Rally boosts Oceanside to 4-0

Trailing Plainview-JFK by two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning April 6, Oceanside rallied for a 4-3 victory to remain undefeated against Nassau Conference AA-II softball rivals.

Junior Nicole Milano’s double with the bases loaded plated junior Deanna Viola and senior Alexa Katz to complete the comeback for the Lady Sailors (4-0), who scored three runs with no outs in their final at-bat. A senior by senior Jessica Kambic loaded the bases. Junior Alyssa Continanzi scored the first run of the inning following a bunt single by Viola. 

“It’s a big win for us,” Oceanside coach Alyson Lamonte said. “We hit the ball well all day. We just didn’t string any [hits] together until the last inning.”

Plainview twice had the bases loaded and failed to score against Lady Sailors junior pitcher Ashley Davis, who continued to register strikeouts in crucial spots as well as receive clutch defensive support. “We played some great defense,” said Lamonte, who is looking for a deep run in the Class AA playoffs after a first-round exit courtesy of Massapequa in 2010.

Davis, who started the majority of games last spring, is slated to do the same. Her speed and control improved, Lamonte said, and she’s helping her own cause with a hot bat. Davis drove in four runs to lead a season-opening win over Valley Stream Central and went 4-for-4 with two runs scored in a recent victory over Calhoun. Sophomore Kristen Gallub and senior Allison Hart also bring varsity pitching experience to the table.

Milano started each of the first four games at catcher while junior Arianna DeMarzo recovers from an injury. Both are quality defenders with varsity experience. When DeMarzo returns, Milano, off to a big start with the bat, could find work at second base along with Viola and Jackie Schnitzer.