Photo by Jim Ridolphi/For The Local
Jayce Catterton, right, scores for Atlee in the second inning of the 9YO Tournament championship. Tuckahoe went on to win 13-6. In the 9YO softball tournament, Mechanicsville defeated Atlee 7-6.

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Mechanicsville softball defeats Atlee

The Atlee Nationals entered the championship game of last week’s Atlee 9 Year Old Tournament with a 5-0 record, but couldn’t overcome a Tuckahoe team that also entered the contest undefeated to run away with a 13-6 win.

  “They were just better than us out there today,” said Atlee manager John Swierczewski. “They hit the ball when they needed to and made plays all over the field. They were the better team today.

  “I’m still proud of what these boys accomplished and they’ve got nothing to hang their heads about. They had a great tournament,” said Swierczewski, who also served as this year’s tournament director.

  Both teams endured eight days of 100 degree-plus temperatures to reach the finals.

  “The kids handled it pretty well and the parents made sure they brought plenty of refreshments to keep them hydrated, but it has been very hot all week,” Swierczewski said. 

  Tuckahoe jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning but Atlee answered with two in the second. But the Nationals couldn’t keep up with the hitting barrage that followed by Tuckahoe.

  Nearby, the 9-year old girls softball championship was a barnburner featuring Mechanicsville and Atlee.

  Mechanicsville erased a two run deficit to tie the contest in the fourth inning and eventually pushed the winning run across for a 7-6 victory.

  Mechanicsville pitcher Victoria Bernardini worked her way through a final inning jam when Atlee loaded the bases with no outs, but couldn’t advance the tying runner.

  The two games marked the end of the annual event at the Atlee Little League complex.

  Swierczewski said this year’s edition went off without a hitch, thanks to the dedicated work of numerous volunteers and parents. “We’re an all-volunteer organization, so they are the ones that make this whole thing happen. They dedicate countless hours to getting everything ready.”

  The director added that the tournament benefits from an enthusiastic group of parents. “We had great crowds here this year,” Swierczewski said. “The teams who came here brought large groups of supporters with them and that made a great atmosphere.”

  The championship games mark the end of the season for Swierczewski and the Little Leaguers, but does not represent much of a break for the long time coach.
“We’ll take about a week off and then start getting ready for next year,” he laughed.