By ANDREW McCLURE
The Rams pulled out just two games the rest of the way to finish a disappointing 6-14.
Despite the difficult season, Van Kovics is confident the program’s future is bright. “It was an up and down year, but I think we have some interesting times ahead of us,” Van Kovics said. “We were just consistently inconsistent. When we hit, we couldn’t defend. When we kept the opponent from scoring, we couldn’t get the timely hit. We seemed to get hurt by one bad inning in each game either at the plate or in the field.”
The go-to girl this spring for West Hempstead was pitcher Jenny Johansen. Time and time again, the Rams needed a big effort from Johansen and she rarely disappointed. Johansen struck out six while allowing three hits in a 7-1 victory over Lynbrook on May 6. The senior right hander registered her only shutout of the season when the Rams blanked Wheatley, 12-0, last month. In that contest, Johansen helped herself at the plate with a pair of hits, a couple of runs scored, and had two RBI.
During his tenure at West Hempstead, Van Kovics has always been blessed with solid performers behind the plate. Replacing Kristyn Sandberg, a four-time All-County player who is having an outstanding freshman season for the nationally-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, would be a challenge for the Rams, but Van Kovics found a gem in Michelle Zur. The sophomore backstop improved more than any other player on the roster. By the middle of the season, Zur was calling her own game. Her defense behind the plate and her ability to throw runners out improved immeasurably. Zur’s highlight at the plate came when she smacked a three-run double to lead the Rams to an 8-6 win over Roslyn.
Another young player on the rise is shortstop Danielle Bolognini. Starting as a freshman in the middle of the infield at the varsity level was a challenge, but Bolognini came along nicely. Senior co-captain Jacey Cordeiro, a versatile infielder, and Bolongini each had big hits in the victory over Lynbrook.
Van Kovics, who is assisted by Michelle Lambo, loses much of his roster to graduation, but believes the Rams are on solid footing in terms of the makeup of the program. “We had about 35 girls in the program this season,” Van Kovics said. “The numbers are strong and the interest-level is high. If the girls play summer ball and continue to work on their skills, the future looks pretty good for us.”
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