Sewanhaka gets walk-off win

From the moment it was placed on the schedule, Hewlett at Sewanhaka on April 12 promised to be a good softball game, because both teams will contend for the Conference ABC-IV title. 

Played out in late-morning sunshine, this matinee thriller exceeded expectations. Perhaps it was more thrilling for the Lady Indians, who prevailed 4-3 on Jackie Wisniewski’s one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but the visiting Lady Bulldogs had their moments in the sun as well.

It was the Lady Bulldogs who set the stage for the fantastic finish. They scored twice in the top of the seventh to knot the score at 3-3. The late-inning comeback has become a Hewlett staple. It came from behind in their previous two games, wins over Friends Academy (6-5 on March 28) and Roslyn (5-3 on April 3). Against Friends, Sam Cancellarish’s base hit capped a three-run seventh-inning rally. In the April 3 win over Roslyn, Nicole Rizzo provided the winning margin with a two-RBI hit in the fifth. 

“We’re playing well and we have good chemistry,” Hewlett coach Vinny Lospinuso said. 

The Bulldogs started the season with non-conference losses to Farmingdale and Oceanside. They trailed 1-0 in their third game, against West Hempstead, before Gabi Schwartz smacked a three-run homer in the fourth inning to ignite a 7-1 victory. Then came the consecutive comeback wins. Down 3-1 to Sewanhaka, they came back again, but then the Indians had last licks. This time Sewanhaka provided the late magic.

The first pitch in the bottom of the seventh was driven high and deep into left field, but Jara Teller was up to the challenge and made a fine catch. Then eighth-grader Jancarla Herrera got into one so that not even Teller could catch it. The rising, ringing line drive sailed far over Teller’s head and may have been a game-winning homerun if not for the fence way out in left field. 

Teller played the carom well and hit her cut, holding Herrera at third. Sewanhaka coach Deirdre Kelly said she considered sending Herrera towards the plate with the potential winning run despite the flawless cutoff play, except for one thought: Jackie Wisniewski. The senior shortstop, the team captain and Kelly’s most dependable player, was on deck.

“I knew Jackie would hit the ball hard somewhere,” Kelly said, so she held the winning run on third. 

With the deciding run on third and one out, Lopsinuso had a conference with his team in the middle of the diamond, then called to his outfielders to come up firing on anything hit their way. Wisniewski never gave them a chance. She lined the first pitch into right-center for a clean hit, and the Indians celebrated in the sun.

“Jackie has great focus and she is totally reliable,” Kelly said. 

With the victory, the Lady Indians improved to 4-2, including 2-2 in conference play. They’re set to host Friends Academy before four straight away games – at Roslyn, West Hempstead, Lynbrook and Locust Valley.