Braves wrap up third straight division title BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer Manalapan High School's softball team made it official Wednesday.The Braves are the outright Shore Conference A North Division champions for the third consecutive year. Ashley Rampino's four-hitter, supported by a 12-hit attack, topped Freehold Township, 6-0, to give the Braves the division title outright. The Braves completed the A North schedule with a 10-2 record, one game better than 9-3 Colts Neck. "Everyone was pretty pumped about it," said Rampino. "We didn't want to share it with anyone." Manalapan had secured no worse than a tie when the Braves rode Rampino's one-hitter to a 4-0 win over Freehold Regional District rival Marlboro, 4-0. Colts Neck, which finished its division season with a 9-3 record, still had hopes of getting a share of the title if the Braves were to stumble at home against Freehold Township. Wasn't going to happen. The two-time defending champions were in no mood to share the title with anyone and polished off their third straight title with Rampino's 11th shutout of the year. The Braves improved to 17-4 overall. Rampino, who has been the team's ace for all three division titles, said she can appreciate how difficult it is to win a title. This one, while more special because she is a senior, was also the most difficult. "Every year it gets a lot harder," she said. "The other teams keep getting better." What has kept the Braves ahead of the pack, besides Rampino's pitching? "Our team unity is the best its ever been," she said. "Everyone wants to play for one another." Rampino, who has the same record as the Braves (now, 18-4 after a nondivision win over Jackson, 6-1, Saturday), is having her finest season. Her 18 wins are tied for second best in the Shore Conference and best in Monmouth County. The senior's 252 strikeouts are third best in the conference and she has a paltry earned-run average of 0.75. Danielle LaCugna (14 RBIs, three home runs), Jill Kwiatkowski (.424, 122 runs scored and 22 hits), Deanna Daluise (16 RBIs), Danielle Colagera (16 runs scored) and Nicole Gurrieri (27 hits) have sparked the Brave offense. Manalapan's defense has been rock solid all year. It's now onto the state playoffs for the Braves and Colts Neck Cougars (17-6), the only teams to qualify from the Freehold District. Both are in the Central Jersey Group IV section. Colts Neck, while disappointed at not getting at least a share of the division title (its two losses to Manalapan is what did the Cougars in), did achieve its goal of making a run at the title and establishing itself as one of the best teams in the Shore. Pitcher Nicole Wisniewski keeps progressing and has become one of the Shore's best. She trails only Rampino in the county in wins (17) and is fifth in the Shore in strikeouts (234) and has a stingy 0.80 ERA of her own. Kate Kuzma is having a huge season at the plate. She's batting .439 and is among the Shore leaders in hits (36), doubles (nine), triples (four), home runs (two), RBIs (18) and runs scored (22). Before the state playoffs roll around at the end of the month, there will be the Shore Conference Tournament, which both Manalapan and Colts Neck will be in.