Pitching, defense lead East Meadow

The oldest adage in sports states that pitching and defense wins. Sure, it’s a cliché, but it’s true. Mix in good chemistry and timely hitting, and you have the makings of a team that could contend for a championship.

At East Meadow, the Lady Jets are getting all of the above on the softball field, so it’s no surprise they’re 3-1 in Conference AA-I, 4-3 overall after a 3-0 win over visiting Carey on April 11. Pitcher Kerri Shapiro scattered four hits and struck out seven for her third consecutive shutout. Shapiro’s double in the third inning knocked in the game’s first two runs.

Shapiro and Carey’s Ashley Turato matched zeroes in the early going, but the Lady Jets broke through in the bottom of the third. Senior Jenna Dragoon led off with a bunt single, and sophomore Marisa SanAntonio followed it up by slapping the ball the other way into left field for a single.

After Turato retired the next two batters, Shapiro, who is hitting .429, stepped to the plate with runners on second and third. The sophomore cleanup hitter lined a bullet into left-center for a two-run double. Junior Taylor Conti singled to bring home Shapiro and give the Lady Jets a 3-0 lead.

Using an arsenal of six different pitches, Shapiro kept the Lady Seahawks off balance. When Carey hit the ball hard, Conti, Dragoon, junior shortstop Danielle Cutuli, junior first baseman Emma McKillop, and sophomore catcher Madison West came up big defensively.

Lady Jets coach Stu Fritz couldn’t be happier with the team’s performance in the early stage of the season. “We’re pitching well, playing real good defense and coming up with timely hits in big spots.” Fritz said. “All I ask is that they play every game like it’s a playoff game, give it their all, and not beat themselves. They’re very motivated to do well.”

After dropping their first three games of the year against Island Trees, Plainedge, and MacArthur, three of the county’s top teams, the Lady Jets, who fell one game short of a county title in 2011, have been outstanding.

In a 6-1 win over Mepham, West, who leads the team with a .520 batting average, went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Shapiro struck out 11 batters to earn the win.

The Lady Jets cruised past Oceanside 9-0 as West homered and banged out two doubles, and McKillop added a two-run single. Shapiro yielded just three singles, and helped her own cause with two hits. Cutuli score both runs in a 2-0 non-league win over Holy Trinity.

Fritz, who is assisted by Becky Wachsberger, thinks East Meadow can get better. “We can improve our bunting, slap hit a little better, and fine tune our relays,” Fritz said. “I’m very impressed with our defense. Kerri doesn’t have to strike everyone out, because the defense makes plays behind her. I’m very happy with the way we’re playing.”

The Lady Jets host first-place MacArthur next Tuesday at 4:45 pm.