Diamond Stars: The top baseball and softball performers this week
Avery Betancourt and Connor Catania. Credit: Betancourt family; Albino Nucci
Mepham’s Avery Betancourt had a week to savor.
In a three-game span, she had seven hits in 10 at-bats, including a double, two triples and three RBIs. She also scored six runs and stole four bases.
For her efforts, Betancourt was named Newsday’s Diamond Star of the Week.
Her signature game came in a 4-for-4 performance where she had two triples and a double in a 14-8 win over MacArthur. It was Mepham’s first win of the season.
The defensive player of the week comes in the form of unhittable pitching. Smithtown West senior Connor Catania threw a no-hitter in a 3-0 win over Half Hollow Hills East. He struck out 14 of 22 batters and narrowly missed a perfect game. With two outs in the fifth inning, he recorded a strikeout, but the hitter reached on an error.
Catania followed that gem with a 5-0 one-hitter over West Babylon. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and with two outs surrendered a Jace Alvino single. He finished that game with 14 strikeouts.
Not a bad stat line for two consecutive games; 13 innings, one hit, 28 strikeouts, six walks (all in second game).
“I don’t even know if it has ever happened at Smithtown East or West or when the schools were combined,” Smithtown West coach Al Nucci said. “I have been coaching 18 years and there have been three no-hitters total.
“I was just telling Connor to be historic and understand the history that no-hitters are rare. And back-to-backs are unheard of. He was so close.”
Catania can hit too. He led the Bulls’ offense in his no-hitter with a bases clearing double in the bottom of the fifth to drive in all three runs. He had two hits and an RBI in West Babylon win.
SOFTBALL
Jaeda Bartfield, Holy Trinity: She went 3-for-4 with four RBIs in a 10-0 win over St. John the Baptist.
Kayleigh Collins, Hauppauge: She had four hits, six RBIs and also struck out six in an 11-1 win over Bellport.
Kayla Denino, North Babylon: She went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double and two RBIs in a 7-2 win over Connetquot.
Tia DePalo, Holy Trinity: She struck out 11 in a one-hitter, a 10-0 win over St. John the Baptist.
Imogen Eaton, Plainedge: She went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs in an 8-5 win over Carle Place. Her second home run was a two-run shot and broke a 5-5 tie in the sixth.
Alex Gitomer-Dawson, West Islip: She hit a walk-off three-run home run in a 15-12 win over Rocky Point.
Samantha Leung, Hicksville: She tossed a no-hitter with seven strikeouts in a 10-1 win over New Hyde Park.
Madison Maggio, Harborfields: She hit for the cycle and had eight RBIs in a 22-8 win over Southampton.
Kaysee Mojo, Riverhead: She went 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs in a 14-3 win over Half Hollow Hills.
Lucy Olore, Wantagh: She allowed one hit and struck out 13 in a 11-0 win over Carey. She also had two hits.
Gia Pisicchio, Calhoun: She went 4-for-4 with a homer, two doubles and an RBI in a 10-5 win over MacArthur.
Nina Vandernoth, North Babylon: She tossed a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts in a 4-0 win over Commack.
Chloe Zielinski, Floral Park: She struck out seven in five innings in an 18-1 win over Jericho. She also went 4-for-4 with two doubles, three runs and three RBIs.
BASEBALL
Zach Adelstein, Bellmore JFK: He struck out eight in a six-inning complete game 2-0 win over Manhasset.
CJ Forman, Longwood: He struck out 17 in six innings in a 13-1 win over Brentwood.
Ari Gluck, Half Hollow Hills East: He struck out 12 and allowed one earned run in a 5-4 win over Newfield.
Aidan Kistner, Babylon: He threw out the potential tying run at home from centerfield for the final out of a 3-2 win over Southampton. He also went 2-for-3 with an RBI and struck out five in six innings.
Tyler Lynch, Deer Park: He went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a two-run home run in a 10-5 win over Patchogue-Medford. He also earned the win.
Benjamin Raskin, Westbury: He went 3-for-4 with three doubles and three RBIs in a 14-10 win over Elmont.
Rohan Shah, Hicksville: He threw a three-hitter and struck out nine in a 9-1 win over Malverne.
Bobby Wescott, Plainedge: He hit a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning in a 7-4 win over Floral Park. He finished 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
