Jessica Hewitt knows how difficult it will be to get back to the Ocean County Tournament championship.

“It’s not a given, that’s for sure,” said the Southern Regional senior pitcher following a 10-strikeout, two-hit effort during the Rams’ 1-0 loss to Toms River East in their opener last Friday. “A lot of the teams in the county are going to be better this season, so we have to be better as well. Getting back to the championship will be really difficult.”

But as Pinelands Regional proved last season, doing so is not out of the question.