By Bob Badders - Senior Writer

     The 2008 Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup softball team had high hopes of defending its 2007 title, but was eliminated from the Carpenter Cup on Wednesday after Berks County (Pa.) handed the local all-stars their second defeat of the double-elimination tournament, 5-4, at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in Philadelphia.
     The defending champions, who were coming off an 8-3 loss to Tri-Cape of South Jersey on Tuesday, struck first with four runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Shore Regional's Tiffany Thorne led off with a walk and moved to second when Toms River East's Alyssa Paul reached on an error. A slap single to left field by Matawan's Chelsea Alston loaded the bases for St. John Vianney's Kasey Bulman. The Lancers sophomore had a phenomenal first day, going 5-for-8, and came through again with a two-run double. Shore Regional's Tracy Stern, who also had a very good day at the plate on Tuesday, followed with a two-run single that gave Jersey Shore it's 4-0 advantage. Stern stole third but was stranded there.
     Berks County slowly chipped away at Jersey Shore's lead with one run in the bottom of the third and two in the fourth. It took the lead for good in the fifth when Megan Greiss hit a two-out bloop single with the bases loaded that brought home the tying and go-ahead runs. Jersey Shore had two runners on in the top of the sixth but could not bring the tying run home.

Box Score

Berks County (Pa.) 5, Jersey Shore 4

Jersey Shore  4 5 1
Berks County 5 6 3


E-mail: badders@digitalsports.com