BY SAPNA PATHAK
Playing together more than five years now, they’ve developed a level of comfort that’s propelled them past challenging foes. In a couple weeks, these familiar faces take their toughest test.
That’s when Bedford’s Casey Levis, Leslie Stratton, Meg Delaney, Rachael Morgan and Gen Spagnuolo play in this year’s American Softball Association’s (ASA) national tournament.
The quintet recently helped lead the Bedford Hornets 14U squad to a win in the ASA New England Regional tournament.
As participants in Bedford’s Little League softball program since 2002, the girls were joined by players from Hooksett, Windham and Bow on this year’s team.
“It was a really easy adjustment to have the girls from other towns on the team,” said Spagnuolo. “Even though (the girls from Bedford) have been playing together for a while now, it was easy to be friends with everyone. We really gelled fast, and that’s why we did so well in the regional tournament. Not to mention, we lost one of our best players, so if we were going to bounce back, part of it was because of that comfort level.”
Deciding to compete in the New England tourney six days prior to its start on July 6, the Hornets rolled to the title after two victories over the previously undefeated Maine Attraction in the championship.
An 8-0 shutout of the Mid-Maine Thunder earned Bedford its trip to the finals against the Attraction, but a thumb injury to Hooksett’s Tanya Robidoux forced the squad to make last-minute adjustments.
“We play all the kids in every game for many reasons, and this is one reason – depth,” said Hornets manager Scott Stratton. “We have players who can step in and play great anytime. I told them, ‘Yeah, it’s hot, but it’s hot for them as well. They are good, but you are better today,’ once we had to make those changes.”
Facing the only team to beat them during the tournament, the Hornets jumped to five-run lead, doubling up the Attraction, 8-4, in game one. Behind solid defense, strong pitching and timely hitting, the Hornets downed the Attraction again, 4-0, for the championship.
The top-place finish earned Bedford the chance to compete in the 14U ASA Eastern national tournament on Aug. 2, the PONY national tournament in Cary, N.C., and a berth in the National Softball Association national championship in Ohio.
“It sounds so cool to say you’re going to be pitching in a national tournament,” said Morgan, who shared the circle with Levis and Robidoux this year. “And we know there are going to be teams out there that are going to bring some crazy skills. But I know I’ll have a good time because I’ve got a bunch of girls who’ve been together for a while now, and that’ll make a difference.”