Welcome to the live blog of the opening round of the 2012 Little League Softball World Series. We will be updating you constantly on how the New Hyde Park 11/12 Girls Softball team is faring against their opponents, the Asia Pacific champions in the first game.
The games are also being broadcast live over the internet at the Softball World Series website, but there is a charge for viewership.
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Hi everyone, welcome to our live blog – we're just waiting for the game to start in Portland. The current game time weather conditions are 73ºF and is supposed to warm up as we get into the game, it is partly-cloudy, wind is out of the north at 7 mph and humidity is 53 percent.
3:56 p.m. – the grounds crews are just coming off of the field and the New Hyde Park girls are taking their warmups on the field.
Jenny Hickey will be the starter for New Hyde Park and is taking her throws.
Top 1st Inning
The New Hyde Park girls are coming into the circle and we are ready, here in Portland. Leading off for A-P is Legassi a righthander and the first pitch is high for ball 1.
called strike 1. 1-1.
Line drive down the first base side, fair for a hit, runner on first.
called strike 2, 1-2.
pitch is fouled over the backstop. Swing and a miss, strike 3, one out.
A-P 1B takes a pitch high, ball one.
strike down the middle, 1-1.
A-P cleanup hitter steps in. First pitch is low, 1-0.
bunt to hickey, throw over to first with an assist from 2B Jacoby is in time, 2 outs.
Hickey goes 2-0. strike, throwdown to second hits the runner and runner advances. 2 balls, 2 strikes, runner on second. Pitch is hit foul.
2-2 pitch is down low, NHP catcher Grimshaw scoops it out.
full count, 2 out, line drive one hopper to the second baseman Jacoby on a one hopper for the third out.
End of first.
Bottom of the 1st.
Lagasby will be the starter for A-P, she is taking her warmups.
Leading off for NHP will be 1B Kayla Fitzpatrick a righty. First pitch is high. Second pitch taken on outside for strike one. 1-1 is flied to center and the CF makes a falling-down catch, but the umpire rules no catch and must have rolled out of her glove. Coaches are on their way out to question the call. After consulting, Fitzpatrick has a triple and Hickey comes to bat.
Hickey up to bat, first pitch taken for strike, squaring to bunt. bunted down third baseline, thrown down to first, not in time, run scores, Hickey on first with a base hit. Fitzpatrick stays on third. A-P brings infield in.
Ward up to bat. Hickey takes off for second, stolen base. Runners on second and third, no outs. 1-0 pitch is taken outside, 2-0. Next pitch is on outside corner, 2-1. Count goes 3-1 and taken by Ward for a full count. Grounder to the pitcher, turns and fires to first, and A-P can't hold onto the ball, Ward safe at first, takes off for second and the ball dropped again. Fitzpatrick and Hickey score for NHP
NHP leads 2-0
Cather Annie Grimshaw at the plate now. First pitch taken for a strike. 0-1 pitch up high to even at 1-1. Count goes 2-1 on ball high. 2-1 pitch is fouled back to the screen. Again pitch is high, full count for the second pitcher in a row. Pitch is low for ball four. Grimshaw walks.
3B Maggie Donnelly is now up to bat. PR for Grimshaw is Nicole Kesler. First pitch is high for ball one. Ward taking a lead at second as outfield plays deep. Pitch is taken for a strike, 1-1. Swing and a miss, strike two on Donnelly. Pitch is hit, skied to shallow left for the first out.
Morales at bat now. First pitch is high for ball one. Swing and a miss, 0-2. Hit and skied to centerfield for the second out.
RF Hanna Arkin steps in with runners on first and second, two outs. First pitch is outside for ball one. Next pitch is taken for strike one. 1-1 is bounced, runner on second was going and has stolen third and it is a double steal. Pitch is low to go 3-1 on count. 3-1 is way outside for ball four, bases loaded.
2B Sophia Jacoby is up now. Jacoby takes a called strike. She is the 8th batter in the inning. Fly ball falls foul down the left field line, 0-2. Pitch is taken for ball one, 1-2. 1-2 pitch is swung on and missed, strike three.
2 Runs, 3 hits, 1 error.
End of First.
