The Queens Heat 12u softball team lived up to their name, scorching the black squad to win the Ridgewood-Glendale-Middle Village-Maspeth (RGMVM) Major Division Travel Spring League Championship series on Saturday, June 26.
Sweeping the best-of-three series 2-0 was no easy task, as the Heat had to make late-inning comebacks in both games. In game one, Heat took the lead in the top of the sixth and won the game, 5-4, behind the strong arm of hurler Kelsey Trudden.
In game two, the heat once again found themselves trailing in the late innings. Kristen Roberts and Jamie Durso managed to get on base to lead off the fifth inning, setting the table for Chanell Melendez, who smashed the first pitch she saw for a bases-clearing triple. Julianna Mugnolo followed with a single, driving in Melendez and extending the Heat’s lead.
That was all pitcher Vickie Perillo needed to seal the victory and the championship. She had only given up one earned run and three hits up to that point and easily retired the black squad in order to close out the game.
Coaches Nick LoPrinzi, Joe Perillo, Sean Roberts and Mike Trudden were proud of all their girls from Broad Channel, Ozone Park and Glendale.
The championship team consists of Kelsey Trudden, Chenell Melendez, Julianna Mugnolo, Kristen Roberts, Jamie Durso, Nicolette Moschitta, Carolyn Crocker, Eireann Corbett, Diandra LoPrinzi, Vickie Perillo and Kristen “Shorty” Niklaus.
