By STEVE SINISKI
All six teams, including the defending Nassau Class AA champion, Oceanside, have lost at least once, including East Meadow. For the Lady Jets, who are in the middle of a two-week layoff, even a 2-1 start has them on the right track for 2009.
"You have to come to play every day," first-year coach Cindy McCarthy said.
Junior All-State pitcher Lindsay McKillop, who finished 17-4 with a 0.91 earned run average last season, is a two-way star for East Meadow. She also batted .423 with 16 RBI as a sophomore and continues to sizzle at the plate. Batting third in the lineup, McKillop drove in two runs in a 3-1 win over Mepham on April 2 and smacked her first homer of the season in a 3-2 loss to Long Beach on March 31. "She's our most consistent [hitter] and will get timely hits," McCarthy said.
Junior Rachel Sidney, who's jump-started the offense in the leadoff slot, opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against Mepham. Following the double, Sidney advanced to third on sophomore Samantha Miller's bunt, then scored when McKillop grounded into a fielder's choice. "When we had runners on base we took advantage of it," McCarthy said, noting three of the Lady Jets' five base runners came around to score.
But as in the past, McKillop's big bat doesn't take anything away from the junior's power arm, as she limited the Lady Pirates to just four hits. "She's very disciplined as a softball player," McCarthy said of McKillop. "She works hard and plays softball year-round. When she's on the mound, she's in pure concentration mode."
The defense behind McKillop turned around its game after the loss to Long Beach, playing a major part in the Lady Pirates plating just one run. "Our defense against Long Beach got a little nervous and shaky," McCarthy said. "In the Mepham game, we were a totally different team."
Eight starters in all are back on the field for the Lady Jets, who have advanced to the Nassau Class AA finals and semifinals in the last two seasons, giving them a young, but experienced core group. Just two seniors-catcher Stephanie Sarcona and Angela Ruffini (third base)-are in a lineup that also features junior shortstop Hillary Hoffman, three sophomores-Christine Backer (second base), Jamie Laird (first base) and Miller in left. Eighth-grader Danielle Cutuli enters her second year in right field. Senior Alexa Salzman is a super-utility player who can play the outfield or pitch, and could also see action elsewhere.
"We have experience being in pressure situations, and [that makes you] less likely to fold," McCarthy said, noting the recent playoff runs. "It's an advantage for all of us that have been able to see that."
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