Top of the 2nd
A-P SS will lead off. Swing and a miss on an offspeed pitch by Hickey, 0-1. strike 2 called. Third pitch is grounded up the middle for a base hit.
A-P LF is up now. Squares to bunt, right over to first, Hickey throws to first as runner advances, sacrifice successful.
A-P 2B at the plate. First pitch taken for a strike. 0-1 pitch swung on and fouled at the plate, 0-2. Neext pitch is low, 1-2. Throw over to second to check the runner back. Line drive one-hopper to shortstop, takes a swipe at the runner before throing to first for the out. 2 out, runner at third.
A-P CF now up. Swing and foul at the plate. Bunt popped up and fouled away, 0-2. Pitch is high and away, Grimshaw hangs on to it. Next pitch is high again, 2-2. High again to run the count full. Hickey calls for a new ball. Pitch is high for the first walk of the game for A-P. Runners on first and second as A-P No. 9 hitter comes up.
Throw to second as runner takes off, Ward with the tag gets the third out.
Bottom of the 2nd
NHP CF Emma Nidermaier will lead off. First pitch is high and outside, 1-0. Taken for strike 2 as she squares to bunt. 1-1 pitch is taken high, ball two. Count levels at 2-2 on a called strike. NHP is making the oppoosng pitcher work and throw a lot here. Ball is low for a 3-2. Pitch is fouled off. Pitch is low again as she issued a walk.
Fitzpatrick comes up and steps into the box. Had a triple her last time up as the outfield backs up. Bunt is laid down a Nidermaier takes off and gets to second, pitcher throws over to first, sacrifice successful.
Jenny Hickey is at the plate now. Fouls the first pitch off, 0-1. Choppes a pitch foul past the third base coach, 0-2. Pitch chopped to thirdbaseman, fires it past the firstbaseman as Nidermaier scores and Hickey ends up on second on the errant throw.
NHP - 3-0
Ward up at bat. She reached on an error on the first. Comebacker to the pitcher, out at first.
Grimshaw now batting. Runner at third. First pitch is high for ball one. Even count at 1-1. Next pitch is way high for ball 3. Line drive on the ground to short, no play for an infield single as Hickey scores.
NHP leads 4-0
3B Maggie Donnelly is up now. First pitch taken for a strike. 0-1 is fouled off for strike two. Pitch is up high to go 1-2. Rolls a grounder for a wild pitch as Grimshaw heads down to second. 2-2- pitch is a pop fly, shortstop and secondbaseman converge, both miss it, and it ricoches, Grimshaw scores, Donnelly ends up at second.
NHP leads 5-0
Gaby Morales is now in the box. First pitch is low for 1-0. NHP has scored 3 in this inning. Count evens 1-1. Grounder past the 1B into right field, Donnelly rounds third and will score all the way from second.
NHP leads 6-0
Katie Kabritty (no. 2) will run for Morales.
Hanna Arkin will now bat. She bunts the first pitch foul. Kabritty steals second. Count on Arkin is 1-1, swing and a miss. Pitch is down low for another ball, running the count full. Hit over third base into left, Kbritty scores the fifth run of the inning, no play on coming home.
NHP leads 7-0
Sophia Jacoby now steps in. Skies the first one foul. She is the ninth player to come to bat this inning. Pitch is low, Arkin takes off and is safe as the ball trickles into the outfield and she will advance to third. Strike two called, count 1-2 on Jacoby. Swing and a miss
5 R, 3 H, a few errors and 1 LOB
Top of the 3rd
A-P RF leads off. Their bullpen is busy now. First pith from Hickey is a strike. Count now evens 1-1. Line drive to center for a base hit.
A-P pitcher Lagasby is up for the top of the order. Grounder to short, off her glove, everyone safe. First error for NHP.
A-P batter steps in, first pitch is high and in as the batter ducks out of the way. Lined into center for a basehit, thrown into Grimshaw to hold the runners, bases loaded with no outs.
A-P No. 3 batter takes a ball low, 1-0. Next pitch is high from Hickey, 2-0. grounder to 2B, flip for one out, run scores.
NHP leads 7-1
A-P batter Grace Stevens is now up in the cleanup spot. Shows bunt as the runner takes second. Line drive off Hickey's glove, into center, one run scores.
NHP leads 7-2
NHP taking a conference at the mound.
