Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup Softball: Welcome

Welcome to the Official WebSite of:

JERSEY SHORE

Carpenter Cup softball

2007 Carpenter Cup Champions!

By ROBERT ZIEGLER; STAFF WRITER

The offense carried Jersey Shore through most of the day, but a defensive meltdown ended the team's Carpenter Cup championship hopes. Jersey Shore, playing its third game of the day, committed three errors in the bottom of the third inning that led to four runs and lost 4-1 to SOL American & Continental at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park on Monday.

The loss eliminated Jersey Shore from the double-elimination tournament. It had won four consecutive games since losing to Delaware South in its first game. Following a one-out single in the third by the No. 9 hitter in SOL American & Continental's lineup, an error on the second baseman allowed another batter to reach. The next batter hit a line drive that hit off the tip of the center fielder's glove and drove in a run to tie the score at 1. A suicide squeeze then gave SOL American & Continental the lead. The next batter hit a grounder that wasn't fielded cleanly by the shortstop to bring home a run and a throwing error on the same play allowed the fourth run to score.

Jersey Shore took a first-inning lead when Kasey Bulman scored on an error off the bat of Alisha Cumberton. Bulman, leading off the game, reached on an error and advanced to third on Meghan Ramos' single through the right side of the infield. Cumberton then hit a grounder to the third baseman, who after failing to tag out Bulman on her way back to the base, threw high over the first baseman. Jersey Shore had 29 total hits in its first two games of the day, but managed just one hit from the third inning on against SOL American & Continental.

Its best chance to get back in the game came in the fifth, when Bulman singled and Nicole Saggiomo was hit by a pitch, but Leann Ventriglia flew out to left-center on the first pitch of her at-bat to end the inning. Prior to the game against SOL American & Continental, Jersey Shore had a two-hour break that while giving the team some rest after playing back-to-back games at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., might have zapped its offensive momentum. "I think our adrenaline's up when we play right after each other. I guess we got too relaxed," said Ventriglia, who played a large role in Jersey Shore's two victories. The Toms River North junior went 2-for-4 with a walk, three RBI and a run scored in a 13-2 win over Delaware North. Bulman went 4-for-5 with a triple, three runs scored and an RBI in the game.

Saggiomo, Taylor McDonough, Emma Erbig, Marissa Granato, Linnette Siedler, Ani Sasala, Brianna Murphy and Daniele Raneri each also drove in runs. Ventriglia also hit a two-run single to spark Jersey Shore to a 5-3 win over SOL National & Bicentennial in its second game. Bulman went 2-for-3 and reached on an error in that game, and McDonough hit a two-run triple and scored in the third. Sasala started the first game, but Bulman and Jen Retzer again handled the bulk of the pitching duties. Retzer pitched nine innings over the three games, giving up a combined two runs on eight hits while striking out 14 and walking three.

By ROBERT ZIEGLER STAFF WRITER

Emma Erbig's thrilled to be playing with some of the Shore Conference's top sophomores and juniors in the Carpenter Cup. Driving in the winning run in consecutive games to keep the Jersey Shore team's hopes alive in the 16-team double-elimination tournament just made the first day even sweeter.

After Jersey Shore lost its opener, it won back-to-back games in the afternoon, the eventual winning run in each scoring on a two-out single by the Brick shortstop. Erbig's single to left drove in Jersey Shore's third run in its final game of the day, a 5-2 victory over Delaware County. That win ensured the team a return trip to Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park on Monday, when 10 teams will remain alive.

Jersey Shore manufactured three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-0 lead over Delaware County. Nicole Binetti (Brick) and Kasey Bulman (St. John Vianney) singled and Nicole Saggiomo (St. John Vianney) walked to load the bases with no outs. Alisha Cumberton (Toms River East) and Leann Ventriglia (Toms River North) then drove in runs with sacrifice flies in consecutive at-bats. Erbig followed by pulling a 3-2 pitch into left field to drive in Saggiomo.

"All I wanted to do was help my team out. I couldn't have done it without my team getting the runners on base, and then I came through with the base hits. It's exciting," Erbig said. "I've never had so much fun on a team before. I love every single girl. We've all kind of clicked together. It's amazing."

Leading, 3-2, Jersey Shore tacked on two runs in the sixth. Daniele Raneri (Raritan), pinch-running for Erbig, scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Jen Retzer (St. John Vianney), and Jill Martin (Raritan) singled and scored on a delayed steal of home.

Retzer pitched the final four innings to earn her second win of the day. The right-hander gave up one run on four hits and struck out four. Bulman started and went three innings, allowing an unearned run on no hits while striking out four. Bulman is one of the key players for Jersey Shore for the second consecutive year. One of the two players who played seven innings in both wins — Ventriglia was the other — she was a combined 4-for-7 with a walk and two runs scored. She started both games in the circle before playing the final four innings of each at first base. While she knows she's the veteran among the group, Bulman said every player on the roster is filling a role. Bulman, Martin and Erbig have grown especially close, that group leading most of the cheering coming from the Jersey Shore dugout. "You put aside all the Raritans, RBCs," said Bulman, referring to St. John Vianney's divisional rivals. "You just want to play softball and have fun."

