Cate Ropiak's shutout gives East Islip softball first Long Island championship
East Islip pitcher Caitlin Ropiak , left, gets congratulated by first base coach Katie Wallace after driving in a run to break a scoreless tie with Glen Cove in the top of the fifth inning of the Long Island Class AA softball championship at Farmingdale State College on Wednesday. Credit: James Escher
Cate Ropiak and East Islip have been walking a tight rope through the postseason, and it was no different in the team’s first-ever Long Island championship win.
Ropiak allowed no runs and struck out 11 in East Islip’s 2-0 win over Glen Cove in the Long Island Class AA softball championship/regional state semifinal at Farmingdale State on Wednesday night.
“We’ve fought so hard to be here,” Ropiak said. “This entire experience has felt so rewarding and there’s no group I’d rather do this with.”
East Islip (20-7) will face Clarkstown South (Section I) in a state Class AA regional final at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Martha Avenue Field.
Brooke Simmons and Mia Lupinski each singled to put runners on first and second to start the bottom of the fourth inning for Glen Cove. Ropiak fielded a grounder and fired to third for a force out, then induced a fly out and ground out to get out of the inning.
“I’ve been very comfortable out there, just knowing that on this team we pick each other up so easily,” Ropiak said. “Whatever happens out there, I know the girls behind me will make the right play.”
Kayla Varga singled to lead off the fifth for East Islip. Courtesy runner Emily Saccone entered for Varga and stole second, then was driven in by Ropiak’s single for the game’s first run.
“Cate’s confidence has improved so much since last year,” Varga said. “I see a different person on the field. She’s an amazing player.”
An error allowed Alyssa Corso to reach base and advanced Ropiak to second. Simmons induced a pop-up and struck out the following two batters to end the fifth. Simmons allowed one earned run and struck out 10 for Glen Cove (14-11).
“The pitcher we faced was phenomenal,” East Islip coach Jason McGowan said. “I told my girls we just had to find a way to put the ball in play.”
Marissa Renganeschi reached base on a bunt single with one out in the sixth for East Islip. Varga doubled to drive in Renganeschi and extend East Islip’s lead to 2-0.
“I thought I had better at-bats each time up,” Varga said. “I saw the ball better as the game went on and I just wanted to come up clutch for my team.”
This was Ropiak’s second straight shutout after holding Smithtown West scoreless in the county final. The freshman has allowed just one earned run over her last three starts.
“These kids are battle-tested. They believe they can beat anyone in New York State,” McGowan said. “This is a great group, that is all in. They deserved to win a game like this.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
