Mepham wins first Long Island softball title

A three-pronged pitching attack, a deep lineup and a defense that never stopped improving carried Mepham’s softball program to its greatest height this spring.

The Pirates, who won their first-ever Nassau County title two years ago and were locked and loaded for 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic hit, are Long Island champions for the first time after defeating Miller Place, 1-0, last Saturday at Moriches Athletic Complex in the Class A matchup.

Senior Dominique DeLutri blasted a homer over the fence in center in the top of the sixth inning for the game’s only run. Her younger sister, freshman Giselle DeLutri, pitched the final four innings and allowed no hits after junior starter Gia Miccio gave up just one single in three innings of work.

“I knew it was gone immediately off the bat,” Dominique said of her first-pitch long ball. “Rounding third base and seeing all my teammates waiting at home plate was an amazing feeling. Then Giselle closed it out. I’m so proud of her.”

Giselle struck out seven of the 13 batters she faced, including two in the bottom of the fifth when the Panthers had a runner on third base with only one out.

“Incredible,” junior Alanna Morse said. “I thought we had some good hits throughout the game, but sometimes it’s that one big moment that puts us over the top. It can be any one of us at any time, and today it was Dominique.”

With no state championships this year, Mepham finished the season with a record of 17-4. Seeded No. 2 in the Nassau Class A tournament, the Pirates swept fourth-seeded MacArthur in the best-of-three finals last week to repeat as county champs.

“We had seven seniors who didn’t get to play last year and only brought back one returning award winner from 2019,” coach Brenda Dolan said. “It was a unique regular season, and getting to play Class AA teams like Massapequa, East Meadow and Oceanside was a plus. Our chemistry got so much better as the season moved along.”

Mepham managed seven hits against Miller Place standout pitcher Jessica Iavarone. The Panthers were coming off their first-ever Suffolk County title.

“The girls knew it, but I always reminded them nobody is going to hand you anything,” Dolan said. “Everyone had a role and no part is too big or too small. A couple of small contributions add up to something big. It was a complete team effort.”

Having outrageous pitching depth and an offensive/defensive anchor like Morse gave Mepham some dimensions no opponent could match. Senior Kayleigh Roth, Miccio and freshman Giselle DeLutri saw equal amounts of work in the pitching circle, and sometimes all three appeared in the same game.

“I’m a fortunate coach to work with the pitching depth we’ve had the past two seasons,” Dolan said. “Kayleigh, Gia and Giselle, and also [junior] Kerri Hatcliffe, all had outstanding games this year. Occasionally we’d roll with someone for a full game, but usually we’re mixing in a few. We knew today would be at least two and maybe all three.”

Sophomore Sera Muoio, a first-year starting catcher, proved solid behind the plate with a strong arm. The infield defense was at its best in the most important games, Dolan said, with Morse at third base, Dominique DeLutri at shortstop, junior Gianna LaSpina at first base, and junior Hailey Guerrero at second.

Morse batted .660 during the regular season and drove in at least one run in all but two games. She continued to rake in the playoffs and finished with 7 home runs and 51 RBIs. She kept Mepham’s season alive in the semifinals with a dramatic two-run double in the bottom of the seventh to beat No. 6 Clarke, 4-3. And in the opening game of the finals against MacArthur, she blasted a 250-foot homer to back Roth in a 6-1 win. “A-Mo knows how to be a leader on the field and does it so humbly,” Dolan said.

LaSpina starred in the county title-clinching game June 15, slamming a pair of homers with five RBIs to lead a 14-2 victory. Miccio pitched the first four innings.

In the outfield, Mepham featured underclassmen Lily Yepez, a sophomore, in center, and Isabela Cruz, a freshman, in left. They also represented the top of the order. Junior Brianna Gonzalez handled right field in the postseason. All three were on base when Morse doubled home Gonzalez and Cruz in the thrilling win over Clarke.

“We had so many clutch hits this postseason,” Dolan said.

Additional contributions were made by seniors Gianna Rosser and Alexis LoFrese, and junior Kylie Persampire. Rosser started five games at second base, including the first two playoff wins. LoFrese provided solid outfield play, while Persampire blasted six homers including three in one game.