The first games of the fall season were played this week for SYAC Travel Softball. Five teams, from grades four through eight, are playing softball in Syosset this season.

The Syosset Hurricanes, a newly formed U8 team, hustled onto the diamond at Sawmill Fields in North Belmore on September 8, as they played their first game in the North Belmore/North Merrick League. The Hurricanes battled all game, and they threatened in the last inning but fell a run short and lost 13-12 to the East Meadow Fillies. There were hits galore for Syosset's youngest travel team, which seesawed with East Meadow for the lead all game. The game's MVP award was given to Samantha Molloy for her sterling play at first base and for her hitting.

On September 9, the Xtreme played a pair of games against the Nesconset Panthers in the U12 division of the NJBL Softball League. Fine pitching was turned in by Lindsay Divack, Paula Janowsky and Rebekah Sugarman, though the Xtreme dropped both games at Longo Field at H.B. Thompson Middle School.

And at Hap Harris Field at Syosset High School, the Syosset Storm took on the rival Plainview Pythons, in the U10 division of NJBL. Among pitchers for the Storm were Laura Weintraub, Danielle Mascia and Rachel Janowsky.

Two other SYAC travel teams, the Syosset Flames and the Syosset Thunder, had byes and will play their first games this weekend.

SYAC has a growing travel program that plays fall, spring and summer, in addition to a well-established intramural program each spring for girls in kindergarten through eighth grade. Registration nights are in January. For more information: www.syacgs.org.