National League power hitters Sabrina Colangelo and Jenna DeMaria received a proper sendoff Saturday afternoon in the final game of their softball careers, as their team earned a 8-6 victory over the American League in the LAC Senior Division All-Star Game.
Colangelo and DeMaria, formerly of the Lady Generals, celebrated their graduation last week with the rest of MacArthur's Class of 2011.
Despite their team's win, Colangelo and DeMaria had mixed emotions following the game.
"We will miss it," Colangelo said. "We love the game and we love Coach Mike Terruso."
"It is so sad that it is my last game," DeMaria added.
The LAC (Levittown Athletic Club) is a girl's fastpitch softball league that has been developing the young, talented players in our community into varsity athletes for MacArthur, Division and Island Trees since the 1950s. On Saturday, many future stars for the Lady Generals, Lady Dawgs and Lady Dragons were on display at Azalea Field in the LAC's annual classic.
"Hard work and fun," said National League All-Stars Coach Mike Terruso. "That's what the LAC is all about. The game featured a lot of great pitching and excellent hitting."
The National League All-Stars scored five runs in the top of the first inning, as Kim Beattie (Island Trees), Sabrina Colangelo (MacArthur) and Deanna Lupo (Island Trees) each had clutch RBI hits in the frame.
However, the American League cut the N.L. advantage to 6-3 by the bottom of the second on RBI hits from Anna Wroblewski and Colleen McKenna.
The American League All-Stars fell behind 8-3 by the final frame, but they mounted a furious rally with the game on the line. Colangelo began to struggle with her command and tried to fight through a broken nail on her pitching hand, but Coach Terruso decided to bring in a reliever to close out the game. With the score 8-6, Division freshman Amanda Bridgwood came in to pitch and dominated on the mound.
Bridgwood relied on a heavy dose of nasty changeups and unhittable fastballs to end the game by striking out Laura Linekin and Taylor Adragna.
Following the game, it was announced that MacArthur sophomore Lyndsey Balder (National League) and Hicksville High School freshman Darian Caputo (American League) were voted Most Valuable Players of the Game.
National League All-Stars
- Lyndsey Balder (MacArthur)
- Kim Beattie (Island Trees)
- Amanda Bridgwood (Division)
- Sabrina Colangelo (MacArthur)
- Jenna DeMaria (MacArthur)
- Mallory Goldstein (Massapequa)
- Gabrielle Guidice (St. John the Baptist)
- Deanna Lupo (Island Trees)
- Kelly Saronka (Wantagh)
- Samantha Scharff (Island Trees)
- Dakota Secondino (Seaford)
- Nicole Vollino (Division)
American League All-Stars
- Taylor Adragna (Wantagh)
- Darian Caputo (Hicksville)
- Kristin Linekin (Wantagh)
- Laura Linekin (Wantagh)
- Melissa Mouzakes (Island Trees)
- Shannon Nadolny (Division)
- Catherine O'Leary (Wantagh)
- Anna Wroblewski (Island Trees)
- Karly Ziegler (Island Trees)
- Colleen McKenna
- Nicole Spinelli
- Heather Oggeri
