Considerable progress for North Shore

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Monday’s 11-9 North Shore softball loss to Carle Place may have hurt the maroon’s playoffs chances but it hasn’t dimmed the accomplishments of this bounce-back season. 

The defeat dropped North Shore’s Conference 4 record to 7-5 but it’s a far cry from last season’s disappointing campaign alongside Hempstead Harbor. 

 “We’ve doubled our wins,’’ said North Shore coach Chris DeMarzo, who’s been coaching 20-plus seasons. “We won three games last year. Now we won seven games and stayed in the same conference. 

“Last year we were building. The team motto that I preached this year was positivity was contagious and negativity is divisive.’’

Monday was an aberration as the Vikings committed 7 errors and didn’t support its sophomore star pitcher Grace Ryan.

  “We didn’t play well - just a tough loss with too many errors,’’ DeMarzo said. “We didn’t play crisp ball today but we’re a good team.’’ 

Though Ryan admits it was an off day for her, giving up too many walks, she is excelling as a pitcher/hitter in a Ohtani-type of way. 

The Vikings’ lone starting pitcher, Ryan has had great control and makes sure she puts the ball in play. She also fields her position expertly and leads the team in batting average (.450) and slugging percentage (.700). 

“I think it’s been good catcher-pitcher communication, Ryan said. “And learning to trust my fielders that they’ll make the plays behind me.’’

Ryan can always rely on her first baseman Andriana Porcaro and shortstop Phylicia Cangemi, both of whom are very sound with the glove.

 The duo are also among the Vikings’ top hitters. Porcaro is batting .317 and is second on the team with a.610 slugging percentage. 

Cangemi is hitting .293 and her deft  base running helped key its best win of the season – 1-0 against Sewanhaka. 

While Ryan was brilliant with a two-hitter, Cangemi produced the lone run singlehandedly. Cangemi walked, stole second and came home when the throw was errant. 

The Sewanhaka victory and triumph over powerful Hicksville stand as North Shore’s two most impressive as the conference schedule gets heated up this week with a game every day.  

“I think if we reduce our errors and continue to hit the ball and get on base, I do think, if we play our best, we’ll do well.’’ Ryan said. “I’m really happy the team is learning how work together. Our practices are paying off.’’

 North Shore is also getting contributions from Natalie Gaeta (.316 batting average), Kate Conklin (.286, .524 slugging percentage) and Jolie Waiksnis (.389 slugging percentage).

As well as Conklin manages Ryan’s pitching, she’s also managed her fight against Cystic Fibrosis adeptly. The softball and baseball team staged a car wash during a rainstorm last week to raise more than $1,000 for cystic fibrosis. 

That made DeMarzo as proud as the winning record.