Kennedy Softball Stays Sizzling Hot With Win Over Uniondale

A day after taking over first place in the conference standings, the Lady Cougars softball team kept on rolling yesterday afternoon.

Hosting Uniondale at Kennedy High School, the Cougars cruised to victory behind a dominating pitching performance by Sam Finkel. The offense did the rest of the work as Kennedy routed the Knights, 13-1.

With the victory, the Cougars (13-2) won their fifth straight game, and their 10th in their last 11 games. It was also the fourth straight game in which they held their opponents to one run or less.

"It was a real team effort which is always great to see," assistant coach Melissa Zakalik said. "We had great pitching and great defense behind her [Finkel]. At the plate everybody waited for their pitch and did whatever they had to for the sake of the team, and that's really what you're looking for."

Finkel, who moved to 8-1 on the year with the victory, allowed just one run on two hits while striking out six batters over six innings of work.

"I think I pitched pretty well today," Finkel said. "I just have to keep my form and keep throwing strikes and let my defense do the rest."

It didn't take long for Kennedy to get on the board. Carly Thea led off the game with a walk and later scored on a single by Gabby Calia. Calia scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead.

The second inning was a big one for Kennedy. Paying homage to Cinco de Mayo, the Cougars put up a five-run inning. Allie Keller led off the inning with a walk, and came around to score on a wild pitch.

The Cougars then scored a run on a heads-up play from Thea. With Erica Meltzer on second base, Thea drew a walk. The ball got away from the catcher, and Thea just never stopped running. She ran past first and made her way to second. The throw from Uniondale got away and Meltzer came around to score all the way from second base.

Thea would eventually score on a wild pitch. After a bunt single by Sarah Siegler, the inning was capped off by two-run homer from Stephanie Bauman to make it 7-0.

"Today we stayed extremely focused which definitely helped us get the win," Siegler said. "We stayed together as a team and that also contributed in a big way."

The Cougars added another run in the third when Thea scored on a wild pitch.

Uniondale (3-12) finally got on the board in the top of the fourth when Siara Lowry hit an RBI fielder's choice to score Paulina Ratley.

In the bottom of the fourth, Keller hit a solo home run to give the Cougars a 9-1 lead.

The Cougars did the rest of their damage in the bottom of the sixth. Finkel scored a run on a wild pitch, and then Calia hit a single that scored Meltzer and Jenna Planet. Brittany Venezia followed with an RBI single to give Kennedy its 13th and final run.

"I think this season has gone really well so far," Meltzer said. "We have a lot to go but hopefully the playoffs are going to be great and I think we're playing really well as a team."

The Cougars are back on the field again today when they travel to MacArthur for a non-league game at 4:30 p.m.