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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. Toni Moricone did not allow herself to get nervous, even after falling behind in the count. The White Plains High senior took two strikes on the first three pitches from Sleepy Hollow High pitcher Jamie Bucci. And four pitches later, she delivered a huge hit.
Moricone's two-run single with two outs ignited a seven-run rally as White Plains defeated visiting Sleepy Hollow, 10-3, in a nonleague softball game Thursday.
Melissa Iarocci and Danielle Sputo each belted two-run homers during the eruption. Sputo also struck out 12 and allowed four hits in earning her first varsity win.
Bucci secured the first two outs of the sixth inning before a walk to Austin Bogart and single by Lina Colucci put runners on second and third. After falling behind, Moricone worked it to a full count before dropping a ball into shallow right field for a two-run single, breaking a 3-3 tie. It was Moricone's second hit of the game.
"I was looking to protect the plate," Moricone said of the 3-2 pitch. "I thought she was either going to throw it right down the middle or on the outside part of the plate. If she put it outside, I was going to take it to right field.
"It was definitely big to get this win. Coming out and getting seven runs in the sixth inning got us out of our little slump."
In the top of the seventh, Moricone turned a double play, charging in from right field to snare a line drive and double up the base runner at first.
Bucci had a hit and an RBI for Sleepy Hollow (0-2), which had a 3-1 lead in the top of the third before White Plains evened the score with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
"We played a lot better than we did in our first game, and I thought Jamie pitched great," Sleepy Hollow coach Tony Milewski said. "We will continue to keep getting better, and I think we will have a real good season."
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