Diamond stars: Best baseball, softball performers of week
Caroline Ferchland #15 of Oceanside connects for a double and drives a run in against Bellmore JFK during a Nassau softball game at Bellmore JFK, on Saturday April 6, 2024 Credit: David Meisenholder
BASEBALL
Hunter Colagrande, Kings Park: He struck out nine and allowed five hits in six innings in a 3-0 win over Miller Place. Colagrande won a pitchers duel with Panthers' ace Nick Frusco, who struck out 11.
Jonathan Cruz, Westbury: He struck out 16 of 17 batters in a no-hitter and allowed just one walk in a 15-0 win over Hempstead. Cruz also had two hits and scored three runs.
Alex Darzano, MacArthur: He struck out 13 and allowed two hits in six innings in a 7-0 win over Lynbrook.
Anthony Gerbasio, West Babylon: He went 4-for-4 with five RBIs in an 18-2 win over West Islip.
Matthew Gileno, Cold Spring Harbor: He went 3-for-3 with a grand slam, two doubles and six RBIs in an 8-0 win over Elmont.
John Harkins, Babylon: He went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, three runs and four stolen bases in a 12-4 win over Glenn.
Nick Pepitone, Connetquot: He struck out 11 and did not allow an earned run in 5 1/3 innings in a 12-3 win over Ward Melville.
Jack Pitman, Sachem North: He went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs in a 10-2 win over Bay Shore.
Christian Varela, Division: He only needed 72 pitches in a complete game 14-0 win over Plainedge.
Reid Walter, Cold Spring Harbor: He struck out eight in three no-hit innings in an 8-0 win over Elmont. He also went 2-for-2.
Everett Zarzicki, Kings Park: The freshman tossed a no-hitter, striking out seven and walking none in a 5-0 win over Miller Place. He only needed 79 pitches.
SOFTBALL
Maggie Burrell, Comsewogue: She struck out 10 in a no-hitter in an 18-0 win over Amityville. Burrell also went 3-for-4 with three doubles, three runs and three RBIs.
Jillian Cestaro, Commack: She went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and two runs in a 10-2 win over Connetquot.
Caroline Ferchland, Oceanside: She had two hits, including a RBI double and scored a run in an 8-1 win over Bellmore JFK. Ferchland also struck out eight batters.
Madison Fisher, Sachem East: The eighth-grader went 3-for-3 with four RBIs in a 7-5 win over Patchogue-Medford.
Madison Mandra, Bethpage: She had five hits and three RBIs in a 9-2 win over Long Beach.
Leila Piccoli, Smithtown East: She went 4-for-4 with four doubles, four RBIs and two runs in a 12-11 win over Lindenhurst.
Emma Powell, Center Moriches: She struck out 10 in a 12-0 win over Hampton Bays. She also had two hits, two runs and two RBIs.
Kaitlyn Santopietro, Garden City: She struck out 12 in five scoreless innings and also homered in a 14-0 win over South Side.
Madison Tarra, Hicksville: She homered in a three-hit game for Hicksville in its 7-6 win over Baldwin.
Nina Vandernoth, North Babylon: She struck out 13 in five perfect innings and went 2-for-3 with four RBIs in a 15-0 win over Copiague.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
