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Tooth Fairies outslug Sluggers
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Syosset-Woodbury Park 16 June 2009—A spectacular ending to the 2009 Pony League season was witnessed by a crowd estimated at close to 100 people here tonight as the Syosset Tooth Fairies (9-0-0 in the regular season) faced the FirstService Sluggers (7-0-1) in the Pony League Playoff Championship. It was a beautiful night for softball in Syosset, a rarity of late. These two first-place finishers played stellar defense that kept the crowd on the edges of their seats for six innings.
It wasn't simply exciting. It was fast and furious. The game actually ended early enough to allow the Junior League Championship game, which began at HBT and ran into a little darkness after four innings, to move to the Park to finish up the game under the lights. Commissioner Gabe D'Auria said later that his Championship game was over before the lights even came on.
SYAC Congratulates both these teams, their coaches and parents for their hard work and dedication all season long. You don't get to the Championship without working hard, like Jennifer Swing, shortstop (left) and Gabrielle Lindenman, pitcher's helper (right), in the photo above, being awarded Most Valuable Player game balls by Pony League American Division Commissioner Gabe D'Auria, who said they put on a defensive display that was like a magic show.
A special mention must be made here on behalf of the dedicated and courageous work done by Pony League National Division Commissioner Scott Wiseman, who had to cope with an outpouring of misplaced agression by a small but vocal group of parents in the division whose girls also played soccer, when that group decided to hold its tryouts in the middle of our only available playoff week. Without Scott's work with the Syosset Soccer Club (who we thank for their understanding of the situation) and our head of umpires, Ed McKeown, our season could have likely ended without these exciting playoffs, which, after more than 40 years, is something of a ritual in this community. Thanks to all the cooler heads. You prevailed! Finally, we'd like to thank the amazing crowd that came out to cheer on these two teams, and our umpire, who called a great game. Thanks to one and all and see you next year! Story by SYAC pool reporters. Photos by Roger Mummert.
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