Yankees Come Back to Take Game 1 of NCLL Softball Majors Finals

The Yankees fought back from a 5-2 deficit to win the first game of the New City Little League Softball Majors championship finals, 6-5, over the White Sox.

Both teams played a tough and competitive game to kick-off the finals, with solid pitching facing excellent hitting and base-running, although hurt by some errors on both sides. The two teams battled it out throughout the morning, with the White Sox taking an early lead in the top of the third.  This lasted until the bottom of the fifth, when #32 Sara Herskowitz batted in the tying and winning runs for the Yankees.

The Yankees started off the game strong, not allowing any runs in the top of the first, and then scoring two off two base hits.  The White Sox battled back in the top of the second to tie it up, 2-2.  They then played excellent defense to keep the Yankees from scoring in the bottom of the second to set themselves up for the top of the third.

The White Sox then took the lead in the top of the third, when #5 Cyd Rosenberg brought home a runner on second with a single to put them in the lead, 3-2.  Then, with two on and two out, #10 Carly Amatuzzo hit a shot to center that turned into a double on an overthrow to first.  This final hit of the inning brought home the two runners to make the score, 5-2.

This brought the game to a scoreless stretch, as the White Sox buckled down defensively to maintain their lead against the Yankees, who in turn kept themselves in the game with their own excellent defense.  Leading the two teams on their defensive runs were pitchers #5 Cyd Rosenberg for the White Sox and #15 Reese Guevarra for the Yankees.  This continued until the bottom of the fifth, when the White Sox got into a couple of dangerous situations, with four walks in the inning.

The Yankees, who are no stranger to come-from-behind wins, capitalized on the White Sox difficulties again and again throughout the inning.  After striking out one, the White Sox walked two, which brought up #9 Sophia Giglio.  She connected and hustled to beat the throw to first and load the bases.  The White Sox then walked in a run for the third walk of the inning.  

Guevarra then came up with a single to bring home one, though the White Sox recovered to make the play at third.  Unfortunately for them, they then walked the next batter to load the bases and bring up #32 Sara Herskowitz.  After taking one ball, she hit a double to bring home two runs and put the Yankees in the lead, 6-5.  The White Sox fielded a shot up the first base line well to get out of the inning.

The White Sox fought back hard in the top of the sixth, with an error off a powerful line drive by Amatuzzo, to give her a double.  The Yankees settled down after this and focused to field the next three hits for outs and secure their win.

The exciting first game of the series was characterized by excellent offense on both sides.  Solid pitching for the two teams was backed up by some great fielding, though both the White Sox and Yankees had some difficulties with overthrows.  Despite some errors, both sides were able to play an excellent and competitive game, after which everyone is sure to be looking forward to watching game two.

"What won it today is the same thing that wins it every time," said Coach Salmon, "we get a lot out of the bottom of our batting order, they hung in there for our best hitters to come up, which allowed Herskowitz to get the big hit.  We really depend on every kid to be involved and get hits.  It's a team effort and they played with a lot of heart."

The Yankees and the White Sox meet again tonight at 5:30.