For the second year in a row New Hyde Park Little League battled South Shore Little League at their field to win the Section 5 championship.
Last year NHPLL came from behind to win in a very exciting game. This year’s game was just as exciting.
NHPLL jumped out to a 6-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning but the home team battled back.
SSLL scored four runs to get within striking distance then put the tying runs on in the last inning but pitcher Melissa Ward shut down the rally to get the win. Ward pitched a complete game striking out six for the win.
This was a great team win by NHPLL, getting contributions from everyone to get the victory.
Catcher Ann Grimshaw had two more hits but made a big impact on the defensive side in the first inning. SSLL had the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the first inning but Grimshaw fired a strike to third basemen Maggie Donnelly to pick off the runner and stop the rally.
NHPLL had excellent defensive plays from shortstop Jenny Hickey and second basemen Sophia Jacoby. In the fifth inning with SSLL making their comeback, center fielder Emma Nidermaier threw a strike to Ward on the mound who relayed to catcher Grimshaw to get the runner at the plate.
On offense NHPLL hit the ball well but SSLL made some nice defensive plays as well.
Jenny Hickey had two RBI singles for NHPLL. Ward added an RBI double. Nidermaier had two singles.
Hannah Arkin stroked a single up the middle leading off the second inning then came around to score a run. Nicole Kuzler lined a single into right center leading off the 4th inning then came around to score the 5th NHPLL run.
It was an exciting game between two very good teams. New Hyde Park moves on to the New York State Tournament in Stony Point. The winner of that tournament moves to the Little League Eastern Region tournament in Bristol, Ct.
