Nassau Playoffs: A few thoughts

Michael Casey hooked us up with the online brackets yesterday. They're small, printable and handy. Enjoy. Thanks, Mike. Anyway, here are a few thoughts as the Nassau teams begin the quarterfinals... should the rain allow.

The three-game series for the Nassau Class C title between Friends Academy and East Rockaway will begin on May 24. East Rockaway lost in the finals last year to Oyster Bay, which had dropped to Class C because enrollment dipped. They moved back up to Class B this year, which seemingly opened the door for East Rockaway to cruise. But Friends Academy has emerged this year, going 13-2 in the regular season. They've had breakout seasons by pitcher Paige Elgarten and catcher Correy Denihan. Denihan, a converted outfielder, has a .617 on-base percentage and leads Nassau with eight homers and 36 RBIs. She's a junior and she didn't become an offensive force until moving behind the plate this year. East Rockaway (12-4) has gone with a two-pitcher rotation of Katie Seifert and Becky Italiano. They split the season series with Friends, winning the last meeting, 10-9. They're the only Class C teams, but it should be good competition between them.
 
For the first time in seven years, Seaford is in the Class A playoffs not as the No. 1 seed. They lost the regular-season finale to Floral Park, 2-1, on Sara Yackel's walkoff single and finished tied for first with the Knights at 14-2. They split the season series, but the top seed was awarded to Floral Park. With Sam Giovaniello looking as dominant as ever for Floral Park and Seaford’s Erika Nogan (pitcher), Erica Fischetti (second baseman) and Lindsay Montemarano (third baseman) getting better as the season goes on, the teams appear headed for a showdown in the final. The Knights took second in the division last year but upset Seaford in the playoffs en route to their state championship.
 
East Meadow, Carey, Long Beach and Farmingdale, the top seeds in Class AA, have had a long layoff since the regular season ended on May 7. It’ll be a little longer, thanks to the rain postponing Tuesday’s games. Lucky for them, each team is led by pitchers who likely won't be thrown off their game or get rusty. Lindsay McKillop (East Meadow) is one of the most locked-in pitchers I've come across and she's all business in the circle. It also helps that they've got arguably the most loaded team in Nassau with four or five other standouts. Patti Callahan (Carey) doesn't let anything phase her. She struck out 20 in a 10-inning no-hitter last month, never losing focus or pressing even though her offense was being blanked by Massapequa’s Mary Sieber, and she got 26 strikeouts in a suspended 15-inning game against Farmingdale. Haley Birnbaum (Long Beach) has been there and done that. She's a former All-Long Islander and she led them to the Class AA title last season. She's also tough, having pitched last year with shoulder problems. Long Beach also has other options with a quasi pitching rotation. Isabella Corrao (Farmingdale) just has too many weapons. She throws six pitches and she's good with all of them, so even if she loses the feel for a couple with the time off, she's got choices and might be able to get by on unpredictability. She might also be the hardest thrower in the county, too. And the left side of Farmingdale's infield can make some spectacular plays.