Long Beach edges Kennedy

Long Beach pitcher Ashley Martin had the usual zip on her fastball in last Friday’s Nassau Class AA softball first-round playoff game against visiting Kennedy, but it was the movement of the curve and slider that made her ultra-effective.

Martin, a sophomore making her first postseason appearance, struck out 12, walked one, scattered five hits and got some clutch defensive help as the sixth-seeded Lady Marines advanced with an exciting 4-3 victory that wasn’t secured until eighth-grader Kelsey Larson’s diving catch in center for the
final out.

“What a way to end it,” Long Beach coach Carmine Verde said. “It was a tremendous game with a little bit of everything. Kennedy played tough and there wasn’t an easy inning. I’m proud of the way our girls stood up and handled adversity.”

The 11th–seeded Lady Cougars (10-8) twice fought back from deficits but couldn’t answer the bell a third time after Krystal Carrasquillo’s long double to left with two out in the bottom of the fifth scored Annie Winerip with the go-ahead run. Kennedy junior pitcher Gabbi Calia allowed six hits, walked two and fanned two.

“We came to play and have nothing to hang our heads about,” Kennedy coach Katie Speiss said. “They’re a strong team, but we knew we were capable of beating them. The girls played well and tried their best, but the outcome wasn’t us.”

After Martin retired the side in order in the top of the first, Winerip’s two-out, bases-loaded single to right staked Long Beach to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. “I just went with the pitch,” said Winerip, who reached base in the fifth on a fielder’s choice and swiped second base two pitches before Carrasquillo’s winning hit.