Falcons rolling as playoffs near

It’s been a season of streaks for Valley Stream South on the baseball diamond, but the good news for the Falcons and coach Ken Ward is they’re riding high with the Nassau Class A playoffs on the horizon.

Junior Jack Palleschi homered for a second straight game and senior Anthony Romano picked up his third win this spring as South upped its winning streak to four by beating Conference A-IV rival Great Neck North last Monday, 6-1.

“We’ve been up and down, but it’s definitely good to be on the upswing now,” Ward said. “We’re going into the playoffs with some confidence. We’re looking at either the 11 or 12 seed.”

Palleschi’s clout, over the fence in right, broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third, and the Falcons (9-8 overall) used a four-run sixth to pull away. Senior shortstop Ryan Flynn went 3-for-4, upping his team-leading average to .385, and junior Dan Goldman keyed the outburst in the sixth by doubling home a run and later scoring.

“We’ve been hitting the ball pretty well,” Ward said. “I’ve moved the lineup around based on who’s hot and who’s not, and I think we’ve found a comfort zone.” 

Romano, who improved to 3-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.92, allowed no earned runs, five hits and struck out six. The previous Monday he beat West Hempstead, 9-1, to set the tone for a series sweep. “Anthony established himself at the top of our staff,” Ward said. “When he gets into a jam, he doesn’t get flustered and usually finds a way out.”

Flynn and sophomore second baseman Andrew Hess have been the offensive catalysts. They bat third and second, respectively, in the lineup and also form a solid defensive duo up the middle. Flynn has 16 runs scored and 15 stolen bases, while Hess is hitting .333 with 14 RBI. Four of Hess’s RBI came on one swing, a grand slam in the first of three games against West Hempstead.

“It’s the second year Ryan and Andrew have started together in the infield and they have very good chemistry,” Ward said. “Ryan’s been a great leader with the bat and glove.”