A-P Mia Lorelle is up with runner at first. Pitch taken for a strike, Stevens steals second to put runners at second and third with one out. Swing and a miss to go 0-2 on an offspeed pitch. Foul to keep it 0-2. Pitch is grounded to 2B, throw to first to get the out, run scores.
NHP leads 7-3
A-P LF swings and misses to go 0-1. Runner at third with two out. Next pitch is high, 1-1. Pitch is low and in, 2-1. Swing and a miss to even it at 2-2. Pitch is low to go full. Pitch is layed in for a called strike 3.
3 R, 2 H, 1 E and 1 LOB
Bottom of the 3rd
SS Mia Loralle is now pitching for A-P as P Lagasby is now playing short.
Pitch to Kunsler is high for ball one. Count goes 2-0. Swing and a miss as the count evens 2-2. Pitch is high and count goes full. Pitch fould off to stay alive. Another foul back to the screen. Pitch is low for ball four and NHP gets the leadoff walk.
Kayla Fitzpatrick is up at the plate now. First pitch is taken for a strike. Nidermaier PR steals second. Swing and a miss for Fitzpatrick in an 0-2 hole. 0-2 is skied up and foul as the count holds at 0-2. Fly ball to the shortstop who puts it away for the first out.
Hickey comes up now. Pitch gets away from the catcher as Nidermaier heads down to third. 0-1 to Hickey is taken low. Pitch is taken for a strike, count goes 1-2. Pitch is high and outside to even count at 2. Pitch is way high to run it full. Payoff pitch is right down the middle for a called strike three.
Ward now steps up. Nidermaier is still on third. First pitch is a ball outside. Next pitch is low, 2-0. Outside and high to go 3-0. Strike one called. Ward fouls it straight up leaning toward the thirdbase side. High and outside for ball four. That is the second walk fo the inning as time is called.
Grimshaw is now up. She is 1-1, with a walk and a hit. Ward takes off as the first pitch is a ball. Next pitch is outside, 2-0. Count runs 3-0 on a pitch low. Up high, ball four as the bases are loaded on walks.
Maggie Donnelly will come up to bat. First pitch is high, 1-0. Next pitch is high again and away, 2-0. Down low and A-P is one ball away from walking in a run. 3-0 is taken for a strike, 3-1. Snap throw down to third, Nidermaier gets back. Lined to the firstbaseman who makes the play for the third out.
0 R, 0 H, 0 E and 3 LOB
Top of the 4th
A-P had a PH for the leadoff spot here. Strike called on a pitch right down the middle. Next pitch is way high, 1-1. Hickey is still in the circle as the pitch is low, 2-1. A changeup is a called strike 2. Swing and a miss, for the first out. That is Hickey's third strikeout on the game.
Claire Hickens will now bat for A-P and takes the first pitch for a strike. A foul at the plate pushes the count 0-2. Pitch is skied to right and NHP can't make the play so she will get a basehit.
No. 9 hitter for A-P is now up. A-P will have a PR - Sabina Bitong. Swing and a miss on the pitch, 0-1. Bunted and the runner is safe at first for a hit. That ball just stopped rolling at home plate.
Swing and a miss to the new batter. Another swing and a miss for the batter, 0-2. Another swing and a miss, the batter way way ahead of that. Two away.
A-P batter gets a line drinve to center for a basehit single and a run scores. Runners at the corners.
NHP leads 7-4
A-P catcher is now at bat, takes the first pitch for strike one. A chopper at the plate, foul, 0-2. Changeup is low but now we have a rundown as A-P runner at first took off for second with two runners on base at second, now she's in a rundown and trying to head back to first. The runner on second takes off for third, now the firstbaseman fires over to third for the third out and A-P runs itself out of the inning.
Bottom of the 4th
Gabby Morales is scheduled to lead off. She is 1-2 on the afternoon. A-P has some defensive adjustments. Claire Stevens to RF and a new 2B. Count is 1-1 on an inside pitch. Line drive between right and center - it's going to go all the way to the fence, Morales hesitates around second, long throw and she is out at third trying to reach.
RF Hannah Arkin is up and she takes a pitch low for a ball. Another low and away, count run to 3-0. Pitch is taken for a strike. On the outside corner for a full count now, 3-2. Skied a pitch foul over thirdbase side. Called strike three on outside corner. Two outs now.
