Supporters across Long Island come together to celebrate Massapequa's LLWS softball title

When Olivia Feldman recorded the final out of the Little League Softball World Series championship game on Sunday, the excitement and emotion was felt across state lines more than 500 miles away.

Supporters held a watch party at Brady Park in Massapequa and saw the Massapequa International 12U softball team make history.

Feldman, a pitcher-shortstop, pitched the final 3  1⁄3 innings to secure a 5-2 victory over North Carolina at Stallings Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina. It was the first Little League Softball World Series title won by a team from New York.

“I knew some of the girls, so it was pretty fun to watch them,” said Alexandra Vollaro, a 10-year-old fan from Plainedge. “When they won, we were all cheering and jumping up and down. It was awesome.”

Despite the stakes of the game, coach Rich Eaton said the girls weren’t rattled.

“I don’t know why, but the girls were so much more relaxed being in the championship than they were in the semifinal,” Eaton said. “They played in front of a record crowd. They said it was over 3,000 people — the largest Little League softball crowd ever.”

Eaton and the coaching staff ran the team like a high school squad. Practices were held four to five times a week and the team never had an off day during the championship run.

He was aware that his team didn’t have “overpowering pitchers,” so he focused on getting them as many fundamental repetitions as possible, especially on the field.

“We know our defense has to be what gets it done,” Eaton said. “But you know what, when the ball’s in play all the time, you’re ready for defense all the time.”

To celebrate the victory, family, friends and fans returned to Brady Park awaiting the arrival of the girls — something pitcher-shortstop Alexis Fontana said she was excited about after Sunday’s win.

“It was very exciting to watch them,” Michael Maisano of Farmingdale said. “They are very good. I think Long Island sports are really up there. There’s a lot of good ballplayers out here.”

“It’s amazing,” Marisa Barreto of Islip Terrace said. “I’m very proud of them. It’s a great accomplishment.”

The championship brought Massapequa and surrounding towns together. There was a sense of pride in New York, and especially on Long Island. Younger players learned that capturing a World Series title is realistic — all thanks to the 2023 Massapequa International 12U softball team.

“We’re just proud to be from here and have them win,” Nicole Biggers of Massapequa Park said. “We’re excited to raise our kids here. Maybe they’ll be one of them someday.”