Seaford rolls into semifinals

Seaford raised its game late in the season to become a serious contender in a challenging Nassau Class A softball.

The fifth-seeded Lady Vikings won their last four games of the regular season and then blew away their first two playoff opponents to reach the semifinals against top-seeded Carey this week. Seaford opened the postseason with a 14-1 romp against Garden City on May 11 before defeating fourth-seeded Plainedge last Saturday, 13-5.

Head coach Rob Perpall is pleased with how his players stepped up late in the spring after a tough start to the campaign including a 3-2 win against defending county champion Clarke on May 2. 

“The second half of the season we have played well,” said Perpall, whose program has made 13 straight playoff appearances. “Beating Clarke was a big thing for us to show we can play with anybody.”

In the playoff win against Garden City, Ashley Casazza was dominant on the mound and at the plate going 4-for-4 with two RBIs. The LIU-Post-bound senior then tossed a complete-game in the quarterfinal Plainedge victory while going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Seaford had lost to Plainedge twice in the regular season.

Perpall attributes much of this season’s success to the Viking hitting, which features three above. .400 hitters in Ashley DiCapua, Jessica Fichetti and freshman Julie Hilton. Senior Danielle DiNapoli delivered in the playoff win against Plainedge, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Number nine hitter Jackie Nieman tripled and singled last Saturday’s convincing win.

“It’s as good a hitting team as we have ever had,” Perpall said. “We can hit with anybody.”

Senior first baseman Amelia Cariddi has also had a big offensive year with an over .380 average. Perpall is impressed with how Cariddi leads the team as a captain and in the field at first base.

“She is one of the best captains I have ever had,” Perpall said of Cariddi, who went 3-for-3 with four RBIs in a 10-4 non-league win against Long Beach on April 28 that began Seaford’s late winning streak. “She is a gold glove first baseman.”

Seaford opened its best-of-three semifinal series against Carey on Monday, after press time, in Franklin Square. The Lady Vikings lost two close one-run games to Carey during the regular season.

Perpall said he’s proud of how his players have competed in the top division of Class A. He noted that the league is filled with so many dominant pitchers and yet the Lady Vikings have produced offensively in most games and be toe to toe with the county’s top teams.

“We’re in a very tough league,” Perpall said. “There is no margin for error.”

Perpall described this season as one of his most rewarding as Seaford softball coach since multiple players have chipped in throughout the year. The Lady Vikings are aiming for the program’s first county title since 2011.

“This has been a team effort,” he said. “I wouldn’t trade this team for anybody.”