Laird's Grand Slam Leads Jets Past Generals

It was an offensive dog fight, but the East Meadow Jets (5-1, 5-1) had just enough bite to defeat the Generals (4-2, 3-2) at MacArthur High School Thursday by the score of 10-9.

The Jets got on the board in the opening frame, as a MacArthur error prolonged the inning and Taylor Conti drove in a run with a single. Madison West added an RBI single as well, and the Jets were up 2-0.

"We had some meltdowns in the field, and it didn't help," MacArthur Coach Bobby Fehrenbach said. "In a 10-9 game, it could have been 9-7 us."

East Meadow got some breathing room in the second as two singles and a botched fielder's choice loaded the bases for Jamie Laird, who, after being behind 0-2 in the count, launched a grand slam over the left field fence to give East Meadow a 6-2 lead.

"I got a good pitch to hit," Laird said. "I definitely didn't expect that, but I am happy I was able to come through."

MacArthur wouldn't go quietly though, as they added two of their own in the second on a two-run inside the park homer by Jena Cozza.

"I'm happy I was able to help the team," Cozza said. "Next time, we are going to get them."

After a quiet third, the scoring resumed in the fourth when Emma McKillop doubled in Laird to increase the Jets' lead to 7-3, but once again, the Generals had a response. After having two out and nobody on, MacArthur strung together four straight singles to plate three runs. Emily Lyons and Kate McNamara got credit for the RBIs, and the score was 7-6.

"They kept on fighting," Fehrenbach said. "I am proud of the way we played offensively."

The key for East Meadow was resiliency, because as MacArthur pulled closer, they always seemed to have an answer. In the fifth, East Meadow took advantage of some suspect MacArthur defense and plated two runs, and in the sixth, Danielle Cutili tripled in a runner to give the Jets a 10-6 lead.

"We thought it was safe there," Laird said. "But they almost came back."

MacArthur scored two in the bottom half of the sixth on a two-run single from McNamara, and in the seventh, the Generals got a two-out RBI single from Cozza, but Kristen Brown grounded out to end it.

"Who would have thought it would be such a high scoring game?" said East Meadow Coach Cindy McCarthy. "In a game where so many runs were scored, it turns out defense was probably the difference."

Briana Lombardo pitched a complete game for MacArthur, allowing 10 runs, 11 hits, walking three and striking out two in the effort. For East Meadow, Amanda Carlin got the start, and she allowed six runs on 10 hits while walking one and striking out two in her five innings. In relief, Kerri Shapiro allowed three runs on three hits while walking three and striking out three in her two innings in relief.

The win is the fourth straight for East Meadow, and MacArthur had now lost two of its last three games. The Jets return to action when they visit Mepham at 4:45 p.m. on Monday, and the Generals host Farmingdale on Monday at 4:30 p.m.