Bretz homer, no-hitter propel Pennsville Senior Softball within one win of another South Jersey title, trip to state tournament

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Jess Bretz drove all the way over from her home in East Greenwich Sunday to scout Middle Twp. pitcher Grace Hall for Monday night’s Section 4 Little League Senior Softball playoff game.

She was seated alongside Pennsville manager Chris Watson prepared to take copious notes to help her at the plate. Because of the circumstances of the game Bretz only got to see Hall throw to four Monroe hitters.

But apparently that’s all she needed.

Bretz belted a long two-run homer in her first at bat to set the tone for Pennsville’s 15-4 five-inning victory that placed it one win away from a fourth straight South Jersey title and another trip to the state tournament.

Bretz had settled in for a full game Sunday night, but the game was called in the bottom of the first when a Monroe player fell ill leaving the team with only eight to play. Monroe batted in the top of the first with Hall recording two strikeouts, a ground out and giving up a triple to the only batters she faced.

The Pennsville slugger and pitcher had seen enough to know what she needed.

“Whenever I come to scout a pitcher I’m getting my timing every single pitch,” Bretz said. “Even if I’m just sitting there and talking to my friends, I’m going to stand there and get my time with my hits every single time.

“I know where she’s throwing, how fast she’s throwing, so I was thinking just hit it out in front because if I hit it out in front it’s going to go every time. Yesterday I knew that.”

It didn’t surprise Watson at all his pitcher made the 45-minute drive down the interstate on what amounted to an off day to do some special reconnaissance. She’s been going the extra mile all year.

“One hundred percent committed this year,” Watson said. “She was committed last year, don’t get me wrong, but this year it’s another level. She’s committed to our goals here and to put this team where we want to be.”

The win moved Pennsville into Thursday’s 6 p.m. district title game against the winner of Wednesday night’s Middle Twp.-Monroe game. If an “if game” is needed, it will follow at 8 p.m.

Pennsville hit throughout the order. Seven of the nine spots in the lineup had at least one hit and one run; all nine spots reached base at least once. Six of their 12 hits went for extra bases. They scored in every inning they batted, batted around twice and led 10-0 after two innings.

Leadoff Lily Edwards went 2-for-3, Kylie Harris went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, Bretz reached base all three times she batted and Llily Birney had a pair of RBIs. Pennsville has scored in 10 of their last 12 innings and have run-ruled their last three tournament opponents.

“I think that’s how we’re going to win this year; every single person in our lineup can hit the ball,” Bretz said. “Last year we went 17 innings with this team. This year we didn’t even go seven.

“I think that’s going to be the difference this year in going all the way to the World Series – we have every single girl on our team who can hit.”

Bretz’ big night wasn’t just confined to the plate. In addition to the home run, she pitched a five-inning no-hitter and stole four bases, including home. When she stole third in the second inning, somebody in the stands asked, “What can’t Jess Bretz do?”

“I don’t know the answer to that, because we haven’t seen the limit yet,” Watson said. “I think we’re just starting to see the beginning of what she can do, honestly.”

“I can’t golf,” Bretz said.

The no-hitter was her second in the tournament, but she admitted it didn’t feel like one. She had a four-inning no-no in the first game of the district finals against Elmer last week. Middle had 11 base runners and scored three runs in the fifth inning that threatened to extend the game.

“No, it didn’t, just because of all the errors I personally made,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like it because they were making contact, which to me doesn’t feel like a no-hitter. I know it was, but it just doesn’t feel like it.”

Pennsville made easy work of their section tournament opener, but Watson knows “it’ll be a lot harder Thursday” when Middle’s ace Gabby Cruz will be back from a travel ball tournament in South Carolina. Last year, Bretz and Cruz battled for most of the 17 innings in their two games of the sectional championship round.

“The good thing is we are in the driver’s seat and they have to beat us twice,” Watson said. “So, even if they do get us the first game, the chances of her (Cruz) pitching 14 strong innings that night is a big advantage to us.”

SECTION 4 LL SENIOR SOFTBALL
Middle Twp. 001 03 –   4   0   3
Pennsville     464 1x – 15 12   2
WP: Jess Bretz (4-0). LP: Grace Hall (1-1). 2B: Kylie Harris (P), Gina Shinn (P), Lily Edwards (P), Bella Rappa (P). 3B: Savannah Palverento (P). HR: Jess Bretz (P).

