West Hempstead wins 13 games

When West Hempstead softball coach Chris Van Kovics got a look at his team’s 2014 schedule, he figured a .500 season would be respectable. The Rams had but four seniors, a new catcher, and a couple of pitchers who generally don’t people away.

The Rams exceeded expectations and then some. The team won three of its last four games, including victories over Hewlett and Manhasset, to finish with an overall record of 13-5, 11-5 in Conference AB-V. West Hempstead finished in second place behind undefeated Locust Valley. 

In a 5-2 win over Hewlett, junior Brianna White was terrific at the plate as well as in the pitching circle. White was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, and kept the Hewlett batters off balance all game long. The Lady Bulldogs had knocked off the Rams 6-2 when the teams met earlier in the season.

West Hempstead completed a season sweep of Manhasset with a 5-1 win at home. This time it was the other junior hurler leading the team to victory. Amanda Malone scattered five hits and didn’t walk a batter in a complete game win. Malone also singled and knocked in a run.

Van Kovics doesn’t believe there’s a secret to his team’s success. “It’s just a matter of the pitchers being around the zone, and the defense making plays,” Van Kovics said. “When we do that, we’re in every game. Offensively, we make the pitchers work, get bunts down, take walks, and move runners up. It’s a pretty basic approach.”

One player who was a difference make for the Rams was Jackie Christenson. The senior third baseman hit just under .400 for the season, but it was her play at the hot corner that was most impressive. Christenson, who earned All-County Honorable Mention honors, was virtually impossible to beat down the line, and was exceptional at fielding bunts.

Senior Angela Graci was the toughest out in the West Hempstead lineup. In a 14-6 win over Lynbrook, she was a perfect 5-for-5 with a triple, a double, and three RBI. Graci and White, who was 6-3 in the circle, earned All-Conference recognition.

Versatile freshman Lisette Paloma had an outstanding season. Paloma, who played outfield for most of the season, was asked to move to shortstop after an injury forced Van Kovics to makes changes to his lineup. She gave opponents fits from the leadoff spot. 

Malone and White became very comfortable with sophomore catcher Emily Weinstein. All three are back next season. During a stretch that saw the Rams win seven of eight games, Malone and White gave up just three runs per game.

Van Kovics was pleased with his team’s performance. “I couldn’t be happier for the girls,” Van Kovics said. “They did everything that was asked of them. We always talk about the importance of following the blueprint. We did all the little things to put ourselves in position to be competitive every game.”