New City's World Series Hopes Crushed

New City Little League’s 11-12 Softball All Stars lost to the Asia Pacific representative from Muntinlupa Little League in the Phillipines, 4-3, in what was a must--win game in the Little League World Series at Alpenrose Stadium in Portland, OR, Sunday.

Jayde Marks drove a single into right field with runners on first and second. Jamie Del Rosario, who was advancing to third on the play, noticed a wayward throw from Asia-Pacific’s right fielder and sprinted home to score the game’s first run.

Gaby Palumbo dropped down a bunt scoring Madison Borenkoff and Reese Guevara’s single drove in Marks as part of a 3-run second inning for New City.

“The girls actually hit pretty well today,” said New City Manager Mike Herskowitz. “Reese pitched great, we hit well but we didn’t hit enough to get her the win she deserved.”

Guevara’s first pitch of the third inning was singled softly to center. Guevara walked the next batter and Asia Pacific took advantage. After three singles, none of which were hit hard, and some sloppy fielding New City found themselves trailing 4-3 after three innings. Despite giving up the lead, Guevara proved that her confidence was unshaken; the next five outs were strikeouts.

“Reese is a competitor,” said Herskowitz. “There is no quit in her. When things don’t go her way she tends to bear down and play better.”

New City’s bats were nowhere to be found in the third and fourth innings, but in the fifth, Taylor Adolff ripped a leadoff double down into left field. Deana Prochnau came in as a pinch runner and advanced to third on a Sara Herskowitz sacrifice fly to center but neither Melanie Lerche nor Sarah Brauer were able to bring the runner home.

“Their hits had eyes and ours didn’t,” said Herskowitz. “We were hitting the ball just as well but theirs were falling into the right spots.”

New City fought hard throughout the summer to reach a level that no other New City Little League Softball team has ever reached. The talent level of the young New City ladies was right on par, or possibly better, than most of the teams they faced.

“Being able to watch every pitch and every play has been a privilege for me. It’s really been something special. These girls will always remember that they secured a top ten spot in the world and they really accomplished something special.”

New City will continue to play for the next few days in an attempt to finish fifth in the world in 2011 Little League Softball. The championship dream may be gone this year but New City’s effort will not waiver.

“Out of respect to the girls, the game of softball and the tournament, we must give our best effort in our remaining games,” said Herskowitz. “I am excited to see how they play and how they bounce back.”