North’s DeStaso (GOLD) no-hits Scarsdale

It wasn't the prettiest no-hitter ever thrown, but it was a dominating performance nonetheless, as Clarkstown North's Danielle DeStaso struck out 17 in the Rams' 2-1 win in a Class AA first round game at No. 6 seeded Clarkstown North.

DeStaso allowed an earned run on no hits with 17 strikeouts. She walked five and hit a batter. It was her first ever varsity no-hitter and it came at the perfect time.

She cruised through four innings before issuing back-to-back walks in the fifth inning with two outs. With a runner on first and second, she struck out Scarsdale's Zoe Blumenthal to end the inning.

She found herself in trouble once again in the sixth inning after walking the bases loaded and hitting a batter to bring in Rachel Halperin. With two outs and a full count, the Raiders let another opportunity go to waste, as DeStaso escaped with a strikeout to end the threat.

DeStaso regained her command in the seventh inning and shut the door on the Rams' victory as she struck out the side.

Amanda Cooper helped out her pitcher in the fifth inning with a clutch single up the middle that scored Lauren Navarro and made the score 2-0 at the time.

Thoughts after the game:

Danielle DeStaso

"I had one rough inning where they stopped calling strikes and I wasn't even missing, I don't really know what happened there, but I threw a no-hitter with someone scoring so that's a new one.

"It was a good team win. It wasn't all just me. They made the plays behind me and had my back."

On the pitching-catching relationship with Laura Brennan: "We call the game together. We definitely know what each other wants. If I do shake her off, she knows what I'm looking for. I've never had to shake her off continuously, she tends to know exactly what I want if I do shake her off. That relationship has grown over the past two years. She knows what I like now and we know what the teams may not be able to hit before the game because we plan before the game."

Amanda Cooper:

"We knew that we were eliminated from them our sophomore year, so we knew we had to come in strong and get redemption.

"It hit us around the fifth inning that we knew she was having a no-hitter. And then when the ump wasn't giving her calls it started to frustrate us a little bit. But she came out with the W and no one hit her which was incredible.

"There's always pressure for (the defense) because we want to backup our pitcher. That's what we are here for to backup our pitcher and make no mistakes."

Scarsdale coach Dave Scagnelli:

"It comes down to making things happen with runners in scoring position. I give their pitcher a lot of credit. A kid who pitches and gets 21 outs and 17 strikeouts, that's as good a pitcher as we've faced all year."

"But I tell our girls all the time, our job is to bring the tying run up to the plate. At any point in the game anything can happen. You see with the bases loaded, she's cruising along on a no-hitter and she ends up hitting a batter. We steal a run there and the full count pitch was a borderline pitch that I tell our girls don't leave it up to the umpire because things can happen when the bat gets taken out of your hands."

"To lose eight seniors and have a 12-5 record and have these girls come up from our tournament program and make an impact…Having three freshmen starters and two sophomores and do what we did, I'm extremely pleased not with where we are this year, but where we can be next year in our program."

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Lalli (GOLD) Strikes Out 18 In Sectional Opener

Eastchester 9, Nanuet 0: In a Class A first round game at  No.2 Eastchester, Kristin Martin had two doubles with three RBI. Teammate Anna Crowley had a triple and three RBI. Janine Lalli pitched a four-hitter with 18 strikeouts. Laura Marinello had two hits for No. 15 Nanuet. Eastchester will host No. 7 Tappan Zee in a rematch of last year's quarterfinals on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
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Tappan Zee wins a thriller

What a thriller in Orangeburg… No. 7 Tappan Zee defeats No. 10 Lakeland 1-0 in the first round of the Class A playoffs at Tappan Zee High School. It was a thriller for sure.

The Dutchies will play No. 2 Eastchester Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the Class A quarterfinals.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Regina Argenzio led off with an infield hit which was her second hit of the game. She advances to second on a wild pitch. Colleen Pagnani(18U) then got on first via an error by pitcher Katie Champagne. She then took second immediately after. Champagne then issued Afredita Sinanaj (16U) an intentional pass. Kelly Connolly was up when the first pitch from Champagne went passed Victoria Lischinsky to score Argenzio with the game winning run.

For the Dutchies, this was a solid scrappy win. They play a lot of small ball and stick to their guns. It did pay off in the end

Argenzio went 2 for 4 in the game. Sinanaj had a double in the game and she was walked intentionally three times.

Lindsay Dring had a solid game offensively for the Hornets going 2 for 3 and both of her hits were doubles. They were shots.

Then Felicia Costanzo (right) had two bunts for base hits. Stephanie Scala had a hit as well for the Vikings.

