Garden City softball earns much-needed win over Port Washington to keep conference title hopes alive
Kaitlyn Santopietro of Garden City reacts after throwing the strike that ends the game in victory of Garden City during a Nassau softball game against Port Washington on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Garden City. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Garden City’s offense had trouble gaining any traction early, in a game that it desperately needed to have a chance at winning its conference.
Isabella Scianablo picked up Garden City’s first hit in the fourth inning, sparking the host Trojans to a 4-2 win over Port Washington, in Nassau IV softball on Tuesday night. Scianablo finished with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored.
“Things were tough in the beginning,” Scianablo said. “We all had to get in the box and start to adjust to the pitches and make some good contact.”
The senior broke through against Port Washington’s Eve Aponte, with a leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth. Scianablo advanced on an Emily Ingersoll single and scored on Kaitlyn Santopietro’s fielder’s choice, cutting the Port Washington lead to 2-1.
Melina Mirabella singled with one out in the fifth and advanced to third on an Olivia Donohue sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Mirabella scored on Scianablo’s two-out double, tying the game at 2-2.
“Once we started putting the bat to the ball, we got into a groove,” Scianablo said. “The energy picked up and we used it to push us through to the end.”
Santopietro led off the sixth with a double that hit the wall. Shannon Walsh followed with a bunt and an errant throw allowed Santopietro to score the go-ahead run and Walsh to make it to third. Danielle Parrella followed with a sacrifice fly to put Garden City ahead 4-2.
“There were four outfielders, but I saw a pretty big gap in right center,” Santopietro said. “When I got to the dugout, I was screaming my head off. Coming back from the deficit and being the one to cross the plate to tie it felt amazing.”
Santopietro shut the door in the seventh, stranding a runner on first base. The sophomore finished with 10 strikeouts and one earned run.
Caroline Brock hit a two-out single in the first and came home to score the game’s first run, as two errors were committed fielding the hit. In the fourth, Elise Rudes doubled and scored on Abigail Trenaman’s single to give Port Washington (14-4,13-2) a 2-0 lead.
Garden City’s (13-4, 13-2) victory allowed it to tie Port Washington in the standings and remain in contention for first place in conference IV, with just one game remaining in the regular season for each team.
“We had to adjust and me and [assistant coach Christine] Sinacori, kept reiterating to the girls that we weren’t aggressive enough,” coach Marisa Reichman said. “Port Washington came ready to play and we had to match them and show we wanted it more."
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.
