DOWNTOWN

POST NYC

News and Events
in Lower Manhattan




Volume 1, No. 97 July 28, 2014



FIRST TIME EVER: DOWNTOWN LITTLE LEAGUE JUNIORS AND 11'S WIN
NEW YORK STATE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THEIR AGE GROUPS


The Downtown Little League Juniors won the New York State Softball
Championship on Saturday. On the team: Morgan O'Mara, Emily
Samar, Brooke Kirwin, Sophia Marino, Ava Villalba, Annalisa Valdivia,
Ava O'Mara, Zoe Morrison, Amy Lischin, Kellin Hostler-Burrows.
What a difference three years can make. To anyone who has ever thought about giving up, here's a
story.

On July 27, the Downtown Little League Junior softball team (ages 12 to 14) beat Haverstraw, 7 to
6, to become the New York State champions. On July 28, the DLL 11's softball team beat Pearl
River, 3 to 2, in extra innings, to become the New York State champions in their age group.

But these aren't just scores.
"Just three years ago we decided to enter the now Juniors girls into the Little League post-season 10-
11 tournament," said Scott Morrison, coach of the 11's team. "We made it to the Sections [playoffs]
because there were no teams in the district of Manhattan to play [against]. Our first game in the
Sections was against South Shore Little League in Staten Island. They destroyed us. They were
beating our team so badly that the large outfield score board was turned off after the 1st inning in
sympathy."

The game was called off after four innings.

"The coaches (I was one) and the majority of the girls on that team never looked back and never
gave up," Morrison said. "Three years later, they win the New York State Championship! It's quite
an accomplishment."

Beginning this Friday, Aug. 1, the Juniors will go to West Haven, Conn. to play the winning teams
from eight other states for the Eastern Region softball title in their age group. Should they win, they
would go to Kirkland, Wash. for the televised "World Series."

The game against Haverstraw that clinched the New York State title for the Juniors was indicative of
the grit that they bring to their play. They were down 4-3 by the end of the first inning. The game
seesawed back and forth and was tied 6 to 6 until, in the 6th inning, Morgan O'Mara scored what
proved to be the winning run. Her twin sister, Ava O'Mara, got Haverstraw to pop up with what
would have been the tying run at second base, giving Downtown Little League New York City's
first-ever girls' New York State Little League softball championship.
"We always tell the girls that it is a long game and to hang in there," said Joe Marino, who coaches
the Juniors.

"We tell them to keep your heads up and be mentally tough - good things will happen as a result,"
said Morrison. "Never show fear or disappointment. We also always remind them of how proud the
coaches and parents are of them."

Morrison said that the girls are increasingly confident. "They now know they can hit any pitcher they
face no matter how fast she throws," he said. "They know that they can bounce back from errors, or
from being down five runs. They've learned never to give up in a game."

He attributes the success of the Downtown Little League girls to "mental toughness and aggressive
base running. They know to always take that next base whenever an opportunity is available. Also,
the girls make very few errors in the field versus their opposition."
Morrison said that fast-pitch softball is a game of speed. The 14-year-old girls pitch at about 55
mph. The 11's pitch in the mid to high 40's.

"Speed on the bases really separates girls who play this game," he said, "being able to have a quick
reaction and hand-eye coordination at bat and then beating the throw to first, or taking that extra
base. Our Juniors and 11s faced teams in the tournament who had several players who could slug
the ball to the fences. Where our girls excelled is in pitching and being agile and aggressive when
they got on base - taking advantage of every opportunity to take the next base."

Most of the girls started playing baseball around the age of 8, according to Marino. They moved on
to softball the next year and have been playing together ever since. All of them live below Canal
Street in Lower Manhattan. Downtown Little League's softball division grew from four teams of
approximately 40 girls four years ago to more than 160 girls today.

"You should hear the questions we receive when we came to the States, let alone Long Island for the
Sections," said Morrison. "Other team parents are astonished. 'Where do you play? There is a Little
League in Manhattan?' I think people are incredulous that we even have a Little League much less
State Champion-caliber teams."

"Call it David vs. Goliath!" said Marino of the Juniors' triumph in their division. Of the 11's win
over Pearl River to take the championship title, Morrison said, "It was an unbelievable game."

There are no more games for the 11's to play this season to prove their mettle. Whether the Juniors
win or lose in the next round, "We continue to remind them that they are already champions just by
being here at the State tournament," said Morrison.
The girls will take these wins with them for the rest of their lives, knowing that they have what it
takes to overcome anything that fate tosses at them.

- Terese Loeb Kreuzer