Unbeaten MacArthur advances to semifinals

The MacArthur softball team is in the midst of an unblemished record in its push for the program’s first county championship since 2017, but remains firmly focused on its chief goal.

“The goal isn't to go unbeaten in the regular season, which we happened to do, but that's not what we set out to do from the beginning of the year,” said 23rd-year coach Bobby Fehrenbach. “It’s not about what you do in the first season, it’s about that second season which we are in now so hopefully we can keep this going.” 

The Generals marched to an 18-0 regular season mark and continued their undefeated run May 18 with a 12-0 win against Elmont. Senior pitcher Taylor Brunn led the way with a two-hitter and 12 strikeouts to go along with a grand slam at the plate. The Generals offense was also powered by sophomore Hailey Trapani going 3-for-3 with a home run with Nicole Stueckenschneider also going 3-for-3. 

A 3-0 victory followed on Sunday that advanced MacArthur in the Class A semifinals this week against Bellmore-JFK. The game was scoreless until senior catcher Sofia Anderson delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth followed by Gabby Silvestri driving in two runs with a double in the sixth. Brunn recorded 11 strikeouts in a two-hit shutout.

MacArthur's unbeaten run has been spearheaded largely by Brunn, who started and won each of the Generals’ regular season conference wins. She has recorded two no-hitters and one-hitter. 

The offense features a deep lineup led by Brunn and senior second baseman Hailey Feiler, who has recorded a hit in every game this season. 

“She has been tearing the cover off the ball,” said Fehrenbach of Feiler. 

Trapani has provided a powerful bat in the lineup leading the team in home runs with five. Trapani, Feiler and Brunn have combined to hit around .400 as a group despite facing top pitching against the top teams in Nassau County, according to Fehrenbach.

“We’re talking about in the top ability based conference where you see great pitching pretty every game out,” he said. “In that top conference, it's like a playoff game every day.” 

MacArthur kicked off the start of a best-of-three semifinal series against JFK Monday after press time. Game 2 is slated for Bellmore Tuesday with a third and decisive game scheduled for Thursday back in Levittown if necessary.

A series win this week would advance the Generals into the Class A finals at Mitchel Athletic Complex Memorial Day weekend starting this Saturday against the winner of the other semifinal battle between Clarke and Wantagh. Last year the Generals missed out on the championship stage after falling to Calhoun in the semis.

“I've been preaching all year to just focus on one game at a time and not to look ahead,” Fehrenbach said. “You can’t win two games until you win one.”