Wednesday’s Game
Monroe vs. Middle Twp., 6 p.m.
Thursday’s Game
Monroe-Middle winner vs. Pennsville, 8 p.m.
If necessary, 8 p.m.

STATE TOURNAMENT
At Par-Troy West Softball Complex
Parsippany, N.J.
July 15
Game 1: Morris County vs. Roberto Clemente LL (Jersey City), 10 a.m.
Game 2: Section 4 winner vs. Game 1 winner, 3 p.m.
July 16
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 10 a.m.
Game 4: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 3 p.m.
July 17
If necessary, 5:30 p.m.

Pennsville senior softball scores a pair of run-rule victories to sweep Elmer for this group’s sixth straight District title

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – For a team supposedly playing under the weight of some pretty high expectations, the Pennsville Little League Senior Softball stars sure are a loose bunch.

The players Wobble and line dance in front of the dugout before the game, they play country music between innings, the pitcher spins with a pretzel rod in her back pocket and, in a twist on an older theme, this year they give manager Chris Watson white eye-black moustaches on his upper lip.

There’s nothing it seems that fazes these girls.

That looseness translated into big things Thursday night. It produced an eight-run first inning in the first game of their District 3 championship series with Elmer and an eventual 15-0, 11-1 run-rule sweep for this group’s sixth straight district title.

Now they’re off until Monday after drawing a bye in the first round of the Section 4 Tournament they host. They’ll face the winner of Sunday’s game between Middle Twp. and the District 15 champs.

“I think the fact that we’re loose as a team helps us play better,” pitcher Jess Bretz said. “We’ve had games where we’ve been tight and all been overthinking everything that’s been happening. The fact we hit the “Wobble” before every game and we do the “Cotton-Eyed Joe” we bond together and being loose on the field helps us mold together better.”

Watson isn’t one to join in the fun, but he “let’s them be them.” He admits he allows them “get away with a little more than I should sometimes.”

This is a team with designs of going to the Little League Senior Softball World Series in Delaware later this summer and they played like it Thursday night. 

They batted around in each of the first two innings of the opener, opening a 14-0 lead. Leadoff Lily Edwards accounted for five runs in the eight-run first, walking and scoring the game’s first run and later clearing the bases with a double and scoring when the cutoff throw to get her at third was wild.

They were having a high time of it. Seven starters had at least one hit in the game and they got runs from eight spots in the lineup. Bretz went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and Avery Watson went 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

“We just have to come with energy; it just gets us excited and relaxed and in the zone,” Edwards said.

Sometimes, however, they can have too much of a good thing. It was a little slower to start in Game 2, but they got it going again and erupted for seven in the second inning of what was a come-from-behind win.

They sent 10 batters to the plate in their big inning. Kylie Harris had the big hit, a two-run single. Edwards, Bella Rappa and Sawyer Simmons also drove home runs in the inning.

“I have to watch them and make sure they maintain that energy because every once in a while they dip and they dipped a little today at the beginning of that second game and it showed,” Watson said. “They get flat, they get tired. As soon as that energy drops so does our play. I think all the girls have realized that so they’ll start poking each other and getting each back up again. It’s kind of become our identity.”

Bretz pitched a four-inning no-hitter in the first game and a five-inning two-hitter in the nightcap. She struck out seven in the first game, nine in the second.

She allowed five base runners in the opener and got out of a jam in the second inning. She got the final out of the gem when catcher Kylie Harris threw through to pick off a runner at second base.

The first hit Bretz allowed all night was Aubrie Rennie’s single in the first inning of the nightcap and Rennie scored on a wild pitch. Elmer loaded the bases in the second, but Bretz got out of it unscathed and then retired the last nine in a row.

In 16 innings over three district tournament games, the hard-throwing right-hander allowed one earned run, seven hits and struck out 31.

This group of Pennsville softball players has been collecting district titles for the past six years, a run that started as 10Us; only a walk-off loss their first year together kept it from being seven straight. Three players – Savannah Palverento, Avery Watson and Kloi Tighe – have been on all of them.

