Clarke softball keeps producing offensively in win over Farmingdale
From left, Clarke's Leila Thakkar, Emily Diaz and Kate Walsh celebrate a win over Farmingdale in a Nassau Conference II softball game at Clarke on Tuesday. Credit: Brittney Dietz
Clarke’s offense was on display early and often as the Rams put double-digit runs up across the first two innings for the second straight day.
Clarke defeated visiting Farmingdale, 12-0, in five innings at Joan Case Field in Nassau II softball on Tuesday. The Rams have scored 36 runs over their past two games.
Olivia Giardino and Leila Thakkar hit back-to-back RBI doubles with two outs in the first inning for Clarke. Emily Diaz followed with a single to give the Rams a 3-0 advantage.
“We’re always in support of each other,” Thakkar said. “If someone makes a mistake in the field or strikes out, we’re always ready to pick that person up. That mentality helps us keep going.”
Analinda Moran homered to centerfield, driving in Kaylee Ng to put Clarke ahead 5-0 in the second. Clarke scored five more runs in the inning with two coming home on Giardino’s double, Diaz’s single, an error and Ng’s sacrifice fly.
“I’m just working to stay with the ball. Not trying to hit home runs, but just line drives,” Moran said. “If I do that, then the ball will find spots to land.”
Clarke (4-1) got a run on an error in the fourth and another on Giardino’s bases-loaded walk in the fifth to make it 12-0.
“It’s a great feeling as a coach knowing that everyone, one through nine, can do damage,” Clarke coach Alex Abanavas said. “It makes it easier on our pitching as well, knowing they’ll have some runs to back them up.”
Clarke made strong defensive plays to keep the shutout intact in multiple innings. Gabriela Vetere hit a single off the fence in leftfield in the third inning and tried to stretch it into a double, but Giardino fired a throw into second for the out. Vetere had two hits for Farmingdale (0-3).
Pitcher Kate Welsh caught a line drive right back to her to end the fourth inning and retire her fifth straight batter. Thakkar made a leaping grab in the fifth with the bases loaded to end the game.
Thakkar went 6-for-8 with six RBIs and a home run over the last two games. Giardino picked up five hits and five RBIs over the same stretch.
“Whatever came my way, I knew I had to make the play to end it,” Thakkar said. “I jumped and hoped it would be in my glove. I kind of snow-coned it.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
