Strong start for Valley Stream North

Valley Stream North softball was 5-13 last season, but this year it hopes to turn the page. Already 4-1 with wins over Sewanhaka, East Rockaway, Lynbrook, and Jericho, the Spartans are off to a blistering start.

Christina Ravo, an Old Westbury commit, had five home runs, seven doubles and 23 RBIs last year. So far this season, she has been leading the charge in the pitching circle with four wins and over 40 strikeouts in her first five starts. Ravo’s repertoire features a fastball, change-up and curveball.

“The change-up is her strikeout pitch against other team’s best hitters,” coach Dan Tronolone said. “Her speed has increased every year, but she’s definitely throwing the fastest she’s been in her four years here and I think that makes her change-up even better.”

Valley Stream North is rolling along and it’s happening all while one of its best players has yet to take the field. Kayla Santo, a six-year varsity starter, two-time All-County catcher, and Cortland commit, should be returning to action soon after recovering from injury. Last year, Santo tallied five home runs, seven doubles, and 23 RBI.

“We’re looking for her to give us even more of a boost,” said Tronolone. “Her and Christina [Ravo] are our two captains and Kayla’s a very vocal leader. The two of them work well together.”

If Ravo lets a runner on base, Santo does a great job of keeping them at bay. “You can’t really run on her,” said Tronolone. “She’ll pick off base runners and throw people out. She pretty much shuts down a running game. Unless you’re an absolute speedster, you don’t really have a good shot of being safe.”

While being captains and battery mates, Ravo and Santo are also the heart of the order, batting third and clean-up. The top of the lineup includes lead-off hitter Tiffany Melendez, who was Honorable Mention All-County as an eighth-grader, playing center field, and junior shortstop Alyanna Nadal, who bats second.

“The two of them [Melendez and Nadal] have a tremendous amount of speed. We look for them to get on base and then let Kayla and Christina drive them in,” Tronolone said.

Rounding out the order is All-Conference left fielder Cianna Nadal, junior first baseman Emily Rung, senior right fielder Gianna Maressa, junior third baseman Lia Giaconelli, and junior second baseman Karina McNamara.

The main goal for this Valley Stream North squad is to make the playoffs and hopefully win the conference.

“I think we’ll be in every game this year, which is all you can ask for,” Tronolone said. “Then it’s about overcoming the hurdles we weren’t able to overcome last year, and so far it looks like we’ll be able to do it. I think the girls want to make the playoffs. They’ve been very positive this year, and I’m hoping that continues.”

Valley Stream North hits the road this Friday to take on Baldwin in a 10 a.m. start. The Spartans are home April 17 to face Port Washington at 5 p.m.