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Monroe softball team prepares for national tournament

Eric Sucar
The Manalapan softball team play a game of pepper prior to the game against Freehold Borough held at Manalapan High School on April 18. The Braves went on to shut out Freehold by a score of 11-0.

BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

MONROE — It was close to 9 p.m. on a recent school night and members of the Monroe Thunder 12 U rec-based travel softball program were running through plays at the Thomas Allen softball complex.

The 12-member team is preparing for the USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association National Tournament) Midwest Region in July.

This is the first time the team has made it to a national tournament.

In September, the team played in the USSSA Schools in Session tournament in Linden, which was a national qualifier tournament.

The team includes twin sisters Abby and Sam Pawlowski, 12, of Jamesburg; 12-year-old Monroe residents Brianna Eossoso, Dana Westervelt, Zoe Walters, Kylie Roy, Jessica Lavan and Sammy Gonchar; Sofia Coppola, 12, of Manalapan; 13-year-olds Diana Varravecchio of Monroe and Gabby Miller and Riley Mochari of Jamesburg.

With a score of 4-3 against a team from Fairfield, the Monroe team reached its ultimate goal: the first time making it to a national tournament.

“We worked on this national tournament all of 2016 and won in the national qualifier in the fall to be able to play in this tournament in July,” Coach Brian Lavan said.

The softball travel season starts in early April and goes through the end of July.

The USSSA league has weekend tournaments as well as national qualifiers where if you win you get an automatic bid to play in the nationals of your choice, Lavan said.

He said the team strives to play in an away tournament every year.

For the team of girls, it was through hard work and perseverance that they reached a national tournament this year. The accomplishment brought excitement as well as tears.

“Some of us were crying,” Abby said. “We were so happy and excited.”

The Monroe team will join teams from all around the Midwest in the USSSA National Tournament July 12-16 in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Lavan said currently 17 teams signed up from Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and New Jersey. The tournament accepts up to 60 teams.

Coach Joe Pawlowski, whose twin daughters Abby and Sam have been with the team since they were seven years old, said since they were able to choose their tournament, they chose the Midwest, which would pit their team against teams they have never faced before.

“It’s going to be a different experience,” he said.

Pawlowski said the national tournament has been a long journey in the making.

“Most of the girls have been with each other since they were eight years old,” he said.

As the team prepares for the national tournament, they are also fundraising to make the trip as a local travel team that is coached by fathers, not professional coaches or trainers.

A pancake breakfast fundraiser was held in April at the Applebee’s restaurant in Milltown.

“We had most of the tickets bought donated back so we could give them to veterans and military members of fallen veterans to come enjoy a free meal,” said Toni Roy, whose daughter Kylie is on the team. “Some people also came to eat with the veterans. We had free door prizes and war memorabilia present.”

Roy said the girls ran the restaurant, took the orders, served the food and bussed the tables.

Brianna, who is in her third year with the team, said the fundraiser at Applebee’s was fun.

“It was cool to give back while still raising money for our team,” she said. “[The veterans’] service to our country fighting wars allows us the freedom to play our sport.”

Roy said they came up with the Applebee’s idea as a way for the girls to give back to others while people were helping them.

“It is important for our children to learn to give to others and help where they can so they can be a part of a positive change in society,” she said. “We chose the veterans and military members to thank them for their service and sacrifices that gave our girls the freedom to play the sport they love so much.”

Roy said the event was truly humbling for every player and parent on the team.

“Our girls were gracious, kind, helpful, professional and very caring to all their customers whether they were veteran, military members, their families, or their supporters,” she said.

Contact Kathy Chang at kchang@newspapermediagroup.com.

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