Good Strong Lock (NHP#2) vs. The Inn at New Hyde Park (NHP #3)

Good Strong Lock-5-The Inn at New Hyde Park-3

You couldn't image a game like tonight even if you tried. The weather was beautiful and the girls of Good Strong Lock, along with their families, were ready to play some ball. What nobody knew was that it would be the defining game of the season. The girls were focused, motivated and win or lose they were going to play their hardest.

Cara Lynch led off in the top of the first and with a keen eye, drew a walk. She then stole second and with some heads up base running, she was able to score on an overthrow to third, while Marissa Palazzo battled the pitcher, Good Strong led 1-0.

But The Inn at New Hyde Park, who went undefeated in the regular season, came up and scored 3 runs on a fantastic home run by Gina Fornatoro. But after this hit, Good Strong's starting pitcher Sabrina "Son" Santoruvo settled into her groove and would not give up another hit the rest of her time on the mound and would record an amazing 13 strike outs over 5 innings.

Starting off the second, Emily Cornell, Sabrina Santoruvo and Emily Moffa all drew walks. Nicole DeVita came up looking for a pitch to hit. When she didn't get one, she also walked scoring Emily Cornell. After Kayla Cienski and Casey Hayes both had good at bats but couldn't plate any runs, Kirsten Rivers came up next, and boy did she come up big, hitting a single that scored two runs. After the end of 2 innings, Good Strong Lock led 4-3.

Good Strong scored one more run in the third when Jillian "Godjilla" Filippi scored on a single by Emily Cornell. These would be all the runs that Good Strong would need.

Two spectacular catches were made, one by Sabrina Santoruvo off a sharply hit come backer at the pitcher's mound and the other by Jillian Filippi off a dazzling sliding catch at first base.

After a phenomenal pitching performance by Sabrina Santoruvo, Morgan Roth came in to pitch in the sixth with runners on the corners and no outs. But she was up for the challenge. After walking the first batter and with a full count on the next batter and top of their order waiting on deck, everyone on the Good Strong side was holding their breath waiting for the pitch that could end the game - and Morgan Roth did not disappoint! Under all that pressure, she threw a perfect pitch that was called strike three by the Umpire. Good Strong Lock had done the impossible!

We would like to thank all the girls from The Inn at New Hyde Park for an incredible game. All the girls played awesome and showed great sportsmanship. They never let down and kept us on our toes all night long. Special mention to Gina Fornatoro and Jillian Sakowich for some fierce pitching.

Our congratulations goes to our wonderful Manager, Jim Cornell, Coaches Howard Roth & Joan Filippi and Team Mom Lilly Cornell whose support and leadership gave our girls the confidence and ability to get out on the field and prove that Good Strong Lock is #1. Games like tonight are what stay with you forever.