Gwen Donaldson’s 5 RBIs lead Babylon to LI Class B title

Babylon shortstop Gwen Donaldson feels a certain responsibility as the Panthers’ only senior. “I have a lot of pressure on myself,” she said. “I like that, because it makes me do better.”

It would be difficult for Donaldson to have done much better than she did Thursday.

Donaldson went 4-for-4, including a home run, four runs scored and five RBIs to lead Babylon (23-0) to a 19-2 win over Wheatley (7-14) in the Long Island Class B softball final at St. Joseph’s (L.I.) Athletic Complex. Babylon meets the defending state champ, Marlboro, at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Joseph’s.

“It’s been our goal all season to do our best,” Donaldson said, “and get as far as we can.”

The Oneonta commit helped set the tone early with a three-run blast over the left-centerfield fence that highlighted a five-run first inning. “It was low, but it was right down the middle,” Donaldson said of the pitch she sent about 240 feet. “It was crazy. I loved it. It was a great feeling.”

Babylon had many great feelings Thursday, when it scored in every inning but the fifth. The Panthers’ Allie Stanya struck out six of the first nine batters she faced as her team led 11-0 after the third inning and 17-0 after the fourth. Stanya went five innings and allowed one hit, an unearned run and an uncharacteristic three walks and struck out nine.

Cecilia Jozef got the only hit off Stanya and scored on a groundout by Jayda Rubino in the fifth. Wheatley, which was looking for its first Long Island title since 2004, added an unearned run in the seventh off Alexa Tenety, who struck out five in the final two innings.

SEE PHOTOSLong Island Class B softball final: Wheatley vs. Babylon

The Panthers mashed 22 hits, and the top five hitters in the lineup went 15-for-20. Catcher Molly Cummings was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Stanya was 3-for-4 with two doubles and five runs scored, and Emily Bell was 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Leadoff hitter Julia Vella was 2-for-3 with two runs, and Tenety was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.

According to Cummings, Babylon’s success started the first week of the season, when the Panthers played games in California. “We said to each other this team can be something special,” Cummings said. “I think we’ve proved that pretty well, and we’re still not done yet.”

It’s the Panthers’ fourth LI crown in the last six seasons. They also won in 2012, 2013 and 2015. “I’ve been blessed with good players,” said Punzone, who in 15 seasons has won 280 games.

“If you noticed, we didn’t celebrate too much after the win,” Punzone added. “We feel like we have bigger things coming up.”