61.0°,
A Few Clouds Exciting playoff run for Long Beach
Coach Verde reaches 450-win milestone
Though stopped short of winning the ultimate prize, Long Beach produced three memorable playoff victories on the way to reaching the Nassau Class A semifinals.
The Marines, seeded No. 8 in a unique tournament featuring all 34 of the county’s ‘A’ teams, opened the postseason by giving coach Carmine Verde career win No. 450 and added a few more, including an upset of No. 1 Division, before they were ousted by fourth-seeded MacArthur on June 11.
“It was a great run,” Verde said. “Who would’ve thought we’d beat Division after falling behind three times. We got eight hits off the best pitcher in the county. That’s unheard of.”
Senior catcher Lainie Kassap was the engine to Long Beach’s playoff success. She homered in three of the four postseason games and finished the season with nine. By far the most memorable came in the top of the seventh inning at Division in the quarterfinals on June 9. With the Marines trailing by a run and with junior pitcher Alex Hastings on first base with one out, Kassap hit a towering fly to right-center that carried over the fence for the eventual winning hit in a stunning 4-3 victory.
“Our whole dugout went crazy,” Verde said. “Everyone was jumping up and down and met Lainie at home plate. I think Alex leading off and getting on base amped up the pressure on them.”
Hastings, who led Long Beach in hitting with a .615 average, retired Division 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh and capped the upset with a strikeout. The Dragons, led by pitcher Alyssa Weinberg, entered the game with a 15-1 record.
The Marines opened the playoffs by handing Wantagh its only loss of 2021, 10-5, thanks in large part to a Kassap grand slam over the fence in left in the bottom of the third. The victory was No. 450 for Verde, who took over the varsity program in 1988. He sits atop the Nassau coaches wins leader board and has led Long Beach to seven county titles and one state crown.
“The girls signed a ball with “450” written on it and also made me a poster board and signed it,” Verde said. “You don’t get to this many wins without great players and great support.”
In the second round, Long Beach grinded past visiting Island Trees, 3-1, on June 7 with a sixth-inning rally sparked by many key at-bats. Seniors Cece Lessard and Jordyn Prince, and junior Abby Quigley had clutch RBIs. Hastings scattered five hits and struck out six. “It was a very tough game,” Verde said. “Island Trees was definitely the most-improved team in our conference over the second half of the season.”
Kassap, Hastings and senior Kate Erickson earned All-County honors. Twins Cece Lessard and Natalie Lassard, and sophomore Charlise Quigley were All-Conference selections.
