WFAN's Craig Carton faces Hofstra star Olivia Galati
Hofstra starting pitcher Olivia Galati relaxes between pitches during warmups before the game against Central Connecticut. (March 16, 2013) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Boomer Esiason called it unfortunate for this year's Empire Challenge to be played in the rain, saying "we're going to have to slop around in the mud, but we don't care, we're football players." He said that before the Long Island and New York City football All-Star teams took the field Tuesday night at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium.
One of the highlights from the Boomer Bowl Game, as it is also referred to, was having Esiason introduce his sidekick on WFAN's Boomer and Carton morning sports talk radio show, Craig Carton, go up against Hofstra's star softball pitcher Olivia Galati of West Babylon.
The righthander who graduated from St. John the Baptist, is a two-time All-American who tied an NCAA record for perfect games (five) with 12 no-hitters and 22 shutouts. She was attempting to get Carton to swing and miss at nine total pitches.
Carton got two hits off Galati.
"It was a lot of fun,'' Galati said of facing Carton, who previously faced her. "He made contact, which is frustrating. He's a good sport and I enjoyed the experience."
Carton, 44, sporting a Team Boomer jersey, had some laughs afterward alongside his son, Sonny, while giving all the praise to Galati.
"She's a wonderful woman and an amazing athlete," Carton said. "I don't belong on the same field with her. I said I'd get a hit. I got two. I choked up on the bat and was looking for the fastball. That was the only way I was going to get a hit. She's got those mean off-speed pitches."
Former Smithtown West catcher and current assistant softball coach at Fairfield University Laura Valentino caught Galati. The two were batterymates at Hofstra.
"Her riseball is her go-pitch. She was throwing mostly that," Valentino said. "[Carton] was practicing before and he's hit off her before, so he's somewhat successful."
