After a good year for the New Hyde Park Little League and the girls softball program, two girls NHPLL teams were selected to compete in the Little League Williamsport Tournament. The 11-12 year-old division (or Major’s Division) placed second in NY District 29 Williamsport Tournament and a big congratulations goes to them & their manager Kevin Mikowski. Eleven of the 12 girls on this Major’s division team will be returning for the 2014 season. We look forward to seeing them return and meeting their goals for the 2014 Little League Williamsport Tournament.
The girls 9/10 (Minor) Division entered its All-Star team into the 2013 Williamsport Tournament as well. On June 26, NHP drew Garden City South for its first game of the tournament, played at Whalen Field in Malverne. Although it was a close game, NHP fell to GCS 11-7.
The game was 7-6 in the top of the sixth inning when J. Piotrowski (GCS) hit a grand slam to take the lead 11-6 and NHP only scored one run after that. Megan Bleeker pitched two innings with three strikeouts followed by Claire Mikowski who racked up eight strikeouts. Paige Jones went 2-for-3 with a single and a triple, two runs scored, and three RBIs while Katie Hopkins had four walks and two runs scored.
NHP’s second game was on June 28 against Malverne at Rath/Pistillo Fields in Franklin Square. NHP started the game off with three singles and scoring twice.
Malverne was allowed only two hits and three runs the entire day while Bleeker again racked up 13 K’s and allowed three runs. Mikowski closed with eight pitches to retire three batters.
P. Jones again had a single and double with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI while Mikowski had a double and 2 runs scored. Katie Hopkins had 2 singles and a double and 3 RBI’s and Ashley Rullo had 2 singles and a double and scored 1 run. NHP ousted Malverne 8-3 and advance to the quarter finals to face off again against Garden City South. The winner of this game would face Franklin Square in the Semi-finals and have the chance to advance to the NY Section V Williamsport Tournament and claim the NY District 29 Championship.
NHP’s third game vs GCS was on July 2. The first inning ended 2-2 then in the 3rd GCS went up by three to make it 5-2. In the 3rd inning NHP ran through its lineup plus two more batters to take a 7-5 lead and hold GCS to no runs and only 4 batter with a total of 7K’s at this point in the game.
During the fourth and fifth innings, GCS scored one run each to tie the game 7-7. It went to the bottom of the sixth inning 7-7 tie with GCS’s Arianna Millan at the plate, bases loaded and a 0-1 count with one out. Then the sky turned a deep dark grey as the clouds pushed lower and came at us faster and faster, then a sheet of water fell like being under Niagara Falls.
The game was postponed until 4:30 the next day. Play picked up the next day, bases loaded, 1 out, 0-1 count to Millan, Claire Mikowski pitching. With the count full Mikowski through change-up to strike out Millan. Mikowski faced the next hitter who had two strikeouts and a walk in her previous at bats. NHP moved its infield up next to the pitcher and the outfield to the infield positions.
Morales swings hard and makes contact with Mikowski’s fastball. The ball hit on a line drive just squeaking between Mikowski, the shortstop and center fielder who was on second base, scoring the winning run. Garden City South won 8-7 to proceed to the semifinals against Franklin Square.
New Hyde Park took third place in the tournament. The team came close has nine of 13 girls returning to the team for the 2014 NHP 9-10 girls season.
Katie Hopkins, Marisa Ogden, Megan Bleeker and Maria Lodato who will be moving up to the Major League Softball program in 2014. The 2013 9/10 Team consisted of Manager, Bino Rullo, Coaches: TJ Jones, Mauren Ogden, George Hopkins, & Jason Torres. A special thanks to Monique Roberge for her insight, assistance and volunteering her time, the entire team of girls looks up to you, Monique. Team Members: Ashley Rullo, Paige Jones, Marisa Ogden, Katie Hopkins, Isabella Torres, Claire Mikowski, Julia Kurzrock, Emily Locker, Sophia Giamarino, Sophia Kasimatis, Erin Batting, Maria Lodato and Megan Bleeker.
