The Marlboro Dukes are the New York State Softball Champions. The Dukes defeated Miller Place 4-1 on Saturday at Martha Field in Bellport to capture the title.
The Dukes ran their way to victory with aggressive base stealing and fast play all game long. Miller Place didn't go down without a fight, but in the end they couldn't keep pace with the Dukes running game.
With their star Ava Zicchinelli on the mound for the second day in a row, the Panthers were loose and ready for the game, but the Duke's running game proved to be too much right away. In the top of the first inning Kalista Birkenstock set the tone of the day by fouling off five straight pitches and then walking. After the walk she stole two bases and she was in scoring position. Zicchinelli didn't get rattled as she induced a swinging strikeout, but the Panthers were beaten by a squeeze bunt. It would have been a bang, bang play but it was bobbled and it was quickly 1-0 Marlboro.
The bottom of the first saw Zicchinelli single to center and then stole a base of her own. Schleider then walked but a Lopez line out and Kesler strikeout ended that threat. The second inning brought more of the same as there were two fantastic plays by short and third to barely get the Dukes out and then Zicchinelli ended the inning with a strikeout. The bottom of the second was a quick 1-2-3 for the Panthers.
As we entered the third inning the Dukes had a quick ground out, then singled past the pitcher up the middle. After a questionable no call for what would have been strike three, the Dukes stole their fourth base of the day. That was followed by a Taylor singled to center to make it 2-0 Dukes. The Panthers answered right back though in their half of the inning. With two outs Schleider smashed a bomb to deep right to cut the lead to 2-1. The freshman had put the Panthers on the board.
In the top of the 4th Zicchinelli walked the first batter, then there was a bunt that was beat out with a close play. The coaching staff grew noticeably agitated by the umpires' questionable calls, in what was becoming a theme. Kaitlyn Gordon was next up, and again there was a questionable strike zone. You could hear from the coaching staff “That was a strike last inning”. That led to a fielder's choice to second, scoring a run and a throw down the third base line trying to get the runner out sails into left field to give the Dukes a 4-1 lead.
The bottom of the 4th and 5th innings went rather quietly as Brooke Borkowski smashed a ball to left but right to the fielders mitt and the Panthers made two outstanding plays to shut down the Dukes hitters. As we approached the bottom of the 6th inning the Panthers worked the count well. Each batter drew a full count, but were unable to capitalize.
The top of the 7th was uneventful for the Dukes, who were trying to hang onto their lead. Which left the Panthers with their last chance.
After a great battle at the plate by Borkowski she wound up grounding out to second, followed by Sadie Bryant's ground out and Brooke Callaghan striking out to end the game.
The Panthers came up just short for their state title bid, but ended their season with a 20 win season and a very memorable year. As they walked off the field they did so to a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd.