Lynbrook's Bianca LoBosco, Valley Stream North's Tiffany Melendez crushing expectations in Nassau softball
Bianca LoBosco of Lynbrook, left, and Tiffany Melendez of Valley Stream North prior to a game on Saturday at Lynbrook. Credit: Dawn McCormick
In the landscape of Nassau softball, ability-based power conferences can sometimes cloud the perception of elite talent. Despite the presumption that teams in lower-ranked conferences don't have high-caliber athletes, Lynbrook and Valley Stream North crush that notion. More specifically, Bianca LoBosco and Tiffany Melendez do the crushing.
LoBosco, a power-hitting senior catcher with a strong arm behind the plate, led Lynbrook to a first-place finish in Conference V last season after hitting .618 with a .681 OBP, 2.045 OPS, eight home runs and 45 RBIs.
“Sometimes it seems like the focus is always on Conference I or II," LoBosco said. “We do get overlooked a bit, but there are some really good players in these conferences.”
Melendez is one of them. Primarily a slap hitter, the junior is more than capable of driving the ball. The centerfielder, who was the Conference IV player of the year last season, hit .692 with a 1.735 OPS, 38 runs scored and 27 stolen bases.
“She’s one of the most athletic girls I’ve ever come across,” Valley Stream North coach Dan Tronolone said. “She’s a smooth player who can track down any ball hit her way. She’s a slap hitter, but she can hit for power now too and to all fields.”
D-I dreams come true
LoBosco is a three-time all-county recipient with a program-record 23 career home runs. Division I programs took notice of her impressive play and she committed to St. John’s.
“I started playing softball young, so it was always a dream to play D-I,” LoBosco said. “When I traveled to Rhode Island and started playing with those girls, they’re all so talented, going to D-I schools, so I started to feel that I could do this. My dream could come true.”
Two seasons ago, LoBosco hit .375 with a 1.239 OPS and four home runs. Peter Toscano, who retired at the end of last season after 20 years coaching Lynbrook, saw LoBosco’s promise from the start.
“When you saw her playing even in eighth grade, you knew she was going to be playing somewhere in college,” Toscano said. “In my 20 years, I’ve only coached one other kid who could hit like her. The pure power she had, you always knew it could translate to being a D-I player.”
Melendez, a two-time all-county recipient, is already committed to play at Seton Hall.
“I always dreamed of playing D-I, but I think last year is when everything clicked,” she said. “I realized it was something I was certainly capable of and the hard work would pay off.”
Tiffany Melendez of Valley Stream North, left, and Bianca LoBosco of Lynbrook prior to a game on Saturday at Lynbrook. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Mutual respect
Behind the plate, one player LoBosco is always keyed in on is Melendez. In a loss to Lynbrook last season, Melendez led off with a home run. LoBosco had an RBI single in the win and threw out a runner attempting to steal third.
“I’m always in a secondary stance with her, checking in on her and keeping an eye out,” LoBosco said. “Always ready to throw when she’s on base, she has a ton of speed.”
In Valley Stream North's playoff loss last season against eventual county champion Seaford, a Conference II team, Melendez went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base.
“She’s terrifying to go against, she can hit and the speed is phenomenal,” Toscano said. “She looks like she’s halfway down the line before the ball hits the ground. In center, you don’t want to hit it to her, she has a cannon.”
Melendez and Valley Stream North have respect for LoBosco's game, too.
“She’s a great hitter and in center, I’m 100% focused, because she’s hitting a lot of balls in the gap," Melendez said. "When I’m looking to steal, I have to be extra careful, because she’s a great catcher with a strong arm.”
Over the past two seasons, Lynbrook has faced Valley Stream North three times, with Lynbrook picking up two wins. Two years ago, in a 10-9 Lynbrook win, LoBosco went 2-for-4 with a home run and scored the winning run.
“When we played two years ago, she absolutely crushed a home run. She has a ton of power and I tell the outfield to play as far back as possible,” Tronolone said. “She’s got an incredible arm, even if you’re taking a normal lead she’ll throw behind you. You can’t really run on her unless the ball goes to the backstop and sometimes not even in that situation.”
Twice as nice
With Valley Stream North and Lynbrook playing in Conference V this season, LoBosco and Melendez will face off twice in must-see action. Saturday was the first matchup, with Lynbrook earning a 13-12, walk-off victory. LoBosco had three hits, including a double and three RBIs. Melendez hit a double, drew two walks and scored three runs.
“Being in the lower conferences, we definitely get overlooked,” Melendez said. “People can say the players or teams in the top conferences are better, but there are great players in our conference.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.