West Windsor once again hoisted the Division 12 U12 Softball Trophy. The town is on a four-year winning streak, and its all-star team is continuing its hot streak while taking on other district champions in the Section 3 tournament.
The 12-year-old girls team defeated Brick 14-1 in its second game of the sectional tournament. Brianna King came up with the bases loaded in the first inning, and clubbed a grand slam. “The game was over after that,” said coach Hector Mendez.
The team will next take on the sectional host team, Manasquan-Brielle, on Friday, July 14. If it wins, it will advance to the championship game.
The girls won their first game in the Section 3 tournament, 7-1 over Lincroft at the Manasquan-Brielle Little League complex. Five teams made it to the sectional, and its winner will compete in the state tournament in Cape May, July 21 through 25.
The West Windsor victory was marked once again by heads-up play, and capitalizing on opponents’ miscues. In the fourth inning, Christine Niciforo walked to lead off and advanced to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch with Jeanine Asay at the plate. Asay drew another walk, and noticed the Lincroft pitcher walking slowly back to the mound. Asay rounded first and headed to second base, drawing a throw to second base. Niciforo darted home on the throw, and was called safe in the play at the plate.
This year’s team won its Division 12 Championship in more dramatic fashion than its predecessors had won it in the past. It had gone undefeated though the tournament before losing to Washington Township on Sunday, July 9. The loss forced a deciding game between the teams on the following night, which WW won, 2-0, behind a dominating pitching performance by Kaitlin Perrine.
Perrine provided the offensive spark for her team as well. She led off the top of the third inning with a single, and Sarah Bush took her place as a pinch runner. Bush reached third after a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, and Taylor Phelan hit a two-out triple to drive in the runner. Phelan scored on the next at-bat when Washington’s catcher committed a throwing error attempting to pick off Phelan.
