By TONY BELLISSIMO
Junior Heather Respol's bases-loaded single down the third-base line plated junior Jackie Slevinski with the winning run. Slevinski drove home sophomore Mallory Stoller to tie the game with one out.
"It was a wild game," said Coach Dom Fontana, whose third-seeded Lady Falcons advanced to face No. 10 Island Trees in the semis. "No way did we take Seaford lightly. They beat us a few weeks ago in extra innings. As the game went longer, the more it became reality that it could be our last one of the season."
It wasn't.
All-County sophomore pitcher Diana DiPiano didn't allow a runner to reach second base until the ninth inning. She allowed only four hits and one walk while striking out 13.
"This is Diana's time of the year," Fontana said. "The weather is warming up, which is something every pitcher likes. She's on the top of her game in every way, shape or form."
Seaford's Debbie Santiago squeezed home Christine Hilcken with the game's first run in the top of the 10th, and the visitors had the bases loaded with one out. But DiPiano got the next batter on a fielder's choice to sophomore Caitlin Amitrano, and the last out came on a routine grounder to sophomore Jessica Corea at first.
"We were fortunate to get out of there allowing only one run," Fontana said. "Being down two runs in extra innings is a lot different than being down one. It takes away some of the things you'd want to do."
Stoller started the bottom of the 10th on second base and was sacrificed to third - a move that wouldn't have been executed with a multi-run deficit. She then beat the throw home when Slevinski fought off a pitch and hit a slow roller to first. A bunt by Corea and subsequent error moved Slevinski to third, and an infield single by junior Jenny Field loaded the bases to set up Respol's heroics.
"It was a day of upsets, but we avoided it," said Fontana, who noted top-seeded Clarke and second-seeded North Shore both went down. "The one thing about the playoffs is that nobody just breezes right through to the championship."
South improved to 14-6 overall and is one victory away from reaching the best-of-three final series for a third consecutive season. The title series will take place May 27, 28 and 30 (if necessary) at Cantiague Park in Hicksville.
"We're seeded exactly where we were last year when we won it," Fontana said. "We feel pretty comfortable being the third seed. We won seven of eight going into the playoffs, so it seems like we hit our stride at the right time."
The Lady Falcons ousted New Hyde Park in the first round, 10-1. DiPiano tossed no-hit ball over five innings, striking out 10. Field, Respol and junior Michelle Cannata drove in two runs apiece.
South and Island Trees didn't meet during the regular season. The other semifinal has fourth-seeded Floral Park taking on eighth-seeded Mineola.
