Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK softball's Emily Orth sparks 5th-inning rally with 16-pitch at-bat
Emily Orth of Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK rounds third base after hitting a home run during a Nassau softball game against East Meadow on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Plainview. Credit: Kelvin Loarca
Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK needed a spark to keep its undefeated streak alive and when Emily Orth stepped into the box and fouled off pitch after pitch during her 16-pitch at-bat, she gave the Hawks just what they needed.
Orth drew a walk to jump-start Plainview-Old Bethpage’s six-run fifth inning rally as it defeated visiting East Meadow, 10-8, in Nassau II softball on Tuesday.
“I was just hoping to get on and get something started,” Orth said. “I've had some long at-bats before, but I don’t know if I’ve ever had any go that many pitches.”
Leyla Elkhatib hit an infield single to lead off the fifth inning before Orth fouled off 12 pitches and drew a walk. Sophia Cho followed with a bunt single and Sophia Elkhatib hit a two-run double to cut the Hawks' deficit to 5-4.
“We were hanging on to every pitch, rooting for her,” Sophia Elkhatib said. “By the time I got up, I was just ready to hit and drive in some runs. I got the outcome I wanted.”
Angelina Mancuso singled to drive in the tying run and Samantha Syzpula doubled to give the Hawks a 6-5 lead. Nadia Cho doubled to drive in another run and put POB JFK ahead 7-5.
“Emily’s at-bat changed the entire vibe of the game, and started a huge inning,” Hawks coach Karen Napoli said. She stayed alive and battled and that’s really our theme this year. Battle until the last pitch.”
Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK (9-0) got a leadoff homer from Orth in the sixth and scored two more insurance runs to take a 10-5 lead.
“I was focused on hitting the ball and having a shorter at-bat this time,” Orth said. “Didn’t want to foul off as many pitches this time around if I didn’t need to.”
Ashley Lipack drew a walk to bring in a run in the seventh for East Meadow. Gianna Ventura hit a two-out single with the bases loaded to cut East Meadow’s deficit to 10-8. Szypula induced a liner to centerfield to end it.
East Meadow (2-7) led off the game with back-to-back doubles from Gabriella Shepherd and Ariana Rosa to take a 1-0 lead.
Emma Smith doubled in the third to bring in a run. A groundout and Natalie Necci’s single brought in two more runs to give East Meadow a 4-0 lead. Rosa’s RBI double in the fourth put East Meadow ahead 5-0.
“That was a rough inning, but we fought as a team to get back,” Sophia Elkhatib said. “We have a never-give-up mentality and if we need to fight from behind, that’s what we’ll do.”
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.