Newsday's All-Long Island softball team

SUFFOLK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

FRANCESCA CASALINO

Half Hollow Hills West, P, Sr.

Was so spectacular this season that a fan club was created called, "The Fran Club.'' The Yale-bound pitcher went 20-4 with a 0.65 ERA and 318 strikeouts in 161 innings. She also hit .439 with seven homers and 24 RBIs to lead Half Hollow Hills West to its first county championship in program history. She tossed four shutouts in the postseason, one of which was a perfect game, and another that came in a thrilling 1-0, 10-inning semifinal victory. Casalino concluded her three-year career with a 50-11 record, 714 strikeouts in 426 innings, and a .471 batting average.

THE ALL-LI TEAM

STEFANIE APLIN

Smithtown East, C, Sr.

A leadoff hitter who could go the opposite way and find the gaps, the Georgian Court-bound catcher recorded a .609 average with two home runs and 28 RBIs. Proved to be one of the best defensive catchers in the county with her blocking ability, strong arm and quick release.

KRISTEN ARBITER

MacArthur, C, Sr.

Became a focal point of the offense for the Generals, and she thrived. A line-drive hitter with power to all fields, she hit .529 with three home runs and 32 RBIs. Behind the plate, she didn't allow a passed ball all season.

SARAH CORNELL

Clarke, P, Soph.

She may be only a sophomore, but she has already struck out 732 batters. This season, with an overpowering fastball, she went 12-6 with a 1.18 ERA and 234 strikeouts in 133 innings. She tossed five shutouts, including two no-hitters, and struck out 20 batters in a win over county champion Carey.

PAIGE JULICH

Kings Park, SS, Sr.

The third and final Julich sister to come through the Kings Park softball program. The University of Rhode Island-bound shortstop hit .432, blasted seven home runs with an .824 slugging percentage, and demonstrated tremendous range in the field.

KRISTA KING

Kellenberg, 2B, Sr.

The only member of all three of Kellenberg's state championship teams. The Adelphi-bound leadoff hitter was the catalyst atop the lineup once again this season, hitting .509 with 32 runs. She didn't strike out once, and finished her career with just three strikeouts in 306 at-bats.

SAMANTHA MARRONE

Sachem East, CF, Sr.

The LIU Post-bound outfielder was a threat at the plate where she slapped, bunted and hit to the gaps to finish with a .577 average with 32 runs atop the lineup. In the outfield, she showed tremendous range and a powerful arm, throwing out four baserunners at the plate.

CLAIRE MCNAMARA

Oceanside, SS, Jr.

Hit .444 with two home runs and 19 RBIs while leading Oceanside to the county championship series. Struck out just once and made only two errors in 97 attempts this season. Went 4-for-4 in Game 1 of the semifinals and scored the go-ahead run on an RBI double by her twin sister, Megan.

ASHLEY MELENDEZ

Island Trees, 1B/P, Jr.

A versatile player who helped guide the Bulldogs back to the county championship series by hitting .434 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs. Great at stretch plays and picking balls out of the dirt at first base. She also took the ball when needed, going 4-1 with two saves and a 1.08 ERA.

AILEEN REILLY

St. Anthony's, P, Sr.

The CHSAA pitcher of the year, bound for Gettysburg College, guided the Friars to the top seed and the league championship game. A power pitcher with great command, she went 17-3 with a 1.45 ERA and 164 strikeouts in 147 innings. Also a solid contact hitter with extra-base power, she batted .362.

CLAIRE TRAVIS

East Meadow, SS, Sr.

Emerged as one of the best power hitters on Long Island this season with a county-high eight home runs, including a towering solo blast off Francesca Casalino that proved to be the difference in the Long Island championship. Bound for LIU-Post, she hit .487 with 25 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.

CATHERINE VAUGHAN

Hauppauge, CF, So.

A versatile talent who combined power with speed. At the plate she hit .415 with six home runs, 29 RBIs, and two winning hits. On the base paths, she swiped nine bases. In the outfield, she covered plenty of ground, including a game-ending leaping grab to send Hauppauge to the county final.

TONIMARIE VALERIANO

Mepham, P, Sr.

Armed with a devastating screwball, the two-time All-Long Island selection went 12-6 with a 1.69 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 125 innings. Bound for Queens College, she also hit .492 with two home runs and 20 RBIs, including a go-ahead three-run home run in a win over state champion East Meadow.

ALL-LISECOND TEAM
Alexis Alvino
Division, C/2B, Jr.

Kristina Balsano
Connetquot, 3B, Sr.

Taylor Curran
Plainedge, C, Sr.

Sophie Dandola
Seaford, P/3B, Fr.

Sofia Evangelista
St. John the Baptist, P, Sr.

Kate Finnen
Plainedge, SS, Sr.

Vanessa Juengerkes
Islip, P. Sr.

Olivia Kaczmarek
Sayville, C, Jr.

Annie Kennedy
Rocky Point, P, Sr.

Kelsey Larson
Long Beach, SS, Jr.

Jessica Lodato
Commack, 2B, Sr.

Megan McNamara
Oceanside, OF, Jr.

Alyssa Monteverde
West Islip, P, Sr.

Bernadette Mullane
Holy Trinity, Sr. 1B

Katherine Piorkowski
Kellenberg, P, Jr.

Marissa Rizzi
Eastport-South Manor, P, Soph.

Marisa San Antonio
East Meadow, OF, Sr.

Rachel Sieber
Massapequa, SS, Sr.

Jenna Turato
Carey, P, Jr.

Dom Zummo
St. Anthony's

NASSAU COACH OF THE YEAR

ANTHONY TURCO

Carey

Inspired the Seahawks with the motto "Good to Great." With the help of players like Jenna Turato and Brianna Pinto, he guided Carey to a 21-3 record an the Nassau Class A championship.

SUFFOLK COACH

OF THE YEAR

TIFFANY ROWAN

Sayville

The two-time coach of the year led the Golden Flashes to a third straight Long Island championship and within one victory of a state Class A championship.