Calhoun softball moves one win from county title behind Sophia Nicastro's bat and arm
Sophia Nicastro of Calhoun during the NassauClass AA softball final against Mac Arthur on Sunday in Farmingdale. Credit: Kelvin Loarca
Sophia Nicastro had already allowed a run in the fourth inning and faced a bases-loaded jam with one out.
With Calhoun ahead by just one run, Nicastro took a breath and let her arm do the work.
Nicastro struck out two batters to escape the jam as top-seeded Calhoun went on to defeat third-seeded MacArthur, 4-2, in Game 1 of the Nassau Class AA softball championship series at Farmingdale State on Sunday afternoon.
“I took a breath and tried to slow everything down,” Nicastro said. “I just calmed myself. Told myself everything was fine and that I’d get out of it."
Nicastro finished with 10 strikeouts and allowed five hits in a complete game.
Kaitlyn DiPaola singled in the fourth and scored on Madison Martins' sacrifice fly to put Calhoun ahead 3-1.
Gianna Spaventa singled to lead off the fifth for MacArthur (12-13). Anabelle Maria’s two-out RBI single cut the Generals' deficit to 3-2, but Nicastro induced a pop-up to strand runners on first and third.
Nicastro extended the lead back to two runs, hitting an RBI double in the fifth to drive in pinch runner Gabby Mifsud.
“We were hitting the ball hard and finding the right spots,” Nicastro said. “We played small ball when we needed to and everyone just wanted to contribute.”
Megan Hobdy led off the second inning with a double and scored on an error. Selma Radoncic singled and took off for second during the next at-bat, getting caught in a rundown and allowing Martins to race home and put Calhoun ahead 2-0.
“We’re familiar with MacArthur, so that gave us some confidence,” Hobdy said. “Our energy was up from the very beginning and now with this win, we’re in a good spot.”
Calhoun (14-12) looks to close the series in Game 2 back at Farmingdale State at 7 p.m. on Monday.
“MacArthur is a championship-caliber program. They’ve been here before and are a formidable opponent,” Calhoun coach Michael Pisano said. “It was important for us to grab this win and show the kind of team we are. We’ll go into tomorrow like our backs are against the wall. We certainly won’t get comfortable.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
