Thursday, October 1, 2026
Calhoun had never played for a Long Island softball title before, but the Colts proved more than worthy of sharing the same stage with defending Class AA champion East Islip.
Featuring a wicked curveball, sophomore pitcher Sophia Nicastro was dialed in Saturday. She struck out 14 and allowed only six baserunners in a dominant performance to lead Calhoun to a 7-1 victory at Martha Avenue Park in Bellport.
Five days after capturing their first Nassau County title, the Colts added another chapter to the history books.
“We’ve been waiting for this game all week and it feels amazing to win,” Nicastro said. “We knew they had some strong hitters, but I just trusted my stuff and the defense behind me. The curve is my best pitch and it worked well today.”
Calhoun (16-12) will face Minisink Valley in the state semifinals at 2:30 p.m. on Friday in Binghamton. The state Class AA title game is next Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
“We’ve come a long way as a program, from Conference 3 to Conference 2 to Conference 1,” Calhoun coach Michael Pisano said. “These girls have believed in each other and believed in the mission from Day One. They’ve all worked so hard and hit stride at the perfect time.”
East Islip’s lone run came in the bottom of the first on Kayla Varga’s sacrifice fly.
Nicastro walked three in the first but was lights out thereafter. She struck out the side in the second, fourth and seventh.
“They were simply better than us today and we were impressed by their pitcher,” East Islip coach Jason McGowan said. “We came in here confident and prepared, but you’re not going to win a LIC with one run so credit to Calhoun.”
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The Colts, who scored in the top of the first on catcher Kaitlyn DiPaola’s sac fly that brought home Ruthie Small, took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the second. Small singled home Alexa LaBarbara and scored on a Nicastro sac fly.
They added two runs in the third for a 5-1 cushion. Megan Hobdy swiped home and LaBarbara doubled in Selma Radoncic.
East Islip (16-6) got back-to-back singles from Marisa Rengeneschi and Lexi Kneisel to start the bottom of the third, but Hobdy pulled off a huge defensive gem in center, catching a fly from Varga and nailing Rengeneschi at third base trying to tag.
Radoncic scored again in the sixth on an error and DiPaola belted a solo homer over the fence in center in the seventh.
DiPaola calls the pitches and knew early on Nicastro and the Colts were destined for a big day.
“Sophia is insane,” DiPaola said. “She’s pitched great all year.”
East Islip’s third and final hit was a leadoff double in the seventh off the bat of Kate Vessalico. But Nicastro needed just a dozen pitches to strike out the next three batters to punch the ticket to Binghamton.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity,” Nicastro said.
