Thursday, October 1, 2026
The “cardiac kids,” as Hewlett softball coach Jon Welsh said, made an appearance last Saturday afternoon as the Bulldogs erased a two-run Baldwin lead in the seventh inning.
With one out and runners on second and third, junior center fielder Lily Simon singled through the left side of the infield to complete the comeback, beating the Bruins 5-4.
“We’re just built differently,” Welsh said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re down 10, down five, down four, down three, or up seven. We just continue to battle, play our game. [They’re] the cardiac kids.”
Junior catcher Sarah Oliveros opened the last-inning rally with a single and advanced to third on an error. Sophomore shortstop Alyssa Reich laced a single into left field, scoring Oliveros to cut the deficit to 4-3. Eighth-grade pitcher Coraila Savin singled, setting up runners on the corners with one away. Eighth-grade first baseman Sav Nicaleck tied the game with a single, putting the game in the hands of Simon.
“I just wanted to get it in play,” Simon said. “I just wanted to get the runner in.”
She did just that, as Hewlett moved within one game of clinching a playoff spot and knocked Baldwin out of playoff contention.
Reich led the offense, going 3-for-4, scoring two runs and swiping two bases. “In my first at-bat, I struck out and I usually let that linger, but this game, I wanted to change my mindset,” she said. “That really helped me.”
Baldwin had quite the fourth inning, producing timely hits and putting together quality at-bats with two outs. Sophomore catcher Lilly Duet poked her second hit of the day to lead off the frame. With two outs in the inning, senior right fielder Abby Belony doubled to right field, knotting the score at 2-2.
Following a walk from senior center fielder Akua Bonsu, junior third baseman Chloe Collado knocked in a pair on an error, giving the Bruins a 4-2 lead.
“Abby Belony got a hit when it mattered and Chloe, who’s been hitting well all year, hit another RBI with two outs,” Baldwin coach Tom Llewellyn said. “They’ve been working hard all year.”
Savin notched seven strikeouts across seven innings of six-hit ball, allowing four runs and four walks. She recorded her 10th win and 80th strikeout of the season. Savin helped herself out at the plate, going 2-for-4, with a run scored, two RBI and two stolen bases
“I knew that was going to be a tough game,” Savin said. “I knew they were going to hit the ball and knew they were good hitters, so I had to mix in other pitches besides a fastball.”
Baldwin sophomore pitcher Liv Pascual struck out five and allowing 10 hits and two walks.
The Bruins (6-7 in Conference 4, 6-9 overall) hits the road against Valley Stream North Thursday at 5 p.m., while Hewlett (9-4; 10-5) hosts South Side at the same time.
