Led by sophomore catcher Delaney Mathes and junior pitcher Danielle Brennan, Sachem North is ready to make some noise in the postseason.
Mathes went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs and Brennan struck out seven and allowed two runs on five hits in a complete game as visiting Sachem North defeated Connetquot, 11-2, in Suffolk League II softball on Friday.
It's Sachem North's 15th win of the season, marking the program's most regular season wins, according to coach Ken Sasso.
Both of Mathes' doubles were scorched to left-centerfield. The lefty drove in Brooke Giordano in a four-run first inning and plated Marissa Mazzone in the sixth.
"I don't really have an approach when I step in the box. I'm just like, 'Alright, lets go,' " Mathes said. "I'm definitely stronger hitting oppo. It's just easier for me to hit that way. Especially, when they give me that outside pitch, I'll drive it that way."
North led 4-1 entering the bottom of the third before a two-out home run by Julianna Daina cut Connetquot's deficit to two runs. Brennan soon found herself pitching with the bases loaded, but induced a pop-out to shortstop Isabella Kriklava to escape the inning with the lead.
"She has really great spin and really good spin pitches, so it's really effective when she's in the circle," Mathes said. "(Daina) hit a great home run, but Dani was fine the next pitch. It's very easy for her to keep calm in those situations, even when the bases are loaded."
In the fifth, Alexi Dutka lined a two-out bases-clearing double to left-centerfield to give North a 7-2 lead. Camryn Russo followed with a single to plate Dutka.
"I just knew I had to get a hit there. With two outs and the game was still so close, I just wanted to come through," Dutka said. "I was very happy. I saw Dani screaming and cheering, it made me feel good."
Addison Devery went 2-for-2 with a triple, double and a run for Connetquot (12-6, 12-6).
Hayley Moore went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, Mazzone went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs and Shannon Forgione went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for North (15-4, 15-3).
North won its fourth league title in five years and will be a top contender in the Suffolk Class AAA playoffs, beginning on Tuesday.
"I'm a good level of nervous, but I'm very excited," Brennan said. "The other teams are all really good, but obviously, we've proven that we're very good, too."