Smithtown East softball checks off preseason goal with Suffolk Class AA championship
Smithtown East softball celebrates winning the Suffolk Class AA softball championship on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at North Babylon High School. Credit: Neil Miller
Marissa Formosa remembers each teammate writing two team goals before the season began. She said everyone wanted to be league and county champions.
Smithtown East did both.
No. 6 Smithtown East defeated No. 1 North Babylon, 3-0, to win the Suffolk Class AA softball championship at North Babylon.
“It means everything to us,” senior pitcher Gabby Amicizia said. “We set this goal four years ago for ourselves. We’ve been working toward it, and we’ve been getting closer and closer every year. It feels amazing to finally make it happen and essentially make history.”
Amicizia threw a one-hit shutout to lead Smithtown East (18-7) to its first county title since 1988. She did so after pitching a complete game in Monday’s 1-0 loss to North Babylon (24-4).
“Watching Gabby pitch is the best thing in the world,” said Formosa, a senior shortstop. “We’re all in awe of her, especially of her changeup — it’s just insane. Just the confidence she had when she was on the mound. She went up there, and she threw her all.”
Amicizia allowed the sole North Babylon hit in the bottom of the second inning on Sienna Denino’s single to centerfield, and a sacrifice bunt moved her to second. Amicizia caught a line drive back at her from the next batter and threw to second for a double play to end the inning.
Still scoreless, the Bulls rallied with two outs in the top of the third. Formosa drove in the first run on an RBI double, scoring Gabriella Zarcone. McKenzie Morgan followed with a two-run double to give the Bulls a 3-0 lead.
“When I was up at-bat last game, I didn’t feel too strong,” said Morgan, a senior catcher. “This game, we talked to our coaches and said, ‘If you couldn’t look yourself in the mirror after this game and say you gave it your all, then you didn’t do a good job.’ I wanted to make sure that I could do that.”
With the lead, Amicizia seemed to lock in even more. She allowed just two baserunners — one hit by pitch and one error — in the last five innings.
“I have an amazing fielders behind me,” Amicizia said. “I have every bit of trust in them to make the plays and field the ball behind me.”
Smithtown East will play Massapequa (17-9) in the Long Island Class AA championship at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at Farmingdale State.
