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Newfield’s Riley Firenze tries to score on a wild pitch as Northport pitcher Jamie Gould covers the plate. Photo by Steven Zaitz
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Pitching and hitting star Riley Firenze strokes a double.
Kiera Murphy makes a play on a ball in right field for Northport.
Alyssa Micari makes contact for Newfield.
Northport Catcher Jillian Ryan scores a run in the second.
Newfield pitcher Riley Firenze.
Newfield’s Riley Firenze tries to score on a wild pitch as Northport pitcher Jamie Gould covers the plate. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

Getting off the bus, deuces were not very wild for the Newfield softball team last Friday.

The Wolverines dropped their first two games by a combined score of 20-6 and were in an early 2-0 hole against Northport on the road. It has been a full trip around the sun of futility for the Lady Wolverines as they had lost 14 games in a row dating back to last season — a streak that started exactly one year prior,  April 5, 2023 with a 12-9 loss to crosstown Centereach.

To make matters worse, the Wolverines ran themselves out of a potential big inning in the first when they had runners on first and third with no outs but failed to score.

But a three-run third, ignited by ninth-place hitter Emily Wall, gave Newfield its first lead of the season. The very long and ugly worm that was this 14-game losing streak was starting to turn. 

Senior starting pitcher Riley Firenze, who wears the number two on her back, shut the Lady Tigers down for the rest of the game, allowing only two hits after the second inning and striking out four. Newfield tacked on four runs late and secured a 7-2 victory – their first since starting the 2023 season 2-0.

“Getting this win was tremendous for our team and for the future of this season,” said Wolverine head coach Amanda Catapano. “Sometimes all it takes is that one win to get back into the groove and back to playing the softball that we know our girls can play.”

In addition to her monumental mound work, Firenze was the hitting star of the game. She had two doubles and a triple against Lady Tiger starting pitcher Jamie Gould. 

“I enjoy watching our team work hard,” said Firenze. “We are growing and improving every day.”

Despite taking the losses against Lindenhurst and Connetquot, Firenze’s stuff was on-point against the Tigers.

“Riley was locked-down on the mound after allowing those two early runs,” said Catapano. “She showed great speed and spin on the mound and she and Teresa Cotty called a wonderful game behind the plate helping to keep Northport batters on their heels using many off-speed pitches at the perfect times.”

Cotty, the cleanup-hitting catcher, had two hits and two RBIs on the day.

For Northport, only two of Gould’s runs allowed were earned, but she dealt with a lot of traffic on the basepaths, giving up 11 hits. 

Left Fielder Lilly McCabe had a two-RBI single that knocked in Jillian Ryan and Gabby Smith-Centero. 

Gabby Weissman had a pinch-hit single in the seventh inning and Kiera Murphy made a sparkling play in right field to end the third inning. 

The Tigers had another setback on Saturday against West Babylon, but they hope to eclipse their three-game skid on Monday against Smithtown East. Newfield plays on Thursday against Sachem North, looking for two wins in a row. 

– Photos by Steven Zaitz

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Ava Zicchinelli slides safely home for the Panthers in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
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Miller Place junior Isabella Zaher slides home in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place freshman Breya Kesler hits a line drive in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River’s Lauren Gallucci throws to homeplate in a home game against Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Ava Zicchinelli slides safely home for the Panthers in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River’s Mia Dettleff steals 2nd base in a home game against Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Ava Zicchinelli slides safely home for the Panthers in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River’s Mia Dettleff throws the runner out at 1st in a home game against Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place sophomore Laney Vomero with a line drive against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Miller Place Panthers opened their 2024 softball season with a victory over Islip, a win against Sayville and then blanked Kings Park, before traveling to Shoreham-Wading River looking to make it four in a row.

Freshman Delaney Schleider’s bat spoke first, driving in two runs for the Panthers in the opening inning to take the early lead in the nonconference matchup April 8.

With one out, Miller Place loaded the bases in the top of the 4th when the Wildcats defense made a statement, turning a double play to strand three runners to end the inning.

It didn’t matter, the Panthers went on a scoring fest in the top of the 5th to break the game wide open by plating 11 runners before it was all over. Shoreham Wading River with their backs against the wall trailing 13-0 in the bottom of the 5th needed to answer back but the Wildcats bats fell silent, triggering the mercy rule — trailing by 10 runs or more — to end the game two innings early.

