Defense a key for Lady Rocks

Defending Nassau County softball champion East Rockaway is off to strong start.

The Lady Rocks, who have won five county titles over the past six seasons, will battle for Class B supremacy with Carle Place, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Wheatley. Carle Place, which has outscored opponents 60-7 in the early going, is clearly the team to beat.

East Rockaway coach Joe Lores said defense is the key to success. “We pitch to contact, so the ball will be in play most of the time,” Lores said. “We don’t strike a lot of people out, so the defense will be tested constantly. We can’t afford to throw the ball around and make errors.”

Junior Kerrianne Vulpis serves as the catalyst at the top of the order for East Rockaway, which won four of its first five games out of the gate. Vulpis, who has a terrific glove at shortstop, had three hits and scored five runs in an opening day win over Cold Spring Harbor. Sophomore second baseman Jess Cerasoli joins Vulpis in the middle of the diamond.

Junior Cara Camerada plays third base and bats second. Vulpis and Camerada are a solid one-two punch at the top of the order. Camerada knocked in four runs in an 8-5 win over Oyster Bay.

Stephanie Loughran, an All-Conference honoree, hits third. The senior left fielder is off to an excellent start, leading the team with 10 RBI through five games. Loughran had three hits and a pair of RBI in the win over Cold Spring Harbor. Junior first baseman Lindsey Dinowitz, who had a .960 fielding percentage as a sophomore, provides plenty of pop from the clean-up spot.

Sophomore Gianna Cilluffo, who was the team’s top hitter in the postseason in 2010, bats fifth and roams center field for the Lady Rocks. When Cilluffo is pitching, sophomore Kristen Stroh handles the center field duties.

Sophomore Jessica Deptulski returns as starting catcher. Depulski, who hits in the sixth spot, does a good job behind the plate. Junior Molly Butler, who has a knack for throwing runners out at first from her right field position, follows Delputski in the order. Cerasoli is off to a terrific at start at the plate.

In the circle, junior Katie Seifert is more than efficient. While she doesn’t have heat to strike batters out, Seifert is always around the plate, keeps hitters off balance, and does an outstanding job fielding her position. Seifert tossed a three-hit shutout as East Rockaway beat Friends Academy 2-0. 

Lores would like to hear a little more chatter from the Lady Rocks. “We need someone to step up as a vocal leader,” he said. “With the ball being put in play most of the time, communication is going to be essential. We’re a bit quiet on the field. Someone needs to take on that leadership role.”

The Lady Rocks host Plainview-JFK on Monday at 10 a.m.

Click here to view and purchase photos from this event.