Port Jefferson falls again in 'C' regional

For four straight seasons, Port Jefferson has finished as the Class C Long Island Champions. But for four straight years, they haven't advanced any further.

Haldane beat Port Jefferson, 6-1, in the Class C Super Regional softball finals at Bellport Martha Avenue Field yesterday as the Royals (18-4) once again ended their season on Long Island soil.

"It stinks yeah, but you can't look at that today," Morgan Sakovich said. "They were a very, very good team. The pitcher was very good. And they were just a little more enthusiastic than we were."

Earlier in the day, Port Jeff defeated Friends Academy, 14-0, in the Long Island Championship and Super Regional semifinals. The Royals capped their offensive feast with back-to-back home runs from Renee Marchewka and Sakovich.

"It felt awesome," Marchewka said. "Morgan came up after me and as soon as I saw it I knew it was gone."

But the offensive fireworks that carried Port Jeff through its earlier win dissipated into embers as Haldane hurler Chelsea Lisikatos limited the Royals to five hits.

"I feel like we got tired," Marchewka said. "The sun was hard on us, we had some clouds in the first game. But the second game we have some off plays, and that's about it."

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The turning point of the game came in the top of the third. Sammi Lisikatos walked with the bases loaded to give Haldane (20-1) a 1-0 lead. After a pop-up, Port Jeff appeared to be on its way to getting out of the inning with limited damage when Judi Barcavage lifted a fly ball to leftfield. Believing the ball would be a hit, Alex Monteleone left third base with the ball still in the air. But as it settled into the glove of Melanie Dambeck, a sophomore who was called up to varsity two weeks ago. Monteleone scurried back to the bag to avoid being doubled off. Dambeck rifled a throw to Marchewka, the cutoff man at short, but her throw to third was wild, and the ball rolled into the Haldane dugout. After both coaches conferred on the field with officials, the play was ruled a two-base error and Monteleone and Laura Campbell scored to give the Blue Devils a 3-0 lead.

Port Jeff scored its lone run in the bottom of the fourth. Marchewka led off the inning with a single and reached second when the throw to first sailed into foul territory. With one out, Marchewka tried for a steal of third, and a throwing error allowed her to score, cutting the Royals' deficit to 3-1.

McGivney pitched a five-hitter in the semifinals, and pitched well despite errors in the final. But the Royals' ace, who batted over .700 during the regular season, took the loss hard.

"I just didn't feel very good, I didn't have any energy, but I gave it all," said McGivney, a junior who has another chance to get past this obstacle next season. "I feel really heartbroken because we work all year for this and this is the goal."