Miller Place junior Ava Zicchinelli put on an impressive pitching performance for the Panthers striking out eight batters while giving up just two hits, and teammate Brooke Borkowski had three hits, two runs with two RBIs in the win.

Miller Place retook the field the next day, April 9, with a home game against unbeaten Bayport-Blue Point, but lost for the first time, 2-0. Shoreham, on the other hand, cantered to an 18-5 victory at Harborfields. — Photos by Bill Landon 

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Smithtown West’s Necco Cottage battles Nick Palhares at face off in a Div-II matchup Apr. 6. Photo by Bill Landon
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Smithtown West senior midfielder John Savino fires at the cage in a road game against Comsewogue. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue mid-fielder Hunter Marquardt scores for the Warriors in a home game against Smithtown West. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue’s Dylan Rocchio gets checked by Carmelo Pace in a home game against Smithtown West. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue attack Ryan Meyers gets double teamed in a home game against Smithtown West. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

After narrowly winning their season opener, Comsewogue Warriors dropped their next two in a row and looked to get back to winning ways with a home game against Smithtown West, Saturday, April 6. 

Fresh off their win against Westhampton, the Bulls led 5-2 at the halftime break on a cold and windy morning in the Division II matchup. After a scoreless 3rd quarter Comsewogue managed a pair of goals in the final 12 minutes of play as Smithtown West notched an insurance goal to hold on to a 6-4 victory.

Smithtown West senior John Savino had two goals and one assist as did teammate Liam Byrne. Dylan Bonasera had nine stops in net for the Bulls.

Connor Rocchio topped the scoring chart for the Warriors with an assist and two goals, Ryan Meyers and Hunter Marquardt both scored, and goalie Adam Wacholder had 13 saves between the pipes.

In their next games, April 8, both teams had crushing victories, with Comsewogue beating Center Moriches 17-4 and Smithtown West defeating West Babylon 21-4.

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Possession? Bill Landon photo
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Possession? Bill Landon photo
Senior attack Ryan Meyers pushes up-field for the Warriors. Photo by Bill Landon Loose ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Ryan Meyers looks for a cutter for the Warriors in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Ryan Meyers looks for a cutter for the Warriors in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Ryan Meyers shoots for the Warriors in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Warriors' score. Bill Landon photo
Liam Gregorek fires at the cage for the Wildcats in a home game against Comsewogue. Photo by Bill Landon
Wildcats score. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Ryan Meyers looks inside for the Warriors in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue scores. Photo by Bill Landon
Liam Kershis fires at the cage for the Wildcats in a home game against Comsewogue. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

If the Wildcats of Shoreham-Wading River were concerned that they trailed the Comsewogue Warriors by three goals to begin the second quarter, it was senior midfielder Ryan Wilson’s stick that breathed new life into the Wildcats offense by cutting the deficit to 4-2 in the Division II rivalry Wednesday night, March 27. 

SWR’s senior midfielder, Liam Gregorek, rattled off two unanswered goals to make it a new game at 4-4. Both teams traded goals, and retied the game at 6-6 with 2:53 left before the halftime break, which arrived with Shoreham leading 8-6 that became 11-9 after the third quarter. 

Comsewogue senior attack Dylan Rocchio split the pipes to open the final 12 minutes of play for the Warriors to trail the Wildcats 11-10. With eight minutes left in regulation, SWR’s Alex Kershis dished off the ball to Wilson who buried his shot for the insurance goal. Minutes later senior attackman Liam Kershis fired at the cage, hitting the top upright but the rebound hit his stick and he fired off his second shot for the score for Shoreham to lead by three. Comsewogue’s Ryan Meyers answered with five minutes left in regulation, but the Wildcats held on for the 13-11 victory at Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field.

Topping the scoring charts for the Wildcats was Liam Kershis with nine assists and one goal and Gregorek netted four. Jaden Galfano had nine saves in net.

Senior Meyers led the way for the Warriors with four goals and two assists, and teammates Rocchio, Doug Annicelli and Andrew Krieg each scored two goals apiece.

