Carey off to fast start

Posted

At the outset of the 2015 season, most of those who follow softball in Nassau County viewed defending champion Carey as the team to beat in Class A. At the halfway point of the season, the prognosticators appear to be spot-on.

After last Friday’s 7-1 road victory over Island Trees, the Lady Seahawks are 9-1 and standing alone atop Conference AB-I. Senior pitcher Jenna Turato crushed a three-run homer in the top of the second inning to back her four-hit, seven-strikeout performance in the circle to lead the defending county champions.

Junior Rebecca Vilchez, who is hitting over .500, went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI, and senior Ruth Rodriguez and junior Amanda Ulzheimer each knocked in a run for Carey. The Lady Bulldogs, who handed Carey its only loss of the season, picked up their lone run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Lady Seahawks’ play has coach Anthony Turco feeling pretty confident. “I feel like I’m on autopilot,” he said. “The girls are self-motivated. They know the drill, know the routine, and they always know what’s at stake. They were really amped up for this game. It’s great to be around a group that cares so much.”

Carey had last Friday’s game circled on its schedule since the squad fell to Island Trees, 5-4, on April 9. Turato, who was strong in the team’s 4-1 win over Seaford earlier last week, was equally dominant in this one. Her ability to hit spots and mix up her pitches had the Lady Bulldogs off balance all afternoon.

After a scoreless first inning, Vilchez and junior Samantha Romanello reached base to open up the top of the second, setting the stage for the game’s biggest hit. Turato pulled an Ashley Melendez fastball over the left field fence for her second career homer to give the Seahawks all the runs they would need.

Since falling to Island Trees, Carey has given up a total of two runs in its past four games. In a 12-0 road win over Garden City, Vilchez hit a three-run homer and pitched five scoreless innings.

Turato continued the dominant pitching the following afternoon, when Levittown Division came to town. She yielded just a fifth-inning single and one walk in a 3-0 win. Sophomore Brianna Pinto had a double and two RBIs, and senior shortstop Mikayla Morsesi had a pair of hits.

Pinto and Rodriguez came up big on offense in the win over Seaford. With sophomore Jaclyn Rodriguez getting on base in the ninth spot in the order, and Pinto and Ulzheimer wreaking havoc at the top of the order, the Lady Seahawks have consistently set the table for the big bats in the middle of the order.

In a 14-5 rout of New Hyde Park, Ulzheimer went 4 for 4 with five runs scored, and Pinto was 3 for 3 and scored three runs.

The Lady Seahawks will be back in action this Saturday, at 10 a.m., when they host Mineola.