Glen Cove Softball's Big Inning Leads to Win

Facing a familiar foe in the start of the seventh inning Thursday evening, Glen Cove pitcher Kim Marte didn't wear her smile like she usually does to the pitcher's circle.

Who could blame her? Garden City's Samantha Trapasso had roped two hard doubles off Marte earlier in the game.

But, this time Marte's flame throwing got the best of Trapasso, as the Trojan power hitter flew out to left fielder Carina Zupa.

"I tried to jam her and I guess it kind of worked because Carina caught it, but we didn't know if we should intentionally walk her or what," said Marte. The junior pitcher finished with seven strikeouts, and gave up three earned runs on nine hits.

That one big out put Marte at ease for the rest of the seventh, returned a smile to her face and helped Glen Cove pick up the 9-4 win.

This win, however, didn't come easy for Big Red. Up 5-2 in the top of the sixth, a couple costly errors slimmed the team's lead down to just one. 

"I got tired at the end and - my hitting, I went 0-for4, so that got in my head a lot," Marte said. "But I had faith in us. I knew we could get through it."

Glen Cove picked up some big insurance runs in the bottom half as with two outs, the Big Red loaded the base and began its hit parade. Four hits and two walks drove in four more runs to put Glen Cove up for good.

"We were on point, and we had our bats going," said sophomore Nicole Alexander. "I think we did a great job."

Big Red loaded the bases with no one out in the third, but grounded into two force-outs at home and a pop-up to end the inning.

"It was frustrating when we didn't score, but they made up for it," coach Valerie Amilicia said.

Freshmen Kayla Morrissey and Carina Zupa both hit two-run homers to lead Glen Cove offensively. Ashley Conklin added a pair of RBI sacrifice flies, and Briana Leon hit a two-run single in that big sixth inning.

The regular season finale, played at City Stadium under the lights and in front of a 100-plus fans, had the team hyped from the start, Amilicia said.

"But they didn't look rattled at all," Amilicia said. "[For me] it was nerve-racking and exciting."

With North Shore and Glen Cove tied for the top spot in Conference III at 13-3, and Wantagh at 12-3 with a game left, whether the Big Red will make the playoffs is still in question.

Glen Cove beat North Shore twice this season, but lost to Wantagh twice. And, to top it off, North Shore beat Wantagh twice. Amilicia said only the top team is guaranteed to get in, although more from the conference could.

The playoff committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, and that's when the brackets will be announced.

"Hopefully we'll get in the playoffs, I know it is close though," Marte said.

More Patch Coverage

Check out Patch's photos of Big Red in action during a recent away game against Hewlett. Glen Cove won 10-2.