Washington Township’s third- and fourth-grade Tournament Team won the Park Ridge Spring Fever Tournament on Sunday, May 19 after defeating host Park Ridge, 8-3, at Colony Field in Park Ridge.
The Falcons were the No. 1 seed in the tournament, based on their stellar play in the recreation season in the Kinderkamack Softball League.
The girls opened the tournament defeating Montvale, 14-2, in their first game. OF Francesca Galiotti and 1B Shyla Shah both had three RBI in the big win. Shortstop Faith Egbert had a two RBI, single in the first inning, as Township opened the scoring. Starting pitcher Jordana Nabhani pitched two shutout innings, striking out six batters and did not allow one base runner.
In their second game of the tournament, Township defeated rival Emerson, 16-4, behind a stellar game at the plate by infielders Stella Cusato and Nora Yaremko, who had two and four RBI respectively. Infielder Charlotte Macer had two big hits in the tilt, and a hard double by Myla Ercolino broke the game open in the second inning.
Pitchers Jordana Nabhani and Myla Ercolino combined to strike out nine Emerson batters in the win.
In the tourney final, infielders Faith Egbert, Daniela DeFina, Stella Cusato, and Shyla Shah provided clutch hitting and base running to break a 3-3 tie in the fourth inning.
The hard-hitting girls gave the Falcons the offense they needed to get by a tough Park Ridge team. Faith Egbert and Jordana Nabhani each had two RBI in the game. Nabhani started the game for Washington Township, and struck out eight batters over three scoreless innings to notch the win. Myla Ercolino pitched two scoreless innings in the battle for the trophy, striking out three.
Washington Township returns to league play for the remainder of the spring season. All three of Township’s third- and fourth-grade recreation teams have secured spots in the Kinderkamack Softball League’s playoffs based on stellar play this Spring Season, and all three teams are 1, 2, and 3 in their division at the time of writing.
Coach Ray Nabhani told Pascack Press on May 21 that the township’s strong rec culture went a long way to getting these girls where they are today and where they’re going next.
He said, “A lot of these girls train year-round and some of them play club, but a majority of the girls work out together once the fall ball season ends in November right until spring season starts in late March. These girls are working out. They take it very seriously and we’re one of the better programs every year for a reason.”
Nabhani credited “teamwork, sportsmanship, dedication of the parents and coaches across the board that has township competing year after year and season after season.”
After the Falcons picked clean their tournament competition from Montvale and Emerson, they had to step it up against No. 2 seed Park Ridge, said Nabhani.
“It was a hot day and they’re playing a much better opponent. The girls had to dig deep and our pitchers — our starting pitcher, Jordana Nabhani, and our No. 2 pitcher, Myla Ercolino — did not allow any runs in the game. Jordana pitched three innings, three shutout innings with eight strikeouts; Myla pitched two shutout innings, which proved to be the difference. They just couldn’t catch up with our pitching,” said Nabhani.
Looking ahead, Nabhani said the rec program is a solid start for success-minded student-athletes. “A lot of the girls stay in recreation; they stay in town, play travel. Some of the girls do play various club programs in the area. But the majority stay in town and play travel and really play three full seasons of softball—spring, summer, and fall—and their dedication to improving, and softball, is just such a big deal in Washington Township.”
He said, “Gardner Field is our home field but you come out to any field from March through November there’s a softball game going on. We take it seriously in town, and Falcon Friday is a big thing.”
Kinderkamack softball games are scheduled for six innings. An official game is four innings (three and a half if the home team is winning). No new inning will begin after 1 hour and 30 minutes of play.
All players on the roster will bat and 10 play on the field.
The 10th player in the field must be 10 feet behind second base as a starting point and can move in on the release of the pitch.
For more information visit kinderkamacksoftball.com.
Roster
- SS/P Jordana Nabhani (4)
- 1B Shyla Shah (4)
- 3B/OF Nora Yaremko (4)
- SS/OF Faith Egbert (4)
- 3B/OF Stella Cusato (4)
- C Tessa LoRusso (4)
- P/2B Myla Ercolino (4)
- 2B Charlie Macer (4)
- SS/OF Daniela DeFina(3)
- OF/1B Frankie Galiotti (3)
- SS/OF Rosalia Reboiro (3)
- OF Nicole Breuninger (3)
Coaches
- Sean Macer
- Linda LoRusso
- Ray Nabhani
- Dana Egbert
- Andrea McNamara
Pascack Press staff report incorporates recap copyright © 2024 GameChanger Media Inc. All rights reserved. GameChanger Media Inc. is a sports technology company owned by Dick’s Sporting Goods.