Ward Melville softball's Julianna Russ hits slam, has 6 RBIs in fundraiser game for Ronald McDonald House
Julianna Russ is mobbed by her Ward Melville teammates after homering during the Ward Melville softball fundraiser game for the Ronald McDonald House on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Credit: Sarah Prohens
The Ward Melville softball team’s sixth annual charity game hit extra close to home.
Four miles away from the Patriots’ softball field, Suffolk County’s first Ronald McDonald House is being built at Stony Brook Children's Hospital. Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) provide comfort and housing to families with children receiving medical care.
“We wanted to do something for children this year,” Ward Melville coach Joseph Burger said. “I knew the Ronald McDonald House is a good charity. I did some research and reached out to them and they told me that they were opening a house in Stony Brook. It’s pretty much right in our backyard, so it just felt like the perfect fit.”
By the end of Saturday morning’s game, an 11-2 win over visiting Lindenhurst, Ward Melville announced that it had reached its goal of raising $10,000 to directly support the construction of the house.
The 60,000-square-foot-center will include 30 bedrooms with private bathrooms, fully stocked pantries, complimentary laundry facilities, home-cooked meals, transportation services and other amenities.
In 2022, Ward Melville honored Jase Rossi, a then 7-year-old boy who battled leukemia. Rossi is now a cancer-free middle school student. His mother, Galit Yeffet, was among those delivering speeches before Saturday’s game. She said that the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital provided a big relief when her son was battling cancer.
“They had a room in the hospital with food, coffee and snacks. Things that might seem small, but when you’re sitting there worried about your child, those small things mean everything,” Yeffet said.
With a strong focus placed on children, the area around the Patriots’ field included a bounce house and stations for face paint and hair braiding.
On April 19, Burger and his team took a ride to the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park. The team spent time with children, autographing softballs and taking pictures. The children signed the players’ visors, which they wore in Saturday’s game.
“There was a little boy there and he told his mom, ‘I’m a celebrity. They all want my signature,’” Burger said. “We watched a little girl throw a ball around with her dad. It was a very rewarding experience.”
“We needed to make those kids happy and just make their day,” pitcher Julianna Russ said. “It felt great to see them smiling and having fun. It made us want to do more to support the cause.”
The game was livestreamed via GameChanger in the New Hyde Park house for the children to watch.
“Coach Burger and his girls go the extra mile,” said Joe Rulli, Director of Development for the RMHC New York Metro chapter. “He really emphasizes the idea of service to his players, which I think is important for any young person. It helps you take a step out of your own world and realize that there are other things happening in your community that you can actually impact.”
The Stony Brook house is set to open in 2027. With a large sophomore presence, Burger said the team will visit the house they helped build.
“I definitely would love to see how it turns out,” said Russ, a junior. “It’s special that it’s nearby. It makes the cause feel a lot more close to home.”
Russ went 2-for-2 with six RBIs and struck out eight and allowed one earned run in seven innings. Her grand slam gave the Patriots a 5-0 lead in the third inning. Quinn Amari and Kaitlyn Morales each went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and Ella Flammer added three RBIs for Ward Melville (10-4).
Alex Pietrolaj went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored for Lindenhurst (5-9).
Burger’s teams have raised more than $40,000 for various causes in the last six years.
“It’s tremendous what the girls have done the last few years,” Burger said. “The community is so supportive. It’s also a credit to the teams we play in these charity games. Lindenhurst bought matching shirts and they’ve contributed to the fundraising efforts.”
Matt Lindsay is a high school sports reporter who joined Newsday in 2022 after graduating from Stony Brook University.
