Thursday, October 1, 2026
Nassau County’s new softball alignment features more conferences with fewer teams and crossover games, which in Long Beach’s case adds up to 16 conference games.
“We went to 6-team conferences and it’s going to make for more competitive games,” said Carmine Verde, whose 38th season as Marines’ varsity coach began March 27 with an 8-1 victory over Port Washington. “We’re seeded 25th out of 57 teams and I think we’re in the right place. We need to win 10 conference games to make the playoffs and that’s the goal.”
Long Beach finished 7-11 overall last spring and split 14 conference games en route to the playoffs where it lost a Class AA first-round matchup to Division, 4-2. The Marines haven’t had a winning record since 2021 but are off to a promising start.
“We scored 43 runs in the first four league games,” Verde said.
A dozen of those came March 29 when Long Beach (4-0 in conference games) held off Wheatley for a 12-11 victory. Junior pitcher Bella Gray stranded the potential tying run at third base, recording a strikeout and fly out to seal the win. She got offensive support from sophomore center fielder Brianna Bothell, who went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, senior Myla Sanchez, who cracked a two-run homer deep over the left field fence and hit a house, and sophomore Avery Graziosi, who drove in two runs.
Gray struck out four Wheatley batters after whiffing a career-best 12 in the season opener. She also helped her own cause with a 2-for-4 day at the plate with two runs and an RBI, while senior Delaney Gravina went 3-for-3 and scored twice, and junior Gianna Hidalgo went 2-for-3.
Gray is the only pitcher on the varsity roster and also sets the offensive tone from the leadoff spot. She batted .308 last season. “Bella really knows how to battle,” Verde said. “She rarely loses her composure out there. She’s also a multi-dimensional hitter who can slap, bunt and swing away.”
Long Beach has a standout behind the plate in junior catcher Jorjia Domingo. She was Honorable Mention All-County last season (.400 batting average) and is already in her fourth varsity campaign. “Jorjia is an exceptional two-way catcher,” Verde said. “She has a great arm and a real good sense of the game and will probably be our clean-up hitter and lead us in RBIs.”
The infield consists of Sanchez at first base, senior Andie Spiteri at second, sophomore Emily Adler at shortstop, and a combination of Hidaldo and junior Julia DiGiorgio at the hot corner. Sanchez and Spiteri are captains. Graziosi can play shortstop, catcher and in the outfield.
Bothell starts in center and covers plenty of real estate, Verde said. “She’s a really good athlete with a lefty bat and hits the ball hard,” he said. Gravina, who last Friday went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored in a 13-0 win over Lynbrook, and freshman Sydney Olivo are corner outfielders.
“To make the playoffs in the conference we’re in, we need to go 10-6,” Verde explained.
