Toms River softball bids to three-peat as Little League state champ: 'They know what to do'

BORDENTOWN -- Whether it's measured in years, days, or innings, the Toms River Little League U12 softball team seems to run like clockwork. And score runs like clockwork.

The back-to-back state champion continued its pursuit of a three-peat Tuesday night, beating South Wall 13-1 in the opening round of the Section 3 tournament. Toms River faces Sayreville Wednesday evening in Bordentown, which is this year's host of the sectional playoffs.

"We do a lot of work, we do extra hitting before the game starts. We hit at home at our facility, so that we come over here and we're ready to go," said Toms River coach Brad Bossow. "Plus these girls have played softball since they were 5 years old almost every single day. They know what to do."

The preparation showed immediately. In the top of the first, Toms River got things going with RBIs from Cecelia Herits and Layla Hatton to take a 2-0 lead. The following inning, Eva Vasilakis produced the first highlight shot with a deep hit into left center for an RBI double.

"It feels great because I was in a big slump," said Vasilakis. "It feels good to come back out and get big hits."

There were plenty of big hits in the opener — and potentially many more to come — as this year's group of players has not lost a step compared to the elite standard of the past two teams.

Toms River familiar with pressure: 'It's really second nature to us.'

Although it may seem like the same old terrific Toms River All-Stars, this year's group is finding new players to take up the mantle of success. Those first three RBIs were all from the team's talented newcomers, but arguably the backbone of the success came from the team's two returners, Lily Humenik and Lilly Bassow.

Humenik pitched four shutout innings for Toms River, but surprisingly the biggest highlight came on one of her errant throws. In the bottom of the second with the game not yet firmly in hand, she threw a high wild pitch over catcher Cam Hoffman with a runner on third. She was lightning quick to react, and thanks to a great recovery from Hoffman, the duo combined for a tag out to end the inning.

"I know that my defense has my back if anything goes bad," said Humenik. "I just have pitched for so long, it's stressful but I know how to deal with it."

Batting in the lead-off spot, Bassow bookended the victory with a lead off single and subsequently the game's first run and the game's final RBI in the top of the sixth.

"We play a lot of travel games," said Lilly Bassow. "We're just used to having a lot of intensity and a lot of pressure on us, so it's really second nature to us."

While that duo of Lilies brings both talent and experience, the collective camaraderie of the team maintains the high standard of play for Toms River. The depth of the group was on full display in the victory over South Wall as Adrianna Urcinole, Kelsea Lonieski, Ella O'Neill also produced RBIs. Hatton had an RBI in each of her at bats, and Vasilakis produced an additional highlight hit with another RBI double.

Juliana Garofalo entered the game in relief as a pitcher and struck out the first two batters she faced with impressive velocity, a sign of the team's potential one-two punch on the mound.

But above all, the team has an attitude and approach that they share. It was reflected in the players' answers to what it takes to repeat as champs.

"A lot of hard work, determination and just to love the game," said Bassow.

"To always be happy and cheer teammates up... and a lot of hard work," said Humenik.

"Always be positive, never really keep your head down and if you make a mistake, get up and try again," said Vasilakis.

Shore teams in action again on Wednesday

After an opening round battle of Shore teams was the first game of the sectional tournament on Tuesday, they'll be represented in both games on Wednesday. Freehold Township will face host Bordentown in the first game at 6 p.m. after Freehold upset Lincroft in the District 19 final. Toms River will play in the late game at 8 p.m. against Sayreville.

South Wall will fall into the losing side of the bracket, and will face the loser of the Freehold-Bordentown game on Friday night.

The section champ goes on to the state tournament.

Naturally, Toms River is feeling confident in its well-rounded recipe for success, particularly with two capable pitchers.

"I think we're gonna have a great one-two (pitching duo)," said Coach Bossow. "That's the great thing about it, if you have a good one-two then they only see it maybe once or twice and it changes the look. And we saw that last year in regionals, New York had a one-two punch and it was tough to get a read on that pitcher."

It's all part of the fascinating process of developing a young team on the fly, even amidst the pressure of elimination games. But that's a challenge this team is built to handle.

"Softball is one of those sports where the girls are all friends," Bossow said. "The girls get a chance to know each other for so long, we do it in travel and then we carry it through with Little League. It's a family thing, all the families are close. We all hang out, the girls go to the beach together. We go to the pool together, barbecue together, and that's what a team is."