VFW Post 10120 Maplewood

Villagers 8U travel softball team enjoys successful season

The Maplewood-South Orange Villagers 8U summer travel softball team ended its season on Sunday, July 22, reaching the semifinals of the Cranford Softball Tournament. The Villagers beat Mountainside, 6-4, to reach the semis before falling to the host team, 11-10, in a nailbiter that came down to Cranford’s last at bat. The Villager’s 14-13 overall record belies a successful season in which the team finished third in the Parkway Invitational Softball League and captured second place in the Summer Sizzle tournament in Long Hill. Nine of their losses were by one run. Stellar defense and timely hitting were the hallmarks of this young team. All of the girls, many of whom were experiencing travel softball for the first time, improved as the season went on and all of them contributed to the team’s success. With a strong core of older girls and an exciting group of younger players the future is bright for these Villagers.

10U Villagers Softball team captures Cranford Summer Slam Tournament title

 The Maplewood-South Orange 10U Villagers Softball team won the Cranford Summer Slam Tournament held July 15-16. The Villagers started the tournament strong by winning three games on Saturday, July 15, which placed them as the No. 1 seed heading into the single-elimination round. On Sunday, July 16, they continued their winning ways by beating Springfield, 12-0, Cranford Gold, 8-0 and in the championship game, Mountainside, 2-0. Overall, the Villagers went 6-0 over the two days and outscored their opponents, 48-2. (As published in the Essex News Daily, 7/2017)

Maplewood and South Orange girls ages 14 & under (as of January 1, 2017) are invited to try out for the MSO Softball fall travel teams - Fall Villagers.  Teams will be selected after holding competitive tryouts in June, July & August.  Fall Villagers teams will be fielded in the following age groups:

8U Team (YOB 2009 and 2010)
10U Team (YOB 2007 and 2008)
12U Team (YOB 2005 and 2006)
14U Team (YOB 2003 and 2004)

Age Groups / Playing Up
As the fall season is meant to be developmental, the plan is to have most players / teams "play up" to the age group at which they will be playing next year.  So, for example, a player who has turned (or will turn) 11 during 2017 (YOB = 2006) is still eligible to play 10U, but she would play on a 12U team this fall.  Likewise, a player who has turned (or will turn) 13 during 2017 (YOB = 2004) is still eligible to play 12U, but she would play on the 14U team this fall.

As the fall philosophy is to “play up” whenever possible, girls should try out for the age group at which they would play next summer (unless previously discussed with the MSO Softball Committee and Villagers coaches).  Some exceptions may be made to the above "playing up" guideline based on the coaches' assessment of a player's ability during tryouts and team needs.  These exceptions will be handled by the MSO Softball Committee on a case-by-case basis.

Schedule / Game Days
The Fall Villagers teams will again play in either the Cranford Fall Softball League or the Long Hill Softball League.  Teams in both leagues play a 6 to 8 game season, and all the teams will make the playoffs.  Based on previous years, teams will most likely play on the following days:

8U Team - Saturday mornings
10U Team - Saturdays
12U Team - Thursdays / Saturdays (Cranford) OR Fridays / Saturdays (Long Hill)
14U Team - Sundays (Cranford) OR Fridays / Saturdays (Long Hill)

The specific game schedules will be announced once the teams are selected and the season begins.

Players are expected to attend ALL practices and games and commit for the ENTIRE season.  Any players who are planning a vacation or who have other commitments during this period must make the coach aware of their plans at the time of tryouts.  Players who fail to comply with this request will be ineligible for fall play the following year.

 IMPORTANT NOTES: 

• Players should try out for the age appropriate team.  If there are any questions about which age group a player should try out for, please email MSO Softball Committee to clarify.
• Players must turn in a Tryout & Commitment Form at the first tryout session.  See the Handouts section of the website for this and other Fall Villager forms.
• Registration Fee of $125, Uniform Fee of $35, and Field Usage Fee of $20 are due upon selection to the team.
• Additional fees may be required if a team elects to play in a fall tournament.

Tryouts for the 14U Fall Villagers teams will take place in August.  Stay tuned for updates!

Maplewood and South Orange girls age 14 & under are invited to try out for the 2017 MSO Villagers Fall Travel teams.  See the Fall Villagers page for details on tryouts dates, times and locations,and to complete the Pre-Registration survey.