Rams Softball Loses Heart-Breaker to Lynbrook

After an incredible start to Monday's match-up, the West Hempstead's varsity softball team allowed the Lynbrook Owls to soar past them in the final innings to overtake the lead and win the game, 15-12.

Things were looking good for the Lady Rams softball team for most of the game. West Hempstead was up 8-4 going into the bottom of the fifth inning against last season's conference 5-AA champions.

"Our offense was really clicking in the first few innings," said head coach, Chris Van Kovics. "Unfortunately our pitching and defense fell apart in the last few innings."

Junior pitcher Paige Bettineschi had a difficult time in the bottom of the fifth inning as the home team knocked off 11 runs to take a 15-8 lead.

The Lady Rams also committed three costly fielding errors that turned the game in Lynbrook's favor.

"I told them that just because you have a big lead you cannot take the other team for granted," said Van Kovics. "You still have to keep playing hard throughout the whole game."

The Lady Rams made a small comeback in the top of the sixth scoring four runs to cut the Lady Owls lead to 15-12. They also made things interesting in the top of the seventh, getting runners Bettineschi and Laura Boehm on second and third before striking out to end the inning.

Bettineschi had the play of the game hitting a deep centerfield, in-the-park home run to bring the score to 8-1 in the top of the third.

The Lady Rams are now 0-2 in league play, after losing to Jericho High School , 6-1, on Wednesday.