Mepham outduels Long Beach

A pitchers’ duel in Nassau Conference AA-I softball is more the rule than the exception, and Monday it was Mepham’s ToniMarie Valeriano and Long Beach’s Ashley Martin making quick work of opposing hitters.

Both flamethrowers struck out 12 and didn’t allow a hit through four innings, but the Lady Pirates broke through in the top of the fifth and Valeriano finished with a no-hitter. Sophomore Alexa Morris’ two-out, two-run triple to deep right provided all the offense in Mepham’s sixth win in seven games, 2-0.

“I felt comfortable today and our catcher [Nicole Aliberti] called a great game,” said Valeriano, a junior southpaw who worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth. “She knows exactly what pitches to call and I never have to shake her off,” she added.

The hardest-hit ball Valeriano allowed was to the first batter she faced. Long Beach All-County sophomore shortstop Kelsey Larson laced a line drive to right that was ruled an error, and she was stranded at first after the 2-3-4 hitters went down on strikes. The Lady Marines suffered their fourth shutout and slipped to 2-5 overall.

“We need to do a better job of putting the bat on the ball,” Long Beach coach Carmine Verde said. “We had one real threat with the bases loaded, but Valeriano got the big out when she needed it. I thought she threw a great game.”

Martin, a senior, wasn’t too far behind. She retired the first 14 batters she faced before Aliberti reached on an error with two down in the fifth. Sophomore Ashley Boscarino then drew a walk to set the table for Morris’ clutch hit that found the rightfield fence on two hops and plated both runners.

“She did a great job going with the pitch and driving it,” Mepham coach Mike Muscara said of Morris. “It seems like every game we’ve got someone different coming through. 

“I’m very happy,” he added. “We’re playing better than I thought we would this early in the season. Our JV was undefeated last year, and the sophomores we brought up are contributing.”