The Elmwood Park 14U summer softball team closed their season with a 3-5 record and a first-round playoff loss to a tough Fair Lawn squad. But stats alone don’t tell the story of this group — a team that brought fire, resilience, and unity to every game.
“Watching this 14U team play was truly one of the greatest honors I’ve had as a coach,” Head Coach Brian D. reflected. “We may have only come away with a few wins, but every single run was earned.”
Assistant Coach Rob O. echoed that sentiment, “Thank you girls for a great season. It’s been my pleasure to coach you girls this season. One thing we have to remember is that no one’s perfect — everyone makes mistakes. In order to be perfect you have to learn from the mistakes you make and everything will fall into place.”
This season featured some standouts at the Plate. Lia O. paced the offense with a .375 batting average and a team-leading 9 hits. Her speed and sharp instincts made her a constant threat, racking up 2 triples and 11 runs scored — the most on the squad. Deanna G. followed close behind, hitting .364 and driving in 8 RBIs, proving herself as one of the most consistent bats in the lineup.
Allison M. hit .333, adding power and poise with 2 doubles and one of the team’s two home runs. Emma H. showed her all-around game with 6 hits, a triple, a home run, 7 RBIs, and 14 runs scored — the highest on the team. Her high energy was evident on the mound, racking up 52 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched.
“These girls played with heart, class, and grit from the first pitch to the final out,” Coach Brian continued. “They never gave up and always lifted each other up, on and off the field.”
There were also many dual Threats and Clutch Contributors. Keira D. played a key role on both sides of the ball. She hit .286 with 6 hits and 5 singles while shouldering the bulk of the pitching load — tossing a team-high 27 innings and striking out 26 batters.
Hailey R. chipped in offensively with 6 hits of her own, including a home run, while scoring 9 runs and making plays with quiet confidence. Samantha G. battled through a tough stretch at the plate but still managed 4 hits and brought hustle and focus every time she laced up her cleats.
“All season long, they made coaching fun,” Coach Brian added. “And they proved that the scoreboard doesn’t always reflect the heart of a team.”
It was not just about numbers, there were quiet Strengths and Big Moments. Jeanssy T. may not have lit up the stat sheet, but her presence was always felt. With 2 hits, 5 runs scored, and solid defensive play, she was a spark in the dugout and on the field. After coming back from vacation at the end of the season, Idalyse N. showed power by hitting a grand slam and leading the team in RBI’s with 9. Idalyse and Deanna were also solid gloves at first base.
Isabella L. brought the same mindset — tough at-bats, strong effort, and always ready when her name was called. Sophia B. gave the team dependable plate appearances and was always prepared to deliver in big moments.
“We wore the names on the front and back of our jerseys with pride,” Coach Brian concluded. “And I can confidently say: Elmwood Park softball is in good hands with this group.”
Coach Rob shared one last heartfelt message, “What started out as just a dad wanting to be around and help his daughter with her game… I turned into a ‘Coach Rob.’ As long as I’m able to, I will forever be around to help, coach, guide and cheer you girls on as much as I can. Thank you for the memories… I hope we get to do it one more time!”
Looking Forward: This season wasn’t just about wins and losses — it was about building something bigger. A culture of respect. A standard of effort. A group of girls who fought for each other and walked off every field with heads high and hearts full.
Elmwood Park 14U showed the kind of character and chemistry that coaches dream of — and opponents don’t want to see again next summer.