Katie Jabrighty, aka "Tubbs" is now batting for Jacoby. Pitch is way inside for a ball. swing and a foul back to the screen for 1-2 count. Pitch is up high and awy to even the count at 2. High again for ball 3. 3-2 pitch is called on the outside corner.
Top of the 5th
A-P catcher leading off the inning, reaching on a base hit and FC previously. Grounder to third for the 6-3 out. One pitch and one out.
Grace Stevens up for A-P now, is 1-2 on the day. Swing and a miss on a changeup. Pitch is high as count evens 1-1. Ball called followed by a low and away, 3-1. pitch is low for ball four and she just pulled a Ty Cobb and moved all the way down to second with no one watching her!
The pitcher for A-P is not at the plate and takes a strike. Grounder right back to the pitcher, throw over to first, 1-3 as the runner advances to third.
A-P LF next at bat, she swings and misses high. Next pitch is taken for strike two. Sing and a miss at a very high pitch from Hickey to end the inning.
Bottom of the 5th
A-P makes more changes as the C goes to P, changes at 3B and SS as well.
Emma Nidermaier will reenter and leadoff the inning for the East. First pitch is a strike. Bunt fair down thirdbase and speeds down the first baseline for an infield hit.
Kaylay Fitzpatrick and the top of the order is up. She has a triple, sacrifice and lined out to short. Nidermaier takes off and runs toward second on the pitch as it gets away from the catcher while the thridbasecoach signals and Nidermaier is now on third. 1-0 to Fitzpatrick. Infield in, fly to center and tagging is Nidermaier who scores.
NHP leads 8-4
Jenny Hickey now steps in with one out and no one on. Pitch is high. Count even 1-1 on a foul toward thirdbase stands. Pitch is low and in the dirt, 2-1. Pitch is low, 3-1. Pitch is grounded right back to the picher, who tosses over to first for the out.
Melissa Ward is up. Pitch is low and outside. 1-0 is fouled back off the umpire's mask. Another foul over to the thirdbase stands. 1-2 now, straight up in the air and the catcher has no play. Pitch is down low to even it at 2-2. Count full on a pitch up in the zone. Pitch is skied over to third territory, the thirdbaseman follows it but has no play. Another foul out of play, count remains full. Pitch is grounded foul toward thirdbase. Seventh pitch of the AB coming up, line drive over the centerfielder's head and Ward misses first base and goes back, playing it safe.
Grimshaw up now. Sophia Jacoby will PR for Ward. Grimshaw has a few walks as well as a hit and run scored. She hits one straight away center, Jacoby rounds third and scores as Grimshaw stops at first.
NHP leads 9-4
Meagan Donnelly swings and misses at the first pitch. She is 0-2 as she fouls one back. Next pitch is low for a ball, 1-2. Ball is flied to right, it bounces past her, grimshaw rounds third and will score, Donnelly will head to third with an RBI triple.
NHP leads 10-4
Gabby Morales is now up to bat. Still two out. Pitch is fouled back. Catcher is having some trouble with her mask and makes some adjustments. Next pitch is low for ball one. Swing and a miss to go 1-2. Grounded to short, it tossles off her glove and she won't have a play as another run scores.
NHP leads 11-4
RF Hanna Arkin will take to the plate now. First pitch is taken for a strike. Pitch is up high, 1-1. High pitch for another ball, 2-2. For all of you wondering, the mercy rule is a 10-run lead. Strike three called to end the frame.
4 R, 4 H, 1 LOB
Top of the 6th
A-P is down to their final 3 outs in the game. Magaset returning to lead off the inning, representing the bottom third of the order and she is quickly 0-2 from Hickey. Foul ball. Line drive into right and it's charged by Arkin and thrown into first and sthe runner is out on a 9-3 call.
Hickey grabs a come-backer and throws over to first for the second out.
Line drive one hopper to the shortstop and she throws over to first for the final out and the East wins the game.
The East now has a 1-0 record in Pool B, while Asia Pacific falls to 0-1. The East will take on Canada tomorrow at 10 a.m PST, 1 p.m. EST.
Once again your final score is NHP 11, A-P 4.
