For decades tennis has reigned supreme as the top sport in West Windsor Township. But if the past few seasons are any measure, maybe now its time to call West Windsor the “softball capital of the state.”##M:[more]##
For the past three seasons, many of the players that made up this year’s West Windsor 12-year old softball all-star team have played some of the best softball on the east coast. The team has regularly won district and state titles and earned an appearance in the regional semifinal game in 2004.
This summer was even better. The 12-year-olds dominated their opponents across New Jersey, breezing through the state championship and wining the Mid-Atlantic championship. They made it all the way to the regional finals in Orange, Connecticut, losing to the New England champs on August 5. (West Windsor only lost two games all summer and came within one win from a plane to Portland, Oregon, to compete in the Softball Word Series.)
But for West Windsor softball fans, there’s more to come. Although many members of the 12-year old squad will be too old to play next season, the West Windsor 10-year old all-star squad put together a stellar summer season of its own by making it to the as far as the District 12 championship.
But what makes West Windsor a hotbed for youth softball? “I’ve been asked that question quite a few times,” says Steve Bisenov, a West Windsor resident and first year manager of the 10-year old all-star team. “I know that the players on our team are aware of the tradition of winning here,” he says. “I think that makes them work that much harder in practice and at the games. They want to add to that tradition.”
For Andy Forsell, head coach of the 12-year-old squad, there are some practical reasons for the winning results. “Here in West Windsor there is a lot of interest in softball,” he says. “A lot of the girls play softball on travel teams where they hone their skills.”
Forsell says that in West Windsor the travel teams shut down their schedule during the all-star season, allowing their players to play unhindered in the tournaments. This is not something that every area consents to do, resulting in a watering down of talent in some areas.
Bizenov says that the community support is one of the prime reasons for the success of the softball program. “I think it’s because of the incredible support we get from the parents, coaches, managers, and everybody involved,” he says. “We also have a very good bunch of players.” This is the first season that Bizenov, who works as a vice president of sales for an entertainment company, has coached the team. (He did coach for his 12-year old son’s little league team several years ago.)
Forsell, who works as an attorney at Church and Dwight in Princeton, coached the 12-year-old team for the first and only time this summer. “I’ve coached recreation league teams and travel teams, but this the first time for me here,” he says. “But I won’t be coaching next season because my daughter, Lexie, will age out of the program.”
Lexie, the youngest of Forsell’s three daughters, switches between playing catcher and pitcher and has been one of the team’s top players all summer. She, along with such stars as Sydney Turchin and Caitlin McCann, has been among the team’s most consistent performers, playing with precision in the field and fireworks at the plate.
After dominating state competition all summer long, often winning games by lopsided margins of 10 or more runs, the West Windsor 12-year-old all-stars headed into this year‘s regional championship hoping for a berth in the World Series. There was also a certain revenge factor going for them this summer as well. After finishing in third place in the region last season, the West Windsor 12-year olds were determined to take it a step further in 2005.
Having lost to West Point, Pennsylvania (the team that knocked them out of the regional playoffs in 2004), on August 2 by a score of 11-7, West Windsor found itself in a must-win situation on August 3 against Colonie, New York. When Colonie jumped ahead in the top of the first inning, West Windsor fought back by scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning. With Forsell throwing a three hitter, the West Windsor all-stars won handily by a score of 11-3.
West Windsor then faced West Point in a rematch on August 4. Coach Forsell again sent his daughter to do the pitching. She responded with an outstanding game, allowing just four hits in the 11-3 win. Lexie also produced at the plate, hammering out four hits in the game and driving in four runs.
Heading into the sixth and final game of the regional finals on August 5, the 12-year-old squad had rung up a total of 44 runs in the first five games of the tournament. But the party ended when Forsell’s team couldn’t muster a single run, or even a hit, against Connecticut, losing 4-0, and setting aside dreams of a trip to the World Series. The game started out as if it were going to be a blowout. After falling behind, 3-0, in the first inning, Forsell allowed just three more hits and struck out four.
Lexie, a student at Village School, also plays as a point guard on the school’s basketball team. She will then begin her high school career at North in 2007. “There are so many really talented kids on this team,” says Forsell. “I think that in a few years the high school teams at both North and South are really going to be something special.” (The 12s also have eight players eligible to play again next summer.)
For the West Windsor 10-year all-star team, which finished the summer with a 6-2 tournament record, the season ended on August 3 with an 8-7 loss that left a certain bitter taste in the mouth because West Windsor had defeated the same Florence team, 16-6, a week earlier.
While Bizenov is not yet certain whether he will return to coach next summer, he already is optimistic about the team’s chances in 2006. His daughter, Jessica, who played outfield on the 10-year-old team this year, is already getting ready for next season. “She is going to be working out all winter with a private coach,” he says. “We did that for my son and now it is Jessica’s turn.”
