Merrick Madness Softball Eliminated From Regionals

The state champion Merrick Madness softball team did all it could Wednesday afternoon to keep themselves alive in the Eastern Regional Tournament. 

Merrick clobbered the Caroline North Little League squad from Maryland 10-1 at Krank Park in Albany.  A trip to the semifinals was not meant to be, however, as Delaware beat Pennsylvania 1-0 Wednesday to knock the Madness out of the tournament and end an epic run for the 12-year-old girls.

A Pennsylvania win would haven given three teams (Merrick, Pennsylvania and Delaware) a 2-2 record in the pool tournament and forced tournament officials to do a bit of math to determine which team would join New Jersey in the semifinals on Friday.

Although Merrick won't get a chance to play in the Little League Softball World Series in Oregon, it was still a month to remember for the team. 

Merrick beat Seaford to win the District 31 title on July 11.  A week later, the Madness downed North Shore to capture the Section 6 divisional Long Island championship.  They weren't done there, either, beating Garden City in upstate Canastota to clinch the state crown.

The girls certainly would like to still be playing ball, but at least in their hometown, they are already world champs. The Madness are also the first Merrick team on any level to win a state title since Merrick Patch launched last December. 

It's been a blast covering the girls amazing run so from the Patch team to the Madness: Congratulations on a job (really) well done.

The Merrick Madness team: Kacie Badolato, Nicole Imhof, Meredith Jones, Samantha Klein, Joanna Marmo, Jessica Mascia, Missy Mavrogian, Kelly Rasulo, Carly Steffen, Cora Travaglione, Jordan Walley and Sydney Yormack.

The Madness is managed by Maria Imhof, along with coaches Cliff Rasulo and Rob Mascia and their best friend, Rachel Barry.