Wantagh avenges loss to VSN

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The unpredictability of Conference ABC-II softball continued April 27 at Wantagh when the Lady Warriors turned the tables on Valley Stream North with a 3-1 victory behind the arm of senior pitcher Haley Monahan and the stick of freshman battery mate Nalani O’Brien.

Monahan allowed just three hits and came within one batter of a shutout and received all the offensive support she’d need in the bottom of the fourth inning when O’Brien blasted a homer over the fence in left for the game’s first run. The result brought both teams to 4-6 in conference play with two-thirds of the regular season in the books.

“It was such a quick and clean game,” Wantagh coach Christine Moran said. “Both teams played great defense. I think it was the best game Haley pitched this season. She was hitting her spots and we made all the plays behind her.”

The infield defense was stellar on both sides. Valley Stream North sophomore Victoria Rosetti, the winning pitcher in the first meeting, a 13-8 decision on April 3, made six putouts at third base, while Lady Warriors’ eighth-grade shortstop Emily Van O’Linda did the same.

“I’m disappointed we lost, but I can’t be disappointed with how we played,” VSN coach Katie DiLapi said. “Wantagh was phenomenal today. We’re a strong defensive team and didn’t make any errors. I think the only thing we could’ve done a little better was wait for some better pitches.”

The flashy defense began in the top of the first, after Rosetti opened the game with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Wantagh turned a double play, Van O’Linda to Jackie Ludwikowski at first to Renee Puccio at third to erase Rosetti.

Wantagh threatened in the bottom of the second against VSN senior pitcher Kelly Kroez, who gave up back-to-back singles with two outs but made a nifty play on a bunt to end the inning. It wasn’t until the fourth when the hosts broke through. After fouling off several pitches, including one that caught the leg of Puccio on the on-deck circle, O’Brien made it 1-0 with her first varsity home run.

“Nalani had a fire in her eyes during that at-bat,” Moran said. “She’s coming along so well as a catcher and developed chemistry with Haley.”

Monahan sent the Lady Spartans down in order in the top of the fifth and helped her own cause in the home half of the inning by driving in Van O’Linda with a groundout to make it 3-0. Kayley Butcher led off with a bunt single and scored on Van O’Linda’s double for a 2-0 lead.

North couldn’t score in the sixth after advancing a runner to third with one out, but broke through in the seventh as senior Sam Estupinian opened with a single and scored on a two-out error. The tying run was at the plate when Van O’Linda fielded a grounder and fired to first to end the game.

“I’m pretty confident we’ll get in the playoffs,” Moran said. “We’ve got some games left against teams that beat us the first time that we’re looking forward to.”