For both teams, this wasn't the perfect game. They both left a combined 17 runners on the bases. Tappan Zee left 10 while Lakeland left seven batters.

For Tappan Zee, as they get ready for the Eagles, not to sound like captain obvious but they won't upset the second-seed if they do that again. That's how they put themselves in the situation last year in that game with the position they were in which set up Briana Barca's game winning hit.

This game was also a really great pitcher's duel between Champagne (far left) and the Dutchies Paulina Gutkin.

The freshman got the better of the senior.

Gutkin pitched a five-hitter allowing two walks and struck out 13.

Champagne allowed one unearned run on seven hits. She walked four and struck out six batters.

Unfortunately, someone had to lose but both pitched well and were gutsy to get out ouf the jams that they were in.

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Clarkstown South 15, Poughkeepsie 0: Brittany Montana (18U) pitched a perfect game with 9 K's!

Clarkstown South 15, Poughkeepsie 0: In a Class AA outbracket game at No. 13 Clarkstown South, Brittany Montana pitched a perfect game with nine strikeouts. Sam McDonald went 2 for 5 with a three-run home run.

Hurricanes in the News May 21, 2011

Nyack 4, East Ramapo 2: At Kakiat Elementary School in Spring Valley, Megan Sneeden (12U Black) had two hits for the Indians, including a double.

Clarkstown North 5, Albertus Magnus 4: At Clarkstown North, Danielle DeStaso (GOLD) went 2 for 2 with a home run. Teammates Laura Brennan (18U) and Lauren Navarro each had an RBI.

Clarkstown South 6, Nanuet 0: At Clarkstown South, Sami McDonald (GOLD) pitched a two-hit shutout. Carly Feuer (16U Black) hit two home runs. Danielle DiModugno (14U) and Laura Marinello hit doubles for the Vikings.

Eastchester 11, Pelham 0: At Pelham Saturday, Janine Lalli (GOLD) struck out nine and also had a solo home run to help the Eagles clinch the league title. Anna Crowley and Kristin Martin each had three hits and an RBI.

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Hurricanes in the News May 20, 2011

Nyack 3-9, Nanuet 1-4: At Nanuet,(Megan Sneeden 12U Black) had two hits and drove in three runs for the Indians.

Tappan Zee 5, Horace Greeley 3: At Tappan Zee Thursday, Aferdita Sinanaj hit a grand slam.

Clarkstown South 18, East Ramapo 0, 6: At East Ramapo, Brittany Montana alowed two hits in six innings.

Pearl River 11, Albertus Magnus 0: At Pearl River, Jamie DeGennaro went 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, and three RBI. Katie O'Flynn pitched a four-hitter and struck out eight.

http://www.hudsonvalleyhurricanes.com/news/hurricanesinthenewsmay202011

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Future of Nyack Softball is Bright

Pictured Megan Sneeden (7th Grader, Nyack Varsity Softball - 12U Black)

The Indians have a strong crop of underclassmen that could turn into serious contenders in the coming years in Section 1 softball.

By Tony Pinciaro | Wednesday, May 18, 2011          

Nyack first-year softball coach and former Suffern standout Stephanie Antonelli is establishing a program ready to rise within a few years.

Antonelli has a nice blend of seniors and talented underclassmen, including three junior-high-school players, as they begin to rebuild Nyack softball.

"The seniors have instilled pride in the younger girls and, by doing this, they want to get girls to come out and play softball for Nyack," said Antonelli of seniors Jessica Gelbman and Becky Leone.

Gelbman and Leone are the leaders and have set a good example for the four youngsters. They have also welcomed the newcomers and helped them make a smooth transition to the varsity level.

Freshman Tiffany Salcito (shortstop) (Hurricanes 14U) headlines the group. She debuted on varsity with a four-hit game in sectionals last year. Eighth-grader Jenna Lane (left field) and seventh-graders Michaela Contreras (pitcher) and Megan Sneeden (catcher) (Hurricanes 12U Black) complete the quartet.

Despite their relative youth, Contreras and Sneeden bring experience to the team. Sneeden plays for the Hudson Valley Hurricanes 12U Black team. Conteras plays for Rockland Thunder. Conteras and Sneeden also played on the Nanuet Little League 11-year-old all-star team that went undefeated in winning the state championship.

Antonelli pointed out that in Contreras' varsity debut, she limited two-time defending Section 1 Class AA champion North Rockland to three runs in a loss. That is a nice performance considering the Red Raiders' lineup is stacked.

"Michaela did a tremendous job," Antonelli said.

While Contreras had a solid varsity debut, so did Sneeden. Antonelli noted that she picked off a runner from first base with a strong throw.

