One of Robbinsville’s proudest traditions went into hibernation for two years but returned in all its glory this summer.
On July 20, Robbinsville Little League’s 10-year-old All-Star team won the organization’s first District 12 title since the 12s in 2022 — but it didn’t stop there.
The 10s went on to win the Section 3 and state crowns and began pool play in the Mid-Atlantic Regional on Staten Island on July 25. The tournament was scheduled to conclude with a championship game on July 30.
It is the first state title for Robbinsville since the 12-year-olds reached the 2021 World Series. Manager Frank Zadlock hopes his team is continuing that World Series legacy.
“We have a lot of rich history,” Zadlock said. “We have been to six World Series. Hopefully this team can be a part of that history moving forward — there is no 10-year-old World Series. The future looks strong.
“Hopefully the majority of this team has two more years in Little League. Our success now is not going to make us happy and satisfied. It’s going to motivate us, knowing we can grow and get better and have further development and continue that rich tradition.”
Robbinsville breezed through the three-team district, outscoring opponents 27-6. The Section 3 tournament was tougher, as the locals went 4-0 but were forced into extra innings twice.
In the state tournament, Robbinsville won two straight before suffering its first loss, falling to Hanover. That forced a winner-take-all game, which Robbinsville won 3-0.
“Some of these girls I’ve been working with since they were 7. We played the same district teams when they were 8, and we beat everyone at 9, so I knew we would win the districts,” Zadlock said.
He added: “In sections, we had faced a lot of those teams with our travel team, the Robbinsville Rampage. The core nucleus of our All-Star team was the travel team, and we were 50-18-1 in travel. So we were battle-tested. I knew we had a shot.
“With the states, you never know. You can run into a buzzsaw pitcher. Luckily, the ball bounced our way and we won.”
Robbinsville had a couple of buzzsaws of its own in the circle.
Avery DeLay had a 1.30 ERA and struck out 75 in 36 innings. Madelyn Macdonald had a 0.49 ERA and fanned 44 in 25 innings.
“Both of them pound the strike zone,” Zadlock said. “They throw multiple pitches. They control the pace of the game. The moment is never too big for them. They’re everything you want as a manager to lead the team, and they are definitely team leaders.”
There are a few differences between the hurlers.
“Madelyn is always smiling,” Zadlock said. “She has a high percentage of throwing strikes. She has an awesome change-up and nasty drop curve.
“Avery is my flamethrower. She’s a little more serious. She’s not going to be smiling — she’s locked in the zone, very determined. She always wants the ball in the circle. She has a nasty change-up and a curveball.”
At first base is rock-solid Maddie Beaver, who hit .391 out of the three-hole.
“She is a lockdown first baseman,” Zadlock said. “She’s a wall. She’s fabulous.”
At second is Harper Novick, who compiled a high fielding percentage and hit a respectable .261.
“She flashed the leather,” Zadlock said. “She had a lot of unassisted outs.”
Hailey Nehil also played second along with left field and “was a very dependable outfielder with some game-saving catches.”
When Macdonald wasn’t pitching, she played shortstop.
“She’s the captain of the infield,” Zadlock said. “She’s always calling out the plays. She’s a chit-chatter and a vacuum at shortstop. She’s just a high softball IQ player.”
Alternating at shortstop and third base was heavy-hitting Angelina Micallef, who batted .429 and led the team with nine RBIs and 10 runs scored.
“She had a big bat for us,” Zadlock said. “She had a lot of important hits.”
When not in the circle, DeLay played third and led the team with 13 hits and a .500 average. She also had seven RBIs and nine runs.
Behind the plate was Milena Micallef, Angelina’s twin sister, who batted .296 and, more importantly, “does not allow any passed balls. She’s a brick wall. She’s taking foul balls off the arm, battling, staying in the game. She’s a fierce competitor. She’s everything you want in a tough, gritty catcher.”
The other catcher was Adelyn Zadlock, the manager’s daughter, who hit .348 and threw out several baserunners trying to steal.
“It was hard to steal on either of them,” Zadlock said. “They threw out multiple girls. Stealing home was challenging with these girls too, because of their defensive prowess — receiving, dropping and blocking, and commanding the pitches.”
Zadlock also played right field for most of the time and made some game-saving catches while displaying a strong arm to gun down runners seeking an extra base.
Patrolling center field was Anya Rao, who “had our strongest arm in the outfield, huge range. She’s everything you want in a center fielder.”
She also provided a spark offensively.
“Anya is a talented switch-hitter who can do it all from both sides of the plate,” Zadlock said. “She can hit with power, but she was also our slap hitter. She’d lay down bunts from the left side and also slap the ball. She moved a lot of runners around. That was her main job, and she really excelled at that.”
In left field was Hailey Nehil, who “had some big long-range catches that saved a couple of games. She prevented some extra-base hits. She was always backing up where she had to. She had a great softball IQ.”
Robbinsville also had depth on the bench. In the second game of the states, Adelina Diodati delivered a two-out walk-off hit for a 1-0 win over Elmora that sent the 10s into the championship round. Charlotte Kohlmayer was a lefty specialist at bunting, hit .286, and was “just a feisty batter. She caused chaos with her small ball and was a rally starter in multiple games for us.”
Rounding out the team was Bianca Holden, the main backup in the outfield and “a great teammate and cheerleader. She was always dependable when called upon.”
Aiding Zadlock during the tournament were assistants David Beaver and Adam Novick, while year-round coaches are Allison DeLay and David Micallef.
They were all part of a big-time run by a team with moxie.
What made Robbinsville’s state run especially impressive is that it had to bounce back from its first postseason loss and regroup for a winner-take-all game on the same day. Zadlock felt that having played extra-inning pressure games earlier kept the girls calm.
“After we lost to Hanover in extra innings, they were a little upset, but we had been in those situations before,” Zadlock said. “We’ve played in a lot of tournaments. The girls were cool, calm and collected. I think the parents were more stressed — the coaching staff was definitely more stressed. The girls had their little smiles, so they had the confidence.”
The manager said a key to Robbinsville’s success was year-round training at GTP in Hamilton and The Barn in New Egypt.
“What’s cool is they do practice outside of practice,” Zadlock said. “They are very determined. They practice their craft all year round. They try to play competitive softball. I’m very proud of them. That’s a commitment from the parents, and the kids love the game. They have a willingness to try to get 1% better every day.”
Zadlock also gave a shoutout to three Robbinsville High School varsity players — Alyssa Todd, Cassidy Luna and Caroline Kapferer — who helped instruct the 10s during winter workouts at Team 85 in Bordentown.
“It was nice they gave back to Robbinsville softball,” Zadlock said. “We’re hoping in the future they set the example for our girls, so when they’re in high school they can mentor and help coach the younger generation and keep the tradition going.”
They certainly helped revive that tradition this summer.
The Robbinsville 10-year-old All-Stars display all three of their championship banners after taking a 3-0 victory over Hanover to win the New Jersey State Tournament and qualify for the Mid-Atlantic Regionals. Team members included (front row, from left) coach Dave Beaver, manager Frank Zadlock, Avery DeLay, Angelina Micallef, Anya Rao, Harper Novick, Hailey Nehil and Adelina Diodati; (back row, from left) Adelyn Zadlock, Maddie Beaver, Madelyn Macdonald, Bianca Holden, Charlotte Kohlmayer, Milena Micallef and coach Adam Novick. ,
