The Rockville Centre 14U Junior Softball team added another memorable chapter to a successful postseason run this summer, capturing a New York State championship before its journey ended at the Little League Junior Softball East Regional in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
After winning the state title in West Nyack from July 12 to 15, Rockville Centre represented New York at the nine-team East Regional, where it faced some of the top teams from across the region. The team opened double-elimination tournament play on July 23 against the New Jersey champion, suffering a loss before falling to the Maryland champion on July 24 to conclude its postseason run.
The state championship capped an impressive stretch for a program that has become one of the strongest in New York. Rockville Centre went 4-1 in West Nyack, avenging its only loss of the tournament to capture its second state championship in four years. The program has now reached the state tournament three times in the past four seasons.
“We climbed that hill and got over that hump,” coach Angelo Bologna said following the state championship victory. “Now we’re going to the regionals.”
Rockville Centre wasted little time establishing itself as a contender in West Nyack, opening pool play with a dominant 17-0 victory over East Meadow. Camryn Kuhlmey tossed a three-hitter, Izzy Schmidt recorded a double, Charlotte Gleason tripled, and the offense consistently pressured the defense with an aggressive running game.
The team’s only setback at states came later that day in a 6-5 loss to host West Nyack. The game featured a late-game controversy when Rockville Centre believed an obstruction call at third base prevented the tying run from scoring. West Nyack earned the top seed in bracket play, while Rockville Centre entered as the No. 2 seed.
“There was definitely a little frustration,” infielder Sofia Bologna said. “Different decisions could have changed the outcome of the game. But it was just a pool-play game. We used it to our advantage.”
Rather than dwell on the loss, Rockville Centre responded with three consecutive victories.
The team opened double-elimination bracket play with a 13-3 win over third-seeded East Meadow. Jazmid Alvarado doubled, every other starter recorded at least one hit, and Kuhlmey combined with 12-year-old callup Alice McKenna to shut down the East Meadow offense.
That victory set up another matchup with West Nyack, and Rockville Centre earned its revenge with a 10-6 victory. Valentina Marquardt led the offensive attack by going 3-for-4 with a double and three stolen bases, while Gleason and Kuhlmey also added doubles.
Starting pitcher Eva Trivigno allowed four earned runs while throwing 70 strikes among her 110 pitches, helping Rockville Centre advance to the championship round.
West Nyack battled through the loser’s bracket to reach the final, but Rockville Centre completed its redemption story with a 9-5 victory on July 15.
Marquardt once again led the way offensively, finishing 3-for-3 with a triple, double and two stolen bases. Trivigno delivered a seven-inning complete game, allowing three earned runs on seven hits.
“I was seeing the ball really well,” Marquardt said. “I was able to see if it was a strike or a ball. I was taking pitches and being disciplined.”
Trivigno credited her preparation and trust in her teammates for helping her succeed in the championship game.
“I was able to keep the West Nyack hitters off-balance by throwing different combinations of pitches,” she said. “More importantly, I have been playing with these girls for the last five years and had complete trust that they would make all of the plays behind me.”
The state championship was the result of a season-long focus on improving the details of the game. Following last summer’s disappointing state tournament exit, Bologna and his coaching staff emphasized situational softball, including bunt defense, defensive positioning, cutoffs, baserunning and execution in pressure situations.
“Knowing where we needed to improve, we focused on those things all season,” Bologna said. “The girls really worked at it.”
Rockville Centre’s postseason journey began with another dominant performance. With no opponents in district play, the team advanced directly to the Section 4 West Tournament, where it overwhelmed Franklin Square.
Rockville Centre swept Franklin Square in two meetings by a combined score of 33-2, including a 16-1 championship victory at Klein Field in Rockville Centre.
Kuhlmey highlighted the opening game with four hits and four RBIs, including three doubles, while Tessa Sanneman added a double. In the championship game, Sophia Bologna drove in two runs, Gleason tripled and Lily Hannon doubled.
The team’s success has been built on a strong bond that extends well beyond this postseason. Many of the players have grown up together through Little League, and several fathers later formed the Rockville Centre Tigers travel program to keep the group together year-round.
“We’ve all been playing together for probably six years now,” Sofia Bologna said. “We’re really close. We all go to the same school, we practice together, and after practice we’re hanging out together. I think that helps us.”
Although Rockville Centre’s season ended in the East Regional, the team finished the summer as New York State champions and one of the top Junior Softball teams in the region.
The championship run included a Section 4 West title, a state championship and the opportunity to compete against the best teams from across the East Region — a fitting finish for a group that has built a winning tradition together.