Even though Nyack's record may not indicate it, the Indians are winless, Antonelli said her team has played hard and has been in many games against the tough Rockland schedule.

Lalli Finishing Strong for Eagles

By Tony Pinciaro | Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Janine Lalli (Gold) had her heart set on being a catcher when she first began playing softball.

Lalli liked being involved in every pitch and aspect of the game. However, her coaches decided Lalli would have an impact in the circle.

"The coaches told me I had to pitch because I was only one who could reach the plate," said the Eastchester senior, with a laugh.

Her first coaches would be right in making Lalli pitch, for it would be a precursor to what has been an outstanding high school career.

Lalli, a five-year varsity starter, has been an impact player, as a pitcher and shortstop since she debuted on varsity as an eighth-grader under retired Eastchester coach Skip Walsh. The previous four years Lalli — who will attend Marist and play softball next year — had shared pitching duties with Noelle McDonough, who graduated last June.

This season, Lalli is Eastchester's primary pitcher and displaying a dominance that has led the Eagles to a 14-1 record, including a 14-game winning streak.

"I have always liked having control of the game and I like knowing that I can't let my teammates down." said Lalli, who plans on majoring in Chemistry at Marist.

Lalli has been in complete control this season. She is currently 9-1, including five shutouts, with a 0.44 earned run average. Teams are hitting a paltry .144 against her, allowing just 23 hits.

Lalli has rung up 122 strikeouts and walked only 11 in 63 innings. She is also giving opposing pitchers nightmares, hitting .548 (23 for 42) with 23 runs scored, six doubles, a triple, four home runs and 23 RBI.

"Last summer I worked on making my body stronger and becoming a better athlete," Lalli said. "I also pitched every weekend, Saturday and Sunday, with my travel team."

Following a break at the conclusion of fall ball, Lalli resumed throwing once open gym commenced in December.

"I was throwing three, four times a week," Lalli said. "I feel that I have added more pitches this year. I'm doing a better job of setting hitters up and I got a few tips from my college softball coach."

As dominant as she is in the circle, Lalli excels at shortstop. She has outstanding range, is sure-handed and possesses a strong arm.

"Janine has a work ethic that is second to none," first-year Eastchester coach Chris Walpole said. "She will stay after practice and constantly work. Even on off days, she will organize the team and practice.

"Janine is also the ultimate competitor. She deserves what she has gotten because of her work ethic."

Lalli's impact goes beyond statistics, though. Lalli is the leader of a young Eastchester team. She recalled encouragement she received as a seventh-grader and has chosen to do the same.

"I was pitching in an open gym and some of the juniors on varsity were watching me and they said, 'You're going to be really good,' " Lalli said. "I liked the encouragement and I knew I would do the same thing one day.

"Last year, we had a lot of seniors so it was harder to be a leader, but this year I am encouraging the girls and trying to get the most out of them so we are ready for sectionals."

NJ Female Athlete of the Week: Marissa Spinuzzi (18U) of Fair Lawn

Marissa Spinuzzi (18U) will be the youngest softball player on the roster of the 18-and-under Hudson Valley Hurricanes when they begin their season next month.

If her sophomore season for Fair Lawn has been an accurate indication, the Fair Lawn ace is more than prepared for the challenge. In her first full varsity season as a starting pitcher, Spinuzzi has given her teammates plenty of confidence as the state tournament approaches.

She threw her first no-hitter and struck out 13 Saturday in a 7-0 victory over Cresskill. That performance followed Spinuzzi's two-hitter against Paramus Catholic a week ago, a game in which she struck out eight in a 2-0 win over a team ranked No. 10 in the North Jersey Top 25.

Spinuzzi considers Fair Lawn's win against Paramus Catholic the biggest of her career.

"They were expected to win and no one was even thinking we'd be in the game," said Spinuzzi, who earned The Record Female Athlete of the Week honor. "Or at least I didn't think we would be in it, but we fought hard."

Beating Paramus Catholic was vital in proving that 22nd-ranked Fair Lawn can advance in the North 1, Group 4 tournament, which begins next week.

"I think we have the potential to go far in the states," Spinuzzi said, "depending on who we face and how much we want it."

Regardless, Spinuzzi, sophomore catcher Alexis Bush and freshman second baseman Samantha Colca have helped form a strong core of Cutters who'll be back for seasons to come.

"I'm excited for the next two years, because now we're just starting to come into being a really good team," said Spinuzzi, who also plays volleyball and basketball. "And we have a few kids who are playing new positions, but they're doing well. So the next two years are going to be great, I think."

