Mimi Bilardello waits out the rain, leads East Rockaway to Nassau B title
East Rockaway teammates celebrate after their county championship-clinching 9-5 win over Oyster Bay in Game 2 of the best-of-three Nassau softball Class B final at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Sunday, May 29. Play resumed after heavy rain on Saturday forced the game to be suspended in the fourth inning. Credit: James Escher
Mimi Bilardello was ready to step up to the plate Saturday with two outs, two runners on and a chance to break the game open for the East Rockaway softball team.
But mother nature had other ideas. The game was stopped and eventually suspended due to inclement weather.
Bilardello had to wait almost 24 hours before she would get her opportunity. When play resumed, she delivered a two-run triple that helped spark a five-run third inning as the No. East Rockaway defeated No. 2 Oyster Bay, 9-5, in the clinching game of the best-of-three Nassau Class B championship series Sunday at Mitchel Athletic Complex.
“It was crucial, especially considering the runs they were able to get back,” Bilardello said. “It was a big hit and I was just very happy that I was able to help the team out any way I could.”
Bilardello’s hit gave East Rockaway a 6-0 lead. Adriana Ramirez and Riley O’Hagan both followed with RBI singles.
“She really delivered,” East Rockaway coach Joe Lores said. “That helped us put up a five spot that turned a three run lead, into eight.”
Oyster Bay (11-6) scored four times in the sixth thanks to consecutive doubles by Kaitlyn Aasheim, Jackie Del Pozzo and Ciara Barefoot, and a two-run single by Anastasia Sakellis.
East Rockaway (13-4) will play Nassau C champion Carle Place in the Nassau small school championship on Tuesday at Mitchel Athletic Complex, before playing Suffolk champion Babylon for the Long Island Class B title Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Moriches Athletic Complex.
“This is great because last year we didn’t have the season that we wanted and didn’t do well,” Bardello said. “Now we’re making up for it and winning and it’s just so much fun to play with these girls.”
Gene Morris joined Newsday's sports department in September 2012 and covers high school sports. He earned a journalism degree from Stony Brook University in 2010.
