Friends on and off the field

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Formed three years ago, it took time for the girls to gel, and this summer, the results began to show. “They came a long way to get where they are now,” said John Duhs, the team’s manager.

In the spring the girls participate individually in the East Meadow Baseball Softball Association, playing on the Merrick Avenue ball fields at the intersection of Hempstead Turnpike. Little League rules prevent the team from assembling until June 15. But after that point, said Duhs, they join as many tournaments as they can.

After returning from Fishkill, the girls were back playing games less than a week later in a Levittown tournament. Currently, the girls are one of 50 teams participating in the Summer Sizzle tournament, hosted by the EMBSA.

Off the field, the girls often join together for recreational activities, whether it’s a pool party, a beach gathering or a trip to Friendly’s for soft-served ice cream. “It’s fun because we all get along,” said shortstop Stefanie Botman, 12. “We don’t fight or anything.”

It’s that camaraderie and closeness that has translated to great success on the field. And with a L.I. championship title recently added to their palate, it would be hard to argue otherwise.

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