Rutherford 8U All-Star Softball Team Goes to States

By Jennifer Ersalesi

This year's Rutherford Little League Girls 8U All-Star Softball team had an amazing season, which led them to the State Championships where they ended up second in States. Jennifer O'Rourke, parent of player, Laney O'Rourke, explained, "It was an incredible experience for these girls and we are so proud they made it that far. It's the first time that 8Us have ever had a State Tournament in New Jersey. This team is part of softball history." This is Rutherford interviewed two of this team's coaches, Ryan Hadrava and Nicole Malloy, whose daughters both played on the team to learn more about this team and their accomplishment this year.

TIR: How long have you been coaching girls' softball?

Ryan Hadrava: I started coaching girl’s softball when my oldest daughter, Olivia, started with tee-ball in 2019, so this is my 8^th season.

Nicole Malloy: I’ve been coaching girls’ softball for five years, ever since my oldest daughter, Abigail, was 5 years old. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience. Watching these young athletes develop their skills, confidence, and love for the game has been one of my favorite parts of coaching. 

TIR: When did this Rutherford All-Stars team form and start practicing?

RH: The 8U team was selected on May 28^th of this year and held our first practice the next day, so we have been working hard for 2 months now.

NM: We held tryouts in mid-May, and the team was officially announced on May 28th.

Team Roster: Abby Inglese, Reagan Hadrava, Savannah Kowlessar, Liliana Heller, Abby Malloy, Penny Levesque, Victoria Gerbasio, Elissia Rojas, Keira Barlekamp, Laney O'Rourke, Delaney Barry, Abby Cronin, and Nora Fox.

TIR: In early July, your team became the first ever District 5 8U Softball Champs, which led them to Sectionals.  Can you tell us more about how they earned that title?

RH: Yes, you are correct. For the first time ever NJ State Little League decided to host District, Section and State Tournaments for the 8U age group. I was immediately excited about the opportunity because with our new dedicated Softball Stadium (Diamond 4) RLLGS had the opportunity to run a Fall Instructional League for this age group and it was very well attended. Not only were the Fall coaches and I impressed with the talent we saw in the Fall, but also the enthusiasm the girls brought to the field. That talent, hard work and enthusiasm is what lead us to 10 run wins in the District and really helped give this team confidence going into the Section.

NM: Rutherford was honored to host the inaugural District 5 8U Tournament at our new softball stadium, Diamond 4. We opened tournament play on June 29th with a 14-4 victory over Wood-Ridge, which advanced us to the championship game. On July 1st, the girls put together another outstanding performance, defeating Wood-Ridge 12-2 to become the first-ever District 5 8U Champions. It was a special accomplishment for our players, their families, and our entire softball community.

TIR: Your team just won the title of "New Jersey Section 2 Champs".  To what do you attribute their success?

RH: The Section 2 Championship was all about teamwork, belief and grit. Every single player contributed to our wins in the Section. We had two close games in intense environments that the girls had never seen before. It was a true test of their character and will to win. The coaches, Nicole Malloy and Stephanie and Eric Valdes could not have more proud of the way the girls battled and won that Championship!

NM: This group of young ladies is truly special. They are talented athletes, but what really sets them apart is their work ethic, determination, and love for one another. They give their all at every practice, and many of them continue to work on their skills even on their days off. Most of these girls have been playing together for the past five years, and that chemistry shows on the field. They support one another, celebrate each other’s successes, pick each other up when needed, and genuinely enjoy playing together. Their teamwork has been the foundation of their success.

TIR: Next stop is States, where will those games take place?

RH: The State tournament is a double elimination tournament consisting of 4 teams. Robbinsville (near Trenton) is the host and the other two teams are Bergenfield and Stafford (Manahawkin). Robbinsville is a State powerhouse having won the LL Girls Softball World Series in 2014 as well as numerous Region and State Championships. We will face them in our first game and it will be a true test.

This Is Rutherford also asked asked some of the players a couple of questions.

TIR: You made it to the State Championship after earning the Sectional 2 Champ title. How are you feeling about this big accomplishment?

Laney O'Rourke: I am excited. We all worked very hard and this is a great team accomplishment.

Nora Fox: This is a big accomplishment for us in a small town so I'm proud of my team. It's an honor to represent Rutherford.

Delaney Barry: I'm feeling proud and excited. We practiced really hard and worked together.

Reagan Hadrava: I felt so proud of myself and my teammates.

Abby Malloy: I felt happy and excited for myself and my teammates. We all cheered each other on and played our best.

TIR: How are they preparing for these big games?

