Rams take conference title
After a rough 2009 season, it has been a banner year for West Hempstead on the softball field.
With a convincing 18-2 win over Westbury last Friday to cap off the regular season, the Rams finished atop League ABC-V Conference VI with a 14-2 record. Gina Virgilio had a pair of hits and knocked in two runs, while Lucia Biscardi tossed a four-hitter with seven strikeouts.
Coach Chris Van Kovics likes the direction of the softball program. “This is about as good a shape as we’ve ever been in,” Van Kovics said. “The junior varsity had a terrific season, and the West Hempstead Little League is getting stronger, too. More girls are playing travel ball than ever before. Having a winning season, and having fun at the same time, rubs off on the younger players, and helps to build the program.”
As is usually the case in softball, pitching has been the key to West Hempstead’s success. It has had more pitchers earn victories than any other team in the county. Five hurlers, Gina Crescimanno, Paige Bettineschi, Lauren Bonheur, Laura Boehm, and Biscardi have all picked up at least one win. The Rams’ only two losses were in crossover games against Lynbrook and Friends Academy, the top two teams in Conference V.
Bettineschi, a sophomore right-hander who finished with a 5-1 record, has an arsenal of pitches that keep opponents off balance. She threw a no-hitter against Malverne, but her finest moment in the circle may have been in defeating East Rockaway. Bettineschi struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to close out a 6-5 complete-game win. With the bat, Bettineschi was an RBI machine in the middle of the order.
Bonheur, a junior who also finished at 5-1, may have improved more than anyone on the roster. She doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but has terrific command and knows how to work the strike zone. She yielded just eight runs in five victories.
Senior catcher Michelle Zur was the glue to the pitching staff. Van Kovics allowed to Zur to call pitches and control the game. At the plate, Zur was the catalyst for an offense that averaged 13 runs per game. When she reached base, Zur was a headache for opposing defenses on the bases. The switch hitter led the team with 25 runs scored and batted over .400.
Sophomore Noreen White had a tremendous season both at bat and in the field at third base. She put the ball in play and made things happen. On defense, White guards against the bunt and slaps as well as anyone Van Kovics has coached, he said.
Sophomore center fielder Lisa Nappi was a tough out in the middle of the lineup. Nappi got the season off to a good start with a 4-for-4, five RBI effort in an opening day win over Elmont.
