Farmingdale Softball Wins Championship Opener over East Meadow

The East Meadow softball team made a late inning charge, but Farmingdale held on for a 3-1 win in the opening game of a best-of-three series for the Nassau County Class AA Championship.

Pitcher Isabella Corrao led the second-seeded Dalers (12-5) to the win over the fourth-seeded Jets (10-7) with a complete game four-hitter, while giving up just one earned run and striking out 10 batters. Kerri Shapiro gave up three earned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts in the loss for East Meadow. 

Just as Farmingdale did in their semifinal match-up with Massapequa, they started out with a strong first inning to jump out to an early lead. Kerri Ossenfort hit a two-run single off of Shapiro followed by another run on a groundout to give the Dalers a 3-0 lead.

After Samantha Miller hit a leadoff single to start the game for East Meadow, they did not record a hit for the next two innings. In the top of the fourth inning, the Jets found their first opportunity with the bases loaded, but could not manage to get on the board off of Corrao.

Shapiro did not allow a hit for four consecutive innings after the big first inning for Farmingdale to keep East Meadow within striking distance of the lead. In the top of the sixth, Madison West hit a single to score Taylor Conti to cut the lead to 3-1.

In the following inning, East Meadow put the pressure on Farmingdale after consecutive hits by Miller and Danielle Cutuli with no outs. After a long fly out by Jamie Laird, Miller tagged up to third base, but the call was appealed as she was eventually called out for leaving the base too early.

A groundball down the first base line hit by Conti ended the run for East Meadow and handed Farmingdale a series lead.

Heroes: Kerri Ossenfort collected the big hit early on that proved to be the difference in a close game one of the championship series.

Turning Point: East Meadow had a prime opportunity in the final inning, but the overturned call on the sacrifice fly play diminished their chances of a comeback.

Quotable: “We started off strong and were batting the way we have been for the last few games. We buckled down on the end and played great defense to hold on for the win,” Farmingdale head coach Brandon Oppenheim said. “We know that they have the potential to make a comeback, so we have to stay focused for the entire game.”

“The call in the end changed the momentum, which seemed to be in our favor at that point. It was a game changer,” East Meadow head coach Cindy McCarthy said. “It was also that first inning where we had a few missed plays that led to the three runs. We will come back and keep hitting the ball the way we did and keep getting good contact.”

Bottom Line: Farmingdale has now won seven of their last eight games including the playoffs after their win over East Meadow. The Dalers now lead the season series over the Jets, 2-1, and can claim the Class AA title with one more win.

Key Stat: Farmingdale has now scored nine runs combined in the first inning of their last two playoffs games this year.

Who’s Next: East Meadow vs. Farmingdale (Mitchel Athletic Complex), May 24, 4 p.m.

Box Score:

WP: I.Corrao (F)

LP: K.Shapiro (EM)