Young pitcher propels Clarke

Scoring runs hasn’t come easy for Clarke in 2011. The Rams averaged less than two runs per contest against Conference A-I softball rivals. Fortunately, they didn’t need many runs in the opening round of the Nassau Class A playoffs last Friday thanks to a brilliant pitching performance by a 13-year old hurler.

Seventh-grader Sarah Cornell struck out 14, walked two, and allowed just three singles as No. 6 Clarke opened up the postseason with a 4-0 victory over No. 11 Valley Stream South at W.T. Clarke High School. The Rams got two hits apiece from Alyssa Colletti, Aly Smith, and Nicole Randazzo. Clarke advanced to face No.3 Seaford in the quarterfinal round and suffered a tough 3-2 loss Monday afternoon. 

Clarke coach Chrissy DeMott was impressed with the youngest player on the field. “Sarah pitched a terrific game,” DeMott said. “She has tremendous poise; an air of confidence. She’s so young, but she doesn’t get rattled. Regardless of the situation, she never changed her demeanor. She feels good about what she’s doing out there.”

Cornell was perfect through four innings. South finally got a runner aboard when Jessica Liberato singled to lead off the fifth inning. With two outs and Liberato on second, Angela Aragona lined a 1-2 pitch to right. But, Randazzo threw a strike to the plate and catcher Maria Cruz put the tag on Liberato to keep the game scoreless.

With two outs in the home half of the fifth the Rams got the only run they would need. Colletti looped a ball into right for a single. When the ball got by the right fielder, Colletti took off for second and never broke stride. A good throw would have nailed Colletti at third, but the throw bounced past the third baseman and rolled into dead territory allowing Colletti to score.

In the top of the sixth, South’s All-County catcher Christie DeMarco lined a single up the middle. With two outs, VSS pitcher Ashley Tkacsik drew a walk after fouling off five consecutive pitches. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch. With the two runners in scoring position, Cornell blew a fastball by Liberato for the final out.