Ventriglia and Erbig highlighted Jersey Shore's second game, a 4-3 victory over Lehigh Valley in a game that featured the tournament's last three champions. Lehigh Valley won the title in 2008 and 2006. Jersey Shore won in 2007.

Ventriglia's two-run triple and Erbig's RBI single gave Jersey Shore a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Lehigh Valley tied the score in the bottom of the inning, but Ventriglia doubled and scored on Erbig's single to right in the third. Retzer closed the game with four shutout innings, surrendering just one hit while striking out seven and walking one.

In the first game, an RBI single by Red Bank Catholic's Holly Klodin gave Jersey Shore the lead in the top of the first, but Delaware South scored seven unanswered runs to win, 7-1, and send Jersey Shore into the losers' bracket. Jersey Shore's next game is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday against an opponent to be determined by today's results. Jersey Shore needs to win three games Monday to advance to Tuesday, when it would need to win three more to win the title.

The 2009 Jersey Shore roster has been selected and will begin play at the 2009 Carpenter Cup beginning on June 22nd at FDR Park in Philadelphia. Eighteen players representing the Shore Conference were selected by Head Coach Tony Vodola and his staff after three tryout sessions in Wall. Jersey Shore captured the 2007 tournament with a 5-0 record.

Nicole Binetti, Brick; Kasey Bulman, St. John Vianney; Alisha Cumberton, Toms River East;

Emma Erbig, Brick; Maggy Fermo, Mater Dei; Marissa Granato, Wall;

Holly Klodin, Red Bank Catholic; Jill Martin, Raritan; Taylor McDonough, Manchester;

Brianna Murphy, Mater Dei; Meghan Ramos, Southern; Danielle Raneri, Raritan;

Jen Retzer, St. John Vianney; Nicole Saggiomo, St. John Vianney; Ani Sasala, Wall;

Linnette Siedler, Jackson Liberty; Leann Ventriglia, Toms River North; Lindsay Wondrack, Wall

2009 Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team schedule

Tuesday, June 9: Practice @ Wall HS, 4-7PM

Monday, June 15: Practice @ Wall HS, 4-7PM

Tuesday, June 16: Game v. Jersey Shore Alumni @ Rash Field, 6PM

Thursday, June 18: Practice @ Wall HS, 4-7PM

June 22-25: Carpenter Cup @ JFK Park, Philadelphia

By Robert Ziegler; STAFF WRITER, ASBURY PARK PRESS

PHILADELPHIA — Shore Regional's Tracey Stern and St. John Vianney's Kasey Bulman emerged Tuesday as the leaders of the Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team. Batting third and fourth, respectively, Stern and Bulman went a combined 10-for-17 with five runs scored and four RBI as Jersey Shore split its first two games of the double-elimination tournament at FDR Park, beating Olympic Colonial, 12-2, before losing to Tri-Cape, 8-3.

Stern and Bulman were the only players to play all 14 innings for Jersey Shore, which resumes play at 3 p.m. today against a team to be determined earlier in the day.

With a victory, it would need to win again at 5 p.m. to advance to Thursday, when it would need to win three games to repeat as champions. "What we have to do now is roll our sleeves up,' Wall and Jersey Shore coach Tony Vodola said. "We can't take anything for granted. They have to put their nose to the grind, that's what it comes down to.'

Jersey Shore pounded out 22 hits against Olympic Colonial, representing the South Jersey conferences of the same names, but wasted opportunities in the second game, when it was hurt by a runner's interference call that ended the first inning.

Already trailing, 4-1, it also left the bases loaded in the bottom of the third before Nicole Pagano entered the circle for Tri-Cape, a team comprised of players from the Tri-County Conference and Cape-Atlantic League. Pagano, the St. Joseph (Hammonton) ace, struck out eight over four innings, the most a pitcher can throw unless a game goes to extra innings, and gave up one hit over her first three before giving up two unearned runs in the seventh. "She's a great pitcher, first-team all-state, so we wanted to get runs on the board early so we could have a little cushion,' said Bulman, who hit the fly ball that led to the error in the seventh. "That didn't happen, but clearly, we weren't intimidated. If we can hit Pagano, I think we can hit anyone here.'

Pagano also went 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBI. In the first game, twelve of Jersey Shore's 16 players … rules require each player to play at least three defensive innings and have at least one plate appearance … hit safely, 10 scored runs and six had RBI. Eight had multiple hits, including Bulman, who was 4-for-5 with a two-out RBI triple in the first and an RBI single in the seventh, when Jersey Shore tacked on five runs.

With Jersey Shore leading, 2-1, after Manasquan's Lindsay Morrow scored on an error off the bat of Wall's Vanessa Flores in the second, Middletown North's Chelsea Gallo broke the game open with a two-run triple over the left-fielder's head. "We've come together very well. We're playing like we've known each other forever,' said Stern, who had a two-run single in the first game and went 3-for-4 in the second.

Gallo started the first game and gave up two runs on four hits while striking out five and walking three to earn the win. She also started the second game, but was relieved in the second by Bulman, who gave up two unearned runs in 3 1/3 innings. Red Bank's Taylor Snyder threw three perfect innings and generated eight ground-ball outs in the first game, but gave up three runs on five hits over two innings against Tri-Cape.

