Dominant pitching leads to winner's circle

Softball is a team sport. Yet, a dominant pitcher can control the game and go a long way toward winning a championship.

Long Island has seen its share of dominant pitchers over the years. The Long Island championship teams in the Class AA, A and B classifications a year ago combined to allow zero runs in title victories.

When it comes to shutting down opponents, one of the best is senior Kyra Kreuscher of East Islip. She had a 0.80 ERA last season and struck out 165 batters in 79 innings. She tossed 14.6 strikeouts per seven innings and 2.09 per inning.

“I have a pretty good curve and most girls just can’t help but swing at it,” Kreuscher said.

The strikeout artist tossed seven shutouts and was one out away from a perfect game against Half Hollow Hills West in the playoffs. She threw three no-hitters and helped East Islip become the top seed in the Suffolk “A” playoffs.

“It was the first game of the playoffs, and I just had a different mindset once it started.” Kreuscher said.

For most girls at this level, excellence doesn’t come overnight. Juliana Sabatino, a senior from Sacred Heart, has been at it for nearly a decade.

“I’ve been pitching since the fourth grade,” Sabatino said. “It’s been a while and I’ve put a lot of work into it.”

The Stonehill College commit went 8-1 and had a 1.55 ERA. She struck out 14 batters and picked up the win in a game against St. Anthony’s last year as she held them scoreless. It was the first victory for Sacred Heart over St. Anthony’s in six years.

“I was kind of terrified, because we wanted to beat them really badly,” Sabatino said. “My adrenaline was rushing, and everything was working for me that day.”

For St. Anthony’s and their ace Mila Fiordalisi, things still ended well. The sophomore went 10-2, with a 1.05 ERA and 87 strikeouts as St. Anthony’s won the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA title. Fiordalisi pitched in relief and got the win in the title game.

“I worked really hard, and the team worked really hard to get there, so it was a great experience.” Fiordalisi said.

Fiordalisi tossed two one-hitters and a no-hitter during the 2021 campaign. Entering this year, we can expect to see an even more polished pitcher.

“I have goals for myself, I want to be able to play [Division I],” Fiordalisi said. “I like to put a lot of work in and just push myself to be the best that I possibly can.”

Somehow these great pitchers performed even better during the postseason.

While Fiordalisi closed out the championship for St. Anthony’s, Alyssa Weinberg of Division threw a perfect game in the first round against Lawrence and followed that up with a no-hitter against Glen Cove.

“I didn’t know it was a perfect game until my coach told me,” Weinberg said. “But it was great, it was the playoffs and the whole school was watching.”

Getting the bat on the ball is hard enough, but with Weinberg pitching, it seems impossible. The senior struck out 200 batters in 100 innings, pitching to of a 1.50 ERA and notching 13 wins.

“I think my spins work really well and I get the batter to two strikes, then get a swing and miss on my rise ball, it’s all about the sequence.” Weinberg said.

While these big games surely provide a boost to great pitchers, Massapequa’s Kim Westenberg received one of the biggest jolts. She pitched in four games throughout the Nassau playoffs, giving up just two runs as Massapequa secured its first Nassau title. She threw a no-hitter in Game 1 of the Nassau AA championship and a shutout in Game 2.

“It was an experience I’ll never forget, winning a title was surreal,” Westenberg said. “Everybody put the work in and showed we had the capability to win a title.”

Westenberg struck out 143 batters and had a 1.87 ERA in the 2021 season, a major improvement from the 3.19 ERA she owned in 2019.

“I try to stay motivated and collected when I’m in that circle,” Westenberg said. “I don’t let anything faze me, I know my team is behind me and that helps me just focus on the pitch.”

By Christopher Matias

christopher.matias@newsday.comchrxs_matias

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.