New Hyde Park Softball Beats Clarke, 4-0

The beat host Clarke on Tuesday with a score of 4-0.

The Clarke Rams (5-8, 3-7) only mustered three hits against New Hyde Park's (8-6, 5-5) pitching, but they continually squandered opportunities, which was evidenced by them leaving a whopping 11 runners on base.

"We just couldn't get the big hit," Clarke Coach Chrissy DeMott said. "We came out flat, and even though we had chances, we couldn't get it done."

The Gladiators, on the other hand, wasted no time cashing in. After a lead-off double by Briana Kreshack, Clarke's Nicole Randazzo retired the next two batters. Then, Amanda Turner looped a liner over the third base bag to drive in the game's first run, and Kristen Hickey followed with a double to score Turner.

"We did well early in the game," New Hyde Park Coach Jackie Rizzuti said. "We were able to take advantage of some chances."

New Hyde Park's Lisa O'Callaghan created an insurance run of her own in the third after getting hit by a pitch. O'Callaghan stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Hickey drove in O'Callaghan in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to put the game on ice.

One bright spot for Clarke was the pitching of Sara Cornell, who is a seventh grader playing on the varsity level. Cornell pitched four innings of relief, and she allowed one run on one hit. She also struck out nine in the effort.

"My pitches were working," Cornell said. "I think I did really well."

For New Hyde Park, Jessica Vadala got her first start of the season, and although she allowed many runners to reach base, she was pleased with her ability to make the big pitch.

"I was happy they weren't able to score," she said. "It was big for me to keep them from coming back."

Clarke returns to action on Wednesday when they visit Island Trees, and New Hyde Park returns home on Wednesday against Sewanhaka.