High school central

Just get a little better every day.

That’s been the motto for the Bellmore JFK softball team.  Add up all those daily increments of improvement, and you’ll find that they are certainly a lot better than they were last season.

The Cougars went from missing the playoffs by one game last season to winning the Conference AA-II championship with a 12-2 record this season.

That...

As sure-handed as Francesca Casalino is in the circle for the Half Hollow Hills West softball team, the junior right-hander is as well spoken and professional off it.

In her third varsity season, Casalino is one of the main reasons the Colts (12-4) are right at the top of the League IV standings with Hauppauge (12-3) and Riverhead (12-4).

Entering the League IV Deer Park game May 7,...

Welcome to the second installment of Player Profiles, where we at Team Glax shamelessly rip-off Mike Gavin’s Around the Diamond blog posts to bring you the stories behind the players.   Today’s interview comes courtesy of Sam Croston, Mt. Sinai’s JV goalie who played in her first varsity game just last week against Kings Park. She’s fun, y’all, and the undefeated Mustangs are no joke this year....

After a rough start, Victoria Snak fought back to help Smithtown West clinch a share of the League I title. Snak shot a 39 (+3) on the front nine at Smithtown Landing on Wednesday, helping Smithtown West defeat Smithtown East 6-3.

The senior played the final six holes in one under par after double-bogeying the first hole and bogeying the second and third holes, according to coach Tom Kane.

"She...

1. Garden City (13-0) 2. Manhasset (11-2) 3. Farmingdale (10-3) 4. Cold Spring Harbor (11-4) 5. Wantagh (10-5) 6. Massapequa (6-7) 7. Plainedge (6-7) 8. South Side (12-3) 9. Long Beach (4-9) 10. Hicksville (11-2)...

Kerri Shapiro, East Meadow – Nassau Player of the Week: The junior pitcher tossed a no-hitter, struck out 10, and homered in a 6-0 win over Carey. She followed that up by going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a triple and six RBIs in a 13-10 win over Massapequa that should help East MEadow lock up the Conference AA-I title.

Kristen Bricker, Sayville – Suffolk Player of the Week:  The first...

Welcome to another installment of Around the Diamond.  Each week we’ll sit down with a local high school softball player and ask her a series of questions…some that relate to softball, some that don’t, and some that may even be slightly embarrassing.

If you'd like to be featured, e-mail me at michael.gavin@newsday.com, or message me on Twitter at @mgavinjr, or just come talk to me at...

When Dan Grabher has his knees bent, his feet shoulder-width apart, his dominant right foot a few inches in front of his left one and his body low, he usually wins.

"It gives me that quick, one-second burst,” the North Shore senior said.

It’s a typical athletic stance he used during the winter, when grappling with opponents on a wrestling mat. In the spring, Grabher finds himself...

Ward Melville’s convincing 11-2 victory over rival West Islip, whose dynasty has included nine straight Suffolk titles and five of the last state Class A championships, makes the Patriots the favorites to dethrone the Lions when the playoffs begin next week. Ward Melville remains Inside Lacrosse’s No. 2-ranked team in the country. Among the key games this week: Chaminade at St. Anthony’s, Thursday,...

Conference titles and playoff spots are still up for grabs in Suffolk. Here are some of the best performances in the County in the second to last series of the season. The list is full of the usual suspects and a few players who have flown under the radar this season.

Casey Baker, Connetquot

Baker hit two home runs in a 6-4 League II win over Lindenhurst on April 30 and pitched a complete...