Lynbrook stays undefeated with five-run fifth inning
Katie Sharkey of Lynbrook makes the catch to end the inning during a softball game against Valley Stream North on Monday. Credit: Dawn McCormick
For Lynbrook to maintain perfection, it needed poise, determination and a big rally.
Despite being down five runs, Lynbrook rallied to defeat Valley Stream North, 8-5, in a non-league softball game played at Valley Stream South High School on Monday. Lynbrook (11-0) orchestrated a five-run fifth inning to remain undefeated.
Tiffany Melendez led off the bottom of the first for Valley Stream North with an inside-the-park home run. Cianna Nadal hit a two-run triple and scored on a wild pitch to give the Spartans a 4-0 lead.
“Energy was down early,” Katie Sharkey said. “But we’re a team that is capable of a big inning, so we were able to bring the energy up and keep it there.”
Lynbrook went hitless for two innings before Sharkey hit her first of three singles but she was stranded at third base to end the inning. VSN's Emily Rung added an RBI single in the bottom of the inning to extend its lead to 5-0.
“We try to not be overly confident and treat every game equally,” Lynbrook's Bianca LoBosco said. “We told each other to just keep fighting and always punch back.”
In the fifth, Sharkey singled to drive in Daniella Inserra, cutting the deficit to 5-3. LoBosco followed with an RBI single and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 5-5. Angelina Macchia stole a base and scored on a wild pitch, and Kylie Schroeder hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Jessica Ferrara and put Lynbrook ahead 7-5.
“We were able to get runners on and keep passing the baton,” LoBosco said. “Everyone seemed to get pumped up seeing the person in front of them get on.”
The first two batters of the fifth reached base for the Spartans, but LoBosco threw out a runner attempting to steal third. Sharkey made a sliding grab on a ball headed for centerfield to end the sixth, stranding a runner at third.
“Our defense is very important,” Sharkey said. “Of course, the hits matter, but defense wins you games.”
“I place heavy emphasis on trying to get strikes for my pitcher and keeping the ball in front of me to control runners,” LoBosco said.
Valley Stream North (5-7) loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, bringing the winning run to the plate. Jamie Deitch induced a weak grounder and fired it to first base to seal the victory.
“It’s been a fun season so far,” Lynbrook coach Peter Toscano said. “When you have bats like we do, you’re never really out of it."
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
