Commack ace Kate Schweitzer has 18 strikeouts in win over Sachem North

Up one run in the sixth inning, Commack pitcher Kate Schweitzer stood in the pitching circle with two on and no outs. She knew what she was up against in Sachem North, a team that sits in first place in Suffolk’s League II. Sachem North also had defeated the Cougars in March after eliminating them in the finals of the 2025 losers’ bracket.

But there are very few pitchers on Long Island who can strike out a batter as effectively as Schweitzer. And when she struck out three consecutive batters to end the rally, it became abundantly clear why the Cougars have such confidence in their ace.

Schweitzer recorded 18 strikeouts across seven innings to help Commack best Sachem North, 2-1, Monday. Her final pitch of the game made her strikeout total a career high.

A look at Commack’s Kate Schweitzer’s final pitch against Sachem North; a milestone for the senior phenom.

It completed her 18th strikeout — a new career high — to seal a 2-1 win for the Cougars. pic.twitter.com/m36c42bOBC

— Michael Sicoli (@Michael__Sicoli) April 28, 2026

“Finally beating them, with me pitching, it just felt great, especially with [catcher Amanda Sackstein],” Schweitzer said. “And I wouldn’t have had as many strikeouts as I did without [coach Harold Cooley III] calling as great of a game as he did.”

The star senior allowed six hits and no earned runs. Sachem North (11-2) recorded its lone run after a fielding error allowed Hayley Moore to score in the fifth inning on a ball hit by Shannon Forgione.

Commack (10-3) responded with a pair of clutch two-out singles from Christina Hession and Maggie Schumacher. A throwing error allowed both to score after Cassie Whalen put the ball in play.

“The best thing you can do for yourself is get runners on,” Cooley said. “It forces a lot more pressure on the defense to not make mistakes. It also feeds the offense when you’re going at-bat to at-bat you know you have the opportunity to potentially score a run.”

It’s the 10th time in Schweitzer’s 13 starts that she’s recorded double-digit strikeouts. “You got to give her a lot of credit,” Cooley said.

“She’s not only a workhorse, she takes the ball every single game, but her execution is a big reason as to why we’ve been as successful as we are.”

Sachem North, which has clinched a playoff berth, fielded its own impressive pitcher in Danielle Brennan. She struck out seven over six innings, allowing four hits and no walks in a matchup that could be repeated in the playoffs. Catcher Delaney Mathes went 3-for-3.

“We try to keep our emotional level the same,” Sachem North coach Ken Sasso said.

“We’re ready to go into it. We’re a very loud team, and they bring it all the time. Can we reel it in when it’s time to get up to bat? We had some good at-bats, but what can you do?”