Also nominated: Holy Angels' Lisa Sesink-Clee, Indian Hills' Taylor Clarkson, Ridgefield Park's Stephanie Encarnacion and Ridgewood's Sarah DeVita for track and field.

E-mail: idec@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/hs_sports/athlete_of_the_week/121972188_Female_Athlete_of_the_Week__Marissa_Spinuzzi_of_Fair_Lawn.html

12U Black Make It 5 in a row!

The Hudson Valley Hurricanes 12U Black team continue their winning ways seeding 1st at the Witches Wild Weekend in Bordentown, NJ going 3-0 and outscoring opponents 32-2 on Saturday. The rains came and washed out Sunday giving them 1st place. 

The team batted an impressive 0.514 with 36 hits over the 3 games played. Kelsey Oh led the team with 6 RBI's including a double and a triple. Deangie Jimenez and Alicia Bertolino helped out with 5 RBI's each. Megan Sneeden hit her 3rd HR of the spring. Amanda Schweitzer went 4 for 7 with 2 RBI's. Taylor Adolff and Taylor Sullivan both went 3 for 7 with an RBI.

What almost went unnoticed behind the offense show was the stellar pitching and defense. The 12U Black played error free defense all day led by Gabby Palumbo at 2B. Sarah Gunderson pitched a 2 hit shutout to start the day. Kelsey Oh battled out of a bases loaded jam in one inning allowing the only two runs of the day to a very tough PA team in the 2nd game. In the 3rd game Reese Guevarra pitched her 3rd perfect game of the spring, allowing no hits, no walks and striking out the first 10 batters she faced. "You need to let the other girls play too," Head Coach Kristen Sullivan jokingly told Guevarra after the 3rd inning.

The 12U Black have taken 1st place in all 4 of their tournaments this spring and have won 5 first place trophies in a row since last fall. 

Yorktown Fall Ball Madness, Yorktown, NY - 1st Place

2nd Annual First Chance PONY NQ, Long Island, NY - 1st Place

Jennie Finch Spring Invitational, Flemington, NJ - 1st Place, Silver Bracket

New Windsor PONY NQ, New Windsor, NY -1st Place

Witches Wild Weekend NSA NQ, Bordentown, NJ - 1st Place.

The 12U Black go on the road after this for a 3 day tournament with 8 games guaranteed at the Memorial Day Madness in Chambersburg PA where there will be fifty-four (54) 12U teams from all over including some of the best 12U teams from PA, MD, VA, NJ, NY. 

Mangan's Homer Leads PC to Upset

    Sunday, May 15, 2011

 BY RONALD P. CLARK

 The Record

 STAFF WRITER

WASHINGTON TWP. — It all happened in one inning.
After only one hit through its first seven at-bats, sixth-seeded Paramus Catholic (17-5) exploded with a five-run third inning en route to a 6-1 upset over No. 3 Immaculate Conception (22-2) on Saturday in the Bergen County softball tournament quarterfinals at Immaculate Heart.
"It's very important that we contribute one through nine," Paramus Catholic coach Frank Baldino said. "We just can't rely on one or two people in the lineup to hit. We've been working on just getting good, solid contact and working on things that will manufacture runs."
Paladins junior Brittany Mangan (Gold) led off the third with a solo home run. The hit seemed to ignite the Paladins' bench, sparking a flurry of hits.
"I think it just got us started," said senior outfielder Lauren Milligan (Gold), who went 3-for-4 with three singles. "Britt really needed that home run and we all just fed off that energy."
Senior Erin Trippi, Milligan and junior Christina Gonzalez hit consecutive singles to load the bases. After a fielder's choice kept one run from scoring, Trippi scored on a wild pitch and freshman Alyssa Neal hit a two-run double to make it 4-0.
Another run scored on an error, and what was a scoreless game now was in the Paladins' control.
"Other games, we haven't been hitting as much," Neal said. "But [Saturday] we really just broke through and hit a lot."
The Paladins were steadied by a brilliant pitching performance by freshman Samantha Buse, who pitched a complete game, allowing one run on four hits.
"She was sort of like the driver of the bus," Baldino said. "She's not just going along for the ride."

Hurricanes In The News 5.13-5.14.11

Eastchester 2, Ketcham 1: In the first round game of the Melissa D. Bisaccia Memorial tournament at Ketcham, Danielle Cacciola went 3 for 3. Teammates Christiana Galella and Courtney Petrone each had an RBI. Eastchester 6, Clarkstown North 2: In the championship game of the Melissa D. Bisaccia Memorial tournament at Ketcham, Janine Lalli (GOLD) had a double and struck out nine. Teammate Casey Dell’aera added a triple and two RBI. Clarkstown North’s Danielle DeStaso (GOLD) had three hits, including a double.
Pearl River 4, Horace Greeley 0: At Horace Greeley, Mandy McCarthy had a hit and two RBI and Gemma Mahoney (18U) had a hit and an RBI. Katie O’Flynn allowed four hits and struck out 10. Jamie Weisser struck out eight for the Quakers.

