Elmont wins conference crown

After a bounce-back season that saw Elmont finish at 10-4 on the softball diamond a year ago, the Lady Spartans entered 2018 wanting a little bit more. And, they got it. 

With a 21-10 road victory over Roosevelt on May 2, the Lady Spartans closed out the regular season with an overall record of 16-1. Center fielder Amber Naar went 3-for-5, including her team-leading third homer, and Andrea Ayala went 5-for-6 with three RBI to lead the way. Sophomore pitcher Kimberly Rodriguez picked up her 15th win.

Just a day earlier, Elmont earned a spot in the Nassau County Class A playoffs with a 12-0 victory over visiting Lawrence. Rodriguez picked up her third shutout of the season, and junior catcher Eloni Peralta, the team leader in RBI, hit two doubles and knocked in a pair of runs. 

In order to qualify for a postseason berth, the Conference ABC-VII champion is required to win 90 percent of its games. The Lady Spartans, who captured their first conference title since 1999, had to win their last five games to secure a trip to the playoffs. The team’s first round opponent wasn’t available at press time.

Coach John Squillace couldn’t be happier with his team’s success. “This is probably my favorite year in coaching,” Squillace said. “What a fantastic experience. We knew what it was going to take to get in the playoffs, and we got it done. The last five games were pretty much playoff games. I thought we’d be pretty strong, but I really had no idea we’d do this well.”

The pivotal point of the season came when the Lady Spartans traveled to Freeport in a must-win situation on April 21. The Red Devils took an early four-run lead and led by two entering the sixth inning. But, Elmont put nine runs on the board in the top of the sixth and came away with a 15-5 win. Peralta went 4-for-5 with four RBI, and Rodriguez struck out eight while going the distance.

Rodriguez, a three-sport athlete with the heart of a lioness, has had a spectacular season. She pounds the strike zone, fields her position extremely well, and hits for a high average out of the cleanup spot.

While Rodriguez, Peralta, and Naar were a force in the middle of the order, junior Akemi Shard, a four-year starter who is batting .595 and playing a stellar shortstop, and senior third baseman Rushay Thomas have been outstanding at getting on base and making things happen. Natasha Torres became a real tough out as the season progressed. The senior right fielder finished the regular season with a .400 average. 

“I’m cautiously optimistic entering the playoffs,” Squillace said. “It’s rare for a team from our conference to make the playoffs, so I feel like we’re kind of playing with house money. We get to play a little more softball, and be around one another a little longer. If we play our game, I like to think we can keep thing competitive.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Elmont softball/baseball previews were written by Garrett D. Uribe. The by-line in the magazine was done in error.