New Hyde Park Girls Little League Shuts Out Floral Park

The New Hyde Park girls Little League team got off to a good start in the opening round of the Williamsport Tournament last Tuesday afternoon at Nuzzi Field against a solid Floral Park team. The girls, who are all seventh and eighth graders, blanked Floral Park 10-0 in a 6-inning game.

“This is basically the same group of girls who won the East Regional section 2 years ago,” said New Hyde Park head coach Tom Donnelly. “We are playing pretty much the same competition this year so I like our chances to go far in this tournament.”

The girls scored in every inning of the game and pitcher Melissa Ward recorded 12 strikeouts, holding the Floral Park batters to only one hit.

“She did a great job for us today out there on the mound," Donnelly said of Ward's performance. “We are going to be a force with her and our other pitcher Jenny Hickey.”

The only time Floral Park threatened to score was in the top of the third inning when two of their batters got on base after a walk and a single to midfield. Ward was able to maintain her composure and struck the final batter out to get out of the jam.

All of the New Hyde Park batters got into the action as the team tacked on runs in every inning. Catcher Annie Grimshaw had a big game knocking in 3 runs off of a single and a double. Left fielder Gabby Morales had a double that knocked in two runs and third baseman Maggie Donnelly had a triple in the game.

The biggest shot of the day came from second baseman Sophia Jacoby who hit an inside the park home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 6-0. She blasted the ball over the centerfielder’s head and ran around the bases to the standing applause of the New Hyde Park fans.