Girls Little League Players Lauded for Stellar Season

There was plenty of cause for celebration at the Sherman Green in Fairfield Center Monday afternoon, as the Fairfield 10-year-old girls' softball All-Stars were lauded for their outstanding summer campaign, one which included district, state and New England championships.

First Selectman Ken Flatto kicked off the festivities, stating that the group of girls "makes the town of Fairfield very proud," while adding that they "represent the future of the town of Fairfield and are definitely a great group of future leaders in the years to come."

The town softball league was established in 2002, and the number of participants in the league has increased exponentially in recent years.

League President Gary Gulemi praised the first group of girls to lace up their cleats eight summers ago, with several former players who recently graduated from local high schools on hand to celebrate the lofty accomplishments of this summer's 10-year-old ball club.

"The first group of girls who played back in 2002 have proven to be tremendous ambassadors for our league," Gulemi said. "They went on to accomplish a lot of great things, and that first group of players really paved the way for the success of future teams."

Gulemi estimated that a total of 330 girls play softball in Fairfield in the summer, fall, winter and spring seasons, thus creating an outstanding feeder system that has translated into a strong level of success at both Fairfield high schools.

Amid the recent accomplishments of the 2010 team, Gulemi summed things up with high praise.

"Their dedication and work ethic made each of their accomplishments possible, and we couldn't be prouder of them today," said Gulemi.

Head Coach Dave McCartney, who has been involved in the league since 2003, shared his sentiments after his players were honored in front of an impressive and enthusiastic crowd on Sherman Green, corner of Post and Reef roads.

"Over the course of seven and-a-half weeks, for 54 days total, this group of girls checked their egos at the door and really worked hard every single day to achieve what they did," McCartney said. "They were great sports throughout the entire summer, and this is a group of girls that are going to be winners in life."

McCartney also cited the efforts of fellow coaches Doug Romero and Jerry Rasmussen, a pair of fathers who are crucial cogs behind the scenes of this flourishing youth league in Fairfield.

Two of the key players on this summer's championship squad include ace pitcher Brittany Romero and catcher Amy "bull dog" Rasmussen. Quite the sturdy backstop, Rasmussen caught every single inning this past season, while Romero followed up last season's stellar 12-0 record with another flawless summer campaign atop the mound, notching 14 wins without suffering a single defeat.