By Bob Badders - Senior Writer, ShoreConferenceSports.com

PHILADELPHIA -- The thing about a double-elimination tournament is that there is room for error and time to learn some lessons. Jersey Shore's Carpenter Cup softball team learned a few on Tuesday.

After a rousing debut in which it defeated Olympic/Colonial from South Jersey, 12-2, and pounded out an astounding 22 hits, Jersey Shore was brought back to earth by Tri-Cape, also from South Jersey, with an 8-3 loss at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in the shadows of the Philadelphia Professional Sports Complex.

Jersey Shore, which is the defending champion, now has to defend its title from the loser's bracket and will play again on Wednesday at 3 p.m. "We played great in the first game and in the second game we just got hammered," said Jersey Shore head coach Tony Vodola. "What we have to do now is roll up our sleeves and put our noses to the grindstone."

"I think in the second game we started to get unsure if we were the same team we were in the first game," said St. John Vianney sophomore Kasey Bulman, who had a tremendous two games in which she went 5-for-8 with two RBI at the plate and pitched 3 2/3 innings of relief. "It's all about confidence. We are one of the better teams here for sure, we just have to play clean and get timely hits. If we play our 'A' game no one is going to beat us."

The 12-2 win over Olympic Colonial certainly looked like Jersey Shore's 'A' game. Both teams scored in the first inning before the defending champs took off with four runs in the second. Manasquan's Lindsay Morrow walked with one out, Ocean's Lauren Ernst singled and Wall's Vanessa Flores reached on an error to score Morrow. Starting pitcher Chelsea Gallo followed with a two-run triple to left-center field for a 4-1 lead. Toms River East's Alyssa Paul then stroked an RBI single to left to push the lead to 5-1.

Olympic/Colonial got a run back in the third on an RBI single by Katie Madden, but Jersey Shore continued to add insurance runs.

In the fourth, Red Bank Catholic's Marie Flego legged out an RBI infield single that scored Mater Dei's Danielle Murphy, who reached on a bunt single. In the sixth, Middletown North's Amanda Svenson led off with a single, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Shore Regional's Tiffany Thorne, who was 2-for-3 with two RBI after entering in the fifth inning.

Sitting comfortably with a 7-2 lead, Jersey Shore added five more runs in the top of the seventh inning to really blow things open. Red Bank's Taylor Snyder, who also pitched three hit-less innings of relief, reached on an infield single with one out. Flego and Svenson then hit back-to-back singles to load the bases for Shore Regional's Tracy Stern, who roped a two-run double for a 9-2 lead. Bulman was up next and singled for her fourth hit of the day to bring home Svenson. Thorne grounded out to shortstop to bring home her teammate Stern before Wall's Kelsey Higgins singled to complete the monster five-run inning. "That was a really good way to start," Stern said. "We came into the second game with a lot of confidence."

That confidence, however, couldn't produce the same results against Delsea's Allison Pfrommer, St. Joseph-Hammonton's Nicole Pagano and the rest of the Tri-Cape all-stars. In the top of the first, Tri-Cape got the first two runners on before Pagano, arguably the top pitcher in the state with the likes of Red Bank Catholic's Brittany O'Donnell, ripped a two-run single to left field. Gallo was able to strand Pagano at third with three straight outs, but the Middletown North sophomore would last only a third of an inning more as the first five opposing hitters reached in the second inning as they pushed the lead to 3-0. Hammonton sophomore Jess Combs plated the run with an RBI double. Bulman came in to relieve Gallo and promptly got two huge strikeouts after allowing an infield single to cut the rally short.

Jersey Shore left five runners on base in the first three innings and didn't score again until the seventh inning, ironically against Pagano, as Pfrommer had them off balance during her three innings of work. In between, Tri-Cape added five more runs while getting a total of 13 hits to remain in the winner's bracket and force Jersey Shore into a must-win situation for the rest of the tournament.

"We're kind of angry after this one," Stern said. "The coaches were telling us after the game that if we play them again it will be a different outcome. We just have to come back (on Wednesday) ready to play." "We let them get comfortable too quick," Bulman said. "We didn't come out as good, but our heart came out at the end when we scored those two runs. If we played like that from the beginning it would have been a totally different game." So will a loss end up benefiting Jersey Shore? Vodola thinks the team has learned its lesson. "We sat too long and let them set the tone," he said. "We dug ourselves too deep a hole and it's hard to play catch-up against a good team. Knowing that and seeing that perspective, I think we will be a different team on Wednesday."

• The practice time for Monday will now be 3PM - 6PM at Wall High School.
• Please wear your school softball shirt and have your Jersey Shore uniform with you for practice.

FDR Park is located in Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue, off of Broad Street. There are two softball fields which are located off of the park entrances on Pattison Avenue. The drive at FDR Park is a one way street. If you see the softball field, STOP. If you don't, you have about a 3-4 mile drive to get back to the fields.

