The NHPLL Girls Majors Softball Team captured the District No. 29 Championship last week with a thrilling 4-0 victory over an exceptional Garden City South team. The enthusiastic NHP fans were out in force cheering the ladies to victory with their “thunder sticks” and blue NHPLL attire.
It was quite a pitchers duel early with NHP starter Kristen Hickey and her counterpart from GCS matching zeroes until the bottom of the 4th when the sizzling bat of catcher Mary-Kate O’Boyle rocked Pistillo Field sending the fans into a frenzy. O’Boyle launched a thunderous triple off the fence in center that scored Hickey who led off with a single. With the crowd on its feet, cleanup hitter Danielle Dziomba pulled off a surprise bunt and went straight to second on the continuation play to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Geena Fornataro got into the mix with a beauty bunt of her own to load the bases which set the stage for Danielle Fogarty’s clutch RBI single. Keeping the pressure on were Kim Spagnuolo and Jillian Sakowich who added bunt RBI singles of their own to give NHP a commanding 4-0 lead.
Hickey (6IP, 3H, 12K’s) went the distance in the circle to record her second shutout of the tournament (in which NHP hurlers tossed 2 no-hitters and did not allow a single run!) Although the pitching was certainly spectacular, the key as always was the strong defense and the fundamentally sound approach the girls take into each game. Third baseman Danielle Fogarty made a “Brooks Robinson like” stab on a scorching line drive to thwart an early rally and centerfielder Danielle Dziomba then tracked down a blast to center late in the game. With O’Boyle keeping the runners close, infielders Jillian Sakowich, Lisa Pellegrino, and Geena Fornataro each contributed with the leather in big spots.
Fittingly, throughout the tournament, there has been a new star emerging from within every game. From Sabrina Santoruvo’s clutch hitting, to Sabrina Spiridigliozzi’s pinch running and timely hitting, to Jillian Filippi’s sleek baserunning, or to the numerous bunting situations, the girls are gaining a reputation as an aggressive bunch ready to explode at a moments notice. The 2009 Girls Majors from New Hyde Park Little League are continuing the tradition of excellence on the softball field.
