Merrick Madness wins opening round of softball regionals

The Merrick Madness 12-year-old softball team took its opening game in the East Coast Region Tournament of Champions in Albany this weekend, defeating Pennsylvania, the reigning regional champion, 3-1, according to parents on the team.

And no wonder. Less than 24 hours after defeating Garden City South in Canastota, N.Y., to become New York State champions this past week, the Merrick Madness squad went straight back to work.

That is why the majority of the team of 11- to 13-year-olds was to be found back on the softball field for a 6 p.m. practice at Levy-Lakeside Elementary School in Merrick on July 29, preparing for the regional tournament.

The practice was headed by Rachel Barry, who trains the team with manager Maria Imhof and coaches Cliff Rasulo and Rob Mascia.

The team was in high spirits, basking in their state championship victory. "That last out of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, all of us jumping for joy, it was the greatest feeling in the world," Barry said.

Despite the long hours spent traveling this past week, the girls remained relaxed and loose, and, they said, prepared for the road ahead.

"It's going to be like every other game," said Joanna Marmo, the team’s primary catcher, of the upcoming regional tournament. "We're just going to be playing kids with different jerseys and from different states. We can beat them easily."

But the girls know that they must play to their full potential in order to succeed. "We definitely are not going to have any free rides,"said Sydney Yormack, one of the team’s pitchers. "We always have to play our best and make every play."

The girls had no time to rest as they prepared for their trip to Albany on Friday for the next round of games.

"We have to go out there knowing that we're not going to back down, that we're not going to be satisfied with just winning New York state, and that we can beat every team," Barry said. "If we believe that, then we can take this whole thing."

If you would like to make a donation to the Merrick Madness softball team to help the squad defray travel costs, contact Brooke Jones at (516) 521 - 3201.

Comments about this story? Sbrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.