DIRECTIONS TO FDR PARK:

• 295 South to exit 26
• Take the Walt Whitman Bridge into Philadelphia
• Immediately after going over the Walt Whitman Bridge take exit #349 (Broad Street)
• At the traffic light, make a left onto South Broad Street, go approximately 1/2 mile and make a right on Pattison Avenue.
• FDR Park is on the left.

By Bob Badders - Senior Writer, ShoreConferenceSports.com

WALL -- Sam Lowes was still beaming after a home run some four hours ago. Even in defeat, Vicki D'Anduono was soaking in the experience one last time. And of course, Nicole Kelly was smiling ear-to-ear after a walk-off RBI single. It was an evening of softball where the final score did not matter much, where the journey to these final games for many of the Shore Conference's top seniors was what was being celebrated.

It was a day to look toward the not-so-distant future with the presence of the 2008 Carpenter Cup squad and also honor the recent past with 2008 state champions Red Bank Catholic and Mater Dei on hand. Fittingly, it all concluded with a split between the departing and the emerging on Tuesday at Rash Field.

The Carpenter Cup defeated the South Senior All-Stars, 4-2, in the first game before the North Senior All-Stars were able to rally for an 8-7 victory in their final at bat in game two. "I'm just so happy to be able to end this way," said Kelly, a Colts Neck senior whose one-out smash to left-center field in the bottom of the seventh gave the North an thrilling victory in game two. "We (Colts Neck) didn't end the season that well so to be out here with some of my teammates and laughing the whole time, it felt good."

"I felt like it was a nice way to end my career," said D'Anduono, a senior catcher for Lacey who caught teammate Katie Morrissey for three innings. "Even though we lost it was nice to have all the seniors going out and having fun. You lose a state game as you're last game and that's upsetting, but to come out here and play one last time is a lot of fun."

A change in format from season's past when the North would play the South, Tuesday's games gave the Carpenter Cup squad a chance to play in game situations before their tournament run begins on June 24. Last season's team came together seemingly in the blink of an eye to win the entire tournament, but the players know to succeed they need to develop chemistry quick - which last year's team remarkably did - and value these extra games. "It's really important," said Lowes, a Manasquan junior who blasted a solo home run to left field during a three-run first inning against the South seniors. "Practices are good but you need game situations to see what you need to work on."

The past couple days also reunited the 2007 Carpenter Cup team for a scrimmage on Monday against the 2008 version while most of last year's players were members of one of the three all-star squads. The 15 girls that helped Jersey Shore to its improbable title last season seem like they will always have a special bond. There were so many great memories from their tournament run, from rallying to win the championship to Colts Neck's Kate Kuzma taking a ride on a quad with the Philly Phanatic at Citizens Bank Ballpark, and to get together for what very well may be the final time was a thrill. "It was a great reunion," said Neptune senior Sam Mayer. "Unfortunately it will probably never happen again, but it was good while it lasted."

"It was really cool to see everybody again," said Shore Regional's Alissa Francisco. "During that week we all bonded well and had great chemistry." When old met new during Monday's Carpenter Cup scrimmage it gave this year's team a chance to pick the brains of the defending champions, who were more than willing to dish out some advice. "They're very good and I'm sure they'll win, honestly," Mayer said. "But my advice to them would be to just have fun."

"We got really close even though we were together for only a week and that's what made everything so special," D'Anduono said. "I would tell them to not give up. The last game we were down (4-1) and came back and won. Just believe in yourself and you can do it. That's really what it's all about."

"I think they will be successful," Francisco said. "They just need to go into every game with the attitude that they expect to win."

Of course, it helps to have two members of that championship team back wearing the Jersey Shore uniform for a second go-round. Mater Dei junior Danielle Murphy and Wall junior Kelsey Higgins understand what it takes to travel to Philadelphia and win the Carpenter Cup tournament and will try to assist the coaching staff in passing along the message to the rest of the team. "Oh yeah, just knowing we won it last year is definitely helping everyone," Murphy said. "And the best part was just being able to play last year's team and actually beat them. We start to think we can do it again this year."

Murphy had a surreal moment in game two when she dug in for her first at bat only to see Mater Dei teammate Sara Cline in the circle and Seraphs catcher Erin Carroll behind her. "I've never experienced that before, it was so weird," Murphy said. "Just having Erin back there talking to me and Sara pitching to me was awesome." Murphy has a little bit of bragging rights after drawing a walk.

Reliving the past and looking to the future were not the only things that made Tuesday memorable, as the games themselves produced situations both thrilling and unforgettable.

In game one, the Carpenter Cup team took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first off Morrissey. Higgins reached on a bunt single and scored on an RBI double by Shore's Tracy Stern, who had three hits in the first game. After moving to third, Stern scored on an RBI groundout by Red Bank Catholic sophomore Marie Flego. Lowes then followed with a blast to left field that cleared the portable fence by a few feet. "I knew it would be far but I wasn't sure if it would go," Lowes said. "I just kept running until I heard it was over. I was so excited."

