West Hempstead endures tough year

After posting a record of 13-5 in 2014, expectations were high on the softball field at West Hempstead, this season. The Rams had some key returnees, a pair of capable pitchers, and their schedule in Conference AB-III appeared to be manageable.

Unfortunately, like the spring, West Hempstead got off to a slow start. The Rams struggled at the plate all season long, made far too many miscues in the field, and the end result was just a handful of victories. The Rams season came to an end on May 5 with a disappointing 14-6 loss to Valley Stream South.

Head coach Chris Van Kovics expected more from his team, but, nonetheless, found some positives. “Coming into the season, I knew our pitchers would pitch to contact, and that we were going to have to be good in the field,” Van Kovics said. “The pitchers threw strikes, but we didn’t play defense as well as we were capable of. When you score five or six runs a game, it should be enough to win or at least be in every game. We just never got the consistency we needed, but we did get better as a team.”

Like nearly every other team in the county, the long winter and late season snowfall made it impossible for the Rams to practice outdoors prior to their opening game. Eventual league champion East Rockaway and Manhasset handed West Hempstead losses before the ground thawed in late March.

The Rams got into the win column with a convincing 11-1 road victory over Sewanhaka. Senior Ellen Murphy was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, and junior pitcher Amanda Malone went the distance to earn the victory.

However, West Hempstead couldn’t build off the win, with a lack of offense being the primary reason for a five-game losing streak that ensued. The run culminated with a heartbreaking 14-13 loss to Carle Place in nine innings.

The Rams ended the string by exacting a little revenge with a thrilling 17-15 victory over Manhasset. Senior Penelope Sanchez went 3-for-5 and scored four runs to lead the way. Malone picked up the win.

In a 10-7 win over Sewanhaka, junior Caitlin Rossi was 2-for-3, knocked in a pair of runs, and scored twice. Senior pitcher Brianna White earned the win.

White and junior catcher Emily Weinstein were two bright spots for West Hempstead. White was pitched around for much of the year, so Van Kovics tried to put her in favorable positions in the batting order where she could get more RBI chances.

Weinstein improved defensively, and became a very difficult out as she added a small ball element to her game. White and Weinstein each earned All-Conference recognition. Van Kovics appreciated the effort he received from sophomore Kelsey Reichert who played the outfield and second base, and figures to be a fixture in the middle infield over the next two seasons.