STARS History

The genesis of the STARS began in 1996. Robb Sansone, who lived in Lebanon Township, was the founding father of the STARS. Robb wanted his three athletic daughters, Becky, Kaity and Tori, to play on a competitive team to showcase their softball skills. Robb played college baseball and was already familiar with the sport. He was inspired by Voorhees High School graduate and two-time Olympic Gold Medal Champion for Team USA, Michele Smith, whose dominant pitching led the United States to consecutive Gold Medals in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympic Games. Robb developed a well-seasoned coaching staff from neighboring towns to coach several teams. Within 2 years of his first excursion into competitive travel softball, the 1998 STARS 16U squad won the Mid-States Girls Softball League (MSGSL) Championship. Robb was also instrumental in creating the MSGSL with Michelle Sween in 1997. The original program name was “North Hunterdon Stars.” 

In 2010, after Robb’s daughters graduated high school, he turned the STARS program over to Tewksbury’s Paul Borsetti. Paul’s daughters, Victoria and Grace, went through the STARS program until their graduation. He officially changed the name to “Voorhees Stars” in 2011, to focus the talent pool for players in the Voorhees High School sending district towns.  Coach Paul’s players’ recipe for success on and off the field was fostered by an impressive coaching staff, including Matt Governali, John Roncoroni, Ken Steiner, and Tracy Tiger. Coach Steiner and Paul led the STARS HS Division to three consecutive MSGSL Championships from 2015-2017. 

In 2017, the STARS torch was passed onto Mario Colitti of Tewksbury, who sits on the Board of the Tewksbury Athletic Association (TAA), and whose daughter Caroline plays for his teams.  The program is no longer limited to players that hale from Voorhees High School towns, but welcomes all qualified players in the area.  We have players from Hunterdon, Morris, Warren, and Somerset Counties. The STARS are a 501(c) non-profit organization that relies exclusively on donations and volunteers.