West, Shapiro key E. Meadow's Game 2 win
East Meadow's Marisa San Antonio (4) gets a congratulatory high five from Jamie Laird after crossing home plate to extend their team's lead over Farmingdale to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning during Game 2 of the Class AA finals. (May 24, 2011) Credit: James Escher
After her name moved north in the batting order and a pitch dropped too far south over the plate, Madison West helped East Meadow take a step in the right direction.
The freshman catcher made good contact off Isabella Corrao in Farmingdale's Game 1 win, which forced coach Cindy McCarthy to bump her up a spot to the five-hole Tuesday.
That move paid off while trailing by a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. West again connected off Corrao, blasting a two-run home run that carried over the rightfielder's head to score what proved to be the winning run.
"She is an amazing pitcher and I was just trying to do my best with whatever she threw to me," West said. "I was really nervous but just trying to do my best for my teammates."
That would be all the support needed by her fellow freshman Kerri Shapiro, who became the full-time starting pitcher just over a week ago, as No. 4 East Meadow defeated No. 2 Farmingdale, 5-1, in Game 2 of the best-of-three Nassau Class AA final at Mitchel Athletic Complex.
Taking the ball with her team facing elimination, Shapiro tossed seven innings, allowing one run and four hits with five strikeouts and five walks in what was just the fifth start of her young career.
"They showed they had a lot of confidence in me," Shapiro said. "Even though I'm a freshman and we had other pitchers, they knew I could do it."
East Meadow (11-7) provided Shapiro some insurance in the bottom of the fifth inning as Marisa San Antino led off with a bunt single, stole second and third and came around to score on a single by Danielle Cutuli for a 3-1 lead. Taylor Conti followed with an RBI single and Becky Syers drew a walk with the bases loaded to score Jamie Laird to make it 5-1.
The Dalers (13-6) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Victoria Kornfeld drove in Kerri Ossenfort. Corrao allowed four hits and six walks with nine strikeouts in the loss.
The decisive Game 3 will be played at 4 p.m. Thursday at Mitchel as West and Shapiro will look to help East Meadow win a second straight title.
"They don't play like freshmen," McCarthy said. "In this situation, it doesn't matter who steps up . . . Anyone will step up on this team."
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
