Lynbrook closer to softball title

Two teams heading in opposite directions for quite some time continued their respective paths last Saturday when Lynbrook beat Lawrence, 11-2, in a Conference ABC-V softball game at Atlantic Avenue field.

Sophomore pitcher Rebecca Tisdell scattered four hits and struck out 11, and senior Kim Hesler and sophomores Christina Malcangi and Kasey Keller drove in two runs apiece to lead the first-place Lady Owls to their 14th consecutive conference victory without a defeat. The Lady Golden Tornadoes, who slipped to 2-10, got run-scoring singles from junior Jen Rudolph and senior Neha Patel.

“Our seniors have played really well and our younger players have made a major impact,” Lynbrook coach Pete Toscano said. “The season has been a lot of fun.”

Tisdell, who didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning, led off the bottom of the third by drawing a walk against Lawrence freshman pitcher Nicole Robinson and promptly stole second. Hesler also walked and both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. Keller then hit a shot up the middle that glanced off Robinson’s glove and went to senior shortstop Catherine Kenny, who threw Keller out as Tisdell crossed the plate with the game’s first run. Hesler then stole home for a 2-0 lead.

Lynbrook tacked on three runs in the fourth on a run-scoring single by Malcangi and a two-run single by Hesler. Two of the three runners reached base via a walk, which is something Lawrence coach Joe Supple is looking to change for the last few games.

“It’s a big jump from the Middle School team to varsity and Nicole is learning to pitch on the fly,” Supple said of Robinson, who allowed only four hits through five innings but struggled with control and issued nine walks. “We experimented with a few other girls, but she’s been the most consistent. She doesn’t have to strike people out. We’re usually a solid defensive team.”