By Tim Morris
The Freehold Township Little League’s 14U (Junior League) softball team has made history.
The girls are the first softball team from the Freehold Township Little League or Freehold area Little League organizations, to play in the state championship tournament.
The all-stars advanced to the state tournament in Hoboken by capturing the Section 3 championship July 6 at the Manasquan Little League field in Stockton Beach Park.
Freehold Township swept the best-of-three series from Ocean Township to win the section pennant by scores of 2-1 (extra innings) and 13-4.
“I’m very proud of the girls,” manager Tom McKnight said.
Freehold Township and Ocean Township played a game that will be long remembered. Both teams played flawless softball, and it took extra innings before Freehold Township finally prevailed, 2-1.
“It was a fantastic game,” McKnight said. “So exciting and well-played.”
Sara Fenton drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth inning to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead. Ocean Township got that run back in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. Again, Fenton delivered the tie-breaking game-winner with her RBI single.
Pitcher Gia McKnight put the Spartans down in order in the last of the eighth, fanning the last two batters to wrap-up the thrilling victory.
McKnight tossed a three-hitter in the win, while Ocean Township’s Sofie Rivera held the Patriots to five hits in the dramatic pitcher’s duel.
While his Patriots gained momentum and confidence from their extra-inning win, McKnight knew better than to think the loss would be devastating to the Spartans’ girls. He saw them lose the first game to Manasquan in the District 18 tournament and come back to win the next two games to win the championship. The second game between Freehold Township and Ocean Township was not going to be easy.
“I told the girls [Ocean Township] would come out fighting,” McKnight said.
Ocean Township did just that, getting three hits in the top of the first inning. But the Spartans were only able to plate one run.
The Patriots responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead and never looked back.
Kristen Lee had a bases-loaded triple to highlight the offensive onslaught. Peyton Dutka, Emily Madonia, Kelly Kress, Courtney Campbell, Fenton, Ella Mansfield and Annie Gabielk were the hitting standouts.
Ocean Township did not exit quietly. Trailing 6-3, it twice loaded the bases but could only score one time.
Defense was important in holding the Spartans down, and Ashley Singer came up big.
Both teams earned the respect of each other. McKnight noted that Ocean Township showed sportsmanship and respect for the game — as well as played outstanding softball while being well-coached.
The same applies to the 2016 champions, who were able to turn a fine Spartans team back.
Freehold Township could have been at a disadvantage in the tournament with no other Little League from District 19 fielding a Junior League team. That automatically put the Patriots in the section finals without playing a game, and they faced a tested Ocean Township club.
“We did a lot of hard work and a lot of practices,” McKnight said.
It also said a lot about the caliber of softball played in the Freehold Township Little League. The league has been competing for just three years in Little League softball playoffs and already has a team in the state championship.
“Our program is one of the best,” McKnight said.
Long known as a power in baseball, the Freehold Township Little League now has a softball team to shout about.
The 14U team is blazing the trail for future Freehold Township teams to follow. It began play in the state tournament July 12 against the Section 1 winner, which is not yet determined.
The tournament continues through July 15 with the if-necessary game on July 16.
The 14U Freehold Township players are Gia McKnight, Kristen Lee, Ashley Singer, Kelly Kress, Courtney Campbell, Peyton Dutka, Sara Fenton, Emily Madonia, Annie Gabriel and Ella Mansfield. Manager McKnight’s coaching staff has Kenneth Singer, Bob Kress, Don Lee and Phil Campbell.
