Mineola Softball Overpowers Lynbrook 11-5

A bit of rain and cool weather couldn’t stop the Mineola varsity softball team from shining Friday afternoon at Lynbrook High School where they faced off with one of their toughest competitors.

Although Lynbrook was able to pick up an early lead, the game ended with a compelling win for the Lady Mustangs as they left the Lady Owls trailing behind 11-5.

“It feels great,” Mineola head coach Melissa Skupp said after team’s victory. “I knew the girls could do it, they are a very talented group.”

Leading Mineola was senior captain Krystie Kern and freshman Valerie Fischer who went 2-for-4 with two triples and three RBI. Kern went 4-for-4 with three RBI.

The score bounced back and forth in the early frames and was knotted at 5-5 by the top of the fifth.

Mineola’s Tracy Reardon was up at bat and opened the inning with a base hit. Her quick speed got her three stolen bases to break the tie and lift the Lady Mustangs to the top of the scoreboard. Following Reardon’s lead, Kathryn Priolo and Adriana McKeever each scored a run to put Mineola ahead 8-5.

Lynbrook was seeking redemption in the last three innings but fell short of their ability, according to head coach Peter Toscano.

“We did not play our best defensive game, and Mineola took advantage of our sloppy plays,” he said. “We need to play better defense and hit in big spots if we want to make a run for the playoffs.”

Hitting big was certainly a challenge for the Lady Owls with Lauren Fischer on the pitching mound for the Lady Mustangs.

“She threw strikes and let our defense do the rest of the work,” Skupp said of Fischer’s game.

Lynbrook may have had some errors, but Toscano said Christina Malcangi and pitcher Rebecca Tisdell gave their all on the field. Malcangi had a bases loaded double to contribute to the team's five run total.

Mineola was able to accumulate three more runs in the final inning, leaving Lynbrook down by six. In their final at-bats, the Lady Owls popped out to Lady Mustang Christina Palmenteri before a final strikeout, just in time before nightfall.

The Lady Mustangs were scheduled to face Jericho Tuesday but the game was rained out. No makeup date has been announced. Their next game is