Sports
Down but Not Out
RVC's Williamsport girls softball team, fueled by 16-run inning, rally to defeat Lynbrook in District-30 championship.
Down 8-3 to Lynbrook after the first inning of the District 30 girls softball championship, there was no time for dread or angst in the dugout of the Rockville Centre Williamsport team. They were too busy having fun.
Their good nature was rewarded, as they busted out for a 16-run second inning to complete a sweep of the tournament and take home the title. There was never any doubt of the outcome in the dugout from the players, coaches or their manager, Tom Wagner.
"I knew we would come back, we were too good not to," he said. "It was all about having fun. As long as they have fun and enjoy it, the outcome doesn't matter. If you make the game too serious, they won't have fun, and they won't play as well and won't play for each other."
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Throughout the tournament, that theme would come to represent the championship squad. They would yell "Red Hot Chili Pepper!" during a chant every inning, something that baffled the coaches. They adorned any visible flesh with red and white face paint reading "RVC," and in one memorable instance, painted the faces of their coaching staff.
The end result of the low-pressure atmosphere, according to coach Keith Lopez, was a strong bond between the girls that created many friendships that hadn't previously existed.
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"They formed a nice little support group – they would form a circle and remind everyone what they had to do and build each others' confidence up if it was down," he said. "They were such good friends and teammates to each other it made it extra exciting. We didn't put so much pressure on them, just wanted them to learn it wasn't about winning or losing, just having a good time."
At the end of the game, it was all about the important things for children playing youth sports: the post-game snacks.
"They went nuts at the end. They were jumping around, and it was really something to see," coach Jim O'Brien said. "They acted like kids should act, it was pure joy and in the moment they were psyched that they would go to get some pizza and ice cream. Win or lose, Carvel is always there for the kids."