The lead grew to 4-0 in the top of the fourth when Shore's Tiffany Thorne stroked a one-out double and scored on an RBI single by Central Regional sophomore Alexis Majury. The South All-Stars cut the lead to 4-2 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Toms River South's Katie Calvert reached on an error and moved to second on a single by Southern's Kacey Bush. Mayer reached on an error that allowed Calvert to trot home with the first run and after a double play, Monsignor Donovnan's Kate Congilose ripped an RBI double that scored Bush. However, the pitching troika of Red Bank's Taylor Snyder, Higgins and Middletown North's Chelsea Gallo prevented any more runs from crossing the plate and enabled the Carpenter Cup unit to take game one.

Game two actually started off better for the Carpenter Cup squad, as it scored four times in the top of the first for another early lead. Toms River East sophomore Alyssa Paul reached on an error to start the game and moved to second on an infield single by Matawan sophomore Chelsea Alston. St. John Vianney sophomore Kasey Bulman then followed with an RBI single. With two on and still no outs, Stern singled to bring home Alston and an error allowed Bulman to score and Stern to move up a base. The Blue Devils junior was thrown out trying to advance to third, however. Lowes walked with one out and moved to second on a passed ball. She advanced to third on an infield single by Majury and scored on an RBI fielder's choice by Gallo. On being able to score a combined seven runs in the first inning, Lowes said, "There's a lot of talent on this team. Everyone is so friendly and it's like we've known each other for a long time even though we just came together."

The North All-Stars got one of those runs back in the bottom of the first when Francisco walked, stole second, went to third on a single by Monmouth Regional's Cassandra Martini and scored on and error. The North seniors then tied the score in the second inning. Colts Neck's Sarah Leder and Red Bank Catholic's Liz Black started the rally with back-to-back singles and were each moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Monmouth Regional's Gina Falcone. Colts Neck's Brianna Dunbar cut the lead to 4-2 with an RBI groundout before an RBI single by Francisco made it a one-run game. After a double by Freehold Township's Cole Callahan, her teammate, Lindsie Sai, tied the score with an RBI infield single.

The Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team regained the lead in the fourth inning with two runs. Higgins legged out an infield single and came around to score on an RBI double by Ocean junior Lauren Ernst for a 5-4 lead. An RBI double by Middletown North's Amanda Svenson in the following at bat scored Ernst and pushed the lead to 6-4.

Rumson-Fair Haven's Brittani Seeman singled to start the bottom of the fourth for the North and came around to score on an RBI groundout by Martini to cut the deficit to 6-5. They tied the game at six in the fifth inning when Manalapan catcher Nicole Gurrieri led off with a double and came around to score on an error.

The score was still tied as the teams entered the seventh, and with Jersey Shore still needing to work on a few things before the tournament begins they went to the international tiebreaker rule a few innings early and started at the top of the order. Paul began the inning on second and scored on an RBI double by Bulman for a 7-6 advantage. The North seniors staged a rally in the bottom half of the seventh, however, to score twice and win the game. Martini started on second and scored to tie the game when a ball hit by Gurrieri dribbled down the third base line, was touched in fair territory and then skipped to the backstop. After a single by Mater Dei's Sara Cline, Kelly boomed a single to left-center field to score Gurrieri from third and put an end to a memorable day of softball. "It was a great day," Kelly said. "I'm just extremely happy I could help the team win."

Box Scores

Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup 4, South Senior All-Stars 2

Jersey Shore ..... 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 4 14 2

South All-Stars .. 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 - 2 5 1

Doubles: (JS) Tracy Stern 2, Tiffany Thorne; (S) Kate Congilose. Home runs: (JS) Sam Lowes. WP: Taylor Snyder LP: Katie Morrissey.

North Senior All-Stars 8, Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup 7

Jersey Shore ..... 4 0 0 2 0 0 1 - 7 14 2

North All-Stars .. 1 3 0 1 1 0 2 - 8 10 2

Doubles: (JS) Kasey Bulman, Tracy Stern, Amanda Svenson; (N) Cole Callahan, Nicole Gurrieri. WP: Nicole Wisniewski LP: Kasey Bulman.

By Robert Ziegler • ASBURY PARK PRESS STAFF WRITER

WALL — The Colts Neck softball team didn't have the season many expected it to, but five Cougars ended their careers on a high note on Tuesday at the Senior All-Star Games. Nicole Kelly's single drove in Manalapan's Nicole Gurrieri with the winning run as the North All-Stars scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team, 8-7, at Harry Rash Field.

Nicole Wisniewski earned the win, giving up a run on three hits in three innings, and the rest of her Colts Neck teammates made contributions. Sarah Leder singled and scored on Brianna Dunbar's RBI groundout, and Nicole Walsh also singled for the North, which salvaged a split for the seniors against Jersey Shore, a 4-2 winner over the South All-Stars in the first game of the doubleheader.

The Carpenter Cup team went ahead in the top of the seventh … when the teams elected to use the international tiebreaker rule … when Toms River East's Alyssa Paul scored on a double by St. John Vianney's Kasey Bulman. But the North came from behind to tie the score for a third time when Monmouth's Cassandra Martini scored on an error off the bat of Gurrieri. Mater Dei's Sara Cline followed with a base hit before Kelly singled to left-center. "It was nice,' Kelly said. "I'm so happy it ended this way because we (Colts Neck) didn't end the season that well.'