Clarkstown North 4, Nanuet 3: At Clarkstown North, Ruby Silverstein (16U Black) had two hits and an RBI and winning pitcher Danielle DeStaso (GOLD) struck out 10. Kelly Keill had an RBI double for the Golden Knights. Eastchester 15, Edgemont 0, 5: At Eastchester, Anna Crowley went 2 for 3 with a double, a home run and three RBI. Kristin Martin went 3 for 3 with a double and four RBI. Lauren Stuzin had the Panthers only hit.
Tappan Zee 5, New Rochelle 2: In the first round of the John Jay tournament, Colleen Pagnani (18U) had two hits and two RBI and Regina Argenzio had three hits and an RBI. Winning pitcher Paulina Gutkin had eight strikeouts. Jamie Zakalik struck out nine in the loss for the Huguenots.
Pearl River 14, East Ramapo 0: At the Ramapo Freshman Center, Mandy McCarthy had two doubles, a triple, and three RBI. On the mound, she struck out nine and allowed only two hits in five innings. Jamie DeGennaro (18U) added two hits and four RBI.

DeStaso (GOLD) Shuts Down Ketcham

By Rich Thomaselli | Saturday, May 14, 2011

WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. — Danielle DeStaso (GOLD) has had a long two years.

She was diagnosed with Lyme Disease before her junior year and again last summer before her senior season at Clarkstown North High School began. An aggressive course of medicine helped stem the tide, but pitching 14 innings in one day – heck, in back-to-back games, with no break – is still a lot to ask.

Unfortunately for Roy C. Ketcham, DeStaso was stronger in her second game than the first.

The right-hander fired a five-hitter on Saturday and the Rams shut out RCK, 2-0, in the final game of the Melissa Bisaccia Tournament. The three-team friendship tourney is named for former Ketcham player Melissa Bisaccia, who passed away from a seizure while at college several years ago.

The big winner on the day was Eastchester, which started the tournament off with the 9 a.m. game by beating RCK, 2-1, and then coming back in the 11 a.m. contest to beat DeStaso and Clarkstown North, 6-2. Eastchester, now 13-1 on the season, is ranked ninth in the state in Class A.

Clarkstown North is now 11-4 after going 1-1 in the tourney.

"I told my team I thought this was a real character win," Clarkstown North coach Danielle Trainor said. "We came out and had a rough first game. This was about forgetting what happened in the first game and picking ourselves up."

Ketcham is now 10-3 after having something of a lost weekend. The Indians, ranked No. 25 in the state in Class AA, won four consecutive games this week between Monday and Thursday, but then scored just one run in two losses on Saturday.

"We came in flat today," Ketcham coach Melissa Zehr said. "Eastchester was a great hitting team and we came in without the approach we normally have. Having four games this week, winning all four, and the last game being (archrival) John Jay, emotionally it kind of wore on us."

"We knew they were a good team, ranked in the state, they can hit, and they don't make a lot of errors in the field," DeStaso said of Ketcham. "We played them last year and lost 4-2 (in the Section 1 playoffs). "We knew we'd have to get the key hits to beat them."

DeStaso did a tremendous job in the second game, never facing more than five Ketcham batters in an inning. She ran into trouble in the fourth when the Indians had runners on second and third with one out, but got out of it with a strikeout and a groundout. In the bottom of the seventh, RCK had runners on first and second with one out, but DeStaso got two fly balls to left field to end it.

Not bad for 14 innings pitched with less than an hour's break between games.

"It takes training," DeStaso said. "In travel ball sometimes you have to pitch two games in a row. I'll probably be sore tomorrow because we don't usually do it as much in high school ball, but I tend to pitch better in my second game because I'm warmer."

She also looked pretty good at the plate. In the third inning, DeStaso gave herself the only run she would need against RCK by rocking a Casey Herzog fastball over the left field fence for a solo home run and a 1-0 lead.

"When you hit it, you know if it's going to go out or not," she said with a smile. "It just popped off the bat. You know it's either going to go or fall right before the fence. I knew that was gone."

Clarkstown North added an insurance run in the fourth on an RBI single by Lauren Strum (16U Black).

