ToniAnn Adamo puts it all together to lift Hicksville softball

Hicksville starting pitcher ToniAnn Adamo delivers a pitch against Bellmore JFK in a Nassau Conference II high school softball game, Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at Hicksville. Credit: George A Faella
ToniAnn Adamo got off to a shaky start on the mound, but adjustments and a positive attitude helped her right the ship.
Hicksville defeated Bellmore JFK, 5-2,, on Tuesday night at Hicksville in Nassau Conference II softball. Adamo pitched a complete game and hit a double that scored two runs.
“It’s a lot of pressure when they get on, but I knew I had to adjust,” Adamo said. “I had to hit my spots, just go through all my pitches.”
Bellmore JFK jumped out to a lead quickly. Olivia Toto led off the game with a bunt single and Gianna Costaro hit a booming double to drive Toto home and give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Costaro finished 2-for-3 with two doubles.
After Costaro took third on a wild pitch the complexion of the game shifted. Hicksville leftfielder Heather Mane caught a fly ball for the second out and fired a strike home to get Costaro out at the plate.
“I got scared for a moment because I thought she was safe,” Mane said with a laugh. “I just got behind the ball and threw it as hard as I could.”
Adamo walked three in the second but an out of turn batter fizzled the Cougars rally. The Hicksville bats woke up in the third inning when Gabby Smith hit a RBI triple to drive in Angelina Avila and tie the score. Ashley Pierce then hit a single to drive in Smith and give Hicksville a 2-1 lead.
Adamo broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning when she hit a two-RBI double down the rightfield line off Bellmore JFK starter Sami Levine. That gave Hicksville a 4-1 lead and much needed breathing room.
“I knew I was hitting it too early, so I waited and ripped it down the line,” Adamo said. “I’m a puller, so usually I’m going to left.
Bellmore JFK got a run back in the top of the sixth when Levine’s squeeze bunt scored Toto. Hicksville (5-2) responded in the bottom half of the inning when Avila’s groundout drove in a run.
Adamo took the mound in the seventh and retired the Cougars in order to finish off the complete\-game victory.
“Toni started off having a tough time hitting spots,” Hicksville coach Rich Hinnerschietz said. “When she settled in and started to hit spots, they had a tough time putting a good bat on the ball.”