Photo courtesy of Javier Amador. Members of the 2017 Maplewood-South Orange 10U fall softball team gather for a group pose. Front row, kneeling from left: Lexi Kaplan, Emma Lerner, Grace Keller, Larkin Villatoro and Eva Sieger. Second row from left: Dalylia Lyon, Arianna Baptiste, Claire Shupe, Brynn McCarthy, Sofia Amador and Marley Rosen. Third row from left: Coach Brian Sieger, Head Coach David Lyon and Coach Ray Kaplan. Not pictured: Coach Jodi Rotondo.
MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – The Maplewood-South Orange Villagers 10U fall travel softball team won the USABL Halloween Havoc softball tournament played on October 28 in Morganville to cap an outstanding season.
Avenging a bracket-play loss, the Villagers beat the Jersey Flames, 3-0, to become tournament champions. The tense final saw Dalylia Lyon throw a 15-strikeout no-hitter for the Villagers.
The fall campaign was extremely successful for this team, playing their first season in 10U. The Villagers posted a 7-2 record overall. They finished second in the Long Hill Fall Softball League, losing a tough championship game after going 5-0 league play.
All season long, the Villagers relied on the pitching of Lyon, Sofia Amador and Lexi Kaplan. Offensively, the team was led by Marley Rosen, Claire Shupe, Arianna Baptiste, Emma Lerner and Eva Sieger. Great defense was a staple of the Villagers with Larkin Villatoro, Grace Keller and Brynn McCarthy leading the way.
With most of the players returning next spring, the Villagers look to be even better in what will be their first full year at the 10U level.