Lady Rams build on firm footing

Clarke turned some heads down the stretch of the 2010 softball season, and its appearance in the quarterfinal round of the Nassau Class A playoffs may only be a stepping stone for a team loaded that’s with eight sophomores.

No. 2 Seaford managed just four hits against the Lady Rams’ ace, sophomore Brooke Wood, but a fifth-inning triple and wild pitch were just enough to help the Lady Vikings squeak by with a 1-0 victory in the quarterfinals on May 19.

“[Brooke] mixed her pitches well and got a lot of pop outs,” Lady Rams coach Chrissy DeMott said, noting that defense behind her ace also turned in a second consecutive errorless postseason game.

“That’s what wins or loses games, and [for sophomores] to feel confident enough to make the plays [is a big positive].”

Clarke’s offense, however, was stymied by Seaford’s Erika Nogan and managed just four hits. “We put the ball in play we just couldn’t find the holes,” DeMott said.

The scoreless effort was in sharp contrast to the previous two games, when the Lady Rams (7-12 overall) pounded out a total of 19 runs, including nine in a shutout of No. 10 Valley Stream South in the first round of the playoffs on May 14. Junior catcher Maria Ruiz keyed the explosion with a single and pair of doubles, driving in three. Sophomore Demi Shanahan also had three hits and scored twice, while sophomore Danielle Ferrara scored a pair of runs and drove in another. Sophomore Alyssa Colletti finished 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and every player in the lineup had at least one hit in a game for the first time all season.

“It’s nice to get a feel for the playoffs [for the girls] to see what they’re up against,” DeMott said, noting the overwhelming youth that will be back in 2011.

The support was more than enough for Wood, who allowed just three hits and a walk in the complete game win.

“She forced them to pop out weakly or ground out because of the movement [she puts] on the ball,” DeMott said.

Just as impressive as the playoff win may have been a 10-1 victory over Oceanside in the regular season finale, given that the Lady Sailors play several conferences ahead of Clarke. “That’s really what the girls needed,” DeMott said of the win, noting the confidence boost her team gained at the plate.

The only senior on the roster, shortstop Angela Carmine, paced the offense with a .358 batting average and also drove in 21 runs as part of an All-County campaign. Wood ended her first season as a starter with a sparkling 2.04 earned run average and garnered All Conference honors along with Ruiz. Colletti and Ferrara were named to the All-Division team.