It was a long day at the ballpark for East Meadow fans at game two of the Nassau County Class AA championship series at the Mitchel Athletic Complex Thursday, but the Jets were able to prevail in a wild nine-inning win, 3-2.
The MacArthur Lady Generals, who of the series, were up by a score of 2-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
Things were looking bleak for the Jets, but all of that changed in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two runners on base, Madison West stepped up to the plate. The sophomore, who has been clutch all season long, knocked in a single off MacArthur pitcher Kristen Brown to score two runs and tie the game.
"We weren't hitting all game and that turned out to be a big inning for us," said East Meadow Coach Stewart Fritz. "We were able to get production out of our key players when things got tight."
The game was not over though as both teams battled into extra innings. MacArthur's star pitcher Kristen Brown got to second in the top of the eighth, but East Meadow was able to get out of the jam. In the top of the ninth, MacArthur would get on base again but the Jets' pitcher Kerri Shapiro came through in the clutch. She allowed two hits, three walks and one earned run in the game.
The bottom of the ninth belonged to East Meadow.
Junior first baseman, Dina LaRosa got things started with a single up the middle. She then got to second on a fielding error from MacArthur. Madison West than singled to move LaRosa to third. With the sky getting darker and a light drizzle beginning to form, sophomore outfielder Claire Travis stepped to the plate. On Brown's third pitch, Travis stiffened her bat letting the ball dribble up the field. LaRosa took advantage. She bolted for home base and slid in safely as the ball whizzed past the catcher's glove giving the Jets the 3-2 win.
"Claire did what she had to do with that bunt," said LaRosa. "It was effective but it was up to me to make that quick dash towards home plate when she laid it out. I know that once I'm on base I have to concentrate on everything going on around me."
MacArthur Coach Bobby Fehrenbach was not happy that his team let a sure victory slip away.
"We had two big runs in the first but we didn't threaten after that," he said. "We didn't give ourselves anymore opportunities to score. Now we have to fight it out in a third and final game."
That final and decisive game to decide the Class AA County Championship will be at Mitchel Field at 11a.m. on Saturday.
Who do you think will win the decisive game three? Tell us in the comments.