In the first game, Jersey Shore, which will begin defense of its Carpenter Cup title Tuesday at FDR Park in Philadelphia, took a 3-0 lead in the first when Shore's Tracey Stern hit an RBI double, Red Bank Catholic's Marie Flego drove in a run with a groundout and Manasquan's Sam Lowes homered over the left-field fence.

Red Bank right-hander Taylor Snyder pitched the first three innings for Jersey Shore, giving up only one hit and striking out four, and came back to pitch a scoreless sixth. After Jersey Shore increased its lead to 4-0 on an RBI single by Central's Alexis Majury in the fourth, the South scored twice in the fifth. Toms River South's Katie Calvert reached on an error and scored on another, and Southern's Kacey Bush singled and scored on a double by Monsignor Donovan's Kate Congilose.

"I think (the All-Star Games) will help a lot because we saw what we can do in game situations and saw who can do what,' said Lowes, who also singled against the South and walked and scored in a four-run first in the second game.

The players and coaches from Red Bank Catholic and Mater Dei, which won the NJSIAA Non-Public A and B titles, respectively, were honored between games. The 2007 Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team, which won five straight games at the double-elimination tournament last year, was also announced.

The 2008 Jersey Shore roster has been selected and will begin play at the 2008 Carpenter Cup beginning on June 24, 2008 at FDR Park in Philadelphia. Eighteen players representing 13 different schools were selected by Head Coach Tony Vodola and his staff after three tryout sessions in Wall. Jersey Shore is the defending tournament champion, capturing the 2007 tournament with a 5-0 record.

Lauren Ernst, Ocean; Vanessa Flores, Wall; Kelsey Higgins, Wall;

Samantha Lowes, Manasquan; Lindsay Morrow, Manasquan; Danielle Murphy, Mater Dei;

Tracey Stern, Shore; Taylor Snyder, Red Bank; Amanda Svenson, Middletown North;

Tiffany Thorne, Shore; Brittany McCullough, Toms River South; Chelsea Alston, Matawan;

Kasey Bulman, St. John Vianney; Marie Flego, Red Bank Catholic; Chelsea Gallo, Middletown North;

Holly Klodin, Red Bank Catholic; Alexis Majury, Central; Alyssa Paul, Toms River East

The following players have been selected to represent the North at the 2008 Senior All-Star Games on Tuesday, June 17th: Sarah Leder, Colts Neck; Brianna Dunbar, Colts Neck; Nicole Kelly, Colts Neck; Nicole Wisniewski, Colts Neck; Nicole Walsh, Colts Neck; Brittani Seeman, Rumson-Fair Haven; Jenn Steinhauser, Rumson-Fair Haven; Tess Gagliano, Mater Dei; Sara Cline, Mater Dei; Erin Carroll, Mater Dei; Lauren Florio, Mater Dei; Alissa Francisco, Shore; Lexie DeRasmo, Shore; Liz Black, RBC; Gina Falcone, Monmouth; Cassandra Martini, Monmouth; Jen Ortega, Matawan; Kristen Kaelin, St. John Vianney; Nicole Gurrieri, Manalapan; Cole Callahan, Freehold Township; Lindsie Sai, Freehold Township; Sheila Sim, Raritan

• Players selected to represent the North in the 2008 Senior All-Star game need to pick-up their high school uniform from the coach or athletic director prior to gameday. Players will not be permitted to take part without the high school uniform.
• The North team will assemble at Harry Rash Field on June 17 at 6:30PM for a brief workout/practice prior to the 8PM game.
• There will be a $5 charge per car to park at Harry Rash Field.
• Questions regarding the Senior All-Star games should be directed to ShoreCarpenterCup@yahoo.com .

The following players have been selected to represent the South at the 2008 Senior All-Star Games on Tuesday, June 17th: Samantha Deixler, Southern; Kasey Ficken, Southern; Kacey Bush, Southern; Vicki D'Anduono, Lacey; Katie Morrissey, Lacey; Adrian Hunter, Toms River North; Mary Johnson, Toms River East; Rachel Purpuro, Toms River South; Katie Calvert, Toms River South; Joey Afflitto, Brick; Paige Meyers, Central; Kate Congilose, Monsignor Donovan; Sarah Spinapont, Point Boro; Roxii Keelan, Barnegat; Kiersten Burke, Wall; Danielle Orender, Wall; Kristin Phillips, Wall; Kristi Lynch, Freehold Boro;  Kelly Mormino, Howell; Sara Owen, Howell; Samantha Mayer, Neptune

• Players selected to represent the South in the 2008 Senior All-Star game need to pick-up their high school uniform from the coach or athletic director prior to gameday. Players will not be permitted to take part without the high school uniform.
• The South team will assemble at Harry Rash Field on June 17 at 4:30PM for a brief workout/practice prior to the 6PM game.
• There will be a $5 charge per car to park at Harry Rash Field.
• Questions regarding the Senior All-Star games should be directed to ShoreCarpenterCup@yahoo.com .

Players nominated to tryout for the 2008 Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team should report to Wall High School (JV field) on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at the following times:

Pitchers and catchers: 3:30-5PM

Outfielders: 4:30-6PM

Infielders: 5:30PM-7PM

Only NOMINATED JUNIORS AND SOPHOMORES will be eligible to tryout for the Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team.

