Homers lead Calhoun over Mepham

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Calhoun senior Nicole Imhof blasted a two-run homer in the first inning, sophomore Kayla Pilotti followed with a three-run home run in the second and the eighth-seeded Lady Colts fought back a late rally by No. 9 Mepham to hold on for a 6-4 win in the first round of the Nassau County Class AA playoffs on May 12.

“They are a tough team,” Calhoun coach Jason Boland said of the Lady Pirates, who captured a share of the Conference AA-II regular-season title. “Mepham has been one of the best teams for years.”

Calhoun followed up the win with a 9-4 loss to top-seeded MacArthur last Saturday, with the Lady Generals erupting for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Lady Pirates, meanwhile, entered the postseason on a four-game winning streak and also helped coach Mike Muscara to the 400th victory of his career in a 15-0 win over Valley Stream Central on Apr. 14. “We played like every game was the playoffs,” he said. “We told them they had to win out.”

In holding off Mepham in the first round, the Lady Colts’ defense came up with several big plays in the top of the seventh, when the Lady Pirates had the tying runs on base. Junior Stephanie Burns led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on a one-out single to center by No. 8 hitter junior Julia Losciale. No. 9 hitter Kerri Donlon dropped down a bunt for another hit--the fourth bunt single of the game for Mepham — before Imhof induced a groundout to freshman second baseman Heather Berberich to end the threat and the game. “We work at it,” Muscara said of the small-ball strategy. “If you can’t bunt, you can’t play.”

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