The New Hyde Park Girls 12U softball team won the Franklin Square Pistillo Fall Classic Championship with a sensationally played 3-2 win over a strong Floral Park team. The girls from New Hyde Park went undefeated in the fall league then rolled through the playoffs with 4 straight single elimination game victories. NHPLL beat Roslyn, Garden City South and Hicksville before beating Floral Park in the championship game.
This NHP team had some 2010 year. They won the Bellmore Memorial Day Tournament, NJBL league championship, District 29 Championship, Section 5 Championship, New York State Championship and the Eastern Region Championship all in the 10U divisions before playing up this fall and capping a tremendous season with the fall championship. In all the team went 43-2 in 2010.
They used the same recipe for success all year, pitching, defense and aggressive base running. As they did all year, Melissa Ward and Jenny Hickey pitched lights out all fall despite having to adjust to the bigger 12 inch softball and the longer pitching distance of 40 feet. Melissa and Jenny pitched 3 innings each in the championship game allowing just 3 hits each while combining to strike out 7 batters. The defense was tremendous again. Dani Giordano threw a perfect strike from left field to 3rd baseman Maggie Donnelly to nail a runner. Later in the game Dani made a great throw to Maggie from 1st base to nail another runner. Ann Grimshaw gunned down the potential tying run in the last inning on a perfect throw to Samantha Merino covering 2nd base on an attempted steal. Hannah Arkin made a running catch in center field with a runner on 2nd to stop a rally in the 5th inning. Emma Nidermaier cut off a single to right center then threw a perfect strike to Melissa Ward who fired to Ann at home plate to get a big out in the 3rd inning. Sophia Jacoby had 2 assists at 2nd base. Jenny scored the first run of the game after a single in the first inning, then moving to 3rd on two steals before scoring on an Ann Grimshaw single. Kim Velsor scored the second run when she led off the 3rd inning with a walk, stole 2nd, moved to 3rd on a perfect bunt single by Kayla Fitzpatrick and then scored on a great base running play on a ground ball in front of the plate. Samantha Merino had 2 excellent at bats both ending in walks. In the 4th inning after Sam walked she stole 2nd, 3rd and home on a wild pitch.
The aggressive base running was the difference in every close game all year for this team. Gabby Morales and Sheila Krische played solid in the outfield all fall, backing up every play on the bases. These girls play excellent fundamental softball. They are ready to move up to the major division this coming spring.
