BY SAPNA PATHAK
They’re not expecting to bring home the championship trophy. In fact, they’re quite surprised they qualified for the tournament.
But that doesn’t mean each member of the Bedford Hornets U12 softball squad won’t give her best effort when she takes the field at this year’s PONY National championship.
“I don’t really know what to expect,” said Auburn’s Sami Hennequin, the team’s starting first baseman. “We’ve never seen a lot of the teams we’ll see at nationals, so we’re pretty nervous about how the competition will look. It’ll be fun, though, because we get to travel and be there all together.”
The Hornets head to Vienna, Ohio, to compete from July 21 to 26. The squad, drawing players from Neighborhood-area towns in Salem, Bedford and Auburn, earned its national-tourney bid after placing third in this year’s American Softball Association (ASA) state tournament and second at the New England regional tournament.
After tryouts in August 2006, Hornets manager Bob Bonfiglio selected 11 players of the 28 who tried out. Hennequin, who also played for Auburn’s 11- and a Little League softball all-stars, provided solid defense and consistent offense to help propel the young squad to its first national tournament.
“Sami is a great player,” said Bonfiglio. “She’s someone who’s very well-rounded, and you can depend on her in plenty of roles. She’s also one of our three 12-year-olds, so she’s been a great leader to her teammates as well.”
Rounding out the Hornets’ roster are Kelsey Kennedy, Christina Bonfiglio, Nicole Gubellini, Hannah Slivinski, Kate Dawson, Heather Fyfe, Lauryn Kmon, Ashley Abad, Casey Mellen and Ali Bowe.
“These kids have made a commitment pretty much year-round,” said Bob Bonfiglio. “They’ll be very competitive no matter who they’re playing. They love this game, so getting them focused isn’t that hard. They’ll certainly build off the national tournament and what they’ll learn there.”
Game notes
Before taking second with a 3-2 mark in the New England regional tournament in North Reading, Mass., the Hornets finished third in the state tourney, falling to the New Hampshire Lightning of Concord, 9-8, in extra innings.
The Hornets reached that game following a 12-4 win over the Londonderry Flames. Hennequin drove in four runs with two hits during that contest.