Clutch hits propel Long Beach

Despite a rugged six-game stretch in April that saw Long Beach blanked three times and produce a total of five runs while slipping down the Conference AA-I softball standings, coach Carmine Verde didn’t hit the panic button.

“We didn’t make any drastic changes,” Verde said. “We just needed to understand why we weren’t winning and sharpen our focus. The biggest thing we’ve done lately is hit in the clutch. In two of our losses we left 11 and 12 runners on base.”

The offense has gotten on track as of late and the Lady Marines (8-6 overall, 6-5 in conference play) are vying for a first-round bye in the Nassau Class AA playoffs, which begin this Friday. Over a three-game stretch from April 28-May 3 — all wins — they pushed across 20 runs and vaulted into fourth place behind MacArthur, Massapequa, and East Meadow.

“There are some advantages to having a bye, but it can also be tricky because you have to wait around a few days to play somebody that’ll be coming off a win,” Verde explained. “The most important thing is if you’re playing well going into the playoffs.”

On back-to-back days last week, Long Beach cooled off surging Carey, 3-1, and avenged an earlier loss to East Meadow with a rousing 6-1 victory behind a big day at the plate from sophomore Brianna Rivera. Junior pitcher Ashley Martin went the distance in both games.

“Ashley’s last four games have been really strong,” Verde said of Martin, who struck out 11 against both Carey and East Meadow. “She’s so much tougher and harder to beat when she gets ahead in the count. She’s been in command and hitting her spots.”

Verde said Martin’s recent hot streak began with a 1-0 loss to Oceanside and Ashley Davis on April 24. Both pitchers threw lights-out in a night game decided on Davis’ walk-off homer. The Lady Marines managed nine hits but left 11 runners on base — this after leaving a dozen on base in a 2-1 defeat to Syosset the previous week.

The bats started to come alive April 28 when Rivera (3-for-3, three RBIs), seniors Annie Winerip (3-for-5, three RBIs) and Kelsey McLaughlin (2-for-3, two RBIs), and junior Allison DiLello (two RBIs) sparked a 13-2 win over Mepham. “It was big for our confidence,” said Verde, who added freshman Kelsey Larson (5-for-11) is setting the tone at the top of the lineup.

Against Carey, McLaughlin scored twice and sophomore Julianna Zaharias started an inning-ending double play in the fifth with a catch in center to lead the way. Rivera then starred 24 hours later, driving in all six runs against East Meadow with a two-run double in the fourth and a grand slam in the fifth. “Brianna had an incredible game,” Verde said of Rivera, whose slam cleared the fence in left and plated Winerip, Martin and sophomore Heather Weinstein.

“If we can get two of our last three and go into the playoffs winning five of six, that’s a positive,” Verde said.