POMPTON LAKES – The Par-Troy East Little League softball team is headed to the state tournament. Down 5-3 headed to the bottom of the sixth inning, Par-Troy East rallied for three runs to defeat Pequannock 6-5 and win the Section 1 title. “Today we struggled, but we didn’t give up — these kids won’t give up,” Par-Troy East manager Robert Devens said.
“They work too hard in practice, they work too hard in the games, and they don’t give up. To be down, it’s the first time we’ve been down all year, so to battle back was really good.” Second baseman Jenna Devens led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to center field, and with one out, right fielder Lil Vidal reached on an error. First baseman Talie Braga then hit a two-run double to center to tie the game 5-5. “It felt good because I made an error and it was pretty big, so they tied the game, and it felt good to redeem myself,” Braga said. Left fielder Rachel Volarich then hit a grounder that the shortstop couldn’t handle, which scored Braga to give Par-Troy East the come-from-behind win. “I just knew I had to get a hit to drive in Talie. I felt relieved and happy,” Volarich said.
Par-Troy East took a 1-0 lead after the second inning, but Pequannock scored twice in the top of the third. Right fielder Emma Harlow led off with a single to left, and third baseman Brielle Zaccone followed with a single to right. With two outs, first baseman Alexa Shalongo hit a two-run single to right to put Pequannock ahead 2-1. In the bottom of the third, Par-Troy East retook the lead. With one out, pitcher Tori Freire reached on an error, and with two outs, Braga singled to right, which scored Freire to tie the game 2-2.
Catcher Gabby Gennarelli reached on an error, which sent Braga to third, and she scored on a passed ball to give Par-Troy East the 3-2 lead. ”I think it shows that we have a lot of depth on our team,” Braga said of Par-Troy East’s ability to rally. “Everyone hits, everyone gets on base, we’re all even.”
Pequannock scored three runs in the top of the sixth. With one out, Shalongo and shortstop Emily Dietch hit back-to-back singles, and Isabella Arrigo reached base on an infield single. Center fielder Gianna Celletti grounded into a fielder’s choice as Par-Troy East couldn’t get Shalongo at home. With two outs, Harlow laced a single to center, which scored Dietch and Celletti to put Pequannock ahead 5-3. For Par-Troy East, Freire started the game and allowed five runs on eight hits, walked one and struck out eight in 52/3 innings.
Devens came on and got the final out, a strikeout, in the top of the sixth. Brielle Toone pitched a complete game for Pequannock and allowed six runs on eight hits, walked three and struck out six. “These girls deserve it. They’re a great bunch of girls and they work hard at what they do,” Robert Devens said. “Sometimes they get down on themselves, and you have to pick them up a little bit, and they jump right back in there.”
Editors Note: This was published in the Daily Record on Monday July 15 2015
The state tournament begins Thursday, July 16 and will be hosted by the Clifton Little League.