All players nominated and interested in trying out for the Jersey Shore team must attend all tryout sessions. Only players from Mater Dei, RBC and Toms River East will be excused from the June 5 tryout.

If a tryout candidate plays more than one position, that player should attend any and all tryout sessions held on June 5 for positions that they play.

Additional tryout sessions will be held on Monday, June 9 and Tuesday, June 10.

Players should wear clothing that will easily identify them by their high school team (wear a shirt that includes your high school team name or mascot).

Tryout candidates must be able to make a full commitment to the Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup schedule and related team events. Please check the Jersey Shore calendar for dates and events.

Questions regarding the 2008 Jersey Shore team should be directed to: ShoreCarpenterCup@yahoo.com.

**All players that wish to tryout for the 2008 Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team must be nominated by their high school coach.

**Players nominated must complete the high school season as members in good standing of their high school team.

**Players must be able to offer a full commitment to the Carpenter Cup tournament schedule.

Questions concerning the Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team should be directed to: ShoreCarpenterCup@yahoo.com

The Philadelphia Phillies, sponsors of the Carpenter Cup softball tournament have announced the schedule of the 2008 edition. The fourth annual event will begin on Monday, June 23, while defending champion Jersey Shore will begin defense of its title on Tuesday, June 24 at 11AM against SOL American & Continental of suburban Philadelphia. The double-elimination tournament will conclude on Thursday, June 26. All games take place at FDR Park in Philadelphia.

The purpose of the Softball Carpenter Cup is to give the best high school players in the tri-state area the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of college scouts. The hope is that this tournament, like the baseball Carpenter Cup Classic, will be a catalyst for many players to receive scholarships or admission to some of the country's finest universities.

Each franchise roster will be composed of 16 players with the majority consisting of juniors and supplemented with sophomores and/or freshmen. The method a team is selected is up to each individual franchise. The team can be selected using each leagues All-star team or via tryouts. However, no more than three girls may be selected from each high school. All players must play a minimum of three full innings in the field and have at least one at bat. However, they do not have to play all three innings at the same position. The bottom of the seventh inning, whether it is played or not, will count as an inning. Pitchers can pitch a maximum of four innings in a regulation game. If the game extends into extra innings, the inning cap is lifted. All games will be seven innings and Federation rules will be followed. However, each team will play with a nine-player line-up. There will be no designated hitter or FLEX player and pitchers must begin with both feet on the pitching rubber.

All-star squad has perfect run

by Matt Conklin, Asbury Park Press

PHILADELPHIA - Gina Falcone had heard it before - the notion that without some of the top players from Monmouth and Ocean counties, this year's Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup softball team was an all-star squad only in name and would have a tough time in the tournament.

"Going into this tournament, I knew a lot of people - even back home - didn't think we were that good because we didn't have a lot of what they thought were star players on this team," Monmouth's Falcone said.

Although that idea was debunked when Jersey Shore opened the tournament with four straight wins, Falcone helped finish it off even further on Thursday, ripping a two-rbi, go-ahead single during a two-out, four-run rally in the sixth inning to send Jersey Shore to a 6-5 win over Lehigh Valley in the Carpenter Cup championship at FDR Park.

The late comeback was made possible by three hits and an error with two outs in the 6th, including an RBI double from Rumson-Fair Haven's Brittani Seeman that scored Shore's Alyssa Francisco, who reached on a single two batters before. Falcone followed with a line drive up the middle that skipped right under the glove of Lehigh valley' sliding center fielder, sending the go-ahead runs home.

"We're a big hitting team, especially in pressure situations," Falcone said. "We get the hits when we need them. We're always right there."

Sandwiched between Francisco's and Seeman's hits was a crucial error by Lehigh Valley shortstop Shannon Kramer. The sophomore booted a hard grounder from Wall's Kelsey Higgins that should have been the third out of the inning. Instead, the error allowes Seeman and Falcone to follow with their timely hits.

Jersey Shore found itself in an early 4-1 hole after starting pitcher Sara Cline, of Mater Dei, allowed five walks and two hits during a four-run third. Colts Neck's Nicole Wisniewski kept Lehigh Valley quiet from that point on, though, tossing four innings of relief and giving up just one run in the seventh before forcing Megan Nixon to pop out to first with two runners on to end the game.

"I didn't know a lot of these girls before this team started," Wisniewski said. "They hit the ball, they make the plays. Everybody does their part. that's what got us here."

The offensive contribution was spread out as eight players scored or drove in a run on the day for Jersey Shore. Colts Neck's Kate Kuzma added an RBI single in the first, and Shore's Ally Roma knocked in a run in the fifth with a double to right.

The win allowed Jersey Shore to avoid playing Lehigh Valley again later in the afternoon in a repeat final due to the double-elimination format.

"We wanted one game," Falcone said. "We had to make it a little hard at the end, but we did not want to stay here for another."

After taking the final in the shadows of Citizens Bank Park, the squad of Shore Conference representatives will be honored on the field before the Phillies' home game against the Washington Nationals on July 24.

