Two of five SYAC Travel Softball teams are raising trophies high after championship seasons in Fall 2007. And for all SYAC Travel Softball teams, great fun was had under sunny (well, almost all the time) skies!

The Syosset Flames captured the championship of the U12 National Division of the NJBL Softball League this fall. The team finished with a record of 11-0-1 and generally crushed the competition. Many thanks to coaches Bob Mitchell, Ben Jacobson, and Bruce Littman for all of their hard work-and to the many parents who cheered the team on all season.

The Syosset Thunder also aced first place with a record of 11-1. With outstanding pitching, hitting and fielding, they finished well in front of all other teams in the U10 Division of NJBL. Thanks to coaches Anthony Beovich, Ted Zurek and Mario Fasano and to parents (especially the gifted cookie bakers).

The Syosset Hurricanes, the newest SYAC Travel team, competed in the U8 division of the North Bellmore/North Merrick League. The girls finished with a record of 5-3 in an experimental format that employs a pitching machine and a run/bases limit that's designed to encourage youth players to make plays on runners. Each of the team's losses was by a single run in games that featured last-inning rallies and nail-biting intensity. Big thanks to coaches Rob Marlow, Anthony Beovich, Michael Wagner and Larry Hirschheimer. And thanks to Karen Ventricelli for keeping the scorebook and to parents, including some excellent cooks whose baked goodies will be appreciated for years to come.

The Syosset Storm really came into their own in their second year and finished at 4-8 in the U10 division of NJBL. The team showed a lot of great development late in the season. Big thanks to coaches Steve Kuse, Bruce Graber and Chris McLaughlin and many other parents who helped out with cheering, pitcher warmups, bathroom runs and hot chocolate.

Finally, the Syosset Xtreme scratched out a 1-10-1 season in the U12 National NJBL, but they showed a lot of determination in many games that could have gone either way. Some outstanding players emerged during the season, and big thanks go out to coaches Peter Janowsky, Ted Pearlman, John Schneider, Steve Divack and to many parents who helped out and supported the team.

Once again, SYAC Travel Softball teams (with a collective record of 32-22-2) demonstrated that they can go out and compete-and have lots of fun along the way. SYAC Travel teams will do it all over again in the spring!

In addition to travel teams, SYAC hosts a very popular intramural softball program each spring for girls from grades K-8. Registration is in January. For more information: www.syacgs.org.