Lynbrook rolls to conference title

Bianca LoBosco had just finished blasting her second grand slam in as many days, lifting Lynbrook's still-unbeaten softball team to a pair of wins in mid-April.  

Her team now trailing in the seventh inning by two runs against host Baldwin – the Owls' perfect start to the season heading towards a sunset – LoBosco, a day removed from her back-to-back slams, stepped into the box knowing she wouldn't threepeat the feat. ... For the simple reason that the bases weren't loaded.

Instead, the junior catcher cranked a three-run shot – homering in three straight games – to put the Owls ahead late in a 10-8 win at Baldwin, as Lynbrook moved to an unblemished 8-0 with the non-league victory.  

“This team had confidence, and against Baldwin it really showed,” Owls coach Peter Toscano said. “We showed we could play with teams above us, out of our conference. I think it showed how good we really were.”

Buoyed by the fearsome bat of LoBosco – who finished third in Nassau with eight homers – and a stellar first year in the circle from junior righthander Kylie Schroeder, Conference 5's Pitcher of the Year with a league-leading 12 wins (14 overall), Lynbrook would start the season 12-0 before an April 25 league loss to Manhasset, exactly one month after Lynbrook’s opening win over South Side.

LoBosco earned All-County honors batting a team-best .667 while leading Lynbrook with 48 RBIs. Schroeder, still an outfielder this offseason when she approached Toscano with news she’d been practicing pitching and offered her services, took Honorable mention All-County honors along with the league’s highest pitching award, striking out 120 as she answered the Owls’ biggest preseason question.

“I knew we would hit,” said Toscano, whose team (12-1 Conference 5, 16-3 overall) fell to Floral Park, 7-6, in a Nassau Class A play-in May 13. “But wasn’t sure if we’d have any pitching. Kylie stepped into that role for us and was great.”

“When you have someone like Kylie pitching and Bianca leading the offense, it’s a tough team to beat,” Toscano added. “And then everyone else in the lineup is just as capable, one through nine.”

Senior Owls shortstop Katie Sharkey hit .500 from the leadoff spot, ahead of LoBosco, who – like one of the slugger’s famous big-league counterparts – batted unconventionally second (“Bianca’s like our Ohtani,” Toscano said), followed by juniors Kelsey Roth (.392 average), Jess Ferrara (.531; All-Conference) and Emma Mylan (.444), and sophomore Angelina Macchia (.400).

Over their opening run of 12 wins the Owls pummeled opponents 157-57. “Our lineup really had no holes,” said Toscano, noting that sophomore first baseman Danielle Inserra (.305) – who finished the season without a fielding error – functioned as “a second leadoff hitter” in the ninth spot.

Eighth-grade righthander Jamie Deitch went 2-0 spelling Schroeder in nonleague starts against Valley Stream North and West Hempstead – leaving Lynbrook's staff, as well as its lineup, apparently set for next season. "Kylie's obviously our ace," Toscano said. "Jamie looks good for our number two starter."

“Next year we should be similar”, he added. “And just like this year, we’ll go out and try to have fun.”