The New Hyde Park Girls 11/12 year old softball team opened the Little League Eastern Regional tournament with a 7-2 win over the Maryland state champs this weekend.
Melissa Ward pitched a complete game 3-hitter for the win as New Hyde Park continued their trend of early scoring, taking a 2-0 lead in the first then adding five more in the second.
Kayla Fitzpatrick led off the game with a walk as Jenny Hickey singled and Ann Grimshaw hit a sacrifice fly to give NHP the 1-0 lead. Maggie Donnelly followed with a bunt single to plate Hickey for a 2-0 lead.
In the big second inning, Hannah Arkin led off with a single and scored on a long double by Fitzpatrick, followed by Hickey getting on base. Ward then singled to left and after a walk to Grimshaw, Donnelly came up and lined a single to right center to bring home two more runs.
Gabby Morales followed with another line drive hit to center to plate another run. Ward did the rest as New Hyde Park won their first game of the tournament.
