Sachem East softball collects 21 hits in victory over Half Hollow Hills
Oliva DeRose, Sachem East pitcher, connects for a single during the top of the second inning of a Suffolk League I softball game against Half Hollow Hills on Monday at Half Hollow Hills West. Credit: James Escher
The Sachem East lineup featured young faces from top (freshman Angelina Cornand) to bottom (freshman Emily Beebe) and at several points in between.
And in the circle, as usual, was a steady senior presence, Olivia DeRose.
It was a winning combination yet again.
Sachem East got four hits and two RBIs apiece from eighth-grader Madison Fisher and freshman Cameron Buckstein, three hits and two RBIs from sophomore Xiomara Llerena and 21 hits overall in its 12-6 victory over host Half Hollow Hills in a Suffolk League I softball game on Monday.
“Today our bats were alive,” said DeRose, who had three hits. She allowed six runs (four earned), seven hits and struck out eight in a complete-game effort that took her to 7-1.
This team has two large tests ahead this week against first-place Riverhead. But Sachem East, coming off an 11-10 season, is averaging 8.6 runs and is 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the league. Its only loss came on April 10, a 1-0 defeat against Half Hollow Hills.
“We’ve come together a lot more this year than we have recently,” coach Amanda Stallone said.
The Sachem East program, now in Class AAA, is seeking its first county title.
“I think it’s possible,” Fisher said. “I think we have a good team this year even though we’re young.”
It was 2-2, and then Sachem East went ahead to stay with two in the third off Lucy Feigenbaum (5-5), who tossed a four-hitter in the first meeting.
Fisher singled with one out, Sam Madigan followed with a single and Buckstein grounded an RBI single through the middle. With two outs, Beebe lined an RBI single into right for a 4-2 lead.
“I think we have a very good lineup,” Fisher said.
Then Fisher, who’s in her first varsity season and plays mostly at third, rocketed a double off the fence in right-center to drive in the first run in a three-run fourth, Feigenbaum’s final inning.
“I’ve had a lot of experience with travel [ball],” Fisher said, explaining her comfort at this level.
Sachem East went up 9-3 on Cornand’s sac fly in the top of the sixth. Half Hollow Hills (7-5, 7-5), which received two hits and an RBI from both Mikaila Correa and Olivia Madrid, scored three in the bottom half. But Sachem East countered with three in the seventh.
“I think we had a little bit of an off day,” Half Hollow Hills co-coach Sal Trovato said. “… I’m confident that we should make the playoffs.”