"We have a very strong conference and I'm proud to be part of this conference," Wisniewski said. "I loved this experience. I knew some of the girls already from my other teams, but to get to know the other girls who I've played against before, that was great. I loved how we were all together. It just worked."

By Jeff McLane, Philadelphia Inquirer

Gina Falcone had one thought yesterday as she strode to the batter's box. "I was thinking, 'I don't want to have to play another game,' " Falcone said. "It was too hot." So the Monmouth Regional junior took matters into her own hands. Falcone swung at the first pitch and drove in the winning runs as Jersey Shore rallied and conquered defending champion Lehigh Valley, 6-5, to win its first Carpenter Cup Classic softball title at FDR Park.

Advances to tournament final

by Robert Ziegler, Asbury Park Press

It's already been a banner year for the Shore Conference, which crowned a NJSIAA group champion, had another team make it to the state final, three others reached the sectional finals and five players were named first-team Associated Press All-State.

Things can get even better, however, today when Jersey Shore, representing the conference, will have a chance to capture the area's first Carpenter Cup title after beating Lehigh Valley, 10-3, in the winners' bracket final on Wednesday at FDR Park in Philadelphia.

The Shore has been able to rely on two constants through its first three games, scoring runs early and Colts Neck's Nicole Wisniewski shutting down opponents in the late innings, and none of that changed against Lehigh Valley.

The Shore responded quickly to a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the first inning on a run-scoring triple to right center by Colts Neck's Kate Kuzma and RBI fielder's choices off the bats of Neptune's Sammy Mayer and Shore's Alyssa Francisco.

Through four Carpenter Cup games that have brought the Shore's all-time Cup record to 7-3, it's scored seven first-inning runs and 18 in the first three innings.

"We just put a lot of pressure on the other team today," said Lacey's Vicki D'Anduono, who went 2-for-3 out of the leadoff spot. "We really came alive with the bats early."

After adding a run in the second when D'Anduono scored on a hit-and-run double by Mater Dei's Sara Cline, the Shore broke the game open with three runs each in the third and fourth.

Mayer, who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and is now 7-for-14 in the tournament, hit a leadoff single and scored in each inning and Francisco, Southern's Sam Deixler, Mater Dei's Tess Gagliano and Shore's Ally Roma all collected run-scoring hits over the six-run barrage.

That was pleanty for Wisniewski, who gave up just one hit over three innings and hasn't allowed an earned run in 13 innings of relief. She's struck out 15 and walked two.

"A lot of times when the other teams switch pitchers, there's a difference, and I think what other teams are seeing with us is we're putting two good pitchers out there," said assistant coach Aado Kommendant said of the Cline-Wisniewski duo that should share the circle at 1 p.m. against the winner of the losers' bracket final between Lehigh Valley and Delaware County, which would have to beat the Shore twice due to the tournament's double-elimination format.

Cline gave up three runs, two earned, on seven hits against Lehigh Valley, while Francisco has driven in a run in each game and has six total RBI.

by Robert Ziegler, Asbury Park Press

The Jersey Shore softball team had just one day of practice before beginning play in this year's Carpenter Cup in Philadelphia, but it can take solace knowing there's a good chance it's already faced its toughest competition.

Ashley Forsyth, the 2006 Asbury Park Press Softball Player of the Year, started for the RKE Jaxx in a scrimmage against the Shore on Monday at Wall High School.

The Shore plays its first game of the 18-team, double-elimination tournament at 9 a.m. today against Inter-AC/Friends, a league comprised of Philadelphia-area private schools, at FDR Park at the corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue.

Jersey Shore can take many positives from Monday's game against the Jaxx, a travel team based out of Belmar which had a few Division I players in the field, including Forsyth, the Shore Conference's all-time strikeout leader.

“I definitely think (facing Forsyth) is going to help,” said Kate Kuzma (Colts Neck), a first-team All-Shore choice as a sophomore this season. “We only got one day of practice, but everyone’s meshing together.”

Forsyth, a Freehold High School graduate, played in the 2005 Carpenter Cup and saw plenty of potential in this year’s team.

“They’re a really good team, I saw them working out before we scrimmaged them,” said Forsyth, whose 1,281 strikeouts were the most in state history until Governor Livingston’s Capri Catalano (1,346) broke the record against Shore on May 29.

“If I can help them out, I’m glad to, and I hope they do well,” Forsyth added. “They have a lot of talent, they’ve got good pitchers; I think they should be fine.”

With Katie Morrisey (Lacey) no longer on the roster and Sara Cline (Mater Dei) unavailable against Inter-AC/Friends, head coach Tony Vodola said he plans to start Kelsey Higgins (Wall) before turning the ball over to Nicole Wisniewski (Colts Neck) for the last four innings, the most a pitcher can throw unless a game reaches extra innings.

Cline could then start the second game at 1 p.m., but Vodola, who used two pitchers throughout Wall’s drive to a NJSIAA Group III title, won’t hesitate to alter his plans.

“It really depends on the inning,” Vodola said. “If they start clawing in on a pitcher, we won’t wait. We’ll make a change. But I think we’re optimistic with who we have that they can do the job for us.”