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All-Long Island Softball

Front row, from left: Suffolk Coach of the Year Jenn Wittman (Sayville), Jessica Brodis (Mattituck), Lyndsay Ward (Whitman), Megan Averbuch (Harborfields), Diana DiPiano (Valley Stream South), Erika Myrill (Baldwin), Ashley Lane (Clarke), Nassau Coach of the Year Sue Cassiday (Holy Trinity). Back row, from left: Emily Nyman (Islip), Mary Beth Puccio (Bay Shore), Jen Martinez (Bellport), Sarah Hoffman (Commack), Kim Lerch (North Shore), Leah Bogstead (MacArthur), Danielle Stallone (Holy Trinity). (Photo by Joseph D. Sullivan)

The 13 softball players who stood out on the fields of Nassau, Suffolk and CHSAA high schools this winter.

MEGAN AVERBUCH
Harborfields, Pitcher, Senior
Averbuch dominated in the circle the way few have. She finished a four-year career with 30 shutouts, 10 no-hitters and two perfect games to go with 753 strikeouts and 0.62 ERA. The three-time All-Suffolk windmiller led the Tornadoes to the Suffolk Class B quarterfinals this season. She went 17-4 with a 0.30 ERA and 245 strikeouts in 142 innings, including four no-hitters. Averbuch was just as tough at the plate, batting .521 with seven extra base hits, 19 runs and 18 RBIs. She will play at Lafayette. "Her determination and drive set her apart,'' coach Ginny Nixon said. "Her poise is her best friend.''

LEAH BOGSTEAD
MacArthur, Pitcher, Junior
Bogstead delivered a Nassau Class A championship for the Generals, thanks to a two-game sweep of Baldwin. She went 17-2 with a 0.73 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 135 innings. Bogstead has a 45-24 record and 497 strikeouts in her career. The four-year starter always could pitch, but didn't emerge as a hitter until last season. Bogstead batted .417 (30-for-72) with 14 RBIs this season. "She's so mentally tough,'' coach Bob Fehrenbach said. "If we're in a bases-loaded, no-out situation, I know we're going to get out of it. She'll get the out somehow. I have so much confidence in her.''

JESSICA BRODIS
Mattituck, Shortstop, Senior
A two-time All-Long Island selection, Brodis led Mattituck to a Class C title a year year after leading the Tuckers to a 21-1 season and the semis. Mattituck got to the final with Brodis's grit. The four-year starter drove in the tying run and scored the winning run in a 6-5 comeback win over Eastport-South Manor in the semifinals. She batted .467 (28-for-59) with 28 runs, 23 RBIs and 24 steals from the No. 3 spot this season. Brodis is headed to Manhattan. "In the big games she's clutch,'' coach Jim Tuffy said. "She's been a great leader. She has a great arm and great range.''

DIANA DiPIANO
Valley Stream South, Pitcher, Sophomore
DiPiano is off to a remarkable start in her young career. She has pitched Valley Stream South to three straight appearances in the Nassau Class B final, including back-to-back titles. DiPiano is 14-5 with a 0.53 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 131 innings this season. And she's just as strong a hitter with a .406 average, eight extra-base hits, 15 runs and 17 RBIs from the No. 2 spot. The Falcons won nine straight games spanning the regular season and playoffs, all with a sophomore providing leadership. "She spots her fastball extremely well,'' coach Dom Fontana said. "She'll burn you on the inside outside corner all day long when she's on. Her fastball sets you up, and her location is as good as I've ever seen.''

SARAH HOFFMAN
Commack, Pitcher, Senior
What's the measure of a great player? In the case of Hoffman, the ability to play two positions and hit for power. The five-year starter pitched Commack to the Suffolk Class A quarterfinals, going 9-2 with a 1.00 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 77 innings. She played second base when freshman Nicole Constantatos pitched, where she showcased her speed and glove. But Hoffman was just as notable at the plate, batting .397 with 6 homers, 6 doubles, 23 runs and 14 RBIs from the leadoff spot. Hoffman, a three-time All-Suffolk pick, will play at Stony Brook University. "She was a positive motivator for the team and a great athlete,'' coach Melissa Young-Dorn said. "I think she's been a good role model for the other kids.''

ASHLEY LANE
Clarke, Catcher, Senior
Lane has been Nassau's most gifted hitter in recent seasons, a five-year starter that provided the bedrock of very solid Clarke teams. She is a three-time All-Long Island selection, and such a force behind the plate that not a single team attempted to steal on her this season. Lane did have 12 pickoffs at first base and no errors. She set single-season school records, batting .614 (43-for-70) with 14 extra-base hits, 41 runs, 24 RBIs, 21 steals and .929 slugging percentage. Her career numbers 12 homers, 104 runs, 82 RBIs and 68 steals are astounding. Lane is headed to Hofstra. "It's a shame a county title isn't something that's on her resume,'' coach Grace Chianese said. "She's been Clarke softball for five years.''

KIM LERCH