Caroline Ferchland pitches Oceanside past Massapequa in Game 1 of Nassau Class AAA softball final series
Caroline Ferchland of Oceanside throws a pitch during the Nassau Class AAA softball final against Massapequa on Sunday in Farmingdale. Credit: Kelvin Loarca
Oceanside has looked like the softball team to beat this season. Game 1 of the Nassau Class AAA championship series provided additional evidence.
The top-seeded Sailors picked up 11 hits in defeating second-seeded Massapequa, 7-3, at Farmingdale State on Sunday morning.
Caroline Ferchland retired the side in order in the top of the first inning and doubled in the bottom half to put Oceanside ahead 1-0. Liana Horan lifted a sacrifice fly and Riley Brasch’s double extended the lead to 3-0.
“Starting early and scoring those runs allows us to relax,” Ferchland said. “We have a lot of girls who haven’t been in this position, so getting up early lets them take a deep breath.”
Oceanside began the third inning with four straight singles as Brasch picked up her second RBI. McKaela Genna drew a bases-loaded walk to give Oceanside a 5-0 lead.
“We take every at-bat pitch by pitch. Even if we get to two strikes, we’re going to keep battling,” Brasch said. “We’re present in every moment and try to win that moment. We don’t look ahead to the next inning.”
A leadoff error allowed Massapequa’s Katy Love to reach third base in the sixth, but Ferchland fielded two pop-ups and picked up a strikeout to keep Oceanside ahead 6-0.
“It’s big for me to get ahead in the count. It’s not about striking people out,” she said. “My defense makes great plays behind me and I trust my pitches. I’m not scared of hitters making contact.”
Maeve Schiereck drove in two runs in the seventh for Massapequa (17-9) and Love added an RBI triple.
Oceanside (22-3) will try to earn its second county title in the past three years in Game 2 at Farmingdale State at 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
“We have the best pitcher in Nassau County,” Oceanside coach Carlo Quagliata said.
“Our offense has come together and we know we have a good group. Nothing is going to come easy and we expect Massapequa’s best, but we’re ready.”
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.
