|
American Division |
National Division |
Pony League Links |
|
551.3332 |
287.3662 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tooth Fairies outslug Sluggers
|
|
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.
 About the Pony League... |
|
The Pony League is for girls in our community who are in 2nd or 3rd grade as of January 1st. Even though the pitching is still done by parents at this level, this is where SYAC Girls Softball begins to become competitive. Once kids hit the Pony League, many of them may have already been to camp or met kids who don't go to their schools and are thus not traumatized by being placed on a team that could potentially be made up entirely of children they have never met. At this age, we no longer honor requests to be with specific other children, which, if you think about it a while, is really is a good thing. We also do not honor requests for kids to be together for carpooling purposes (see FAQs page). At this level, SYAC Girls Softball begins to focus more on the sport than on the social aspect of the game. In setting up teams for the Pony League, we work hard to create balanced teams, rather than simply putting kids together with their friends, as we do when they're in our Instructional League. At this age, we strongly discourage parents from trying to get their children on the same teams as friends, for whatever reason. This is a competitive league, and, as such, fairness is a key to making it fun, and inclusive, for all kids. And in the course of playing a season in SYAC, strangers always become friends. The 2010 season is tentatively scheduled to begin on Monday, April 19, 2010. Registration and Evaluations take place in January. Once placed on a team, your child will be contacted by her coach sometime around the beginning of April. All games take place weeknights at 6:15pm and go until they end (6 innings) or it gets too dark or too cold to play. Cancellations due to inclement weather will be announced on the web on the home page and on this page and on the SYAC Girls Softball Weather Line (516) 733-4066. |
