Colonials, minus Forsyth, finding their way around
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Every one knew that Freehold Borough was going to miss Ashley Forsyth this year.

How do you replace the state's all-time strikeout queen?

But 10 games into the 2007 season, Jerry Acevedo's Colonials miss Forsyth's intangibles as much as they do her pitching greatness.

"What we lost was her passion to want to win," said Acevedo. "We don't have that this year. She had a way of making players want to play up to her level."

With the season at the midpoint, the Colonials find themselves at 5-5. A record, Acevedo noted, that reflects the way they've played.

"It's been an up-and-down season," said Acevedo. "We can't seem to get on a roll."

The Colonials started the season minus one great player, but with enough returning veterans to believe they would remain a competitive team into the playoffs. Acevedo noted that her team started the season anxious to prove that they weren't a one-player team. It was a confident, veteran, experienced team. But a couple of early-season losses to Ocean and to Monmouth Regional in the seventh inning, games that the team would have found a way to win in the past, shook the team's confidence. They've been trying to rebound since.

The team's pitching has been fine. J.T. Kelly, who had some spot starts last year, and Jen Prinke, who was on the junior varsity in '06, have become a solid tandem. They allow Acevedo to have some flexibility with her starting rotation, and she has not hesitated to use them both in a game.

Ironically, Freehold Borough's offense has been quite productive. A team weakness the last few seasons, when the Colonials struggled with runners in scoring position, that hasn't been the case in '07.

Two newcomers, sophomores Meghan Gibson and Lauren Trulli, have been providing a spark. Gibson, who plays center field, is the team's lead-off hitter. She has a knack for getting on base, and with her speed, before teams know it, she's on second or third with no one out.

Trulli has been clutch batting sixth or seventh in the order. Both have filled a need on defense, with Gibson leading what Acevedo calls her best outfield defense, and Trulli has been a wall at third base.

Catcher Heather Woolford, a senior, brings a similar passion and desire to win as Forsyth did to the game. One of the team's leaders, she has done her steady job of calling a great game and throwing runners out. As the clean-up hitter, she has been driving in runs and hitting for power.

If anything has let the Colonials down this spring, it has been its usually reliable defense. It's not that the team has been throwing the ball all over the place, it's simply not as tight as in past seasons.

"I'm used to having defense and not hitting; this year we're hitting the ball and we've been shaky on defense," noted Acevedo.

Still, a lot of teams would trade places with the Borough as the season moves into May. They are, after all, .500 and in control of their playoff destiny. A couple of wins, Acevedo pointed out, is all the team needs to regain its confidence. All the pieces are there for the Colonials to have a strong second half.