SOMERS, N.Y. - After jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the first inning of the 10U softball semifinals, Somers had visions of reaching the championship game. Unfortunately, the next two innings belonged to visiting Marlboro, and by game’s end, the home team had to settle for setting their sights on 2026.
“Next year, we want to be better, be great and get to the finals,” said Siena Manguso-Grosshandle after the 10-5 loss.
Nonetheless, the game began with a bang. With one out, Evelyn Beck launched the ball over the right fielder’s head and went all the way around to score.
An infield hit and a walk kept the inning going, but Samantha Thomas didn’t shy away in the circle. “It’s really hard. You have to get everything right, and you have to make sure your arms goes in a full circle or it’s going to go crazy,” said the starter.
Stuck in a jam, the pitcher stayed composed. Thomas got Riley Brett to pop up to Melina Olivera at third and retired the side with a grounder to Isabella Villareale.
In the bottom of the first, the momentum continued. Jazmin Marcano and Olivera led off with infield hits, and Grace Magnotta walked to load the bases. With no outs, Grace Sautner lifted a low liner to center, bringing in a run but forcing Olivera out at second. A throwing error by the catcher and a wild pitch later, Somers had a 3-1 lead.
Marlboro was undeterred. Two walks to lead off the second put the tying runs on base, but Thomas responded once again, striking out the next two batters.
With one out to go, the final out never came. Miyah Brown, Evelyn Beck, Addison Dabrowski, Emma Bonner, and Rylie Brett all put the ball in play and reached, hitting the five-run inning limit.
Now trailing 6-3, Somers started the bottom of the second in familiar fashion. Manguso-Grosshandle and Maggie McGuiness walked, but the next two batters struck out.
The similarity ended there. Olivera popped out to short, and Marlboro went back to work. Three straight walks set the table for Madison Pabon, who doubled in an 8-3 lead. Still not done, Brown drove in another run with a grounder to second, and a base hit to left opened up a 10-3 margin.
The next two innings saw the home team go quietly, and Marlboro looked ready to celebrate after recording the first out in the fifth. Not so fast—Natalie Benway wasn’t going quietly. “I was thinking anything close,” said the right center fielder, and her drive sailed deep down the left field line.
Racing in with a triple, Benway was on her way home when Marcano put the ball in play. A bobble at short made the play at first close.
Unfortunately, the call went in Marlboro’s favor, and the visitors let out a sigh. Somers didn’t let the defense catch their breath, though.
Olivera stepped up, and proximity was on her mind. “Anything that’s close,” she said, and a grounder to short restarted the rally.
Not fielded cleanly, a runner was on for Magnotta, who stuck to the game plan. “It’s hard to see a lot of strikes,” said the catcher, and when one came close, she put the ball in play.
The first baseman was unable to reel in the wide throw, and two runners were on for Grace Sautner. She stroked a single to center, making it a 10-5 game, and the bench came alive. “I started screaming at the top of my lungs and I don’t think I will have a voice,” said McGuiness.
With momentum in full swing, Thomas made contact and her pop-up forced the Marlboro second baseman into a tense lunge for the grab. The game ended when Villareale grounded out, but the exciting finish provided a fitting reflection point and a springboard into next year for Sautner.
“We did really good this year, but next year we’re going to try to get to the finals,” the first baseman concluded.
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