SPORTS WRAP
BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
The Orange Monte Irvin minor league youth baseball team came into their year as the defending 2022 league champions. This year, the 8-10 year old squad beat Elizabeth in the 2023 championship game to retain their crown. The title contest, which took place in July in Elizabeth, saw Orange win in a 17-0 rout.
The Monte Irvin all team was led by second year player Eli A Chavis, who pitched a complete game shutout and led with three hits and eight RBI. Leading the Orange youth minors were coaches Weldon Montague and Sharief Williams. Overall, they were 10-2 on the season.
Unlike Orange however, the United States Women Soccer Team will not successfully defend their crown. Their run in the 2023 Women’s World Cup came to a stunning end in Melbourne, Australia. In the first game of the knockout stage, Sweden took out the U.S. in a penalty kick shootout, leaving Megan Rapinoe to end her career on a sour note.