Marte Fans Nine in Big Red Softball Win

Behind junior Kim Marte's nine strikeouts, Glen Cove High's softball team held off a late rally by Wheatley Tuesday to win 8-5. The victory gives Big Red a 5-1 record — more wins than it had all of last season.

Marte allowed just three earned runs over a full seven innings of work in the circle. Two Wheatley runners scored on passed balls, but as Glen Cove's lead shrank late in the game, it didn't faze Marte.

"I don't really get nervous. I'm not really intimidated at all," Marte said. "We definitely took them for granted. We didn't think they'd be that tough."

After giving up a run in the first inning, Marte said she settled down and locked in with very good control and without tiring.

"She never got frazzled and kept playing her game," Glen Cove coach Valerie Amilicia said.

Wheatley (1-5) scored its five runs on just four hits and a walk, but cashed in three stolen bases for a pair of runs.

"They did a good job not throwing it around and making it worse," Amilicia said after the game.

Big Red got a big boost from freshman Briana Leon, who began Glen Cove's day with a two-run double in the first inning. Leon added another RBI double, and finished 3-for-4 on the afternoon.

"She's coming along really well," Amilicia said. "Briana is getting a little more confident at the plate."

Glen Cove broke open the contest in the fifth inning as it extended its lead from 3-1 to 7-1, giving Marte some much appreciated breathing room in the circle.

Catcher Hailey Langone started the hit parade with a single, and came around to score on a sacrifice groundout by Taylor Martinez. Melissa Scharer drew a walk, and scored on a drilled double by Marte. Marte scored on a hard hit single by Ashley Conklin.

The junior first baseman finished the game 3-for-4 with a run scored.

"We hit at the plate and put pressure on them in every inning," Amilicia said.

Glen Cove also tacked on another insurance run in the sixth inning. Langone reached again with a single — she finished 4-for-4 — and she again came around to score, but this time on a double by Leon.

Big Red will head to Hewlett tomorrow to try for win number six, a very different feeling from a season ago.

"This is just so exciting," Marte said.