A bumper sticker in town proclaims that "Baseball is Back." We, amend that message to say "and so is Girls' Softball." The renewed interest in the national pastime has no gender-based boundaries. With softball clinics for grades one through four and a "traveling" fifth grade CYO team, the future of the sport looks bright.

The fifth grade team representing St. Mary's, known as the "Sluggers," in its first year of existence, competed in the CYO girls' league and finished the regular season with a record of seven wins and one loss, good enough for a berth in the playoffs. The Sluggers defeated St. Dominic's of Oyster Bay in the semi-finals by a score of 3-2. Trailing 1-0 going to the bottom of the sixth inning, the Sluggers, behind timely hitting and skilled base running, rallied for three runs and then held on to win and advance to the CYO championship game.

The championship game was played on June 20 at Eisenhower Park against St. Paul's of Brookville. The level of play of both teams impressed CYO officials, umpires, parents, friends and coaches alike. All of the competitors exhibited skills and poise well beyond their years of experience in the sport. The game witnessed four lead changes and ultimately St. Paul's edging out a 7-6 win after a sixth inning three-run rally. St. Mary's gallantly started a rally of its own in its last at-bat, only to leave the tying run on third base. The Sluggers, their coaches and families felt a genuine sense of pride in the accomplishments that this season showed. The dedication, focus and hard work by the girls did indeed make 1998 a championship season.

Team members: Alex Iervolino, Mary Amitrano, Julie Lavin, Sarah Geoghegan, Laura Care, Laura Molins, Noel Charbonneau, Morgan Cotter, Caroline Cunningham, Elizabeth Byrns, Kemi Gadaleta, Danielle Marzouk, Kathryn McCabe, Sarah Kilkenny, Mary Cuddiihy, Cailinn Connolly, Kathryn Byrns.

Coaches: Arthur Molins, Henry Iervolino, Jerry Amitrano.