Massapequa 12U softball team gets big send-off before 134-mile journey in search of another title
Members of the Massapequa community gathered at Berner Middle School in Massapequa on Thursday to send off the Massapequa International Little League softball team before their departure for the Mid-Atlantic Region tournament in Bristol, Conn. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
134 miles.
The Massapequa International 12U softball team knows that’s the distance between Berner Middle School and Bristol, Connecticut.
Every member of the team has the number 134 printed on her practice T-shirt as a reminder of the squad’s ultimate goal: More championship glory.
After earning a state championship last week, the team is making that journey.
Massapequa will take on Minersville (Pa.) in the opening game of the Mid-Atlantic Region Tournament at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Breen Field in Bristol. On Thursday, friends, family and community members gathered at the Berner softball field to celebrate the achievement and officially send off the athletes.
“When you see these girls on ESPN, just know how much work they put in behind the scenes to get there,” Massapequa manager Joe Sollitto said. “These girls step on the field every day and they’re learning lessons. They’re learning adversity, they’re learning trust and they’re learning that you can achieve anything if you manifest it.”
The winner of the six-team, double-elimination tournament will advance to the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina, in August.
Leftfielder Kate Pignetti said that along with the excitement of moving on, having her friends and family there to support the team’s success is even more surreal.
“It feels unimaginable,” Pignetti said. “It’s so crazy to know we have this whole community behind us and knowing that they support us no matter what happens. It feels so good that we got to make it here and keep going.”
Pitcher Ruby Ponticello added that the overwhelming feeling of support will help Massapequa carry some momentum into the next level.
“The amount of fans we have and the amount of memories we’re going to make — and have already made — is just unbelievable,” Ponticello said. “I’m just so grateful to be here and be part of this team.”
Massapequa (11-1) defeated Stony Point, 5-1, in the state final on July 11 at Veterans Memorial Park in St. James. First baseman/pitcher Ashley Larmann said that although it can feel difficult, she and her team will continue to bring that winning mindset into this weekend.
“We really had to stay loose, play together and communicate,” Larmann said. “It was really hard playing two games in a row and then having to come back stronger on Saturday for the championship, but it feels unbelievable. It feels like it’s not even real.”
Through the excitement, Sollitto and the coaching staff continue to emphasize that the job is not finished. They believe, more than anybody, that this team can win it all.
For now, however, Sollitto said his main priority is to enjoy the moment.
“This is so special because these girls watch the older girls play on the field they’re going to be playing on and they get to live out their dreams,” Sollitto said. “Massapequa is all about community, and this is what this town does. It feels really loving, and I couldn’t have asked for a better team to experience this with.”
Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.
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