High School sports

County crown for Lady Rocks

East Rockaway tops Wheatley 9-6

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For the third time in four years, and the 11th time in program history, the East Rockaway Lady Rocks are on top of the Nassau County softball world.

Eighth-grader Emily Chelius allowed just a pair of earned runs and struck out four to lead the fourth-seeded Lady Rocks to a 9-6 win over No. 3 Wheatley and a sweep of the best-of-three Class B championship series on May 28 at Adelphi University.

Sophomore Jessica Loyer was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, and junior Erica Acampora also drove in three runs to lead the offensive attack. East Rockaway, which improved to 20-4, advanced to the Long Island title game, in which it will take on Babylon at St. Joseph’s College, in Patchogue, on Thursday at 4 p.m. The Panthers, who won the Suffolk County title by sweeping previously undefeated Center Moriches, are 17-3 and have won 13 of their last 14 games.

Timely hitting, solid defense and consistent pitching were keys to the Lady Rocks’ rolling past top-seeded Oyster Bay and Wheatley to earn the Nassau crown. East Rockaway coach Joe Lores said he believes his team is following the blueprint for success to the letter. “If you’re not walking batters, playing well in the field and picking up clutch hits, you’re going to be tough to beat,” he said. “When we’re going well, we’re limiting our opponents’ chances and taking advantage of our opportunities. Our pitchers don’t overpower hitters, so we rely on our defense to make plays. We’ve been steady.”

Unlike the opening game of the series, Game 2 was a battle. The Wildcats, who came into the finals riding a five-game winning streak, jumped on top early with two runs in the top of the first inning, but the Rocks answered with six runs of their own. Loyer’s two-RBI double was the highlight of the inning.

Wheatley clawed its way back into the game, and trailed by just 6-5 after four innings. But the Rocks wouldn’t relinquish the lead. Despite some shoddy defense, Chelius was steely in the circle. The young right-hander went the distance, walking just one batter.

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