Oceanside edges Syosset in quarterfinals

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After losing six one-run games during the regular season, Oceanside (5-13) staged a dramatic come-from-behind 11-10 win over Syosset in a Class AA quarterfinals game at home last Friday.

Freshman centerfielder Catherine Sanford, an All-County Honorable Mention, hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to shallow center that sent eighth-grade pinch runner Courtney Murphy to the outstretched arms of her teammates at home plate in the seventh inning.

No. 4 Oceanside entered the bottom of the inning down 10-9 and senior first baseman and captain Sabrina Seeger led off with a single to left field. Sophomore third baseman Jenna Valentin followed by hitting the ball to deep right for a triple as Seeger, an All-County selection, scored the tying run. 

“We’re a young team, but one of the things they’ve done all year is battle,” Oceanside coach Joe Supple, whose squad lost to Syosset 16-15 on April 28, said after the game. “We lost six one-run games this year and my players have a lot of experience in those close games. I’m happy today it went in our favor.”

Both teams came out swinging. No. 5 Syosset (4-17) scored four runs in the top of the first, including an RBI double by catcher Emily Quinn, who knocked in three runs overall. The Lady Sailors answered immediately with four runs, starting with a two-run double by Valentin, an RBI triple by Sanford and an RBI single by freshman starter Hallie Neufeld, who pitched a complete game.

An All-Conference selection, Neufeld battled nerves in her first playoff start as she faced pressure from Syosset hitters that were able to take advantage of the balls she tossed over the middle of the plate early in the game.

Neufeld relinquished eight runs after the first three innings, but left the Lady Braves scoreless over three of the remaining four innings. She was able to force a flyout and two groundouts in the fourth inning before retiring the side in the fifth. In the seventh, she generated two pop-ups to fend off a Syosset rally.

“We spoke to Hallie about working the perimeter of the strike zone, and she started to be a little more successful,” Supple said. “I’ve been coaching six years and she’s the first freshman to get a playoff win.”

After Syosset scored two runs to go up 10-6 in the sixth, Valentin started a rally with a lead-off walk in the bottom of the inning. Syosset pitcher Caroline DiCostanzo, who also pitched all seven innings, walked two other batters, including freshman shortstop Emily Seaver, an All-County Honorable Mention, with the bases loaded. Then, junior right fielder Kaitlyn Schwarz smacked a two-run line drive up the middle to put Oceanside within one run of tying the game.

“I just loved the way everyone contributed in this game,” Supple said. “Going through a five-win season teaches you a lot of lessons, and hopefully my players carry that further into the playoffs.”