And while the post-game celebrations may not be as spirited as they once were, the winning never gets old.

“I feel like it’s still very important to know what you need to do in order to get to where you want to get,” Palverento said. “Districts, yeah, it’s only one step, but it’s still an important step to get where you need to be.”

DISTRICT 3 SENIOR SOFTBALL
Game 1
Pennsville  861 0 – 15 11 1
Elmer          000 0 –  0   0  0
WP: Jess Bretz (2-0). LP: Ava Schneider. 2B: Kylie Harris (P), Avery Watson (P), Lily Edwards (P). 3B: Jess Bretz (P).

Game 2
Elmer          100 00 –  1  2  4
Pennsville  272 0x – 11 7  0
WP: Jess Bretz (3-0). LP: Ady Stewart. 

SECTION 4 TOURNAMENT
At Pennsville
Sunday’s Game
Monroe vs. Middle Twp., 6 p.m.
Monday’s Game
Monroe-Middle Twp. winner vs. Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Wednesday’s Game
Monroe-Middle loser vs. Game 2 loser, 6 p.m.
Thursday’s Game
Championship Game, 6 p.m.
If necessary, 8 p.m.

Pennsville picks up where it left off the night before, completes 10-2 District 3 Senior Softball win over Franklin Twp.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

FRANKLINVILLE – It may have taken another day and another trip down U.S. 40, but the Pennsville Senior Softball stars finished what they started the day before, saved themselves a game and will play for a district title Thursday night on their own field.

Pennsville put the finishing touches on a 10-2 victory over Franklin Twp. Wednesday that started Tuesday and was suspended for weather after only 14 pitches in the top of the first inning. By completing the victory, they eliminated Franklin Twp. from championship contention in the District 3 Tournament and will now host Elmer in a potential championship doubleheader at 5:45 p.m. Thursday.

Had Franklin Twp. won, Pennsville would have had to play their final pool game against Elmer Thursday with the potential of tiebreakers determining the two championship teams in a title round starting Friday. If Pennsville and Elmer split Thursday, the winner-take-all “if” game will be played Friday.

The Section 4 Tournament starts Sunday in Pennsville.

“I’m relieved,” Pennsville manager Chris Watson said. “This was a huge game because if we did not win this then we’re probably playing on Friday … and nobody wants to play on Friday.”

Pennsville took a 3-0 lead into the restart, but it took them a little while to get started. Their first five batters of the day all struck out against Franklin Twp.’s Iris Chapman and Watson admitted he was “concerned,” but once they got to the top of the order again they started to pull away.

The first four batters in their lineup went a combined eight for 14 with seven runs and eight RBIs. Leadoff hitter Lily Edwards was 4-for-4 with three runs and two stolen bases. Kylie Harris went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the third inning and four RBIs. Pitcher Jess Bretz had a two-run single and three RBIs and Bella Rappa hit a homer before Tuesday’s suspension of play.

“I guess that’s just how the top of the order sparks us,” Watson said. “It’s like we need Lily to lead off a night. With all the home run hitters we have on this squad, and there are a lot of them, Lily is like our biggest weapon. She gets on base, she scores.

“We’ve been working on it (the top of the lineup) for years. We put Lily at leadoff three years ago playing Franklin Twp. in sectionals and she took them apart then, too.”

The restart wasn’t without a little drama. Franklin Twp. leveled a protest that the game should be restarted from scratch instead of resuming at the point of suspension. District 3 officials called the Little League Eastern District office for clarification and it was ruled the game would resume from the point of suspension.

It didn’t much matter. Pennsville outscored their hosts 7-2 in the innings that were played Wednesday. They broke it open in the third on Harris’ two-run homer and a two-run double by Savannah Palverento, taking a 7-0 lead.

“It was really important to jump on them early from the start, make sure we get that lead and maintain it,” Harris said. “It shuts the other team down right away so you can back them up more (and) go home early.”

Bretz was strong in the circle. She pitched all seven innings with a pretzel rod in her back pocket, but didn’t go to it once, although she was tempted. Last year during Pennsville’s 17-inning day in the Sectionals, the coaches brought her chicken tenders in the circle to keep her energy up.

