Successful start for Lady Bruins

Coming off its second Nassau Class AA softball playoff appearance in three years, Baldwin is stocked with young talent and off to a promising start with four wins in five games.

“Only two players returned to their same position,” coach Tom Llewellyn said after the Lady Bruins beat Hempstead, 21-4, in the Conference AA-III opener for both teams March 29. “We’ve got a very young team, but it’s the most enthusiastic group I’ve had,” he added. “The girls practice and play really hard, and we’re getting positive results.”

The left side of the infield is where most of Baldwin’s experience and leadership can be found. Senior shortstop Katie Greene and junior Olivia Phillips, who handles the hot corner, are both captains and key bats in the lineup at the No. 5 and 3 spots, respectively. “They’re both strong hitters and huge on defense,” Llewellyn said. “We’re counting on them to do it all.”

Sophomore Carly Mertens also brought varsity starting experience, but primarily in left field. She’s now the No. 1 pitcher in the program and making a large impact offensively as well. “Carly has a lot of movement on her pitches and I think she’s going to be able to throw the ball by hitters,” Llewellyn said. “She had her first varsity win late last season and came into this year with a lot of confidence.”

Mertens also sparks the lineup from the leadoff spot, though her statistics after four games resembled that of a cleanup hitter. She had 18 RBI, with eight of those coming on grand slams in back-to-back wins over Calhoun and Lynbrook, and homered in every game.

The cleanup hitter is Mertens’ battery mate, sophomore catcher Liza Ueno. With good power and all the tools behind the plate, Ueno plays an important role on every pitch. She’s already erased four runners on the bases in as many steal attempts.