To look at what the Robbinsville Little League 10-year-old All-Star softball team did in the Section 3 tournament, one would think it was a pretty easy road to the states.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Granted, RLL outscored three sectional foes 30-0 to claim the championship. But just getting there was quite another matter.
Robbinsville not only had to battle out of the loser’s bracket in the District 12 Tournament, but it was three outs away from elimination before turning things completely around.
“I think it sent a shock wave through their system,” manager Jon Iorio said. “They focused a lot better after their loss to East Windsor. After that we had to fight just to win the very next game.
“Those two games helped them to focus on the rest of the games. They haven’t lost since (prior to states). Between all the practices we’ve done, we haven’t given them much of a break unfortunately. They’re either playing or practicing every night and only got a couple days off. But the girls understand what’s at stake.”
After being nearly staked through the heart, they are just happy to be playing.
Robbinsville opened District 12 play by defeating West Windsor and then dropped a stunning 8-2 decision to East Windsor.
“We just didn’t perform well,” Iorio said.
Next was an elimination game with West Windsor, which carried a 2-1 lead into the top of the sixth inning. Amazingly, District One’s premier program was on the verge of being knocked out in just three games.
Ah, but not so fast.
RLL got hits from Kailey Pacifico, Jillian Hunt, Ella Iorio, Mackenzie Martin, Becca Siracusa and Shea Krebs to score three runs, and then held on for the victory.
“That was the key game for us,” Iorio said. “It was a really good game and it got us going.”
Robbinsville still wasn’t in the clear. It had to beat East Windsor twice in a doubleheader and fell behind 2-0 in the first game, only to get three in the bottom of the first. That would be it as the game ended 3-2. Robbinsville followed with an 8-3 victory to raise the district banner in Florence.
First baseman/pitcher Brynn Hopkins said that while her team was startled by its loss, it displayed its true character in the comeback win.
“We were expecting it to be the other way around against East Windsor,” she said. “We knew we had a challenge and we had to try to win the next three games.
“Winning the next game, I think it meant a lot. It showed how strong we are as a team and how we work together. Especially in that last inning. That took some pressure off and the momentum was on our side.”
They kept it on their side through the sectionals, scoring 11 runs in the first inning of the first game against Wall and never looking back in winning the title at home in Tantum Park.
“The key to this team is if they play loose and have fun, which they are, they will be all right,” Iorio said just prior to the states. “They’re a fun group, a nice bunch of girls. They get along real well.
“But when they play tight they don’t play so well. It’s our job as coaches to try to keep them loose and having fun, and then they play well.”
It was hard to stay loose in the West Windsor game, knowing that the eyes of the District 12 softball world were on them.
“They responded well, it was a good win against a good team,” Iorio said. “With our tradition of Robbinsville Little League, we have to hold up our end of the bargain and keep at it.
“These girls are old enough to know what the program is all about. They know people are watching them and expectations are set pretty high. As a result they responded pretty well.”
The team has been led by pitchers Hopkins and Shea Krebs, who take turns dazzling opponents.
“We have the luxury of having two ace pitchers,” Iorio said. “The coaches have pre-game discussion as to who we’re gonna throw that particular night. It’s a good problem to have. We can go either way with either pitcher and feel one hundred percent confident that they have a good chance to win the game.”
Hopkins possesses high velocity and also has a baffling change-up that she utilizes with two strikes on the batter. Hopkins, who began playing T-ball at age 6 and started pitching right after that, is modest about it.
“Even when they hit the ball,” she said, “I have a great defense and they can handle it.”
Iorio claims that Krebs “has some of the best control of any pitcher her age I’ve ever seen. She fields her position well and has got ice in her veins. If somebody gets a hit off her in a key moment, she has a short memory and forgets about it quickly.”
Handling the catching is Ella Iorio, the manager’s daughter.
“She’s our leadoff batter and she’s been very steady behind the plate,” Ella’s dad said. “We rely heavily on her because we have two solid pitchers, both throw hard and both have lots of different pitches. She’s got a huge responsibility and she’s been great there.”
First base is a rotation between Hopkins, Krebs and Becca Siracusa, and the same three rotate at third, depending on who is pitching.
“Brynn Hopkins is flat out our best player,” Iorio said. “She’s a phenomenal pitcher, a great hitter and awesome on defense. She’s hit some balls that have just been incredible. The ball jumps off her bat like no other kid I’ve ever seen. She’s a special player.”
Mackenzie Martin at second, bats second in the lineup behind Iorio.
“They get us going,” Jon Iorio said. “They have the highest on base percentage, scored the most runs and they mean a lot to the batting order. You can always count on either one coming up big in either spot and making sure they get on base somehow. What’s great about them is they do whatever is needed.”
Paige Moser is on shortstop and delivered several key hits in the first two tournaments.
“She’s also very reliable at short and has made all the important plays,” Iorio said. “She’s just been very solid.”
Krebs sees most of the time in the third base rotation and “makes all the plays, and at the plate she does whatever we need her to do.”
The outfield has Jillian Hutt in right, Danielle Calli in center and 9-year-old Kailey Pacifico in left.
“Jillian bats ninth but that doesn’t mean she’s our ninth best hitter,” Iorio said. “She could easily be our leadoff batter. For the amount of time she’s been up to the plate, she’s gotten key hits, laid down some important bunts. And her ability in right field to throw someone out at first on what looks like a single is great. She’s done it numerous times.”
The manager said Calli is “probably our most athletic player on the team. She catches fly balls with the best of them and when she hits the ball just jumps off her bat.”
“Kailey is a great player,” the skipper continued. “We can put her in almost any position on the field, and she’s reliable at the plate.’”
The team is rounded out by Aubrey Strand, Arden Benner, Gwen Wells and Kendall Chmielewski.
“All four of them have come up big in big spots,” Iorio said. “They’re extremely reliable and a major part of this team.”
It has been a team that has won convincingly for the most part, but knows how to win the tight ones should it have to.
The Robbinsville Little League 10-year-old softball All-Star team celebrates its Section 3 championship July 20, 2014 at Tantum Park. Pictured are (front) Aubrey Strand, Arden Benner, Jillian Hutt, Kailey Pacifico, Danielle Calli, Shea Krebs, Gwen Wells, (back) Ella Iorio, Mackenzie Martin, Brynn Hopkins, Becca Siracusa, Kendal Chmielewski and Paige Moser. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.),
