South Jersey Little League Softball Team On Quest For National Title
By Diana Rocco
MULLICA HILL, N.J., (CBS) -- A local softball team is getting ready for its close-up in the spotlight.
Eyewitness News Reporter Diana Rocco has the story of their quest to win big.
And with a hit, the Harrison Township All-Star girls softball team came back to win the state championship.
"It was really exciting."
"I think it's such a great feeling to have."
But it didn't start the way they had hoped. They were down two runs with two outs in the last inning. Then came a pep talk from the coach, and this:
"One of our players walked and we got a hit, and then another hit and next thing you know, we win," said manager Jim Woolam.
Three runs scored and that made the state trophy theirs.
(Reporter:) "Did he give a good pep talk?"
"Yes!" said the team.
Now it's on to the Softball Little League World Series to represent Harrison Township and New Jersey.
"It makes you want to win even more," said catcher Jenna Patterson.
This group of 11 and 12-year-olds have been playing together for five years. They've been to the championship three times before, but never won and never gave up.
"We're in this for good and we don't want to go down losing," said Patterson.
"We all stick together as a team and we work really well together and we practice very hard, so I knew we were going to win the state title," said outfielder Brooke Pecorilli.
They credit their winning to dedication, hard work, a champion's spirit, and a lot of encouragement from their manager.
"The most important play of the season is?" said the manager.
"The next one," said the team.
"The next play. The most important game of the season?" asked the manager.
"The next one," said the team.
"We try to be forward thinking as much as we can," said Woolam.
From here it's on to Bristol, Connecticut Friday and Softball Little League World Series Regionals. The winner will then go on to the finals in Oregon. This team says they intend to come home with the trophy -- they've come too far not to.
