By Nancy Kriz
MONROE — They are now Monroe-Woodbury’s own girls of summer, ready to do their best to become the Little League Softball East Regional Tournament champions.
That’s because the 12 members of the Monroe-Woodbury 9-10 little league girls softball team won the New York Little League Softball Championship last weekend in West Babylon on Long Island. For the first time in Monroe-Woodbury history, a little league team - which includes boys’ baseball and girls’ softball - won a state title.
After winning District 19, Region 3 and state competitions, the 9-10 team moves onto the tournament, the league’s highest level of competition for this age group, beginning tomorrow, Aug. 8, in West Pittston, Pa. Each age division in little league baseball and softball has a different endpoint. For the 9-10 year old division, the endpoint is the regional level.
Now, they’re gearing up to face opponents representing 10 states along the East Coast. Tomorrow night, the team plays against Pennsylvania; and on Sunday, it plays Delaware. There’s a day off on Monday before playing New Jersey on Tuesday, followed by Maryland on Wednesday. Semifinals for the top two teams from each bracket are Thursday, Aug. 13, and the consolation and championship games are Friday, Aug. 14.
‘We have each other’s backs’As the team representing New York State, the girls are excited beyond belief to have this opportunity to play.
“We knew we were the best team out there representing 9 and 10-year-olds,” said Amanda Palmer.
Added teammate Brianna Roberts: “It was fun to work hard. We knew we could beat them. We have each other’s backs.”
The team is still undefeated through All-Star Tournament play, going 12-0 over the course of districts, sections and now states.
The 9-10 team follows the success of the league’s 11-12 girls softball team, the first in league history to play an undefeated season as it won its District 19 and Region 3 flags. That team placed third in recent state competition.
“They have outscored their opponents 131-8 through strong pitching and a balanced offensive effort from all girls in the lineup,” said Penny Roberts, the 9-10 team manager. “I tell them to always continue to do all the little things they do so well, and together they will do great things.”
The heart of a communityTournament play, however, comes with a financial cost. With only a week’s time between the state championship win and the onset of regional tournament play, the team has created a Go Fund Me account for raise $10,000 to assist with travel and tournament costs. As of Wednesday night, more than $4,200 has been raised.
“The league doesn’t cover this level of play, although they gave us $500 for state competition,” said Roberts. “There’s a lot of added expenses that come at the last minute. It’s been thrilling, but there’s a lot of logistics we didn’t anticipate for families. People and local businesses have been just great helping us.”
Softball became part of the Monroe-Woodbury Little League in 2011.
“It’s (the team’s advancement to this level of competition) hit me harder than I thought,” said Eric Dohman, the league’s vice president for softball, who will be attending either the Tuesday or Wednesday game. “When you sit down and think about what they’ve gone through to get to this level, it’s amazing. This team has played 12 games through three levels of tournament play and in those 12 games, they scored 131 runs and only allowed eight runs. Undefeated. The thing that really affects me and other people on the inside of this organization is how they do it. The level of sportsmanship is just through the roof.”
Dohman praised the dedication of players, coaches and families.
“It takes everybody to commit to reach this kind of level,” he added.
He, too, acknowledged that also involves a financial commitment.
“It is a ton of money,” said Dohman. “Assuming they make it to the championship game, hotel costs can exceed $8,000. We’re working hand-in-hand with Penny and team parents with these fund raisers. Our hope is that we can get the money to relieve this financial burden. It is the parents who absorb it.”
Tom Armstrong’s blue T-shirtFor the past week, the girls have been out in the Woodbury and Monroe areas with coin jars, knowing every little bit will help.
Earlier this week, for example, the girls were at Quick Check on Route 17M in Monroe at 6 a.m., busy with commuters picking up coffee on the way to work, with customers donating $300. They also were at Jay’s Deli in Highland Mills doing the same thing at lunchtime, raising another $300.
Besides that, they’re keeping a focus on staying mentally and physically sharp for the games. The strategy is a simple one: Continue to do what they do best.
“It takes a whole team to win a game,” said Jenna Matise.
“We cheer each other on,” added Anna Paravati.
“We show up early, and practice like we play,” said Emma Lawson. “If we come together as a team for every game, we’re unstoppable.”
The girls spoke of their “EC-NC” strategy, which means “externally confident, not cocky.” They talked about their “three second rule” in how they play, meaning “one second to feel bad or be mad, one second to recognize that and one second to ‘shake it off.’”
They also spoke about the good luck blue T-shirt of Hanah Armstrong’s father Tom , which has been onsite for every game this year.
“He wears that shirt to every game, it’s blue with a boat on it,” said Armstrong. “Of course, he washes it. But one game he couldn’t make it and we brought the shirt to the game and hung it in the dugout. We won.”
‘Just hit the ball’Lawson likened the team to the team in the 1992 movie “A League of Their Own,” the comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
And, of course, they adhere to Tom Hanks’ Jimmy Dugan character portrayal proclamation that there’s no crying allowed, except for the tears of joy from happy mothers.
“We’re like a family,” said Danielle Ryan. “We trust everyone to do their best.”
The girls also think it’s cool the first team to make it to this level of play is a girls team.
Understandably, they have some advice for their male little league baseball counterparts.
“Play to your hardest,” said Armstrong.
“Remember the three second rule,” Ryan said.
Maddy Bendix’s was the most direct: “Just hit the ball.”
But Dohman reminded all little league players and community residents the team’s accomplishment is more than demonstrating that doing one’s best can have positive outcomes.
It can bring together the heart of a community.
“Everyone involved in Monroe-Woodbury Little League is 100 percent behind this team,” he said. “Everywhere I’ve gone, anyone who knows anything about softball and baseball is giving me the thumbs up. It’s a wonderful community spirit right now.”