10U Lady Rebels Win East Meadow Fall Classic Softball Tournament

Sunday, October 26, 2014: The 10U NBNM Lady Rebels thrilled the fans in the crowded stands to become repeat champions of the 8th annual East Meadow Fall Classic Softball Tournament. The Lady Rebels outscored their opponents, the Merrick Mockingjays, 17-7 in the championship game, held at the East Meadow Complex, to win the tournament on a beautiful October day.

The Lady Rebels earned the first seed in the playoffs on account of their undefeated record during regular tournament play. The first playoff round began earlier in the day as the Lady Rebels took on the Syosset Cyclones. The Lady Rebels made short work of this first opponent, needing only four innings to “run-rule” them with a final score of 15-2. The Cyclones’ only threat came in the first inning when they loaded the bases with no-outs. But the Lady Rebels, who pride themselves on their defense, came up big with a double play started by the quick-thinking second baseman Paige Antener to squash the rally. On the next play, right-center fielder Lexi Nilsen nailed the runner trying to stretch a double into a triple with a great throw to third baseman Janaye Loforte, who applied the tag to end the inning and the threat. Pitchers Kayla Weber and Kerri Hatcliffe then combined to hold the Cyclones scoreless for the remainder of the game, with each girl striking out the side in the second and fourth innings. The Lady Rebels seemed to shock their opponents with their aggressive base running and plate discipline, as they roared ahead to score seven runs in the first inning while knocking the Cyclones’ starting pitcher out of the game. Final score: 15-2, and then our Ladies were on to the championship game after a brief rest and attack of the snack bar.

Lady Rebel veteran Ariana Sambade took the mound for the championship game against the Merrick Mockingjays. Sambade, who had confided earlier that none of her teams had ever won a championship, was particularly keyed up for the game. The Mockingjays, who had battled the Lady Rebels all summer long and were the reigning East Meadow Summer Sizzle champions, were a particularly tough opponent. Not with Sambade on the mound, however, as she mowed the Jays down one by one, taking a no-hitter into the fourth inning. By then, the Lady Rebels had already scored 10 runs and could almost taste the victory. Sambade was nearly flawless through the first three innings, and was supported by the Lady Rebels’ famous defense when she needed it, especially from second baseman Paige Antener, who was herself flawless during the game.

The Merrick Mockingjays were not down yet though, and they came roaring back in the fourth inning with seven runs of their own, knocking Sambade out of the game, and briefly making it a nail-biter. The Lady Rebels and their fans were stunned by the turn of events, but fortunately for them, it was short lived.

The Lady Rebels’ bats remained on fire, and their base running prowess and relentless base stealing continued in this championship game, despite their fourth inning blip. Casey Ward, Kylie Persamparie, Kerri Hatcliffe, Gianna Laspina, and Konstantina Sigalas each came up with big, clutch hits, with the speedy Ward singling, tripling, scoring three runs and stealing a total of six bases in the game. Persampire also excelled, with a single, double and a triple and three RBIs, while Kerri Hatcliffe went 4 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. The Lady Rebels scored three more runs in the fourth inning to increase their lead to 13-7.

Relievers Kerri Hatcliffe and Kayla Weber held the Mockingjays scoreless for the remainder of the game, with Weber striking out the last batter in the fifth inning to escape a bases loaded jam, while newcomer Danielle Biscardi expertly took over the catching duties. Again, the Lady Rebels showed off their defensive skills with nifty plays by Janaye Loforte, Casey Ward, Gianna Laspina, and Lexi Nilsen to keep the Mockingjays in check.

Coach Jared Hatcliffe gave his team a quick pep talk before the bottom of the fifth inning, imploring them to get on base “anyway” they could and finish the game. Leadoff hitter Janaye Loforte must have listened as she worked a tough, full-count walk against the Mockingjay’s relief pitcher to start the inning. Next up, Konstantina Sigalas delivered a sharp single and Dani Biscardi walked, and just like that the Lady Rebels quickly had bases loaded with no-outs. The next two batters walked and the Lady Rebels were two runs away from another “run-rule” victory. But the game was not over yet: The Mockingjay’s pitcher seemed to bear down despite the Lady Rebels’ incessant chanting, and she struck out the next two batters to keep her team’s chances alive. But up next was Mockingjay nemesis Paige Antener, who again delivered with a timely RBI single to right center. The next batter, Kerri Hatcliffe was quickly down 0-2 and it looked like the Lady Rebels would have to play the final inning. But somehow Hatcliffe managed to foul off several pitches before finally connecting for an infield single to drive in Weber. That final run scored triggered the tournament’s run rule, ending the game with the final score of 17-7. The energetic crowd, who by now were huddled together in blankets to keep warm, roared to their feet to congratulate their favorite Ladies.

East Meadow tournament director Mike Inger, who ran another great tournament, assisted NBNM coaches Jared Hatcliffe and Kevin Weber as they gave out the championship trophies to the Lady Rebels and to the gracious runners-up, the Merrick Mockingjays. The Lady Rebels’ Paige Antener was chosen as the game’s MVP.

2014 10U NBNM Lady Rebels: Janaye Loforte, Kayla Weber, Kerri Hatcliffe, Alexa Nilsen, Konstantina Sigalas, Casey Ward, Ariana Sambade, Gianna Laspina, Paige Antener, Kylie Persampire, Danielle Biscardi. Not present, Gia Miccio and Jasmine Bright. Coaches Kevin Weber and Jared Hatcliffe.