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Sports

Schreiber Softball Wins Close One on Senior Day

Lady Vikings hold on for win against Freeport behind ace Danielle Leibowitz.

The Schreiber Lady Vikings (8-8 AA-IV, 9-8 overall) made it interesting Thursday afternoon, but held on for the 5-4 victory against Freeport on Senior Day.

The Vikings scored runs in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings to jump out to a 5-0 lead, and it was the team's seniors who led the way all afternoon.

Senior Maria Gardella scored on a wild pitch in the second to give the Vikes a 1-0 lead. As the game moved on, seniors Emma Horowitz and Christina Mouradian, as well as freshman Sara Marinelli, drove in the other four runs for Schreiber.

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"It's exactly what you want," coach Eric Sutz said of his seniors. "It's what you want for them."

Senior Danielle Leibowitz, who missed all of last season following elbow surgery on her non-throwing arm, pitched a complete game and held the Red Devils scoreless through the first five innings. She also retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced.

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"She's been great," Sutz said of his ace. "We missed her so much last year when she was out with the injury. Forget just the pitching aspect, but just who she is and what she brings to the team."

Leibowitz ran into some trouble in the top of the fourth, but kept her composure to work out of a one-out, bases loaded jam. She allowed two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh, but got the last batter of the game to pop out with the bases loaded, rounding out a picture-perfect afternoon for the Schreiber seniors.

"The fact that she worked hard to get back and then to be able to go out there on Senior Day, battle through those last two innings, it was amazing," Sutz added about his pitcher. "She was getting a little tired, but she battled. I'm so proud of her. I feel so good for her."

The Vikings can finish with a share of first place in Conference IV if they win their game against Great Neck South on Friday, but still won't qualify for the playoffs because of an unusual rule: Conference IV teams must win their conference, as well as 88 percent of their games, to qualify for the playoffs.

Regardless, the Vikings are finishing strong and Thursday's festivities prove their dedication to one another.

"For them to walk away after four years of playing softball, you want them to walk away knowing they did the best they can and that they were rewarded for that effort and all the time and energy and hours and blood and guts they put in," Sutz said. "They should know that work is for something."

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