Way to Go Jillybean!!

If two of New Jersey paper's (Asbury Park Press and the Star Ledger) have recognized my niece’s softball accomplishments, then I would be remiss if I did not mention her (again) in my blog. The opening game of Howell High School girl’s softball season was nothing short of incredible. It was one of the many exciting softball games I have witnessed, and hope to witness again.

Albeit the freaking cold weather (the wind whipping around was adding to the low temp), we were all having a good time, until they went into that extra inning. Our initial reaction (okay, it might have been only me) was “How much longer do we need to sit out in the cold?”

But then...

It was the bottom of the eighth inning, we were down by one, two men were now on base...JillyBean is now up at bat....one strike....two strikes...a huge amount of determination....one big power hit...the ball goes over the fence...Howell takes the game! There are many words to describe how we felt (her mom, dad, brother, Bubbe, and aunts, friends, and fieldmates) about that moment. However, I will choose to use one of Jilly’s favorite words...AMAZING and I will add AWESOME!!

From the Star Ledger...

“Jillian Friedman, a sophomore designated player, hit a three-run home run over the left field fence with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Howell a 9-7 victory over Freehold Township yesterday in Howell.

After both teams scored twice in the seventh inning, Freehold Township (0-1) took a 7-6 lead in the top of the eighth on a run-scoring single by Brooke Witcher. Howell's uprising in the bottom of the inning began when Kelly Mormino reached on a one-out bunt single. After a second out, a base hit by Taylor Germaine moved Mormino to second base. Friedman, who finished 3-for-5 with four RBI, then delivered the game-ending home run.”