Massapequa comes up short in softball state semifinals
Massapequa's Emily Balducci connects for a single against Liverpool in the New York State Class AA Semi Finals, Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Moriches Athletic Complex. Credit: George A Faella
Riding high off their first ever LI Championship, Massapequa rolled into the softball state semifinals with confidence and hot bats. Those bats were cooled, and the pursuit of more history was extinguished.
Liverpool defeated Massapequa 5-1, on Saturday in the Class AA NY State semifinals at the Moriches Athletic Complex. Kim Westenberg had a hit and a RBI. Sophia Diaz had two hits. Cassandra Wiggins tossed seven innings of one-run ball for Liverpool (Section III).
Emily Balducci and Mary Stork hit back-to-back one-out singles in the first for Massapequa. Kim Westenberg hit a soft dribbler past the pitcher that drove in Balducci from third base in what would be Massapequa’s only run.
Liverpool immediately responded as they got a leadoff double from Julia Wike. Gracie Zankowski laid down a bunt that allowed a run to score after Westenberg sailed the throw high to first base. Mackenzie Frani hit a single to score Zankowski and give Liverpool a 2-1 lead.
Massapequa had trouble on the bases in the next two innings. Diaz hesitated to advance to third on an off target throw into second base and was thrown out at third.
“I think we got a little caught up in the moment,” Coach Christina Castellani said. “We didn’t play our game as well as we should’ve, I think the nerves just got the better of us.”
In the third Ryan Starr hit a leadoff double but was caught in a rundown after a hit to shortstop in the next at-bat. Starr broke towards third as the throw to first was faked and was tagged out.
Massapequa was able to make good contact against Wiggins, but their hard-hit balls seemed to find gloves. They had baserunners in each inning except the sixth and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
“She [Wiggins] hit her spots really well,” Westenberg said. “We were putting the bat to the ball pretty well, but if you hit it right to them, they’re going to catch it, they’re a good team.”
Westenberg settled in after a shaky start, retiring nine consecutive batters and allowing just one baserunner between the second and fifth inning. In the sixth Liverpool knocked in three runs on three consecutive two-out RBI hits by Lauren Ragonese, Lily Stevens and Tristen LaForte to make the score 5-1.
While Massapequa’s (17-8) season didn’t end the way they hoped, they are certainly proud of winning a second consecutive Nassau Class AA championship and the program’s first Long Island Championship.
“No matter the score, everybody was still together and collected,” Westenberg said. “I wanted to go out with a bang in my last season, but this isn’t the end of the team or the program, it’s just a stop on the ride.”
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.
