MSO Villagers Finish Successful Season

The following was submitted by Villagers coach and parent Alex Nicholas.

The 2013 Maplewood/South Orange Villagers Fast pitch girls' Middle School softball team, which plays in the Suburban League of Essex County, just finished a very successful Spring season. During the regular season, the Villagers recorded 6 wins and 3 losses.  They had some big wins, topping Millburn 17-0 and Nutley 20-2.  The team also beat Montclair 5-2 in a tight pitching duel and suffered some competitive losses to Cedar Grove and Caldwell. 

Last weekend in the single elimination playoffs, the Villagers defeated Belleville 10-7 in the quarter finals and Bloomfield 15-9 in the semifinals to advance to the Championship game against West Caldwell/Caldwell on Monday, May 20. The semi-final win against Bloomfield was most impressive as the Villagers were down 8-0 after 3 innings, but came roaring back over the next two innings to take a 15-8 lead.

The Villagers played a valiant game Monday night against the Chiefs of Caldwell, but lost in the final 7-0. The Villagers put runners on base just about every inning and hit the ball very hard against a gifted Caldwell pitcher, but unfortunately, the talented girls of Caldwell prevailed. 

The Maplewood/South Orange team is comprised of a very talented group of 7th and 8th graders- Danielle Finkelman, Sophie Fox, Maya Goldner, Catherine "Cukie" John, Addie Nicholas, Allison Pearsall, Julia Rego, Clementine Sherman, Olivia Smith, Jordan Stephan, Grace Turvey and Samantha Waldon. On the field and at practice, these girls are happy and supportive teammates, which is one of the keys to their success. 

The team was coached by Head Coach Alex Nicholas; Assistant Coach Howard Stephan and Bench Coach Cindy Sherman.