Emma Wimmer helps Mt. Sinai win Class A crown

Emma Wimmer and her Mount Sinai softball teammates had endured defeat on this stage three consecutive years.

Saturday afternoon, that narrative would finally be rewritten.

“This is so crazy,” said Wimmer, who struck out eight and allowed four hits in a 5-0 complete game win for No. 11 Mount Sinai over No. 8 Carey in the Long Island Class A championship at Hofstra. “We’ve gone here so many times and to finally pull it off is like a big burden being lifted off our back. We did it.”

Mount Sinai (23-4) will face the winner of Our Lady of Mercy and Iroquois at Moreau Recreational Park in the Class A state semifinals June 9 at 11:30 a.m.

“I’ve been coaching against this team for three years and knew what’s been waiting,” first-year Mount Sinai coach Jason Surdi said following the program’s first Long Island title.

Wimmer helped her own cause with an RBI single in the top of the second to open the scoring and give Mount Sinai a 1-0 lead. Samantha Valenti promptly lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0.

Shortstop Lové Drumgole, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, said the key to victory was simple: “Stay loose and keep dancing.”

SEE PHOTOSLong Island Class A championship: Mt. Sinai vs. Carey

An RBI single to left by Alexa Skulnick following a run-scoring error extended Mount Sinai’s lead to 4-0 in the top of the third. Julia Golino went 3-for-4 and drove in Drumgole for the final run in the top of the seventh with a sharp single up the middle.

“Julia offensively is just a beast,” said Surdi. “When she’s up at the plate and she’s locked in I put my sign card away and let her do her thing.”

Carey coach Anthony Turco spoke positively about the Seahawks (15-8) moving forward.

“I’m proud of where we are and how this softball team brought the community together,” Turco said.

After three years of bitter disappointment, Golino took a moment to finally laugh.

“I guess fourth time’s a charm,” Golino said.

No. 9 Pine Plains defeated No. 8 East Rockaway (17-5) in the New York State Class C Southeast Regional Final, 6-2. Pine Plains broke a tie at 2 on a squeeze in the top of the third and added three more runs over the final four innings. Emily Chelius struck out 11 for the Rocks.

Babylon loses heartbreaker. A dropped ball in the third inning helped Westlake defeat Babylon, 3-2, in the Class B Southeast Regional final.

Up 2-0 in the third, Babylon appeared to get the final out at third base, but after the tag, the ball was dropped and all runners were safe. Westlake went on to score three runs in the inning to go ahead 3-2.

Babylon threatened in the fifth, but Meghan Flaugher was thrown out at home attempting to score from second on a single by Allie Stanya.