Elmont looks for strong finish

Coming off a perfect 12-win season in Nassau Conference 6 softball and graduating standout pitcher Maria Montoya, Elmont is riding a roller coaster thus far this spring but coach John Squillace believes a rise could be on the way.
The Spartans snapped a mild two-game slide April 25 with a 17-5 home victory over Freeport to get within a game of the .500 mark.
“We’ve been up and down but we’ve faced the toughest part of our schedule,” Squillace said. “Last year we had a lot of success and moved up a conference, so we knew the competition would be a little more challenging. Now that we’ve made some adjustments and settled on a pitcher, I think we’re going to do well down the stretch.”
Rossiano began this spring on JV but was soon elevated to the varsity roster and solidified Elmont’s concerns in the circle. She doesn’t throw hard, Squillace said, and opposing hitters have had trouble adjusting to her deliveries. “Layla stepped up and filled a void,” he said. “She’s not going to strike out a ton of hitters, but she’s getting the ball over the plate and the defense has been outstanding behind her.”
The rock-steady Angel Anderson behind the plate has helped Rossiano’s smooth transition to a higher level of competition, Squillace said. The senior catcher who led the Spartans in homers in 2023 is also their clean-up batter and counted on daily for production.

“Lynbrook has been crushing everyone all season and even though we lost, Layla kept us in it,” Squillace said of a 14-5 defeat to the Owls April 18. “They hit the ball hard one through nine. We made a lot of outstanding plays in the outfield, especially Rihanna [Staple] in center and Angeleena [Lemos] in left.”
Staple, a senior, is the leadoff hitter who brings topnotch speed. “She’s a great hitter and even better in the outfield,” Squillace said.
One of the moving parts that appears to be solidified is second base and second in the lineup. Senior Aelyn Vargas has risen to the occasion offensively and defensively, Squillace said. Vargas, Anderson and Staple all had two hits in the team’s first win of 2024, a 9-4 decision over Great Neck South April 8.
Senior Megan Ortiz, who along with Anderson helped Elmont’s volleyball team to an impressive run, starts at shortstop and bats third. Ortiz is a five-tool player, Squillace said, and one of the best athletes in the school.
Anchoring the infield defense is senior Caitlyn Waller, who was the team’s defensive MVP last season. “She has an awesome glove and toughness,” Squillace noted.
Junior Bernice Hernandez-Moreno starts in right field, senior Mikayla Cornick has taken hold of the third base job, and junior Arashel Vargas is a productive hitter in the heart of the order.
“Our conference is large so we only play teams once,” Squillace said. “It’s too bad we can’t get a second crack at the four that beat us already.”