ToniAnn Adamo puts it all together to lift Hicksville softball
Hicksville starting pitcher ToniAnn Adamo delivers a pitch against Bellmore JFK in a Nassau Conference II high school softball game, Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at Hicksville. Credit: George A Faella
ToniAnn Adamo got off to a shaky start on the mound, but adjustments and a positive attitude helped her right the ship.
Hicksville defeated Bellmore JFK, 5-2,, on Tuesday night at Hicksville in Nassau Conference II softball. Adamo pitched a complete game and hit a double that scored two runs.
“It’s a lot of pressure when they get on, but I knew I had to adjust,” Adamo said. “I had to hit my spots, just go through all my pitches.”
Bellmore JFK jumped out to a lead quickly. Olivia Toto led off the game with a bunt single and Gianna Costaro hit a booming double to drive Toto home and give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Costaro finished 2-for-3 with two doubles.
After Costaro took third on a wild pitch the complexion of the game shifted. Hicksville leftfielder Heather Mane caught a fly ball for the second out and fired a strike home to get Costaro out at the plate.
“I got scared for a moment because I thought she was safe,” Mane said with a laugh. “I just got behind the ball and threw it as hard as I could.”
Adamo walked three in the second but an out of turn batter fizzled the Cougars rally. The Hicksville bats woke up in the third inning when Gabby Smith hit a RBI triple to drive in Angelina Avila and tie the score. Ashley Pierce then hit a single to drive in Smith and give Hicksville a 2-1 lead.
Adamo broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning when she hit a two-RBI double down the rightfield line off Bellmore JFK starter Sami Levine. That gave Hicksville a 4-1 lead and much needed breathing room.
“I knew I was hitting it too early, so I waited and ripped it down the line,” Adamo said. “I’m a puller, so usually I’m going to left.
Bellmore JFK got a run back in the top of the sixth when Levine’s squeeze bunt scored Toto. Hicksville (5-2) responded in the bottom half of the inning when Avila’s groundout drove in a run.
Adamo took the mound in the seventh and retired the Cougars in order to finish off the complete\-game victory.
“Toni started off having a tough time hitting spots,” Hicksville coach Rich Hinnerschietz said. “When she settled in and started to hit spots, they had a tough time putting a good bat on the ball.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
