whitman.
Allen has helped improve the team both offensively and defensively as she was moved from second base to short and also was switched to third in the lineup.
“Moving Amanda to short has paid huge rewards,” Walsh said. “She’s been flawless defensively, and she’s been a very productive hitter for us out of the third spot. But I don’t like to single anyone out, we’ve been hitting pretty well as a team.”
The reputation of Robbinsville Little League softball has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, ever since RLL went to its first World Series eight years ago.
People know about the girls from Mercer County, and they were paying attention to them in Bristol. There is an unmistakable aura around RLL.
“I would never tell the girls that, but you hang out around the softball complex here, and there’s obviously more eyeballs on our team than any other team but the local team from Connecticut,” Walsh said. “It’s a good team that plays the game the right way and that obviously comes with expectations. The pressure is on us to live up to those expectations.”
The beauty of being 12-years-old, however, is that you’re still a kid and the pressure of getting a new pair of Uggs may mean more than catching a ball. To them, it’s just another fun thing to do.
“Yeah, it’s still just a softball game, it’s still a 12 inch ball so nothing really changes,” Walsh said. “I think they just play the game and that’s kind of how they’re built. I’m sure the parents worry a lot more than the kids.”
One thing the kids do worry about is how their younger league mates are doing. When the Robbinsville 10-year-olds won the District 12 tournament in Florence, the 12s were there to celebrate. When the 12s won states at Tantum Park, the 10s reciprocated.
“On the last pitch when we won District 12, the 12-year-old team jumped over the fence in centerfield and ran into the middle of the field and congratulated our girls at second base,” 10-year-old manager Jon Iorio said. “It was one of best moments I ever had as coach.
“They support each other well. It’s a good bond between the two teams.”
It was even better that the 12-year-old state celebration took place at home.
“It was great on a lot of different levels,” Walsh said. “It was the last go-around for these kids to play on the Robbinsville Little League field, which I think was special. These girls have given Robbinsville Little League a lot to be proud of. To go off on their own field winning a state title was kind of fitting.”
Robbinsville Little League 12-year-old softball All-Star Shea Walsh closes her eyes as she slides under the Pequannock catcher during the state championship game in Robbinsville July 16, 2014. RLL won, 11-0. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.),
