Although Toms River Little League saw a bitter end in the state final for their 12U majors softball squad this week, the program did have at least one state champion move on to regionals.
The Toms River 16U senior league team pulled off an upset against two-time defending state champion Pennsville Little League and continued to sweep through the bracket, capped off by an incredible 15-13 victory in the final over Morris Plains.
"Our girls just really played beyond our expectations," said Toms River coach Patrick Dougherty. "They played their heart out, they stuck together."
The Little League team also doubles as a 16u travel team, the Toms River Surf. The squad had planned to participate in a travel tournament in Hershey, Pennsylvania, but had to cancel after the unexpected state victory. On Saturday, they begin play in the East Regional tournament in Worcester, Massachusetts.
"We were pretty shell-shocked," Dougherty added. "We just kind of shocked the world as far as we were concerned."
With incredible upset and miraculous comeback, Toms River wins states
The path to a state title was filled with twists and turns for Toms River. The team faced off against the reigning back-to-back state champion Pennsville and the opener and got a miraculous 6-2 victory. Toms River then beat section champion Bayonne to advance to the final out of the winners side of the bracket, where they faced Morris Plains.
In the top of the first inning of the final, Kelly Forrester injured her finger open during a bunt attempt but was determined to stay in the game.
"She sliced her whole finger open," said Dougherty. "We call timeout, we get the first aid going. We wrapped her finger, we do what we have to do. She's like, 'I'm good (and) I can pitch.'"
Toms River proceeded to take a 12-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. But Morris Plains began its astonishing one inning comeback, first cutting the deficit to 12-6 before the second out and then scoring seven more runs with two outs to take a 13-12 lead.
It appeared everything was unraveling for Toms River. But Maddie Keller and Addison Tuper got on base before Brooke Twohig delivered the pivotal single that scored both runners and gave the team a 14-13 lead. Sam DiNicola delivered another RBI and pitcher Hailey Craddock sealed the 15-13 victory in the bottom of the seventh.
"The amount of grit and heart it takes to do that after taking such a blow," said Dougherty. "It's something that you can't teach, which is what makes me so proud of these girls."
Regionals begin Saturday in Massachusetts
Toms River will now represent New Jersey in the East Regional, facing off against Maryland at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. A total of nine teams from eight states will be represented (the host is also present meaning there will be two teams from Massachusetts). The winner will move on to compete in the 16U Little League Senior World Series in Delaware.
"This group of girls we brought together less than a year ago," said Dougherty. "This group of girls came together and worked really hard over the last year to go from kids that were rec players to all stars to now competing as the representative for New Jersey."
The team is determined to prove the unlikely run is not a fluke at regionals. After a year of dedication, the group of players is hitting their stride at the right time.
"I really believe all the hard work that we've done in practice in the winer, preparing for the season, is all just coming to bloom now," said Dougherty. "I really did believe personally that we were gonna win, because I know what I have. These girls have really put in the work."
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