The win lifted the Wildcats to 2-0 in the early going and Comsewogue dropped to 1-1.                                    

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Iris Hoffman runs around right end as Scarlett Carey tries to pull the flag. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Brittny Cisneros Campos evades Harborfields defender. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Harborfields runningback Meghan Dyer is stopped by Whitman’s Jess Alfaro. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Walt Whitman vs. Harborfields March 27. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

The Walt Whitman flag football team traveled just a few miles northeast to notch their first win of the season in a nonleague game against Harborfields on March 27. 

The Wildcats scored four touchdowns in the first half against the Tornadoes and cruised to 28-0 victory. Whitman quarterback Madi Richter was 11 for 14 passing for 87, including a touchdown toss to wide receiver Katelyn Adams. Whitman also shined on defense and special teams as they intercepted Tornado quarterbacks four times, returning one of them for a touchdown, which was by Nevin Letren. 

Wildcat punt returner Brittny Cisneros Campos scampered 46 yards for a touchdown, as the rules have been changed this year to allow punt returns to be advanced – as long as the ball has been fielded cleanly by the receiving team. 

Campos also scored the first touchdown of the game on a two-yard run. Whitman played against the Half Hollow Hills combined team on April 2 in a battle of predicted powerhouses. They lost 20-12 to the 2023 Suffolk County champion Lady Thunderbirds.

Tornado quarterback Kate Lysaght was 13 for 20 passing for 83 yards and defensive back Scarlet Carey led the team with six flag pulls and two passes defended.

Harborfields tried again on the road against Sayville on April 1, but were beaten 39-7. They will host Wyandanch on April 4.

— Photos by Steven Zaitz

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Shoreham-Wading River freshman Maeve Bourguignon scores for the Wildcats at home against Kings Park. Photo by Bill Landon
Kings Park senior captain Peyton Wozniak looks to shoot in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Kings Park senior attack Peyton Wozniak pulls back the play in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman defender Maddie DiRusso clears the ball for Kings Park. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman Madison Herr scores for the Wildcats in a home game against Kings Park. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman Madison Herr scores again for the Wildcats in a home game against Kings Park. Photo by Bill Landon
8th grader Addison Kelly pushes up-field for Kings Park in a road game against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Kings Park sophomore midfielder Emily Hnis drives past a defender on the road against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman Madison Herr grabs a loose ball for the Wildcats at home against Kings Park. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River junior Morgan Lesiewicz wins the draw for the Wildcats at home against Kings Park. Photo by Bill Landon
A wet goal. Photo by Bill Landon
Grayce Kitchen scores for the Wildcats in a home game against Kings Park. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Having lost their first two games of the season, Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats looked to put a win up on the board in this early season and win they did, defeating Kings Park 14-7 in driving rain Tuesday afternoon, April 2, at Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field.

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, SWR freshman midfielder Madison Herr notched her hat trick on a penalty shot to put her team ahead 7-1. The Wildcats took the opportunity to rest some of their starters until the final buzzer sounded.

The win lifts the Wildcats to 1-2 in their division as the loss drops Kings Park to 0-3.

Both teams retake the field Friday, April 5, when Kings Park hosts Elwood-John Glenn at 5 p.m. and the Wildcats take on Westhampton in another home game at 4:45 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon 

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Ward Melville attack Emily Costeira passes outside in the Patriots home opener against Longwood. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville midfielder Aliya Leonard looks for the cutter in the Patriots home opener against Longwood. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville goalie Ave Carrillo makes the save for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville attack Emilia Retzlaff fires at the cage for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville midfielder Ava Simonton powers past a defender in the Patriots home opener against Longwood. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville midfielder Ava Simonton looks outside for the Patriots in their home opener against Longwood. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville defender Ava Folkman clears the ball in the Patriots home opener against Longwood. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville attack Emily Costeira passes inside in the Patriots home opener against Longwood. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville attack Emilia Retzlaff drives towards the crease for the Patriots in their home opener against Longwood. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Ward Melville girls lacrosse team opened their season at home against the Longwood Lions on Monday, March 25, under brilliant sunshine in a Division 1 matchup where both teams traded goals through two quarters of play. Longwood found the back of the cage in the final seconds to take a 5-4 lead into the halftime break.

