MacArthur rallies for L.I. Class AA softball crown

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A year after its season ended in walk-off fashion with a heartbreaking loss to Oceanside in the Nassau Class AA softball championship series, MacArthur couldn’t have picked a better time for its first walk-off win of 2016.

The Lady Generals squandered a five-run lead but staged their own rally last Friday evening with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat Commack, 8-7, to capture the Long Island Class AA title before a standing room only crowd at Hofstra. Freshman Lisa Fabig drew a one-out, bases-loaded walk to tie it, then sophomore Deanna Barrera battled to a full count and walked to force home the winning run.

“The girls were so relaxed heading into the dugout after the top of the seventh,” MacArthur coach Bob Fehrenbach said. “I told them it’s a one-run game and we hadn’t had a walk-off win all year, so now’s the time to do it.”

Senior Jessica Lombardo, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and one RBI, started the comeback in the seventh with a leadoff line-drive single to right. “I was a little nervous,” she said. “I wasn’t thinking about a home run to tie it. I just wanted to make good contact and get on base.”

Then senior Gabby DeNunzio followed with a long single to center that looked like it had a chance to clear the fence for a walk-off two-run homer. But it landed on the warning track, and DeNunzio took second when the throw went home to keep Lombardo at third. “I was halfway between first and second, and I thought it might go over,” Lombardo said. “I just wanted to make sure I got to third.”

An intentional walk to junior Kristen DiCicco, who ripped a two-run double to left in the first inning and twice flied out to left, loaded the bases. Commack pitcher Alyssa Bluethgen recorded her seventh strikeout for the first out, but the Lady Generals wouldn’t give in.

“No matter who’s up in our lineup, we have confidence,” said junior Shannon Myles, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. “It’s pure excitement to win it like we did.”

Lombardo scored the tying run, and DeNunzio the winning run. “When I stepped on home plate, I was like, ‘Wow. We just won the Long Island championship,’” DeNunzio said.

The Lady Cougars almost stole it, however. They trailed 6-1 after four innings after squandering a few scoring chances against MacArthur sophomore pitcher Jessica Budrewicz, who stranded two runners in both the third and fourth. Commack had two runners on again in the fifth and Kaysi Grunder made sure it cashed in, blasting a three-run homer over the fence in left to make it 6-4.

Commack kept the bats going in the sixth and took the lead with three more runs. Danielle Gambino tied it with a two-run single, and Nicole Principe followed with a sacrifice fly to right for a 7-6 lead.

“I think we all felt somehow we were going to get it done,” Fehrenbach said.

MacArthur (21-3) advanced to the Class AA state semifinals at Moreau Park in Glens Falls this Saturday at 9 a.m. The championship game is set for 1:30 p.m.