Defense leads Lady Big Red

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Glen Cove softball currently sits at 3-4 overall and 2-3 in Conference AB-IV.

However, game-to-game, one may have difficulty recognizing the Lady Big Red’s offense as the same group. In Glen Cove’s seven games, four saw it push across nine or more runs. In the other three games, it failed to top three runs, including a game in which it was shut out.

The pitching for Glen Cove, now with two legitimate starters, albeit underclassmen with no prior varsity experience, has been a positive work in progress. The constant for this team, however, is its undeniably strong defense.

Never was this more apparent than in Glen Cove’s 2-1 win in its last game at home against New Hyde Park. Up 2-1 in the top of the seventh, Glen Cove found itself in a precarious position. New Hyde Park had loaded the bases with no one out. Moments later, a ball that looked like it may drop over the first baseman’s head in shallow right field was stabbed out of mid-air by the diving glove of second baseman Micaela Costello. With the presence of mind to know the game situation, Costello shot up and fired a relay to home plate in time for the catcher to make the tag for the most needed double play of the season.

“It was an incredible play,” Glen Cove coach Angela Zupa said. “Our defense was huge in this game, like they have been all year.”

Starting pitcher Kristen Sita earned the win, striking out one and allowing nine hits and three walks. The day prior to that matchup, Glen Cove took on an undefeated Wantagh from Conference AB-III. The game would be a nail-biter, as Wantagh narrowly eeked out a 2-1 victory from its northern shore foe.

“It was surely an intense game,” Zupa said. “Both defenses played great.” Glen Cove’s Jennifer Heman started and allowed six hits and one walk before the call to the bullpen.

Glen Cove’s low-scoring nail-biter was a mirror opposite of its prior game against Sewanhaka. Suspended in the fourth inning and scheduled to resume on Tuesday, April 16, after presstime, the game was at an 8-8 stalemate. Glen Cove went up early with a 5-0 lead before Sewanhaka stormed back tying the game at 5. Glen Cove tacked on three more runs before Sewanhaka would match that in the top of the fourth. The game will continue in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The previous game, Glen Cove was shut out 12-0 by Valley Stream South. “They had a very good pitcher,” Zupa said. “She threw hard and my girls got into their own head too much and it didn’t work out well.”

VSS’s Isabella Secaira-Cotto earned the win and Adriana Heneghan hit a home run and two doubles in three plate appearances.

Next week, Glen Cove plays three games (including the continued Sewanhaka game) in three days. It also plays cross-town rival North Shore under the lights at Glen Cove Stadium during spring break on the night of April 25.

Zupa believes the success of her team will be the consistency of the bats showing up. “They want to practice, even on days we give them off,” Zupa said. “They want to stay to hit. That’s a good sign.”