By TONY BELLISSIMO
Cusumano, who had a no-hitter earlier this spring, struck out 14 batters and walked four as the Lady Falcons captured their 13th consecutive game. They went 16-1 to split the title with New Hyde Park, and had the inside track to earn the conference¹s only playoff berth based on tiebreaker criteria ‹ which includes head-to-head run differential with New Hyde Park as well as scores against common opponents.
³I don¹t want to say we¹re definitely in the playoffs, but more signs point to us than them,² said South coach Dom Fontana, who was to learn of the team¹s fate after press time. ³We improved tremendously the second time around the schedule and haven¹t lost since early April. We wanted to make a statement in the last few games, and we definitely did.²
Junior Bridget Charles, who drove in 10 runs in the last four games, went 3 for 3, and sophomore Geanna Matteo was 3 for 5 with two runs and one RBI to lead the offense against Lawrence, which had won five of its previous six games.
³They hit only one ball hard against Lori Beth, and it was caught,² Fontana said. ³It was our fourth game of the week and Lori Beth was tired, but she showed a lot.²
On May 11, Cusumano took the mound in the top of the second inning with a nine-run lead after homering in the first, and was rested late in a 20-9 victory over Friends Academy. Charles (five RBIs) and senior Kelli Viana (three RBIs, three runs) also had home runs, while freshman Tricia Zarro had four RBIs and Matteo added three.
The last two games would have had little meaning had South not taken care of business against New Hyde Park on May 9. The Highlanders dealt the Lady Falcons a 7-4 defeat on April 13, and payback time had arrived. Cusumano gave up four hits, only one of which left the infield, and struck out 10, and Charles cracked a grand slam to right in the fifth inning of a 9-5 triumph.
³That was our championship game,² Fontana said. ³Lori Beth shut them down pretty good, and everyone rushed the mound when it was over. I¹m just glad we didn¹t suffer a letdown in either of the last two games.²
The week began with a come-from-behind 12-5 win over Mineola that saw Viana knock in three runs, while junior Christina Classi and sophomore Leanna Mottola each had two RBIs. South trailed 5-1 early but scored four runs in the fourth to take a 7-5 lead. Cusumano (13 strikeouts) hit a go-ahead two-run single.
³I think we started to realize what we¹re capable of when we beat Lynbrook,² said Fontana, referring to a 17-1 win over the Lady Owls on May 4. ³It showed we were capable of a dominant performance against a quality team.²
