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VALHALLA, N.Y. Valhalla High Schools softball team will make its fifth consecutive appearance in the Section 1 Class B title game after a 6-3 victory over Kennedy Catholic in the semifinals.
The team has been lucky to accomplish such a feat, Valhalla coach John Hayes said. But he also gave credit to his players after the win.
As our assistant coach always says, We dont play, Hayes said. The kids do everything. Theyre on the field. They do the hitting, the pitching. We try to put every kid in the best chance to succeed and do the best they can and together. When they start working together, everything works out great.
Valhalla senior leftfielder Danielle Maffei untied the 3-3 game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a three-run home run. A quick pep talk from the rest of the Vikings turned a tense moment into a celebration.
I think everyone was nervous. I was extremely nervous. Im not going to lie, Maffei said. But my teammates kept on telling me to wait back on the ball and when I dont wait back on the ball, it means Im really anxious. Afterward, I just kept on telling myself to wait back and I just got a piece of it.
Valhalla advanced to the finals in Nanuet on Saturday, while Kennedys season ended. The sixth-seeded Gaels had a solid run to the semifinals and bludgeoned No. 3 Bronxville, 21-0, in the quarterfinals. But the music and dancing of the previous night hurt Kennedy, according to coach Pat Hogan.
Unfortunately, what youre seeing is a group of very tired girls because our prom was last night. Even one of my girls came out onto the field without her helmet on to go hit, Hogan said. Weve got to get the prom changed. Ive been begging them for years to change this prom. But they fought hard. All of our errors were made by the girls who went to the prom. I had some tired kids. I really did.
An appearance in the Section 1 title game has become almost routine for Valhalla, but Maffei said the Vikings take nothing for granted.
Its amazing. We knew we had to work. We did not think we were going to get there automatically, Maffei said. We had to play tough teams. I want to say were prepared for it, but we have faith in ourselves, as well, because we know were hard workers, and we know were going to try. Were not going to give up.
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