Seaford experiencing ups and downs

Seaford began April with four wins in five games, but the youthful Vikings closed the month with three consecutive losses including an 8-2 decision at Division last Friday in a Nassau Conference 2 softball matchup.

The host Dragons blew open a tight game with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, highlighted by catcher Mackenzie Quinn’s fourth hit — a two run double to cap a four-RBI performance. Sophomore pitcher Skyler Secondino homered and sophomore catcher Katie Young had a run-scoring double to provide the offense for Seaford, which fell to 5-6 in conference play.

“We’ve had some ups and downs that a young team sometimes experiences,” Seaford coach Joe Nastasi said. “Our first three losses were all by one run, but the girls handled it well. After that we got on a roll. Now we’ve just had a tough week, but I’ve got a lot of faith in this group.”

The Vikings, who won’t see any of their conference rivals come playoff time after enrollment dropped them into Class B, returned four starters from a team that lost to eventual repeat Long Island Class A champion Mepham in the first round.

Two of the returnees are seniors: Gabby Bellamore, who plays third base and bats in the heart of the lineup, and Jamie Young, who plays first base and is also counted on to drive in runs. They hit third and fifth, respectively, against Division. Bellamore has 10 RBIs.

Junior Alexa Villeck played primarily in the outfield in 2022 but is now the Vikings’ shortstop and thriving with the glove and bat, Nastasi said. “She’s been playing so well and really settled in,” he noted. Villeck, the offensive table-setter from the leadoff spot, leads the team in batting average (.410), runs scored (13) and stolen bases (10.)

Secondino is just scratching the surface of her pitching talent, Nastasi said, and had a career-high 19 strikeouts in a win over Island Trees during the April hot streak. “She has a quality arm and the sky is the limit,” the coach said. “She’s developing game by game. She can strike batters out and has a great change-up.” Her home run over the fence in left field at Division was her second of the year. She also doubled and scored in the loss.

Secondino starred in the circle and at the plate in Seaford’s 2-1 victory over Herricks April 20, winning it with a walk-off double. Freshman Lauren LoPresti is the backup pitcher and picked up her first varsity win in her first-ever start, a complete-game effort over Plainedge.

Behind the plate, Young has started every game and Nastasi decribed her as an asset “as an athlete and as a teammate.” Another sophomore, Kaitlyn Young, is flashing a strong glove in center field and made a run-saving, diving grab at Division to end the fifth inning.

Of the six regular-season games remaining on Seaford’s slate, the Vikings went 5-1 against those opponents the first time around falling only to Wantagh. They visit the Warriors May 8 at 5 p.m.