North Babylon softball's Kayla Denino hits go-ahead single, Nina Vandernoth takes care of rest in the circle vs. Commack
North Babylon's Kayla Denino drives in two runs on a single against Commack in a Suffolk League II softball game on Monday at Commack. Credit: George A Faella
Kayla Denino was locked into a battle with Commack pitcher Kayla O’Boyle with the bases loaded.
After getting ahead in the count, Denino fouled off two straight pitches, bringing the count to 2-and-2. She then got another pitch over the plate and did not miss it.
The junior shortstop looped a base hit into rightfield, driving in Aaliyah Lamarre and Nina Vandernoth with a go-ahead single in the fifth inning of North Babylon’s 4-1 win over host Commack in Suffolk League II softball on Monday.
“[O’Boyle] is very unpredictable, especially in the middle of the count. I just felt like I had to wait for my pitch,” Denino said. “It was relieving, I was very happy seeing that ball drop in.”
The hit gave the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead. Megan Wegel scored later in the inning on an RBI groundout by Alexa Furman.
North Babylon (14-2, 14-2) clinched at least a share of the League II title with the victory, and with two games remaining, the Bulldogs can win the title outright with a win or Commack loss.
“Our goal was to win the league this year,” North Babylon coach John Egan said. “We lost six seniors last year but this group that came back is really strong. They have a lot of heart.”
Commack (12-4, 12-4) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Rachel Abzug doubled home O'Boyle from first base.
After allowing two hits in the bottom of the first, Vandernoth, an eighth-grade pitcher, was nearly flawless the rest of the way. She retired 14 consecutive batters and didn’t allow a hit until Kylie Balvin doubled to start the bottom of the sixth.
“I knew we were going to get that run back,” Vandernoth said. “This game was very important to us and we came in with a lot of energy, so I knew they would have my back.”
Vandernoth struck out four and allowed one run, three hits and no walks in seven innings.
“It’s just her mentality. She wants to be great,” Egan said. “Every time she goes out there, she demands the circle. She’s very vocal and the girls trust her. She’s a gamer.”
North Babylon tied the score at 1 in the third when Sydney Kirincic was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Denino finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Lamarre went 3-for-5 with a run and Wegel went 1-for-2 with a run and a walk. O’Boyle struck out nine in six innings.
With the playoffs quickly approaching, North Babylon — last season’s Suffolk Class AA runner-up — has won its last five games and is gearing up for another deep run.
“It’s definitely going to be difficult,” Vandernoth said. “We lost a lot of really good players but we’ve been filling those holes all year. We’ll be fine.”
