Sports

State Champs: Merrick Madness Softball Team Bats its Way to Little League Crown

Merrick's 12-year-old softball team beats Garden City South 13-6 Wednesday.

The Merrick Madness 12-year-old softball team may need to change its name to the Merrick Superstars.

The Madness rolled to a 13-6 victory over Garden City South Wednesday evening to win the New York State Little League Softball Tournament in upstate Canastota.

The tournament began with six teams, but in the end, it came down to a matchup of the two Long Island powerhouses.

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Garden City entered the game with a 3-0 record in the tournament, including a hard fought 4-3 extra inning win over Merrick on Sunday. 

But the Madness easily avenged that defeat on Wednesday, putting up 13 runs, four more than the team scored in its first three games of the tournament combined.

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So the Merrick girls now have what they want:  They don't have to go home.

Instead, the team will head to Albany for the start of the regional playoffs on Saturday, when the Madness will take on Pennsylvania at noon.  If Merrick stays hot in Albany, it's on to Portland, Oregon for the Little League Softball World Series.

The Merrick Madness team: Kacie Badolato, Nicole Imhof, Meredith Jones, Samantha Klein, Joanna Marmo, Jessica Mascia, Missy Mavrogian, Kelly Rasulo, Carly Steffen, Cora Travaglione, Jordan Walley and Sydney Yormack.

The Madness is managed by Maria Imhof, along with coaches Cliff Rasulo and Rob Mascia and their best friend, Rachel Barry.

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