Lady Vikings Take 4th at World Series

The 16U South Brunswick Lady Vikings travel softball team recently went to Salisbury, MD to take part in this year's USSSA World Series. 

The tournament featured 20 Teams from eight different states in the 16U Division. South Brunswick posted an overall record of five wins and two losses during the week, while making the semi-finals and finishing in fourth place. 

The seeding round was two games and the team won both, defeating the Lady Wraith from Albany, N.Y., 8-7 and then blasting the First State Force from Delaware 10-2. In the double elimination portion, the Lady Vikings stayed hot by winning their first two games. 

They defeated the Firebirds from Maryland by run rule 18-0 after four innings.  They then beat the Berkley Blast from West Virginia 8-0. 

They were then defeated by their in-state rival Montgomery Mavericks 7-6 in a real thriller that came down to the final batter.  After that tough loss the girls had to compose themselves and play again immediately. 

They responded by defeating the Blue Jays Extreme from Bowie Maryland 7-1, to advance to the semi-final round.  After winning five of their first six games in the tournament, the girls ran out of gas and were beaten by the Long Island Saints from New York. 

The team finished with the best run differential of any team in the tournament.  Autumn Sharkey threw two shutouts in the tournament and Jenny Hamilton was 12 for 23 with a .522 batting average in the seven games. 

Gina Tartza, Amanda Fisher, and Callie Hamilton provided the power, as they each had several extra base hits. Ashley Von Horn was a catalyst from the leadoff spot, getting timely hits and stealing bases. 

Casey Notarianni was automatic at second base and also had many key hits at the plate.  Jenny Miller, Sydney Demkowicz, and Nicole Mondragon all played excellent outfield and also contributed to the offense with big hits. 

Kristen Miele also pitched well and was the second half of the one-two punch in the circle for the team. The girls had an awesome season and look forward to playing 18U Ball in the fall and next summer. 

The team is Coached by Mike Hamilton, Rich Fisher, Patti Notarianni, and Bea Miele.

--Submitted by South Brunswick 16U Lady Vikings