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John Jay-EF softball reaches AA semis
Ed Diller
WICCOPEE, N.Y. – They are like a seasoned group of professionals, even though they’re really high school kids with ribbons in their hair.
The John Jay-East Fishkill High School softball team went about its business yet again on Tuesday, as catcher Nicole DeCosta erased an early 1-0 deficit with a two-run single and pitcher Amanda Gisonni overpowered Arlington en route to a 3-1 victory in a Section 1 Class AA quarterfinal game.
The Patriots – top-seeded in the section, top-ranked in the state and riding a 28-game winning streak thanks to last year’s state championship – are now 18-0. They will host No. 5 Carmel in a semifinal game on Thursday.
And yes, the Patriots are aware of the gaudy numbers.
“We think about it. We constantly say we have the target on our back and everybody is coming out for us,” DeCosta said. “Right now, nobody is above us. Every game we have to fight. We push ourselves as hard as we did last year.”
Jay spotted the No. 8 Admirals a 1-0 lead before DeCosta ripped an opposite field single to right to score two runs.
“It was up and outside, and I did what I was supposed to do with it,” DeCosta said.
Gisonni looked extremely comfortable and allowed only three hits, two of them infield singles.
“I think Amanda threw very well today. She was hitting spots and Nicki called a great game behind the plate,” John Jay coach Bonnie Schilling said.
“It was a little hot out,” Gisonni said, “but it was a good day. I’d rather throw on a hot day than a cold day.”
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