Merrick Patch Orioles' Hot Bats Not Enough to Top Feisty Yankees

The Merrick Patch Orioles broke out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning yesterday, but the Yankees fought back for a 10-7 win.

The Merrick Little League girls minors softball game featured plenty of solid hitting on a warm, but windy afternoon at Old Mill Road School. 

The Orioles wasted no time getting on the scoreboard.  Tara Hagerman led off the game with a double and then Leah Kauderer reached on a single.  Following a walk to Alex Brandl, three consecutive singles from Alex Molinari, Isabella Farino and Nicole Formasano got the Orioles out to the early 4-0 lead. 

"Everybody did a really good job at the plate," Orioles coach Bob Hagerman said. 

Tara Hagerman struck out six through the first two innings, limiting the Yankees to one run on a RBI single from Marie Rose Miley.  The Orioles put two more runs on the board in the top of third to extend the lead to 6-1.  

The Yankees came out swinging in the bottom half of the inning to get themselves right back into the game.  With Danielle Slevin and Dori Mudloff on base via walks, Amanda Malandruccolo singled to load the bases for Lisa Anne Orlich. 

Orlich singled to score one run, and later hits from Rose Mehani and Tiffany Cruz knotted the score at six. 

Mudloff took over pitching duties from Julia Cuttitta in the fourth for the Yankees and immediately retired the side in order, striking out two.  

The Yankees bats stayed hot in their half of the inning against new Orioles pitcher Kauderer as they tacked on three more runs - an Alyssa Wolfson double helped the cause - to take a 9-6 lead. 

Gabby Farino smashed a double for the Orioles in the fifth to cut the margin to 9-7, but Malandruccolo would single another run in for Yankees and Mudloff struck out two more in the sixth inning to seal the 10-7 victory. 

"We came back from a 6-1 deficit and played hard," Yankees coach John Malandruccolo said.  "I'm very proud of the girls for staying it and coming back to win it."

For the Orioles, who are still searching for their first win of the season, there was plenty to be happy about despite the loss. 

"You did a really good job running the bases and made some really good swings," coach Hagerman told his team after the game. 

The Orioles will look to turn their solid play into a "W" when they take on the Cardinals tomorrow. 

(Editor's Note: We will be following the games of the Merrick Patch Orioles, a Patch-sponsored Merrick Little League team, throughout the season.  Little League coaches and parents: Send your game stories and photos to ryan@patch.com and we will feature them on the site.)