Hauppauge Softball Upsets Kings Park in 2-0 Victory

The Hauppauge Lady Eagles softball team upset league champions Kings Park, 2-0, Thursday evening. It was a classic pitcher's duel that came to an end in the bottom of the sixth inning when the Lady Eagles caught the Lady Kingsmen in a squeeze. Kings Park will take the League V title as both teams begin to prepare for the playoffs.

Score: Hauppauge 2, Kings Park 0

Record: Hauppauge 14-4, Kings Park 17-2 in League V

The Hero: Hauppauge senior pitcher Nicole Ehlinger and Kings Park pitcher Lindsay Taylor lockded the two teams in a pitcher's duel that seemed destined for extra innings as batter after batter struck out.

Ehlinger pitched 10 strikeouts and allowed no walks. Taylor pitched more than five strikeouts and walked five.

Neither team was able to get a runner to home until the bottom of the sixth inning.

Hauppauge's lead off hitter senior Kayla Conover grounded a single to first, giving the Lady Eagles their first hit of the game. She was replaced by pinch runner Ashley Caiola. Ehlinger made a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner into scoring position. 

Hauppauge junior Sandy Hawthorne delivered when she hit a run-scoring double before taking third base on a throwing error by Kings Park. This allowed Hauppauge to earn the first run of the game, taking a 1-0 lead over the Lady Kingsmen.

Senior Devan Valoruso stepped up to bunt, allowing Hawthorne to slide into home to put Hauppauge ahead 2-0.

Turning Point: "It's pretty usual when we play each other that it comes down to the bitter end," said Kings Park assistant coach Andy Taylor. "It was a team effort. They just got two hits, that happened to be back to back."

Kings Parks had two runners they stranded on base, one in the third inning and one in the fourth, which would have tied the game at 2.

Quote: "We faced one of the best pitchers in Suffolk County. It was a classic pitcher's duel," said Hauppauge coach Jim McGowan.

The Bottom Line: Kings Park had a comfortable 17-1 lead in League V heading into the matchup, and will hold onto first place for the league title. The Hauppauge Eagles will finish in second place. The teams will go their separate ways in the playoffs, as Hauppauge qualifies as a Class A and Kings Park heads into the Class B championship.

Key Stat: Winning pitcher Nicole Ehlinger had 10 strikeouts and no walks for a shutout on Thursday.

Check Patch next week as we continue our coverage of the varsity softball teams as they advance into the playoffs.