The New Hyde Park all-star girls softball team enjoyed several moments of fame – and some face time with New York Met’s third baseman David Wright – as guests of the Mets at Citifield Stadium last Wednesday night .
The players and coaches were introduced to the crowd at Citifield in a pre-game event on the field before the Mets played the Philadelphia Phillies.
As they stood in a group behind home plate facing the stands, a video cameraman captured the moment and their image flashed on the scoreboard screen at the big ballpark as a public address announcer recounted the exploits of their season.
That account included their victories in the New York State little league softball championship and their subsequent triumph as eastern regional champs that took them to the Little League Softball World Series in Portland last month.
“I’ve always wanted to be on the scoreboard,” said centerfielder Emma Nidermaier, smiling.
The 11- and 12-year-old girls on the team were all smiling and visibly excited about being in the spotlight and being on the field while the Mets and Phillies took batting practice. They said it definitely topped the experience they had two years ago when they were also recognized for their post-season run in winning the equivalent of the world championship in their division.
“It was exciting. This time we got to go on the field and meet the players,” said first baseman Kayla Fitzpatrick.
The players said it was exciting to have their pictures flashed on the big scoreboard at Citifield, adding some lustre to their trip to the world series.
“They gave us a ceremony. They didn’t do that last time,” said pitcher Jenny Hickey.
“It was cool being on that,” said outfielder Gabby Morales, pointing at the scoreboard screen, “and meeting the players. And it was cool going through the VIP entrance.”
“It was a lot more fun because we went further and we got more recognition,” said third baseman Maggie Donnelly.
The players all agreed that their time on the field was much longer and better than two years ago.
Fitzpatrick, Hickey and Donnelly said Wright, who several girls singled out as their favorite ballplayer, remembered the team members from their previous visit. He spent time talking with them, asking them about their experience of playing in the Little League Softball World Series in Portland.
Mets outfielder Mike Baxter also spoke with the New Hyde Park all-stars about their memorable season.
“I think it was cool to interact with the players and have them ask us questions,” said pitcher Melissa Ward.
Slugging catcher Ann Grimshaw agreed the experience was “ much cooler” than the team’s previous guest appearance because they were able to talk to the players.
They didn’t succeed in drawing the attention of Mets knuckleball pitching star R.A. Dickey. But that wasn’t for lack of trying.
As Dickey was being interviewed by reporters with knuckleball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, the girls chanted “Dickey, Dickey, Dickey,” but the pitcher didn’t acknowledge them
They did drew attention from several of the Phillies, as Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and manager Charlie Manuel all signed autographs for the girls, who came equipped with softballs and baseballs for that purpose.
“Just to be face-to-face with somebody who plays in the major leagues. You want to be in that position,” said outfielder Nicole Kuzler.
New Hyde Park team manager Tom Donnelly said the best part of the evening for him was “just watching the girls with ballplayers.”
The game started ominously for the Mets as Rollins led off with a home run. But the Mets tied the score in the third inning and Wright put the Mets ahead, 2-1, with a home run blast to right field in the sixth and the softball stars jumped up and yelled joyfully as their favorite player rounded the bases.
