Thursday, October 1, 2026
Coming off a playoff-eliminating defeat, senior-led Freeport softball was determined to respond and earned its signature win of the season Friday while avenging a double-digit loss to East Rockaway.
The Red Devils trailed by four runs after an inning and a half but rallied with crooked numbers in each of next five innings and held on for a wild 22-18 victory. Senior Natalie Pinckney had four RBIs and scored four times, senior Alani Nunez reached base in all five plate appearances and scored four runs, and senior Deanna Reyes knocked in three as the hosts improved their Conference 5 record to 10-5.
“It’s a resilient group and this was a nice win for us against a good opponent,” Freeport coach Rich Genzone said. “It was a good challenge since we lost 21-10 to East Rockway the first time. We have 11 seniors with a lot of heart, so we’re looking at a big turnover next year. But we want to finish strong.”
Senior Kiera Stephens, sophomore Leila Perez and freshman Cassidy Knight had four RBIs apiece for the Rocks, who fell to 12-3 in conference play and will be seeded either second or third in the Nassau Class B playoffs. Freeport batters drew an outrageous 21 walks.
“We’ve been playing well and we scored 18 runs,” East Rockaway coach Joe Lores said. “We’ve been allowing around 10 and today was one of those days you’re going to have over the course of a long season.”
The Rocks, who were riding a five-game win streak behind the pitching of freshman Liliana Germani and Stephens, scored three times in the top of the first including two on a double off the bat of Stephens. They led 4-0 after sophomore Cara Agro singled to lead off the second and scored on Knight’s groundout to junior Brooklyn Mckenzie at shortstop.
The Red Devils responded with three runs in the bottom half of the second and added seven runs in the third for a 10-4 lead. They sent 12 batters to the plate in the third and Deanna Reyes had a pair of singles in the adding and capped it by driving in Pinckney and Mckenzie. Their battery combination of senior pitcher Gabriella Nurse and senior catcher Wenelyis Reyes, who bat third and cleanup, respectively, were also factors in the rally.
“Gabby is one of the best pitchers in the conference and is also a strong hitter,” Genzone said. “Wenelyis has played a lot of different positions for us over the years and stepped up this year to catch. She’s a grinder who’s played second base, shortstop and in the outfield.”
The teams combined for 11 runs in the fourth inning with walks being the main culprit for Freeport’s 6-spot. Senior shortstop Charlotte Webster, Knight and sophomore catcher Kristina Wilkerson all had RBIs and runs in the top of the frame as East Rockaway got within 10-9.
And despite scoring four runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh, the Rocks dug too deep a hole and the game ended with the potential tying run on the on-deck circle.
