Miller Place softball team advances to state Class A final with shutout win
Ava Zicchinelli also doubled on the game’s first pitch for Panthers in the state Class A semifinals on Friday, June 13, 2025. Credit: Hans Pennink/Hans Pennink
BINGHAMTON — For Ava Zicchinelli and Delaney Schleider, the formula is simple. Schleider puts the sign down and Zicchinelli delivers the pitch to her.
That formula is one game closer to earning a state title.
Zicchinelli struck out 12 and retired the final 17 batters in Miller Place’s 4-0 win over Maine-Endwell in the state Class A softball semifinals at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park on Friday.
“I just throw down a number and she says yes,” Schleider said. “The trust between us is what makes it work so well.”
“Whatever happens, she has my back and I have hers,” Zicchinelli said. “Knowing that is what allows us to play freely and have no worries.”
Miller Place (24-2), which scored all four runs in the sixth inning, will face Williamsville South (VI) in the state Class A final at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Schleider led off the sixth by hitting a ball in the right-centerfield gap that split the outfielders for a triple and scored on Emily Lopez’s single to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
“I just remember the inning before going out to the circle and telling everyone we needed to bring the energy up,” Schleider said. “When I got up to bat, I thought about that and was able to hit the ball to the wall.”
Lopez went first to third on Breya Kesler’s sacrifice bunt before scoring on Sadie Bryant’s single. Brooke Callaghan and Laney Vomero each walked with the bases loaded to extend the Panthers’ lead to 4-0.
“We knew we had to lock things down, considering it was scoreless for so long,” Zicchinelli said. “Once we got the lead, it allowed me to pitch more freely.”
Zicchinelli doubled on the first pitch of the game and Evelyn Paul doubled to lead off the second for Miller Place. Tessa L’Amoreaux worked around the leadoff baserunner in each inning to keep the game scoreless.
Isabel Hunter singled with one out and Emily Bealla walked in the bottom of the second for the Spartans (13-5). Zicchinelli struck out the next two and didn’t allow another baserunner.
“[Zicchinelli and Schleider] are completely in sync,” Panthers coach Matthew Timmons said. ”They have trust in each other to always be able to execute and that makes them amazing.”
The Panthers will be making their second state final appearance after coming up short in last year’s title game.
“I think there’s a different energy this year,” Zicchinelli said. “We had a little taste of it last year and no one wants a five-hour car ride back home feeling how we did at the end of last season.”
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.