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Hurricanes in the news. May 13, 2011. Brittany Montana (18U) pitches no-hitter

 

Hurricanes in the News. May 13, 2011

 

Clarkstown South 5, Nyack 0: At Clarkstown South, junior Brittany Montana (18U) pitched a no-hitter, striking out 13 and allowed no walks.

 

Clarkstown North 4, Nanuet 3: At Clarkstown North, Ruby Silverstein (16U Black) had two hits and an RBI and winning pitcher Danielle DeStaso (GOLD) struck out 10.

 

Tappan Zee 5, New Rochelle 2: In the first round of the John Jay tournament, Colleen Pagnani (18U)had two hits and two RBI.

 

Pearl River 14, East Ramapo 0:  Jamie DeGennaro (18U) added two hits and four RBI.

 

Hurricanes in the News. May 12, 2011

Nyack 21, Rye 5, At Rye, Tiffany Salcito (14U) had a grand slam and a two-run double for the Indians. Teammates Becky Leone and Megan Sneeden (12U Black) each had two RBI.

Nanuet 18, Irvington 0, At Nanuet, Danielle DiModugno (14U) had a triple and four RBI. Janine Mackey (14U) had a double and two singles with three RBI.

Albertus Magnus 7, Tappan Zee 6: Lauren Cappello (14U) was the winning pitcher for Albertus. Afredita Sinanaj (16U Blue) had a double and two RBI's for the Dutchies.

Clarkstown North ekes out another win against Suffern

Danielle DeStaso pitched a six-hitter, allowing an unearned run and one walk while striking out eight, to pick up the 2-1 win for Clarkstown North on Wednesday. / Carucha L. Meuse/The Journal News

 Written by

 Debbie Schechter 

NEW CITY — For the second time this week, the Clarkstown North and Suffern softball teams played a one-run game — and the Rams got the sweep.

They defeated the Mounties 2-1 at Clarkstown North High School Wednesday, and prevailed 1-0 on Monday.
With one out in the bottom of the first inning Wednesday, Laura Brennan (18U) hit a double to left field off Suffern's Katie Wood. On the next pitch, Amanda Cooper hit a double to center field to drive in Brennan with the first run of the game.
"When I faced her the other day, I knew that her first pitch was a strike," Cooper said. "I'm usually a first-strike hitter, so I came up and hit a first-pitch strike.
"It helped seeing a pitcher twice in a row. You know what she's about to throw every single time."
The Rams (9-3) got what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out, bases-loaded single to left by Danielle DeStaso (GOLD), who was the winning pitcher.
"It's not that we weren't hitting, it's just that we didn't string them together," DeStaso said. "But we came through at the end."
DeStaso pitched a six-hitter, with one walk. She struck out eight and the Mounties' run was unearned. She had to pitch out of some jams along the way and seemed to pick up steam as the game went on.
"I just think they stopped swinging," DeStaso said. "They know that I have a lot of pitches and I don't miss by much."
Wood, an eighth-grader, praised her teammates after the tough loss.
"You have to have faith in your team," Wood said. "I have plenty of faith in mine that, even if the other team gets a hit, they will respond with great defense."
Lauren Navarro (GOLD) and Erica Ronda each went 2 for 3 for the Rams.
The Mounties (9-6) got on the board in the top of the seventh inning.
Ilana Negron led off the inning with a double to left field, her second hit of the game. She advanced on a sacrifice and scored on a passed ball

12U Black go 7-0 and win championship on Mother's Day!

1st Place at New Windsor PONY NQ

 May 10, 2011

 New Windsor, NY

    This past Mother's Day weekend the 12U Black team seemed unstoppable. They mercied the first six 6 teams they played, allowing only one run on their journey to the championship game at the New Windsor, NY 12U PONY NQ. In these first six games leading up to the championship the offense was nothing short of exciting. Home runs were hit by Taylor Adolff and Alicia Bertolino. Triples and doubles were had by Deangie Jimenez, Kelsey Oh and Megan Sneeden. Taylor Sullivan, Amanda Schweitzer and Gabby Palumbo seemed to be on base all the time. Sarah Gunderson, Kelsey Oh and Reese Guevarra supported the offense with outstanding pitching performances. In the 6 games leading up to the championship game they combined to allow only one run, five shutouts, 58K's and won 2 games each.

    The championship would not be the same type of game. They had a very tough opponent to overcome in the Empire State Huskies 12U Black team. That Sunday the Huskies 12U Black team was battling on the other side of the bracket eliminating other tough teams. The Huskies 12U Black gave the Hurricanes 12U Black their first loss of the spring the previous weekend in a 2-1 Saturday loss that helped push the Hurricanes 12U Black into the Silver Bracket on Sunday at the Jennie Finch Invitational. The teams also played 2x before in Yorktown in one run contests with the Hurricanes coming on top 1-0 (Saturday) and 2-1 (Semi-Finals).

