Youth All-Star Softball Team Looks on the Bright Side

Hopatcong's 10-11-year-old all-star softball team enjoyed the ride while it lasted.

The girls fell, 14-1, in five innings to Tri-Boro in Game 2 of the state sectionals at Joe Grill Field in Pompton Lakes Monday night, dropping them from the playoffs.

But Hopatcong wasn't too upset.

"We've had a lot of improvement in our girls," assistant coach Ron Willis said. "It's more than just the game. …It's more about than just wins and losses in a softball tournament or a season. It's about building strong girls and future leaders."

Manager Richard Gehring agreed.

"We should be very happy, and we are happy," he said. "We're so proud of them with the amount of work they put in. It's not easy going into these sectionals."

Hopatcong reached sectionals after winning District 20 by default. The team surprised Pequannock in last year's sectionals, sweeping the first two games of the three-game series.

And though the magic just wasn't there this time around, the heart was.

"We explained to the girls before the game that it didn't matter what the score was," Gehring said. "You're here because you like to play softball. You had to earn it to get here.

"From Day 1, we asked them to give their best. They did. At the end of the day, it's just a game. That's not to say winning isn't important, or that playing well isn't important."

Gehring hoped the team would step back and soak in its accomplishments.

"Sometiems players, coaches and parents get too worried about the small successes instead of focusing on bigger pictures of how they improve," he said.

Hopatcong looked much better Monday than it did during Sunday's 12-0, five-inning defeat. The girls took an early 1-0 lead when Shelby Spaziani scored stealing home after reaching third via throwing error.

But then Tri-Boro, comprised of Butler, Kinnelon and Bloomingdale players, took over.

"Hats off to Tri-Boro," Willis said. "They were pretty classy. They were pretty good."

Added Gehring, "Tri-Boro is a good team. We wish them well for the rest of the state tournament."

Hopatcong's squad had played together for just a month. It came together when coaches combined two borough recreational teams and held practices at Jefferson Field and Veterans Park.

"We've had a lot of improvement in our girls," Willis said.

"What impressed me most about our girls was their desire to play to the best of their ability for themselves and for each other. They played their hearts out. Period. And that's always a victory in this coach's book."

Gehring also applauded the girls' character.

"They've improved so much, just in the last month of practice and going into the series," he said. "You couldn't be any prouder of them. Other teams or other people may have gotten down on themselves and rolled over. But they didn't."

Hopatcong's roster

Brianne Willis

Amanda Bowen

Melissa Herr

Jessica Jones

Summer Gawronski

Madison Wronko

Sammy Serocke

Julia Owens

Shelby Spaziani

Victoria Gehring

Sara Taddeo

Coaches

Sean Bowen

Richard Gehring

Ron Willis

Laurie Spaziani