White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Nicholson fans 9, Goes All the Way in Historic 7-5, WPLL Tourney Win

WPCNR Press Box. By Greg Zaccaria. July 9, 2002.:Another fun day of Little League Softball,as the White Plains National Team defeated Ardsley 7-5 Sunday in 7 innings.

WHITE PLAINS NATIONAL ALL-STARS, the team which became the first Majors Softball team to advance to the fourth game of the District 20 Little League Tournament. They were coached by Greg Zaccaria far right. Lou Petralia, back row center, and Cindy Gottshal.
Photos by WPCNR

Ardsley jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st on a unearned run off starter Shannon Nicolson.White Plains came right back and took the lead 2-1 in the top of the 2nd on a two out, two run single by Kate Smayda plating both Jill Gordon and Brittany Zaccaria.

Both Pitchers where throwing well as the score held until the top of the fifth, when Jill Gordon delivered a clutch two out single to center scoring Rachal Hacohen who had walked earlier in the inning.

Smayda Saves Game.

With 1 out in the bottom of the 6th, Ardsley mounted a two run rally to tie the score, they even had the chance for victory with runners on 2nd and 3rd and only 1 out , the runner on third broke for home, but Kate Smayda retrived the wild pitch and tagged the runner out.

Shannon retired the next batter on a pop up to end the threat.

Tearing up the Pea Patch

As the score was now tied, the game went to extra innings 3-3.White Plains, behind hits by Caroline Couzens,Jill Gordon (her third),Michelle Potillio,Brittany Zaccaria and Kate Smayda rallied for 4 runs and a 7-3 lead.

Closing it Out

But this game was not to be this easy,Ardsley just would not quit and once again rallied to score 2 runs and have the bases loaded when Shannon Nicolson struck out the final batter for her ninth strike out of the game and the complete game victory.

LITTE ACE: Coach Zaccaria with Shannon Nicholson, the Winning Pitcher in the historic game. Nicholson struck out nine and walked only one batter. Shannon says she has learned to use all the strike zone and move the ball around inside and outside to confound hitters. Pitching for a year, she is the product of Coach Ted O'Donnell's winter pitching clinics. Her delivery is described as crackling fast with amazing speed for her size. Her mom says nothing rattles her on the mound.

I have been told that this is the first time a W.P. Majors Softball team has advanced this far in the tournament ,if that is true, it just goes to show our girls are headed in the right direction and the future looks bright.

Tigers of the Future

White Plains bowed out of the tournament losing to Kensico Monday evening, but the girls came off the field smiling, knowing they had moved the WPLL Softball Program to the next level.

WHITE PLAINS IN ACTION AGAINST KENSICO MONDAY NIGHT

The WPLL committment to the girls softball program, the last three years which include staging of annual spring clinics, conducted by WPHS softball coach, Ted O'Donnell where techniques are demonstrated to players and coaches is paying off.

Al Orfe of the White Plains Little League notes that four years ago the White Plains Major Girls advanced to the Finals through the losing bracket, only to lose to Harrison twice at Harrison.


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