    Guevarra started the Championship game allowing 2 unearned runs over 5 tough innings. She left the game in a 2-2 tie. Kelsey Oh came in relief to pitch the top of the 6th. After getting two outs, with a runner on 2B, a routine pop fly was missed by the usually reliable center fielder, Guevarra, allowing the go ahead run to score (3-2, Huskies after 6). It was Guevarra's first error of the spring. "I'm not sure what happened. I misjudged it. I felt very bad about letting them score that run. My team really supported me and didn't let me get down," said Reese. "I knew I was up in the bottom half of the inning and would have a chance to get that run back." That was what she did. She hit the first pitch for a line drive to left. Megan Sneeden promptly sacrificed her to 2B. The Huskies after seeing the smoking bat of Deangie Jimenez (triple and a double in that game) intentionally walked her putting runners on 1B and 2B and setting up a force play with one out. Gunderson followed the intentional walk with a single up the middle scoring Guevarra and advanced herself to 2B and Jimenez to 3B on the throw home. With runners now on 2B and 3B with one out; Kelsey Oh came in and gave the team what they needed. Oh hit a deep fly ball to centerfield. Jimenez tagged at 3rd and scored the go ahead run.

    In the top of the 7th, the Huskies would not go down without a fight. After a strikeout; and a ground out, the Huskies got a single. On the first pitch the runner tried to steal 2B but was gunned down by catcher Megan Sneeden throwing to SS Jimenez ending the game 4-3.

    A truly great game played by two very competitive teams. They will surely face each other a few more times this season. With the Huskies runner-up finish in this 16 team tournament they earned a bid to PONY Nationals as well.

    Coming up this weekend for the the Hurricanes 12U Black team is the "Witches Wild Weekend" in Bordentown, NJ where besides some of the best teams in NJ they will see the only team they have lost to in a Finals (Playing for the Pink Fall 2010) and get their chance to even up the score. Hopefully it will be another exciting weekend for the girls.

5/8/11 2011 Empire State Huskies Black at 2011 Hurricanes Black

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
2011 Empire State Huskies Black	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	6	2
2011 Hurricanes Black	1	0	1	0	0	2	X	4	4	5

5/9/2011 - Hurricanes making news

May 9, 2011

Clarkstown South 6, North Rockland 2: At North Rockland, Sam McDonald (GOLD) gave up one earned run and five hits, while striking out five. She also went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Mackenzie Conklin had the Red Raiders only RBI.


Clarkstown North 1, Suffern 0: At Suffern, Laura Brennan (18U) had a leadoff home run in the fourth inning. Winning pitcher Danielle DeStaso (GOLD) had two hits and also struck out eight.

Pearl River 9, Nanuet 1: At Pearl River, Jamie DeGennaro (18U) went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBI. Amanda Schule had two hits and drove in a run. Danielle DiModugno (14U) had two hits and drove in the run for the Golden Knights.

Eastchester 19, Yonkers 0, 5: At Eastchester, Janine Lalli (GOLD) was perfect in five innings and also hit a two-run homer. Anna Crowley hit a grand slam. Danielle Cacciola had three hits and three RBI.

Valentine Helps Lead John Jay to 3rd place finish in Morabito Tournament

The John Jay High School softball team captured third place in the two-day James "Ace" Morabito Memorial Invitational Softball Tournament, which finished on Sunday at Binghamton's BAGSAI complex.
The Patriots, winners of both their games on Saturday, gave up a two-run lead in the bottom of the seventh of Sunday's semifinal and lost to Cicero-North Syracuse, 5-4.
"It was ours for the taking," said John Jay head coach Bonnie Schilling, "and we didn't take it."
John Jay's Tateum Valentine hit a game-tying solo homer in the top of the fifth. Nadia Kemp and Gabby Bracchi each scored in the seventh to take a 4-2 edge.
The Patriots bounced back in the third-place matchup, scoring four runs in the bottom of the third and six more in the fourth to pound Bethlehem, 12-3.
"They regrouped," Schilling said. "They were definitely focused at the plate. After the disappointment of the first loss, we wanted to make sure to leave with a win."
Brittany Winter launched a three-run home run in the fourth. Kemp was 2 for 4 with a triple and three runs scored, and Vicky Lattanzio (5-1), who had taken the loss against Cicero, was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.
Amanda Gisonni (5-1) earned the victory, striking out six and allowing seven hits in a complete-game effort.
On Saturday, John Jay won its opening game against Westhill, 20-2, with Valentine (GOLD) driving in three runs and scoring two, Kemp scoring three runs and driving in two, and Angelique Perricelli collecting four runs and two RBI.
In beating Horseheads, 9-4, later Saturday, Winter was 3 for 3 with a single, double and home run. Valentine and Bracchi each had three hits and two runs scored.
John Jay (10-2) returns home to face Arlington on Tuesday.
"Overall, we had a very good outing," Schilling said of the weekend. "I was pleased with how the team bonded and came together."

