Cole throws perfect game for Carle Place
Carle Place's Ashley Cole delivers a pitch in the top of the first inning of her team's 15-3 victory over East Rockaway in Game 1 of the Nassau Class B finals. (May 23, 2011) Credit: James Escher
The one person from Carle Place who may not be thrilled about Ashley Cole throwing a perfect game is her own mother.
The terms of the wager were made before Wednesday's game. If Cole, a senior, were to toss a no-hitter, her mother, Patricia, would pay her $100. A perfect game? That would be worth $200.
Long story short, it was straight from the field to the ATM for the Cole family, and, to be clear, Mom couldn't have been happier to make the withdrawal.
Cole tossed a perfect game and struck out 18 batters to lead No. 1 Carle Place to a 2-0 win over No. 2 Oyster Bay in Game 1 of the best-of-three Class B Nassau County championship series at Mitchel Athletic Complex.
"She made the bet and I was like, 'Yea Right!''' Ashley Cole said. "Then she made it $50 for a one-hitter so I thought I'd try for that. I didn't expect this but it feels great to do it in such a big game.''
It was the second perfect game, and third no-hitter, of the season for Cole, who threw her first perfecto less than three weeks ago. Talk after the game was not only about Carle Place being one win away from a county title but also about who gets a cut of Cole's earnings.
"I wish,'' joked Leanne Iannucci, who calls the games and has caught all of Cole's no-hitters. "But nah, it's her accomplishment. She works really hard and we can always rely on her.''
Cole singled down the line in the third inning to drive in Tori Hytell and give Carle Place a 1-0 lead. Kaitlyn Davis followed with a single to bring home Cole and make it 2-0.
Dana Galgano kept Oyster Bay close, holding Carle Place to six hits with three strikeouts.
The Frogs can clinch their second straight county title, and fifth in six years, in Game 2 today at 4 p.m. at Mitchel. Perhaps Ashley Cole's mother should consider bringing some extra cash along.
"I'm very happy to pay,'' Patricia Cole said. "If she does it again, I'll double it.''
