Sports

No-No Better Way To Start a Softball Career

Eighth-grader Alex Caprariello throws no-hitter in her first varsity softball start.

Eighth-grader Alex Caprariello had never started a varsity game before. When she stepped out onto the mound on Tuesday, her varsity career consisted of just two relief appearances.

Following her performance on the road against Hempstead, expectations couldn't be higher for the first-year varsity pitcher.

Caprariello threw five innings on no-hit ball in the team's 22-0 win. She faced 19 batters, striking out 12 and walking just two. The young gun also helped herself at the plate going 2-for-2 with four runs scored and an RBI.

"It felt really good and its really a self confidence booster," Caprariello said. "I try to improve every game and even though I did pretty well today, tomorrow I will have even more effort."

Coach Eric Sutz was proud of his pitcher as well her battery-mate, catcher Jenna Lipman, who was also starting for the first time on varsity.

"Alex was strong and confident in her first varsity start with her battery-mate, Jenna Lipman, also making her first varsity start," Sutz said. "They did a good job of throwing strikes and forcing Hempstead to swing the bat. I was definitely impressed with the poise demonstrated by both Alex and Jenna."

But it wasn't all the pitching on Tuesday. Senior Maria Gardella went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a walk. Gardella also stole three bases on the afternoon. Freshman Sara Marinelli added five runs scored and two stolen bases. Junior Aimee Stern went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI while Lipman went 1-for-1 with three walks and three runs scored.

"It was another important league win for us," Sutz said. "We jumped on them early with nine runs in the first inning with five of our 10 hits. We battted around that first inning and everyone contributed with a hit, walk or sacrifice. After that we, tacked runs on in the third and fourth."

There won't be any time to rest for the Lady Vikings as they take on Freeport in another important league game on Wednesday at home.


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