The Patriots dispatched the offseason cobwebs in the second half as they dominated the time of possession, and with smart clock management rattled off six unanswered goals, shutting out the Lions in the second half to cruise to a 10-5 victory.

Senior attack Kate Spinks picked up where she left off last season topping the scoring charts for the Patriots with four goals and one assist. 

Junior midfielder Ava Simonton had two goals to go along with an assist, and teammate M.J. Timpanaro found the back of the cage twice.

The Patriots looked to build on Monday’s momentum when they traveled to Sachem East Wednesday, March 27, but the result was not available at press time.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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Pitcher Andrew Poxon fires one in against Grand Street Campus. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

The Ward Melville Patriots baseball team played a scrimmage against Brooklyn-based Grand Street Campus this past Sunday, March 24.

Patriot third baseman, Matt Poxon, takes a throw during a bang-bang play against Grand Street Campus. Photo by Steven Zaitz

After the all-day and night downpour on Saturday, the skies were blue on Sunday, but that didn’t mean it was ideal baseball weather. With the early-morning start time, a whipping wind, and a temperature that barely crawled into the 40’s, it was a day more suited for ice fishing than baseball.

It looked like Ward Melville was playing with some frozen fingers early on as a botched bunt play and an outfield overthrow in the second inning led to four unearned runs for the Wolves, who would win 5-1.

Nick Carnovale, Andrew Poxon and Ben Ferraro pitched for the Patriots.

Ward Melville played again on Monday and had a big, late-inning rally to beat Brentwood 9-8. First baseman Joe Karpowicz and outfielder Danny Cornish had RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Patriots were down by 8-5 entering the inning. 

Pitcher Jason Stiles threw three scoreless innings for the win in relief of starter Patrick Duryea. The Patriots played their final non league game on March 27 against East Islip and will start the regular season with a three-game set against Connetquot on April 2.

— Photos by Steven Zaitz

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Middle Country keeper Logan Hoenig with another save for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country goalie Logan Hoenig with a save for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country attack Andrew DiMondo looks for an open shooter for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior attack Tyler Diaz looks for an open shooter for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country goalie Logan Hoenig with a save for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Joseph Grottola loads up for a shot on goal for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior Jack Collins (l) battles at “X” for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior Jack Collins (r) battles at “X” for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior attack Tyler Diaz splits the pipes for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior attack Tyler Diaz fires at the cage for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Joseph Grottola fires at the cage for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Joseph Grottola pushes up the sideline for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Joseph Grottola eludes a defender for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country keeper Logan Hoenig with another save for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior attack Joseph Grottola fires at the cage for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country attack Andrew DiMondo pushes past a defender for the Mad Dogs. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

After narrowly winning their first two nonleague season openers against Mattituck 6-5 and Rocky Point 5-4, Middle Country opened their league season opener at home against Half Hollow Hills Tuesday, March 26, looking to make it three in a row. Hills served notice early on this would be no walk in the park peppering the scoreboard with four unanswered goals by the halftime break. 

It was Tyler Diaz’s third-quarter score that breathed new life into the Mad Dogs to trail 4-1, but that’s all the Middle Country offense could muster the rest of the way. Hills lit up the scoreboard in the final two quarters to slam the door for the 14-1 victory in the Division I contest.

Middle Country goalie Logan Hoenig didn’t have a moment’s rest during the final 12 minutes of play, as the junior netted 12 saves on the day.

The Mad Dogs look to get back to their winning ways Saturday morning when they host Patchogue-Medford at 10 a.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

On a sunny but cold afternoon, both Northport’s girls and boys lacrosse programs hosted scrimmages on March 18.

The girls took on Cold Spring Harbor in a scrimmage on the Northport High School football field and the boys tangled with the West Islip Lions in twin tune-ups for the regular season.

The Lady Tigers will play their first regular season game against Huntington at home on March 25 and the boys team, after facing nonleague Port Washington, will travel to William Floyd to kick off their regular season on March 26.

Both Northport lacrosse teams were Suffolk County champions in 2023 and they look forward to similar success in 2024.

— Photos by Steven Zaitz

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