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Vol. 31 No. 19
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Serra joins baseball team, making history “And we were like ‘Sure. As long as she goes to tryouts and she’s in the top 20, she should The Lynbrook Middle School be able to make the team.” Tieniber said that Melina baseball season started last month, and on deck, making worked really hard during the history is Melina Serra, the week-long tryout in late March first female athlete to join the and early April which earned her a spot on the team. team. After Lynbrook’s “She plays outAlly Fitzgerald became the first field and she’s a female in history to pitcher,” Tieniber compete in the Nassaid. “She has a sau County wrescannon for an arm. tling championShe can throw, she ships, this opened can hit, and we’re doors to more co-ed excited to see sports teams. Now, where it goes down four years later, the line.” Melina became the Tieniber exfirst ever female plained that the athlete to join a decision to accept Lynbrook school her on the team d i s t r i c t b a s e b a l l BENEdIcT wasn’ t based on team. With years of gender, but rather TIENIBER experience on local her athletic ability b a s e b a l l t r a v e l coach of Lynbrook and her knowledge teams, she already Middle School of baseball. He has a close bond baseball team added that Melina with her teamnot only had knowlmates, making her integration edge of the sport, but was able onto the team seamless. to throw a ball well and hit the “Melina’s mom reached out ball in different batting situato Joe, our athletic director, tions. That made her one of the asking if it would be OK for 20 best players to try out for the Melina to join the team,” Bene- team. dict Tieniber, coach of the midContinued on page 5 dle school baseball team, said.
By BEN FIEBERT
bfiebert@liherald.com
S
Photos courtesy East Rockaway School District
Students win awards in photography competition East Rockaway High School junior Emily Perez’s photograph ‘Bright Future,’ right, took first place in the Photojournalism category of the Photographic Federation of Long Island Youth Showcase competition. More photos, Page 3.
he has a cannon for an arm. She can throw, she can hit, and we’re excited to see where it goes down the line.