Annalisa Kohn's walk-off single in eighth inning gives Massapequa Long Island Class AAA softball title
The Massapequa team is crowned the Long Island Class AAA softball champions after defeating Riverhead in extra innings on Friday, June 6, 2025 in Farmingdale. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Annalisa Kohn has delivered time after time for Massapequa this season, and in extra innings in the Long Island championship game, “walk-off Anney” struck again.
Kohn singled home Sienna Perino with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Massapequa a 2-1 win over Riverhead in the Long Island Class AAA softball championship/regional final on Friday at Farmingdale State. Massapequa earned its third Long Island title in four years.
“It feels like pretty big shoes to fill each year,” Kohn said. “There’s pressure, but at the same time a comforting feeling. We’ve done this all before and knew we could do it again if we put in the work.”
After Perino tripled to rightfield with two outs in the eighth, Kohn swung at a 3-and-1 pitch and laced the ball into right for the winning hit.
“They were pitching me outside, so I was thinking, shoot the ball to rightfield,” Perino said. “When I saw Anney walk up, I immediately knew she would bring me home. I have so much confidence in her.”
“I saw Sienna on third after the triple and knew I needed to drive her in,” said Kohn (3-for-3), who walked in her first at-bat and had bunt singles in her next two at-bats. “I just wanted to make solid contact. I was looking for any pitch I could drive.”
Massapequa (21-5) will face the winner of White Plains (Section I) and Shenendehowa (Section II) in the state Class AAA semifinals on June 14 at 2:30 p.m. at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park in Binghamton. Riverhead finished at 20-4.
“There were no guarantees we’d be here,” Perino said. “All our teammates are supportive and we’re well-coached. We weren’t at the place we are now when the season began. We’ve gotten better each day.”
Massapequa opened the scoring in the third inning. Madison Tucholski singled with one out and advanced to second on Sienna Erker’s sacrifice bunt. On the play, the Riverhead defense left third base unoccupied and Tucholski reached third safely. She used her speed later in the inning to race home on a wild pitch to give Massapequa a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Riverhead’s Sophia Viola singled home Eden Greenwood to tie the score at 1.
Massapequa’s Samantha Dolan tripled to lead off the sixth, but Riverhead’s Maya Marelli picked up a strikeout and two pop-outs to get out of the inning. Marelli struck out nine in a complete game.
“We’ve been in these positions before, coming back or having to pull out a tight game,” Kohn said. “We’ve had pressure, but we’ve practiced everything we needed to. At this time, it’s all about execution.”
Riverhead’s Shaylee Bealey singled to lead off the seventh before Massapequa’s Shea Santiago picked up a strikeout and a double play to end the inning. Santiago, who retired the side in order in the eighth, allowed two hits and struck out six for Massapequa.
Kohn had come up big for Massapequa earlier in the postseason. She sent Massapequa to the county championship with a walk-off hit in Game 3 of the semifinals against Farmingdale.
“I didn’t have to tell her a thing. I had full confidence in her when she got up to bat,” Massapequa coach Christina Castellani said. “I know she’s going to put the ball in play. She’s good at getting her hands up and going to rightfield. I wasn’t surprised she did it again.”
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.
