Jersey Shore majors have accomplished a lot
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Jersey Shore has seen a number of teams over the past few decades make it to the state tournament at various age levels. The Jersey Shore minor division, 9-11 baseball division and junior divisions have all seen teams make it to the state tournament.
But the major softball division had never been able to make that climb to get past the Section 3 tournament and reach states.
That is, until this past week. Last week, Jersey Shore's major softball program won its first ever Section 3 tournament to advance to the state tournament for the first time, doing what no other District 12 title-winning team from Shore had been able to.
"It was huge. It's a pretty good feeling and this is huge for the girls. It's extremely unbelievable for these kids to do what they've done and do it for their communities they grew up in and living in and playing sports for quite some time yet," Jersey Shore manager Justin Ulsamer said. "We've been trying to find out when last team done it, we're not sure there's been a team to go to states at this level or not yet. It's a pretty big accomplishment."
Jersey Shore's Little League softball teams have had a lot of success this century. The major softball program had won District 12 titles in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010 and 2013.
But Ulsamer and his players broke through to make history in the league.
"It's exciting, I've been around our league for several years and seeing a lot of these girls grow up in the program, it's exciting to see new faces and faces that I've seen since they were 7, 8, 9 years old all playing at a pretty high level to make it this far. It's really exciting for Jersey Shore," Jersey Shore league president Adam Wrench said. "It's exciting because it helps us try to create a little bit of a proud tradition of Orange and Black, but it gives some excitement for fans and parents and everyone in community as these girls get older."
Jersey Shore's major softball team is just the latest recently of teams reaching the state tournament at that age division.
Last year, Clinton's major softball team reached the state tournament after winning districts and sectionals and in 2019, South Williamsport made history by reaching the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon.
Regardless of what Jersey Shore does at the state tournament, they've already etched their name aside some impressive company the last few seasons.
"I think it says a lot for this small area for having that many teams in that short of a time span (reach states). I think it says a lot and it shows what kind of talent we have and how hard the girls work," Ulsamer said. "They love the sport, they work a lot, they practice hard and I think it says a lot for the District 12 area and for the teams we had and the successes they had over the past few seasons."
Jersey Shore's minor softball team also won the District 12 title this year.
Jersey Shore's major team made winning look easy in districts. Jersey Shore beat Williamsport Area and Montoursville in consecutive mercy-rule games to reach the District 12 final and then beat Montoursville in a rematch, 9-2.
In sectionals, Jersey Shore won the Section 3 title with a close 3-2 win against Towanda to secure a spot to go to Fairchance today for the state tournament.
"We're excited for the community and to see these girls get out in states and see what they can do," Wrench said. "They're one of eight of best teams in the state, it will be interesting to see how they fare, and at this point, the girls will have memories that will last them a lifetime."
Win or lose at states, the Jersey Shore major softball team already has made plenty of memories, and a little bit of history as well.
Jon Gerardi is the sports editor at the Sun-Gazette. He can be reached at jgerardi@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JonGerardi.