Mepham aims for league crown

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First-year Mepham softball head coach Jennifer Greco has guided the Lady Pirates to within striking distance of a conference title at the home stretch of the season.

Mepham entered the last week of April at 6-1 in Conference ABC-II and a game ahead of second-place Bethpage. The Lady Pirates won their first six games of the spring before an 8-5 loss to Valley Stream North on April 18 and then rebounded with a 7-2 triumph against Bethpage two days later.

“They are really working hard together,” said Greco, who replaced longtime head coach Mike Muscara. “They have really been building well toward being a solid unit.”

Pacing the success are the senior pitching duo of Mackayla Brown and Stephanie Burns. Brown has recorded six wins and recorded six strikeouts in a 12-0 shutout of Garden City on April 10. Burns picked up a win in Mepham’s 14-3 victory against East Rockaway on April 5 and has also been a force at the plate.

“They have different pitching styles,” Greco said of the pitchers. “They are keeping the hits low.”

Senior catcher Samantha Arcese leads the pitching staff and is in constant communication with the infielders about where to be positioned for each batter. The 2016 All-County selection has shined at the plate as well this season and went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the Pirates’ 10-0 win against MacArthur on April 13. “She has great chemistry with the girls,” Greco said. “She really controls the infield.”  

Mepham has power in the middle of the lineup from freshman cleanup hitter Brianna Morse and junior Kara Castaldo, who bats fifth. Both Morse and Castaldo smacked two run-homers in Mepham’s win versus Bethpage last week. Castaldo starts at third base while the versatile Morse, who moved up to varsity as an eighth grader last season, can be slotted in the infield or outfield.

“She is a fantastic utility player,” Greco said of Morse. “She has really come into her own.”

Freshman leadoff hitter Jenna Gilberti jumpstarts the Mepham bats followed by senior lefty first baseman Julia Losciale, who has excelled in the number two spot as an effective bunter and slap hitter. Junior shortstop Kelsey Vandewater displays power and speed at the number three spot in the lineup after earning All-County Honorable Mention accolades last year.

Mepham will look to stay atop the league standings when travels to Rockville Centre for a road game at South Side this Thursday at 5 p.m. After facing East Rockaway this Saturday, the Lady Pirates finish conference play on May 2 at home versus Division and on May 4 at Valley Stream North. If they maintain their focus Greco sees no reason why they can’t win the league and make a run in the upcoming Class A playoffs.

“They just need to make sure they continue to work as hard as they have been working,” said Greco, a former softball standout at MacArthur and the College of Saint Rose. “If they continue to work hard there isn’t anything they can’t achieve.”