Caterina Surleti hits two of Wheatley softball's four home runs in victory over Valley Stream North
Wheatley's Caterina Surleti is greeted by teammates after a home run during a Nassau Conference 4 softball game against host Valley Stream North on Friday. Credit: Derrick Dingle
When Caterina Surleti connected on Wheatley’s second home run of the first inning, the crowd marveled at the Wildcats’ power display, but the team had plenty more to show.
Wheatley hit four homers in a 15-6 victory over host Valley Stream North in Nassau IV softball on Friday. The Wildcats picked up 17 hits.
Sophia Reichman led off the game with a homer. Isabella Shin followed with a double and Surleti pulled a ball over the leftfield fence for a two-run homer. Ava Silva scored on a passed ball to put Wheatley ahead 4-0.
“We were all hitting today and I think seeing the person before you succeed made the next batter want to do the same,” Surleti said. “We got the energy high early and that played a big role in what we did the rest of the way.”
Shin had four hits and scored three runs for Wheatley. Lia Arduini struck out three and had two hits. Gabriella Garcia and Reagan Dunn each had two hits and scored two runs.
Surleti, a St. Joseph’s (LI) commit, singled to drive in a run in the second inning and three batters later, Lily Habib cleared the bases with a grand slam to give the Wildcats a 9-1 advantage.
“I was joking with my friends right before I went up, telling them I was going to hit a grand slam,” Habib said. “I thought it could go out as soon as I made contact, but when it actually went over the fence, I was able to feel that relief and happiness.”
Surleti capped her day off with a three-run home run in the seventh to put Wheatley (5-1) ahead 15-3.
“A win like this can really help us to continue building confidence,” Surleti said. “Keep us motivated to win and hit just as well as we did today.”
Seton Hall commit Tiffany Melendez singled in the seventh to tally her fourth hit of the day for Valley Stream North (3-2). Her cousin, Jainessa Melendez, drove her in with a single. The Spartans scored a run on an error and another on Maddie Posillico’s fielder’s choice.
“Our focus as a team is getting good pitches to hit and being patient,” Wheatley coach Kristyn Sandberg said. “When we do that one through nine, we hit.”
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.
