Agostinello, Ricci lead Oyster Bay girls
[object Object] Credit: George A. Faella's Colleen McConie waits for the throw as Oyster Bay's Amanda Ricci slides into home safely. (May 16, 2012)
The Oyster Bay softball team is normally a giggly bunch, but not Wednesday.
"They were in the zone," Oyster Bay coach Ashley Vinti said of her team. "Usually they are giggling and stuff but they were very focused and really stepped it up."
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The Oyster Bay softball team is normally a giggly bunch, but not Wednesday.
"They were in the zone," Oyster Bay coach Ashley Vinti said of her team. "Usually they are giggling and stuff but they were very focused and really stepped it up."
It was all business before and during the game, and all smiles after it, as No. 2 Oyster Bay beat No. 3 Locust Valley, 5-2, in the Nassau Class B semifinals at Mitchel Athletic Complex.
Olivia Agostinello hit a two-run single to score Jillian Boccia and Caroline Kelly in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Oyster Bay a 3-1 lead.
Amanda Ricci, who went 2-for-3, added an RBI triple in the sixth to make it 4-1. Ricci also showed off her arm, making a perfect relay throw from centerfield to hold the runner at third and keep the deficit at 1-0 in the fourth.
Eighth-grader Dana Galgano, pitching in her first career playoff start, scattered seven hits, allowing two runs and struck out four.
Nicole Rozzo doubled to score Briana Mahoney in the top of the third inning to give Locust Valley (10-4) a 1-0 lead. Oyster Bay tied the score in the bottom of the fifth when Kelly singled to drive in Ricci.
Oyster Bay (10-8) advances to play Carle Place, the defending county champion and top Class B team in the state, in the best-of-three county championship series beginning at 4 p.m. on Monday at Mitchel.
"Our strength is our offense," Vinti said. "I have a lot of faith in our bats. When we play our game, we win. We can make it a good series against Carle Place."