By TONY BELLISSIMO
But that wasn't the case this year. The defending Nassau Class B champion Lady Falcons swept the best-of-three finals against Floral Park, winning 1-0 and 3-0 to repeat and advanced to meet Suffolk champion Sayville in the Southeast Regional final/Long Island championship.
All-County sophomore pitcher Diana DiPiano allowed five hits in the two games, walking three while striking out 14. In the clincher last Thursday at Cantiague Park, she gave up only an infield single to Eve Gross in the bottom of the sixth inning, walked two and fanned eight. Not too shabby, especially considering it was South's third game in as many days.
"We're happy to have won it at all, and to win it in two games was special," Coach Dom Fontana said. "The kids got a chance to enjoy the whole day leading up to the prom, and Diana didn't need to pitch for a fourth day in a row.
"She got by on location in the second game. I was debating whether or not to pitch Heather [Respol] and bring in Diana if we got a lead, but Diana really wanted the ball."
Krista Siedlick, the lone senior on the roster, delivered a run-scoring single to cap a three-run third inning for the third-seeded Lady Falcons, who eliminated New Hyde Park, Seaford and Island Trees en route to the final. Floral Park, the No. 5 seed, defeated Glen Cove, Wheatley and Mineola.
"We knew it would be a tough series," Fontana said. "We split games with Floral Park during the regular season, and they have two strong pitchers."
The Knights' pitching tandem of sisters Sara and Crista Cerrone allowed only eight hits in the series. Sara, a junior, gave up six hits and two walks in the finale, striking out three. She blanked South in every inning except the third, when South sophomore Jessica Corea singled to lead it off. She scored from second on a throwing error after junior Allison Hertling singled. Sophomore Kaitlin Amitrano's sacrifice fly scored DiPiano, and Siedlick's hit scored Hertling.
In the first game, South managed only two hits against freshman Crista Cerrone, but scored the lone run of the contest in the bottom of the fifth when sophomore Erin O'Malley, pinch-running for junior Michelle Cannata, raced home from third after Corea was thrown out at first following a bunt.
"It was a very good bunt," Fontana said. "Once their third baseman threw the ball to first, Erin took off for home. It was what we were hoping for.
"Defensively and pitching-wise, we've been doing as well as can be expected," he added. "We've allowed only four runs in five playoff games."
PHOTOS BY Rebecca Lopatin/Herald
