Wantagh remains locked in

Wantagh’s softball team is finding its footing during the home stretch of the regular season.
A commanding 11-1 home win against Clarke last Saturday marked the Warriors’ fifth victory in six games and lifted their Conference II record to 9-2 with two games remaining.
“In the beginning of the season they put a lot of pressure on themselves, but now they are coming together,” said longtime Wantagh coach Christine Moran. “They are definitely locked in now.”
Last Saturday’s win featured a stellar pitching performance from freshman pitcher Lucy Olore, who tossed a three-hitter with six strikeouts and did not surrender an earned run. Olore, who started in the circle on varsity as an eighth grader last year, also shined in an 8-3 win at Herricks on April 24 with 10 strikeouts.
Junior Mackenzie Hayes is another capable starting pitcher Moran can turn to on the mound. She earned the win in a 5-4 victory against Plainview-JFK on March 27.

Emma Priest has been the team’s offensive leader thus far and had a big day in the Clarke win going 4-for-4 with three RBIs. Senior Molloy University-bound shortstop Casey Kissinger has also been a major force at the plate and went 2-for-3 with three runs scored on Saturday.
Kissinger has also provided important veteran leadership along with fellow seniors Bella Bartilucci, Jacqueline Mundy, Adrianna Oranges and Daniella Oranges. Mundy, Kissinger, Priest and Hayes have guided the team as captains.
“Our captains have really taken the reins and brought the team together,” said Moran, a former standout college softball player at Hofstra who made the NCAA Tournament three straight years from 1999 to 2021. “They’re all very different in their leadership styles.”
Bartilucci stepped up big in the Hericks win with a home run and two RBIs. The triumph avenged a 3-1 loss to Herricks on April 4 in the team’s third game of the season.
Wantagh also got a balanced effort in an 11-1 win versus Carey on April 19 in which Olore tossed a complete–game one-hitter with 13 strikeouts and Bartilucci paced the offense with three hits.  Priest, Kissinger, Bartilucci and Olore all recorded two hits in the decisive victory.
The Warriors team chemistry is also boosted from having three sister combinations between Daniella Oronges and Adrianna Oronges, Casey Kissinger and Haylie Kissinger as well as Bella Bartilucci and Scarlett Bartilucci.
Wantagh closes the regular season at Seaford for a 5 p.m. first pitch in a game that could decide who wins Conference II. Moran is hoping the team can play its best softball when the playoffs commence and build off last year’s run to the Class A semifinals.
“We started a little rocky because we did so well last year and they had never really experienced that and I think they started the season with that pressure,” Moran said. “Now they have their act together which has been helped by some great senior leadership.”