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A first for H-W Little League softball team all-star team, said. “I told the girls after we lost that, yes, we were disappointed, but we just Five years ago, girls’ softball went down in history. They’ll had all but disappeared from forever be known as the first the Hewlett-Woodmere Little girls’ team from our league to ever compete in this tournaLeague. Then, starting in 2021, after ment.” more than a decade without a The team lost its first two program, league games of the douvolunteers worked ble-elimination to rebuild it from tournament, defeatthe ground up, ed by Rockville Cenrecruiting players, tre, on June 24 organizing teams before battling and creating opporOceanside to a close tunities for girls to loss the following take the field once day. Although the again. season ended there, This summer, Savin said that wins those efforts reached and losses were seca milestone no one ondary to what the in the league had girls accomplished. experienced before. “Five years ago, For the first time we had just started in league history, a the girls’ softball ISABELLA SAVIN 10-and-under softprogram,” Savin ball all-star team said. “There hadn’t qualified for the Little League been girls’ softball in Hewlett Softball World Series, known as for probably more than 10 the Williamsport tournament, years. We got a bunch of girls last month, marking a historic to register, got the league going chapter for the league despite again, and this year, with the an early exit from postseason growth of the league, we were play. finally able to have a Williams“ I t w a s r e a l l y a g r e a t port team. It’s actually the first moment,” league President Williamsport team in the histoMike Savin, who coached the Continued on page 7
By MELISSA BERMAN
mberman@liherald.com
I
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Caps, gowns and proud moments Members of the Lawrence High School class of 2026, above, applauded after the student speeches during graduation at the Tilles Center on June 29. The ceremony featured remarks from administrators and student leaders, as well as a special performance by the senior chorus of “No One Is Alone,” from “Into the Woods.” At right, senior class President Eliana Perez Reyes addressed her fellow graduates. Story, more photos, Page 10.
really like softball because it teaches me that teamwork can really make the best out of everything.