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Franklin Square softball sluggers leave their mark

Team competes in State tournament

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Franklin Square’s Little League Softball team competed in this year’s Little League Major Softball New York State Tournament. From July 14-July 19, they played against the top little league softball teams in the state at Shepheard Park in Fishkill, NY. A team comprised of Franklin Square’s best softball players from ages 11-12, they finished with a record of 2-2 and made it all the way to the semifinals.

Team manager, Cris Schemmer was pleased to see how far his team went and commended them for playing hard until the last out. Instead of being overwhelmed by the atmosphere of elite softball, he said that they embraced it and relished the experience every step of the way.

“They were in every single game and I couldn’t be more proud,” Schemmer said. “I want them to know what an accomplishment this is to make it to the state tournament and to earn their own New York State Little League pin. They really played up to their competition.”

Three years ago, they finished runner up in the NYS tournament and this year, they made it to the semifinals before being eliminated by the eventual tournament champions, Sayville in a 6-4 loss.

Schemmer’s softball team enjoyed a great deal of success leading up to the NYS tournament. They were champions of the New York District 29 tournament for the fourth year in a row as well as the Section 4 West tournament.

The state tournament proved to be very competitive for Franklin Square’s sluggers as every game they played was decided by two runs or less. Coach Schemmer expected nothing less from New York’s top softball teams and anticipated the competition to be at its best.

“Each team had a very good pitcher,” Schemmer said. “You knew at that level that you were going to face great pitching.”

The first two games were low scoring, pitcher’s duels with game one ending in a 2-1 win over Maine-Endwell Little League followed by a 2-1 loss to Mid Island Little League. Schemmer stated that it they had to “scratch and claw” their way through game one and that it took a while for their bats to catch up to the speed differential.

In the last two games however, their offense seemed to picked things up. This was evident in their quarterfinal game against Fredonia Little League which turned out to be one of their most thrilling games. They overcame an early deficit and with the game tied at 7-7, Gianna Burke knocked in the game’s winning run with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 7th advancing Franklin Square to the semifinals.

As Schemmer and his team reflect on their run to the NYS tournament, he wants his girls to remember the moments they shared with each other during this summer and during their time in Fishkill.

“They were excited, they were invested in every pitch, and they all made memories that will last a lifetime,” Schemmer said. “I want them to keep working hard. Hopefully, I’ll get to see them play in high school, or college, or maybe on TV one day.”