BACK-TO-BACK: Middle Township Senior League softball team repeats as state champions, next heads to Eastern Regional tournament in Massachusetts

Posted: January 1st 1970

The Middle Township Senior League softball team has repeated as state champions

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

The journey may have been much different, but the Middle Township Senior League softball team has repeated as state champions.

Middle won a pair of dramatic games over the Bayshore Sharks of Keansburg Wednesday evening to sweep the best-of-three state title series held in Gibbstown.

Middle will next play in the Senior League Eastern Regional Tournament in Worcester, Mass., beginning Thursday, July 23.

Middle is the back-to-back state champion. Last season, the team won district and section tournaments prior to claiming the state title in their own backyard in Dennis Township.

This season, however, there were no other teams in either the district or section tournaments, so Middle was automatically crowned champions of both and advanced to the state championship series. The team spent the early part of the summer scrimmaging against some travel teams to prepare for the series against Bayshore.

Middle clinched the state title behind a 7-6 victory in eight innings in Game 2 of the series. After Bayshore tied the game with a three-run seventh inning, Middle used small-ball and heads-up baserunning to take the lead for good. Kendall Hunter, who was placed on second base at the start of the inning by rule, was in the midst of stealing third base when Hayley Delaney laid down a sacrifice bunt. Hunter kept running as the throw was made to first base and scored on the play for what turned out to be the winning run.

Bayshore then had a runner placed on second in the bottom of the frame but Middle pitcher Emma Contreras recorded two strikeouts and induced a popout to end the game and secure the championship.

Contreras pitched seven innings in relief and recorded 14 strikeouts against just two walks.She also hit a solo home run in the game. Shyle Thron had two hits and Sammy Schaffer posted a hit and two runs scored for Middle.

In Game 1, Contreras pitched a complete game, recording 18 of the 21 outs via strikeout while walking just one batter as Middle recorded a 5-4 win. She also hit a two-run double. Delaney had two three walks and two runs scored.

The team is set to be honored with a parade on Monday that will begin at the Dennis Township Recreation Center at 6:45 p.m. and finish in Cape May Court House.

Funds are needed to help the team on its trip to Eastern Regionals in Massachusetts. Those interested in donating can go to the Middle Township Baseball Softball Association page on Facebook for information.

Last year, Middle won two of its three games in pool play at the Eastern Regional tournament before losing in the first game of the knockout round.

The Middle Township Senior League softball team consists of players from Middle Township, Dennis Township, Lower Township, Upper Township and Wildwood Crest.

Players include Rylan Beck, Ashlyn Brown, Rosa Cameron, Emma Contreras, Aaryana Crawley, Ahhahys Cruz, Annabella Culican, Hayley Delaney, Emma Gotwals, Kendall Hunter, Brianna Knights, Charlie Pashley, Bella Ramos, Sammy Schaffer, Shyle Thron, Lizzy Wieland and Lexi Wood.

The team is coached by Joe Schaffer, Bill Thron and Gene Hall.