Sports
Big Show of Support For NCLL Softball Team At Pep Rally
Hundreds showed up to show their support for the New City 11-12 Softball All Stars before they depart for Little League World Series.
New City Little League’s 11 – 12 Softball All Stars were paraded down Main Street to the league's home field at Zukor Park where hundreds of fans waited to show their support.
The team of 13 girls from Clarkstown, now representing the entire Eastern Region of the U.S., arrived in style. The New City Fire Department, along with escorts from the Clarkstown Police Department, drove the girls to Zukor in three of their finest engines.
“The Fire Department jumped at the chance to participate in the pep rally for these girls,” said Kenny Flynn of the New City Fire Department. “They had a blast. We hope we can drive them down Main Street again when they win the championship.”
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“The community support has been awesome,” said Manager Mike Herskowitz. “A lot of people decided to spend their evening here and support the team. I think after this, the girls may have realized, to a degree, the nature of their accomplishment.”
Town Supervisor Alex Gromack took the stage and made an unexpected proclamation. Thursday, August 4, 2011 was legally recognized as New City Little League 11 – 12 Team Day.
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“It’s amazing to think of the journey these girls have been on,” said Gromack. “It is just an incredible moment for these girls but also for the Town of Clarkstown. This is what community pride is all about. No matter what happens, they’re winners and they deserve this.”
More than $2,500 has been donated so far by local businesses to the New City Little League to help the families of the team cross the country to show their much-needed support.
“The families put a lot into this,” said Town Councilman Frank Borelli. “This has been going on since February and even back to last year when these girls got together. We are so proud of what these girls have done and we are happy to come out as a community to support them.”
The girls have to catch a flight at JFK around 10 a.m. next Tuesday. This will be their first time traveling across country as a team and they seem ready and excited.
“I am very much looking forward to the trip,” said NCLL pitcher Reese Guevara. “The plane ride might be a little crazy, we’re kind of wild. It should be a lot of fun when we get there but we know a time will come where we have to get ready and focus on baseball.”
The girls will hold at least one more practice before they make their journey across the country.
