Zollo's triple helps Plainedge softball edge Seaford

Stephanie McKenna, admittedly, was having a terrible day offensively. Tina Zollo, admittedly, hasn't done well with pitches up in the zone. But timing is everything.

With one out in the top of the seventh and Michelle Daubman on first after being hit in the foot, McKenna dropped a sacrifice bunt between third and the circle. Zollo then timed a high fastball and lined it over the leftfielder's head for a triple to lift Plainedge over Seaford, 2-1, Thursday in Nassau Conference ABC-I.

"I was like . . . 'I did it!' " said Zollo, who missed her junior season because of shoulder surgery. "Once I saw it go, I knew it was going for a while."

And for the second straight game, Daubman cherry-on-topped her dominant pitching by scoring the deciding run. She threw a two-hitter with two walks and 15 strikeouts for the Red Devils (3-0, 2-0).

"My curveball was really working," said Daubman, who has yet to allow an earned run. "It was landing on the outside corner."

Zollo was 1-for-3 with a stolen base and freshman Jackie Oleksak was 2-for-2, her first two varsity hits.

Daubman and Seaford's Erika Nogan showed remarkable escapability. Nogan allowed 10 batters to reach (four hits), including two intentional walks to Daubman, but kept Plainedge's offense relatively quiet with 10 strikeouts.

The Red Devils went up 1-0 in the fourth when Zollo, who walked and scored on Kim Nowak's infield single. The Vikings (3-1, 1-1) tied it in the sixth on Vicky Wink's RBI groundout to second that scored Gabby Nicholson after two errors and an intentional walk loaded the bases.

Seaford had also put three on in the second, but Daubman struck out the side. "It was a little nerve-racking," said Daubman, who scrapped her screwball after hitting two batters that inning. "We lost our groove at points but we were able to get it back."

Said Vikings coach Rob Perpall: "We loaded the bases twice and only produced one run . . . Give her credit for maintaining her composure."

McKenna, the catcher, said that's one of Daubman's strengths. When things get tough, she said, there's no need for a pep talk, "just a pat on the back."

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This was a "statement game" for Plainedge. It lost to Seaford twice last year and the Vikings have ruled the conference for six seasons.

Plainedge coach Jason McGowan eschewed his usual pregame motivational quote and said, "They're one of the best teams on the Island. That was the motivation."