Softball Ardsley Panthers Beat Nanuet Knights, 6-2

The Nanuet softball team took the field for the second time this season on Friday with a little extra motivation behind them. Nanuet lost to Ardsley, 6-2. Sure they wanted to get their second win and start their season 2 – 0, but with the Golden Knights Head Coach Tony Toronto sitting on 344 career wins, one shy of setting the all-time Rockland Country record, the girls wanted a win even more.

The afternoon was cold and both teams were tight coming out and the first two innings flew by.  Ardsley’s offense was able to string together a few hits in the third and Nanuet didn’t help their own cause by making a few sloppy defensive plays.

“They got a lead early on and we made mistakes so it was bigger than it should have been,” said Toronto. “That would have kept them from extending the lead and then it’s a different game.”

Ardsley Pitcher Madison Dinaso was the most outstanding player of the game. The Ardsley offense was working, but Dinaso pitched all seven innings and kept Nanuet batters on their heels the entire time.

“It was great to be able to help the team so much today,” said Dinaso. “It was chilly out there but our game against Pelham was worse. Our offense did a great job. Their lefty pitcher was throwing us off but we were able to settle down and score some runs.”

This was the third game for the Panthers. Nanuet will look to earn their coach the record breaking victory as soon as possible.

“We fought hard out there today but just couldn’t get it done,” said Kelly Keill of Nanuet. “Getting this next win for our coach is really important to us. He is such a nice guy, he completely deserves it and it will mean a lot to all of us.”