Carey searching for offense

Carey's Jenna Turato delivers a pitch to the plate during last week's 3-0 loss to Conference AA-I rival East Meadow.

Sue Grieco/Herald

The oldest adage in sports states that pitching and defense wins. Sure, it’s a cliché, but it’s true. Mix in good chemistry and timely hitting, and you have the makings of a team that could contend for a championship.

At Carey, the Lady Seahawks are pitching well and playing outstanding defense, but the hitting hasn’t come around yet. Carey is 0-3 in Conference AA-I, 1-6 overall after a 3-0 road loss to East Meadow on April 11. Pitcher Kerri Shapiro scattered four hits and struck out seven for the Lady Jets. Shapiro’s double in the third inning knocked in the game’s first two runs.

Carey’s freshman pitcher Jenna Turato and Shapiro matched zeroes in the early going, but East Meadow broke through in the bottom of the third. Senior Jenna Dragoon led off with a bunt single, and sophomore Marisa SanAntonio followed it up by slapping the ball the other way into left field for a single.

After Turato retired the next two batters, Shapiro stepped to the plate with runners on second and third. The sophomore cleanup hitter lined a bullet into left center for a two-run double. Junior Taylor Conti singled to bring home Shapiro and give the Lady Jets a 3-0 lead.

Carey coach Anthony Turco thinks it’s just a matter of time for the young Lady Seahawks. “The pitching and defense has been good; we’re just not scoring runs,” Turco said. “It’s not for lack of effort. The girls are working extremely hard, but the breaks haven’t been going our way. If we were losing games 12-0, I’d say we’re not capable of competing, but that’s not the case. The hitting will come around.”

Turato and her sister Ashley, a junior, have been keeping the Lady Seahawks in every game. While neither is overpowering pitchers, both mix up their pitches well and give Carey opportunities to win games in the county’s top conference. The Lady Seahawks have been getting outstanding infield defense from senior Danielle Sorrentino and freshman Alyssa Jacobs.

After dropping their first three games against New Hyde Park, Valley Stream North, and Floral Park, the Lady Seahawks got in the win column with an 11-8 victory over Seaford. Senior Marcella Castellano led the way by going 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. Junior Erin Gilroy added a homer.

Turco is hopeful his team will be successful. “The girls are pressing at the plate, because they want it so badly,” Turco said. “We just have to keep working at it and hope the hits start coming.”

The Lady Seahawks host Mepham Friday at 4:30 p.m.