RH: We have been focusing on defense and base running in our practices. In close games it’s always the little play that makes the difference—taking the extra base on an over throw or making sure you get an out on the other team’s lead runner. Our team has been very good on both fronts on this run, but as the competition gets better, we will need to get better.

Of course, you can’t have softball practice without hitting (because that’s always the most fun!), so we have been working on that as well. Specifically, we have been focusing on having discipline at the plate and not swinging at bad pitches. The girls have significantly improved in that area. We’ve also had to start pitching batting practice at an increased speed. As you advance in the tourney, the girls throw harder, so it’s an adjustment. On top of the hard work at practice, we have been hosting fun team bonding events .

Coach Nicole hosted a softball jewelry design day where the girls were able to create bracelets, necklaces and earrings for themselves and their teammates, one of our families hosted a pool party which was great and we also had a large team dinner for all of the families. It has been very rewarding to see the players, families and the entire community come together to support this group of girls and their special accomplishment.

NM: We’ve had multiple practices leading up to both the District and Section tournaments to make sure the girls were as prepared as possible. In addition, many of them have continued playing summer softball, giving them extra opportunities to compete, gain experience, and sharpen their skills through additional games and practices each week.

TIR: Tell us more about how you saw your team work together and improve throughout the season.

RH: Watching this age group during the regular season we knew we had a very talented team coming into the All-Star season. The difficulty with having such a talented group is finding the right position for each player. For example, we may have 4 or 5 girls (out of 13) that played SS during the regular season,  but you can only put one SS on the field at a time. All of the girls were willing to try new positions and develop new skills. Some girls who may not have ever played OF are now making amazing plays for us in the OF. The girls have truly been so supportive of one another and helpful to their teammates. They understand that we are ONE team and that we have common goals. So, not only has this team improved their physical games, but also their sense of teamwork and sportsmanship. It was really impressive for us to see that displayed so naturally by 8 year olds.

NM: The growth this team has shown has been incredible. From our very first practice, you could see the talent, but over the past two months they’ve grown tremendously in their confidence, communication, and understanding of the game. They’ve learned to trust one another, make smart plays as a team, and stay positive through every challenge. It’s been amazing to watch them become not only better softball players, but also better teammates. Their resilience, sportsmanship, and willingness to learn have made them a joy to coach.

TIR: What has been your favorite part about being part of this All-Star Team?

Nora Fox: Having great friends beside me as I play.

Laney O'Rourke: Winning and playing with friends.

Abby Cronin: I love cheering my team on and the best part is that our team has a lot of team spirit. We always have fun In the dugout and cheer for each other.

Delaney Barry: My favorite part about being on the team Is that we all love softball and have so much fun playing together. We are teammates and friends.

Reagan Hadrava: I was able to play with my friends Instead of being on separate teams in the regular season.

Abby Malloy: Playing with this team has been so much fun because everyone works hard and never gives up. I love being part of this team.

TIR: Who were the assistant coaches?

RH: Nicole Malloy, Stephanie and Eric Valdes and our special Junior Assistant Coach, Vienna Valdes

TIR: Anything else you would like to add.

RH: I’d be remiss if I did not mention how much support this team has received from Mark O’Connor (President RLLGS), the RLLGS Softball Board and our Softball community. Rutherford hosted both the District and Section tournaments for 8U as well  as Districts for 10U, 12U and 14U. We had Board members, former board members, parents, siblings, former players and friends step up to volunteer. It was a huge effort and we could not have done it without our Community, so a very heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who stepped up to contribute!

NM: I just want to say how incredibly proud I am of this amazing group of girls. Coaching them over the past two months has been an unforgettable experience, and watching them earn a spot in the first-ever 8U Little League State Tournament is truly the icing on the cake. They have represented Rutherford Little League Girls' Softball with tremendous heart, determination, sportsmanship, and class, and our entire community couldn’t be prouder.

Coaching my daughter alongside her friends has been an amazing experience and is truly the reason why I love coaching so much. Watching these girls grow—not only as softball players, but as teammates and young people—has been incredibly rewarding. Seeing their confidence build, their friendships strengthen, and their love for the game continue to grow is something I’ll always cherish.

I’d also like to recognize my fellow coaches, Ryan Hadrava, Stephanie Valdes, and Eric Valdes. Coaching alongside them at this level has been a great honor. They are not only exceptional coaches, but exceptional people who genuinely care about these girls. They lead by example, are incredible mentors, and have played a huge role in creating a positive, supportive, and fun environment. 

Finally, I’d like to thank the Rutherford LL Softball Board, our families, volunteers, and everyone who has supported us throughout this journey. The commitment from our parents and the encouragement from the Rutherford community have meant so much to these girls. We couldn’t be prouder of all they’ve accomplished this season.