TOMS RIVER – Cheers, cheers and more cheers for the Toms River Little League 12U Softball All-Stars!
At 8:31 a.m. Wednesday, July 29, the team left the league’s complex on the trip of a lifetime.
Escorted by Toms River Township first responders, the team exited the parking lot on a charter bus to cheers from nearly 50 fans young and old, with the blaring of car horns and sirens. Some fans held signs supporting their heroines.
The team will compete in the Little League Softball World Series to take place August 2-9 at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, N.C.
The Toms River Township Police Department led the parade. Also lending support were the Silverton Toms River Fire District 2, the Toms River Fire Prevention Bureau, the Pleasant Plains Fire Department and the East Dover Fire Company.
Toms River will begin play in the Orange Bracket at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, against the Kinki Softball Little League, Sango, Japan, the Asia-Pacific Region champion, on ESPN2. A Watch Party will take place at Riv’s, 1850 Hooper Avenue, Toms River.
The double elimination Series consists of four international teams and eight US region championship clubs. A team must win five games to capture the championship.
Joe Leonard, a Toms River assistant coach, said there is a strong bond among the players.
“The girls have been playing together since they were 10-year-old All-Stars – and all in the same positions,” he said during a team breakfast in the league’s clubhouse. “Some leagues put their all-star teams together right before the tournaments. Our girls have become more like a family as opposed to being just a team. They all have each other’s backs. Any All-Star team will have the talent. This is a tight knit, family style unit.
Toms River’s lone setback was a 3-2 loss to Pennsylvania state champion Minersville in the winner’s bracket of the semifinals of the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships in Bristol, Ct. Toms River avenged the setback with a 5-3 victory in the championship game, qualifying for the World Series. It was 4-1 in the event. Kinki was 2-0 in region play.
Toms River endured a lengthy rain delay prior to the loss.
“To be blunt,” Toms River manager Neal Gay said, “it sucked. There was no advantage for either team. It had to be hard on all of the girls in the game.”
“The game was delayed for seven hours,” Leonard said. “The whole thing threw off our routine. We just felt off. Everything we did to prepare for that game was different. Our girls sat in dorms, wondering when they were going to play. Are we gonna play? Are we not gonna play? The whole day threw us off.”
Toms River won 12 of its first 13 postseason games, also capturing District 18, Section 3 and New Jersey state championships. It won the New Jersey title last year. The Mapletree Road Masherettes have outscored opponents 99-14. Another assistant coach is Clint Koppen.
“We have allowed 14 runs in 13 games,” Leonard said. “It’s a testament to our pitching and defense. We challenge teams. If a team makes a mistake, we make it pay. The girls are aggressive, smart. They play just excellent defense. Defense behind our pitching has carried us.
“I am not at all surprised at our success. The girls have played in other high stakes tournaments to get them to this moment. We knew one thing – we had it in us to get this far.”
Toms River pitcher Jaelyn Brown has won four of five games in postseason play.
“I throw a lot of changeups,” she said. “It’s my best pitch. I enjoy pitching. It’s one of the best positions in the sport and it’s fun to do … just doing it. I feel a little bit of pressure. I just think of the tournaments as regular travel team games.”
Brown said she enjoys the All-Star experience.
“It’s fun and competitive,” she said. “We are all together. It’s a team effort. We are used to each other. We have gotten used to each other easily. Can we win the whole thing? We have played together for a long time. If we play our game, we will win and beat the teams. We are clean. We make the hardest plays and that’s it.”
“Ten of the 12 girls on the team have been playing together for two-and-half years since they were eight years old,” Gay said. “Our tightness is what separates us from all of the other teams. They are truly like sisters. We are going there to win the whole thing. We are 100 percent going there to win. We know if we play our game we have a chance against anyone in the world.
“Our pitchers throw a lot of strikes and keep us in the games. Our defense keeps us in the games. We have gotten timely hitting the whole way so far.”
Gay’s daughters, Leianna and Aviana Gay, are team members.
“Do we put pressure on the team to win?” manager Gay said. “There are expectations without a doubt. We tell the girls, ‘Play at 100 percent, but at the end of the day it is just softball.’ For myself, this has absolutely been a once in a lifetime experience. At the end of the day, you give 12 girls the dream every single player has – to play in the World Series. All of our girls love this. They are a very tight group.”
Not much time is wasted during practices.
“We do a lot of fundamentals,” Gay said. “We focus on defensive assignments, defense against bunts. We work on our hitting.”
The league began fielding girls softball teams in 2021.
“I am very excited,” said Scott Keller, the league’s vice president. “Brian Doyle, our league’s president, and myself started the softball program. Our program made it to the regional tournament in four of the past five years and the highest number of games it won was two. This group is very businesslike … true professionals. They act like they’ve been there.
Gloria Piro, whose granddaughter, Frankie Velardi, plays shortstop for Toms River, attended the sendoff.
“She is fantastic … phenomenal,” Piro said. “The girls have established friendships. This is our year. The team is successful because of its hard work and ability. You can’t deny their ability. That’s a big part of this. They are all very talented.”
Attired in an All-Star Mom t-shirt, Chrissy Velardi, the mother of Toms River player Franki Velardi, enjoyed the sendoff.
“The girls have a really good bond. They have been playing together forever. The parents are all close … supportive,” she said.
“There were 227 girls in the program in 2026,” Keller said in a statement. “The beauty of Little League is that it is 100 percent volunteer. It is also about all of the kids – not just the All-Stars. Without a robust program, there would be no success for the best players. In a world where travel sports have changed the landscape, the institution that is Little League remains a strong reminder about what is good about community. Selfless volunteerism drives Little League and the Toms River Little League would be nothing without its countless volunteers.
Keller played and coached in the league in the 1980s. He has served as a board member beginning in 2016. He’s a graduate of Toms River High School North where he played baseball under coach Steve Hill and soccer. He was a three-year starter in baseball at Mount Saint Mary’s University of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, graduating in 1996.
“Mr. Doyle and I launched the softball program with the help of several dedicated volunteers who shared a vision,” Keller said in a statement. “The vision was to build a competitive, community centered softball pathway for girls ages four through 16. What began as a small initiative has grown into one of New Jersey’s most successful and visible youth softball programs. It has offered development from tee ball through the Seniors Division and postseason tournament play.”
How To Help
The league has begun a massive fund drive to raise money for the trip. The league has a GoFundMe page. Go to the Toms River Little League’s Facebook page and click on the link. The league’s email address is trlittleleague1953@gmail.com.
Coach Leonard said the fundraising goal is $20,000. The traveling party consists of 12 players and three coaches (another assistant coach is Clint Koeppen). In Connecticut, the cost of a hotel room per night for families was $300-400.
“We were there for five nights. And that was just for the rooms. In North Carolina, you are still talking $200 per night per family. Parents are missing work. Every dollar counts just to help these families. Little League International funded the bus trip to and from North Carolina. Families face an eight-hour drive to North Carolina. There will be terrible tolls and gas prices … a lot of out of pocket money.”
It says on the Toms River Little League’s Facebook page, “families are faced with the significant expenses that come with traveling to represent our community, including transportation, lodging and meals.
“That’s why we’re asking for your support. Every donation – no matter the amount – helps lessen the financial burden on these families and allows our players to focus on the opportunity they’ve worked so hard to earn. Your generosity will help make this unforgettable experience possible and create memories these girls will cherish for a lifetime.
“Businesses who sponsor the team will receive a featured shout-out across the league’s social media platforms, a team photo at your business to celebrate your support and recognition for helping local athletes chase their dreams on the biggest stage in youth softball.”
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