Sports
Jericho Softball Conquers Mineola 14-2
Lady Mustangs fell to conference champ Jericho in final game of 2011 season.
With only prior to their final matchup, the chances of the Mineola varsity softball team closing out the season with a win against a top conference team would be a tough feat for almost anybody.
Heading into the game this past Friday at Jericho High School, the Lady Mustangs’ spot in the playoffs was far out of sight, but it held , who were playing for a share of the Conference A-III title.
The game ended by default in the bottom of the sixth when three more runs bought the Lady Jayhawks to a 12-run lead and a trip to the playoffs as conference champions.
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“We had a lot riding on this game, and we were a little nervous about it,” Jericho head coach Jim Whalen said. “Mineola came out and played really well to start the game, but we came back and hit hard.”
By the top of the fourth, Mineola was already down by four runs. Shannon Maloney came through for Mineola, bringing hope back to the team when she scored on a base hit from Lauren Fischer.
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Jericho’s batters quickly put a stop to Mineola's comeback that same inning.
Together, Lindsay Divack, who went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBI, and Leanne Condon, who went 2-for-4 with one double and four RBI, brought three runners home early in the frame, leaving the Lady Mustangs trailing by six. One more run from the Lady Jayhawks brought the score to 9-2 heading into the fifth.
From the start, Mineola knew Jericho would be tough to beat, and despite their loss, the Lady Mustangs were very pleased with their performance, not only Friday but for the entire season.
“We have much ,” Mineola head coach Melissa Skupp said, crediting the addition of the team’s new assistant coach, Daryl Whitmer, the team’s improvement would never been this great.
“He’s the reason we are physically in shape and the reason our outfielders have been making such amazing catches,” Skupp said. “He has been a tremendous help to us all season.”
With the end of the season also came the end of three valuable players high school careers. Class of 2011 seniors Tracy Reardon, Krystie Kern and Rosanna Nardella .
