By DAVE O’SULLIVAN
Staff Writer
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — Freshman Zoe Bork didn’t expect to have much of an impact for the Egg Harbor Township softball team this season. She is, after all, just a freshman, and Cris McElhinney — who helped lead the Eagles to a 24-1 record and a berth in the state championship game last spring — returned as the starting shortstop. Bork figured she would play some junior varsity, maybe get called up to varsity late in the season for another playoff run.
She’s been having a bigger impact than expected so far. Filling in for the injured McElhinney, Bork made a diving stop on a sharp ground ball up the middle on Thursday afternoon, and somehow flipped the ball to second baseman Alyssa Martini in time to get a force out that ended the game and gave the Eagles a 3-2 win over a tough Millville squad.
The play was even more impressive considering the freshman had made an error in the top of the sixth inning, but she was able to put that out of her mind quickly.
“I kind of just let that go because I wanted to be there for my team. We were in a tough spot, and I wanted to make up for (the error). I just wanted to make sure I got to the ball and stop it. I had to stop the ball,” Bork said. “I’m proud of everyone. We worked as a team today and we did the job at the plate.”
“I was so nervous, but she did it. It was an awesome play. She shook off (the error) like she always does and kept her head in the game,” said junior third baseman Elisabeth Alicea. “Everyone has been helping out, and Cris, especially, has been working with her and she’s improved so much throughout the year. She backs me up if I make a mistake and I have so much confidence in her.”
Had Bork not made that play, the Thunderbolts would have had the tying run in scoring position with the heart of the order coming up.
“Zoe has handled the pressure well and has improved immensely since the beginning of the season,” said Eagles coach Mary Dunlap. “She’s done a great job, and we’re expecting more great things from her. There are some veterans who really struggle with (bouncing back after an error). She’s come a long way and is doing a great job.”
Senior pitcher Tori Szrom turned in another efficient performance, scattering five hits and allowing just a pair of runs in the fifth. Kaitlyn Riggs broke up a scoreless game in the bottom of the fourth when she drove in Marissa Varela with a long single to right-center field, and Alicea followed with a run-scoring double to make it 2-0. But Millville (14-6, 4-3 CAL American) answered in the fifth when catcher Rian Eigenmann ripped a two-run single to center.
“I just told myself that I had to do it for my team. We had to come together, and I knew it was the time,” Alicea said.
Egg Harbor Township (12-0, 6-0) took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth when Varela drove in courtesy runner Peyton McGowan with a sharp single to center to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
“As long as I’ve coached here, Millville has always been a big rival. We’ve had some one-run games, some long games that went 13 or 14 innings, stuff like that,” Dunlap said. “It’s always been a big rivalry and (coach Brooke Ewan-Dixon) always has a great program.”
The Eagles have remained undefeated despite dealing with some tough injuries. A hamstring problem has kept McElhinney out most of the year and starting left fielder Bri Lagroteria has been dealing with a leg injury as well. But players such as Bork and Gianna Ivie have been stepping up and making plays in their absence.
“She’s been working with me a lot and has been teaching me,” Bork said of McElhinney. “It’s a privilege to be a part of this team. There are high standards and I’m happy I’m playing up to them and getting this experience. This is big. I was very nervous at the beginning of the season.”
“We practice them hard and focus on the fundamentals to get them ready for pressure situations, and they have really stepped up and done a great job,” Dunlap said. “They are confident in each other, but we teach them to be greedy and get what’s coming to you. We all want to make the play. But it is nice to have some strong players out there.”
Alicea said some of the players who came up and sat the bench for last year’s playoff run are enjoying the chance to get out there now and make a name for themselves and support veterans such as Szrom, Varela, Martini, Ella Glenn and Emily MacNeil.
“I’m so confident in Tori. She’s a really good pitcher, and I’ve been playing with her since we were little, so I know what she can do,” Alicea said. “It feels really good. This is my first year playing varsity, so it feels good. It’s cool, because last year I came up for the playoffs, but it’s different actually playing now. It’s a whole new experience, and I love it.”
Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays