Tuesday, June 17, 2025
The Long Island Class AAA softball championship between Massapequa and Riverhead on Friday afternoon did not disappoint. There was no shortage of excellent pitching, clutch defensive plays, and some timely hitting with the title on the line.
In a game that went to extra innings, Massapequa put together a couple of two-out hits in the bottom of the 8th inning and with the winning run at third base and two outs, senior left fielder Annalisa Kohn slapped a base hit to walk it off, giving the Chiefs a thrilling 2-1 victory at Farmingdale State College.
“I really just wanted to make solid contact,” said Kohn. “Shea pitched her heart out today so I really wanted to back her up and take advantage of the opportunity.”
It certainly wasn’t easy for Massapequa (21-5) as the game was tight the entire way. Senior pitcher Shea Santiago was dominant, going the distance and only surrendering one run. She began the game with three hitless innings but found herself in some trouble in the third after walking back to back hitters. With runners at first and second and two outs, she got a big strikeout to strand two.
“I just had so much trust in my teammates around me,” said Santiago. “Knowing that they had my back on the field and with their bats really meant a lot and definitely helped.”
Added Massapequa coach Christina Castellani: “She is just a workhorse. Nothing phases her. She always wants the ball and is ready to go. She has such great endurance and amazing poise on the mound. She could probably pitch another 20 innings if I let her. She’s that locked in.”
In the meantime on offense, the Chiefs bats struggled to do much either against Riverhead’s senior pitcher Mya Marelli, who finished with nine strikeouts. With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the third inning, Madison Tucholski had an infield hit and then took advantage of some poor defense by the Blue Waves. First, Sienna Erker laid down a bunt to advance Tucholski to second base but on the play, nobody covered third, allowing the Chiefs’ shortstop to move up. Then while at third, a wild pitch allowed her to race home for a 1-0 lead.
Riverhead answered back in the top of the fourth thanks to an RBI single by Sophia Viola.
“We tell the girls not to get too high off our highs and not too low off our lows,” Castellani said. “We still have a full game to play and it’s not over until the last out is recorded or the last run is scored but these girls do such a good job keeping their emotions in check. It’s important to find that good balance.”
In the bottom of the eighth, after the first two Massapequa hitters were retired, Sienna Perino tripled, setting up the walk-off hit by Kohn.
The Chiefs advance to the state Class AAA semifinals this Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park in Binghamton. The state final is Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
“This senior class has been through it all,” Catellani said. “They were chomping at the bit to get back to this point and keep this season going. These girls truly love each other and we’re basically one big family.”