Eastchester Outduels Pelham

 By Sean Faye | Friday, May 6, 2011

 Eagles standout pitcher Janine Lalli (Hurricanes Gold) pitches a gem in a 2-1 victory over Pelham in a softball matchup on Thursday.

 EASTCHESTER, N.Y. - With both pitchers on top of their game, Eastchester’s Janine Lalli was just one step better than Pelham’s Kelly Keith as Eastchester squeaked by Pelham, 2-1 on Thursday.

It was a game that came down to the final out, ending with the tying run in scoring position for Pelham.

The game was tense from the start. After a scoreless first inning, Pelham’s Jill Ayson reached third base with no one out, but Lalli went on to strikeout the next three hitters in order to end the threat.

“I definitely had to make my pitches, they’re a good team,” Lalli said, “I was hitting my spots that inning and I knew it was the bottom of their order and something always clicks in my head that after the fourth batter I have to get outs.”

In the top of the third inning, Pelham again got a runner to third base, this time with two outs, but Lalli again made her pitches and recorded the strikeout to end the threat.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when Lalli helped out her own cause by leading off with a home run. Later in the inning, Casey Dell’aera hit a sacrifice-fly to center field, scoring Taylor Delgatto.

“I was actually looking to bunt that at bat because the third baseman was playing so far back,” Lalli claimed, “Thankfully I didn’t, and Pelham always knows how to pitch to me so I was waiting for a pitch to hit and eventually I got it.”

Lalli and Keith then traded zeros in the fifth and sixth innings before Pelham finally broke through in the top of the seventh.

With Ayson on second base with one out, Meghan McDonough hit an infield singe that was thrown away by Eastchester, allowing Ayson to score and Mcdonough to reach second base. Lalli, though, settled down and, in fitting fashion, struck out the next two Pelham batters to end the game.

“Lalli has been bailing us out all year,” Eastchester coach Chris Walpole claimed, “We’ve won every game that she’s pitched and she has to be one of the top three pitchers in the section.”

Game Notes:
Pelham coach Keith Maley gave full credit to Lalli on the home run she hit, claiming it was a good pitch down by the ankles. But Lalli, a Division I player, did what she had to do to put it over the fence… Maley also claimed that what hurt the team the most in the inning was a past ball that allowed Delgatto to reach third and eventually score on the sac fly.

Keys to the Game

1. Defense: With just one error apiece, both teams did not allow “extra outs,” which contributed to the game being so close and coming down to the final at-bat.

2. Pitching: Both pitchers dominated the game.

3. Making it count: Both teams were given opportunities with runners on third and less than two outs. Only Eastchester was able to cash in the run, and that run ended up being the difference in the game.

Eastchester 2, Pelham 1
Pelham (7-5)          0000001       1  2  1
Eastchester (6-1)   000200X      2  4  1

Top Performers:
Eastchester: Janine Lalli (CG, 2 hits, 1 run, 0 ER, 2BB, 15 Ks, hit solo home run)
Pelham: Kelly Keith (CG, 4 hits, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 Ks)


Email Sean Faye at SFaye319@yahoo.com. Follow on Twitter @MSG_Varsity

Pearl River 7, Nyack 2

Pearl River 7, Nyack 2: At Nyack, Amanda Hartigan (16U Black) and Nicole Leote each had a hit and an RBI for the Pirates. Megan Sneeden (12U Black) had a double and two RBI for the Indians.

12U Black take 1st Place at JF Invitational - Silver

12U Black take 1st Place at JF Invitational - Silver

 After a rough Saturday, the 12U Black team come back for a strong Sunday going 3-0 and outscoring opponents 23-0 to take 1st place in the Jennie Finch Invitational - Silver.

Eastchester defeats Tappan Zee, 2-1

Eastchester 2, Tappan Zee 1: At Tappan Zee, winning pitcher Janine Lalli (Gold) struck out 15. Taylor Delgatto and Casey Dell'aera each drove in a run for the Eagles. Danielle Papalambros knocked in the Dutchies' run.