Her energy and velocity was up plenty Wednesday. She allowed five hits, nine base runners and struck out 15. She threw 115 pitches, 77 for strikes. Ten of her first 12 outs were strikeouts and she had at least two strikeouts in six of the seven innings.

“The last two years we’ve been here I haven’t been nervous, but today was different because it’s a new team, we have a few new players this year,” Bretz said. “It helped my game today because I knew what I had to do and I had a job.

“I’m feeling this because we have expectations because we went so far last year and for some of the girls it’s their last year so we want to go as far if not farther this year.”

DISTRICT 3 LL SENIOR SOFTBALL
Pennsville       304 201 0 – 10 10 1
Franklin Twp. 000 110 0 –   2  5  2
WP: Jess Bretz. LP: Iris Chapman. 2B: Avery Watson (P), Kylee Harris (P), Savannah Palverento (P), Iris Chapman (FT), Laney Vecchio (FT). HR: Bella Rappa (P), Kylee Harris (P), Riley Hunter (FT). 

Tri-Cape stars win Softball Carpenter Cup they didn’t get to finish a year ago

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PHILADELPHIA – As strong as they looked on their first day of last year’s softball Carpenter Cup, the world will never know if the Tri-Cape All-Stars were strong enough to have won it all. 

This year there was no doubt.

The scrappy Tri-Cape Stars won their second Carpenter Cup title in 10 years Wednesday beating Jersey Shore in the title game 2-1 at FDR Park with a run in the bottom of the seventh. They went 5-0-1 in the event.

Pennsville coach Beth Jackson, one of five coaches on the Tri-Cape staff, felt they had a strong team last year. They went 3-0 the first day, but were sidelined for the playoff round by COVID protocols and never got a chance to seal the deal.

This year they went 5-0-1 in the tournament and won the championship game on Emma Douglas’ walk-off RBI single with one out in the bottom of the seventh.

“That was very awesome,” Jackson said. “I didn’t think about it until the girl who runs it came up and was like, ‘Making up for last year’ or something like that. I didn’t even think about that, like it wasn’t even a thought with what had happened last year.

“It’s great to kind of redeem it. It’s always nice to win, but just seeing all the different kids together. Some of them you hear their names but you don’t actually get to see them play, they play against each other all year long and now they’re playing together to win and they do, it’s always so awesome.”

The players were aware of what happened last year. They didn’t mind picking up the gauntlet.

(They) talked about the COVID situation and how it was really unfortunate last year because they obviously did really good and had beat the team that won it all,” Woodstown infielder Tulana Mingin said. “So I guess this year when we finally got the opportunity to play the whole thing, it was just really important to show we were really good.”

This year’s championship team had some serious Salem County flavor. There were three players – Mingin, Pennsville’s Bella Farina and Schalick’s Taylor Sparks – and two coaches – Jackson and Schalick’s Rick Higinbotham. All made major contributions.

Mingin was a really tough out on Day One, batted .550 for the tournament with 20 runs and a 1.225 OPS and played a key role in the championship-winning rally. Sparks batted .313 and was flawless in the field. Farina batted .333.

The champs opened Wednesday’s bracket round with a 7-0 combined shutout by Liz Martin (Cedar Creek) and Ava Fisher (St. Joe’s of Hammonton) over Olympic Colonial, then came from behind to beat Mercer County 5-3 in the semifinals and then took out Jersey Shore.

They fell behind in the title game, too, but tied it in the fifth. Buena’s Cami Johnson and Mingin got the seventh-inning rally started with back-to-back singles, then Our Lady of Mercy’s Douglas lined a ball over the infield to bring Johnson home with the winning run. 

“I knew we had to score a run that inning,” Mingin said. “I knew if we didn’t score we’d have to go to the international tiebreaker, so I was just determined to get on base. Once I got on I knew we had a really good shot because Emma was hyped up and I knew she could score us.”

Once Johnson crossed the plate with the winning run, it took a brief moment to register. The coaches in the dugout knew and were all motioning the players to go out and celebrate. They did, striking a ‘T’ pose that has become their trademark.

T for Tri-Cape. T for table-setters. T for The Champs.

The team will be recognized at the Phillies’ July 18 game against Milwaukee.

Updated June 22