The Carle Place JV softball team was recently defeated by Glen Cove 18-5. Glen Cove’s cleanup hitter, Maria Kirsch had a tremendous game, going 4-for-5 with a walk and eight RBI. On two occasions she came to the plate with bases loaded and drove in all three runs with an extra base hit.
The Frogs were in the game for the first two innings. They were able to score two runs in the first innings, thanks to discipline at the plate and nice hitting from Kailee Pagnotta and Gina Pascarella. They put together three runs in the first two innings.
They were unable to, however, keep the score close. Pagnotta, the ace of the team, was unable to pitch due to an injured arm. In her absence, freshman Alyssa Mifsud, took the mound but struggled with control. Mifsud was able to strike out four batters, but hit eight batters and they all came around to score runs.
“She’s very fresh,” said head Coach Allison Russo of Mifsud. “She’s raw and needs work, but win or lose we need her to learn to pitch.” She noted that there is a chance Pagnotta will be moved up to varsity and they will need an experienced pitcher to fill that void.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Frogs did get a multiple-hit game from Emily Cotter and Pagnotta.
Russo stated that the team generally plays better in the warm weather, which they did last season and it boosted them to a record of better than .500 in 2013. Now in her seventh season as Head Coach, Russo would like the team to be more consistent.
“It honestly depends on the day,” she said in regards to what the team needs to work on. “Some days we pitch and don’t hit, sometimes it’s the other way around,” she added.
The Frogs are a young team, and they will continue working on the fundamentals in order to prepare themselves for the varsity level.
