South Brunswick U-8 Softball Wins Tournament

The South Brunswick U-8 softball team started last season as a developmental squad. They finished this past weekend as a championship team.

"It was very gratifying to see that," South Brunswick Manager Joe Rubino said.

South Brunswick won the Sayreville Girls of Summer Tournament this past weekend. South Brunswick defeated Carteret, 15-14, in seven innings in the title game.

"We were trailing most of the game," Rubino said. "We tied it up in the sixth. We gave up two runs in the top of the seventh and then scored three runs in the last of the seventh. It just shows these girls don't give up."

The girls on the team are Alyna Balewitz, Madilyn Dombrowski, Morgan Drew, Erin McCoy, Lexy Zetchus, Stefanie Goldstein, Olivia Sanders, Amanda Dekok, Madison Rubino, Madison Butler, Katrina Culhane and Sarah Heutz.

Rubino is the manager. Joe Dombrowski, Tim Culhane, Finn Hung and Keith McCoy are the coaches.

The majority of this team has been together since its inception last year.

"Last year we really struggled," Rubino noted. "We didn't win that many games, but the girls progressed. We had sixteen girls on the team. There was a lot of development.

"Collectively, the girls have really improved. They have grasped what to do on the field. They have all demonstrated a skill to play the game. There is no shortage of determination."

This season, South Brunswick played in a Babe Ruth Tournament and placed second in the districts and advanced on to state play, where it finished with a mark of 1-2.

South Brunswick also played in a tournament in North Edison. South Brunswick also hosted an event. The team played well. Nothing quite like this past weekend, though.

"The reality is the kids put a lot of hard work into this," Rubino said. "It was great to see it all come together. Hopefully, the next tournament will end with similar success."

South Brunswick will start its last tournament of the season this weekend.

"Everyone can really see how these girls are not only developing skills and sportsmanship, they are having a lot of fun together, too," Rubino said. "The girls are having a great summer with a total record of 23-13-1."

The biggest of the 23 wins coming against Carteret.

"The tournament in Sayreville this past weekend was a culmination of the girls’ determination and teamwork they have been developing all summer," Rubino said.