Thursday, October 1, 2026
Valley Stream Little League players received recognition from the organization at its annual awards night following the 2026 season.
The players and their families, along with VSLL coaches and officials, gathered at center court in Green Acres Mall on June 23 to celebrate the young athletes’ accomplishments. Jill Bromberg, the marketing and community relations manager for Green Acres, said it is important for the mall to support local institutions, especially those that benefit the community, such as VSLL.
“I like to think the mall is a community center,” Bromberg said. “We’re bringing the people from the community who shop here into the [mall] community to celebrate all kinds of things, and the Little League has been celebrating their annual end-of-year award ceremony for several years now, and it’s a lot of fun.”
VSLL offers baseball and softball programs for boys and girls ages 4 to 16. Players of all ages attended the awards night. During the event, VSLL officials recognized each team and its coaches. Each team posed for a group photo, and every player received a medal for their hard work and athleticism throughout the season. Players also received a Dick’s Sporting Goods drawstring bag, a Lids hat wipe and snacks from Hello Panda.
The mall’s center court was filled with proud children showing off their medals and reflecting on a fun season. Nicholas Fischman, 9, has been playing Little League baseball for four years. He plays first base, third base and shortstop for VSLL’s Black Knights. He enjoys playing with his teammates.
“They’re nice, they’re friendly, they do good sportsmanship,” Fischman said. “It’s just fun. You can make new friends.”
Mia Carbone, 14, who plays second base for VSLL softball, also said her favorite part of the season was spending time with her friends. Her mother, Suzanne, greatly appreciates the kindness of the girls on her daughter’s team.
“She was new to the area, and this team has been very welcoming,” Suzanne Carbone said. “All the girls are super sweet and it’s just like a big family.”
Rachael Aiello and Jose Paulinho coach an 11-13-year-old girls softball team. Both have daughters who play softball, and they have been coaching the team since 2018.
“It’s been fun,” Paulinho said. “They bonded as a family, as a sisterhood and as a family.”
Aiello and Paulinho’s team had a successful season. Their players worked hard and greatly improved their softball skills throughout the season. They attended softball clinics at St. John’s University and Hofstra University. Additionally, four girls on the team competed in an All-Star game.
“After each game or before a game, I would tell them, ‘You guys are getting better each time, and this is a learning experience, and your skills are getting better, and you’re working as a team,” Paulinho said.
Paulinho hopes VSLL’s future includes a new field for players, given Little League’s continued positive impact on young athletes in Valley Stream.
“Little League is an institution,” Bromberg said. “It’s been around for a long time; it’s camaraderie, sportsmanship, all good things.”
