Mt. Laurel Storm 10U softball team receives proclamation from township council for winning 2014 USSSA 10 & under C World Series
It was a routine meeting of the Mt. Laurel Township Council on Sept. 22, save for the one row of chairs in the room filled by the dozen or so young girls of the Mount Laurel Storm 10U softball team, the 2014 USSSA 10 & under C World Series champions.
The team and coaches were on hand to receive a proclamation of commendation for outstanding performance honoring the Storm’s World Series win against the undefeeated Delaware Express in Salisbury, Md., on Sunday, July 20.
Head Coach Ken Murphy said he and the other coaches were very proud of the girls and the hard work they put in toward their big win.
“They started their work in the fall, worked through the whole season,” Murphy said. “They came very close in multiple tournaments, but it was nice with the most important tournament when it all came together and they all performed very well.”
Murphy went on the describe the girls’ challenge of being in the losers bracket going into the Sunday of the World Series and having to play four games to win the championship.
“They had to play back into the championship,” Murphy said. “By doing that, they played two games to get back into the championship, and then they had to play a team that was undefeated, so they had to beat that team twice to win the championship.“
In addition to the championship win and 8–1 record in the tournament, the Storm also received the Best Sportsmanship Award for respecting authority and the other teams they played.
“They would cheer for the girls they had beat,” Murphy said. “They would make a bridge so the girls would walk under it into their dugout. They were the only team that would cheer for the losing team as they left the field.”
Murphy said he believed softball was more about sportsmanship than winning and losing, so it was great the girls won the award.
“They’re great about that,” Murphy said. “They can lose a big game, but they shake it off pretty well. It’s about the comradery more than it is about the wins and the losses.”
Deputy Mayor Irwin Edelson also congratulated the girls on their win, echoing Murphy about sportsmanship being more important than wins and losses.
“The best part is that you won the sportsmanship award,” Edelson said. “That means more to me, than the actual World Series. You did very well with that.”
Austin Craley, president of Mt. Laurel Girls Softball, also spoke about the team and offered his congratulations.
“On behalf of the Mt. Laurel Girls’ softball board, we’re very appreciative of your efforts, your winning the championship, your winning the sportsmanship award…we’re very proud of you guys,” Craley said. “You did excellent.”
Team members honored in the proclamation include: Erica Wodarcyzk, Taylor Williams, Livvy Rosenblatt, Ava Leibovitz, Amanda Bashwiner, Emma Murphy, Olivia Johnstone, Brooke Acker, Alyssa Binczak, Maddie Corcoran and Kyra Fisher.
In addition to Murphy as head coach, assistant coaches honored include Tori Johnstone, Rob Johnstone, Ed Acker and Charlie Bashwiner.
