By:Vince Proto
Both teams had sustained one loss previously and were playing for the right to move on in the tournament. The Bellmore squad was seeking to avenge an earlier loss to North Bellmore-North Merrick and was designated as the home team on its opponent's home field. But really, there was no home-field advantage for either squad, as both teams were supported by an enthusiastic crowd of family and friends.
North Bellmore-North Merrick scored early, and behind the solid pitching of Alyssa Tortora, a three-run triple by Katie Kraus and timely hits by Kristen Baranek and Laura Haslam, the visitors led 6-0 after four innings. Bellmore's bats, however, came alive in the bottom of the fifth, as the home team scored five times behind key hits from Geena Pandolfi, Meghan Rice, Samantha Piscone and Lindsey Schwartzman.
In the top of the sixth inning, North Bellmore-North Merrick tallied twice to extend its lead to 8-5. As Bellmore came up for its final at-bat, there was some uneasiness in the stands. Several fans on the visitors' side thought no lead was safe, while some fans on the home side worried whether Bellmore could rally back. And rally Bellmore did -- for two runs to reduce North Bellmore-North Merrick's lead to 8-7. The tying run was on second base, and there was only one out.
Tortora, however, held firm for North Bellmore-North Merrick, inducing one batter to pop out to the third baseman and then close the game when left fielder Cara Veneziano made a fine running catch in foul territory, stopping a foot short of crashing into the side fence. Veneziano also contributed on offense with two walks and two runs scored.
Both teams put forth a great effort, with North Bellmore-North Merrick surviving, 8-7.
