New City Softball All Stars Stand Out in World Series Skills Competition

Patch shares highlights of the day’s activities from a player’s perspective and parents’ observations.

Sarah Brauer…..

Our second day in Portland we made a lot of new friends. The teams from North Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, and Italy were really nice. We even started to learn a little bit of Italian and Spanish!  

In the afternoon there were opening day ceremonies and then a skills competition. The  competition was for pitching, batting, running, and a relay from outfield to shortstop to home to second.

I competed in the pitching and I won! We had to pitch it through a tire!

For batting Sara Herskowitz came in second right behind the girl from Puerto Rico who hit it over the fence.

We didn't place in the other two competitions. From this, we learned that all the teams are really good and that we will have to do our absolute best against them.

Team parents……

The girls had a ball as they taped their cameo appearances at Alpenrose Field in the morning. They're starting to have fun with the media attention!

Opening ceremonies were very touching as all the teams carried out their state or country's flag. After the U.S. national anthem was sung, each team from outside the U.S. came onto the pitcher’s mound and together sang their anthem. There was hardly a dry eye in the stands.

Following the opening ceremony was a skills competition. Sarah Brauer won the pitching contest for the most balls pitched through a tire tube. Sara Herskowitz came in second place for the longest shot in the hitting competition. A player from Puerto Rico hit a homerun, so the girls will have to be on their toes when they face her in a game!

The parents kept busy by touring the hot food spots of Portland. They ate from food trucks, which line blocks and blocks with all international cuisine for only $5! They also endured an hour's wait on line for the much anticipated, VooDoo Donuts. Every bite was worth it. The girls have some free time this afternoon, and will surely, be asking for some of these treats.

The weather here is beautiful and the girls can’t wait to start playing.

The New City Little League 11-12 are in Portland, OR for the Little League Softball World Series. They are one of 10 international teams playing in the championship. Their first game is Friday, August 12.