The NY Panthers Elite travel softball team advanced to the finals of a tournament for the second straight weekend on Sunday. The Panthers went 7-1 over the three-day War at the Shore in Wall, N.J., and outscored opponents, 49-9, before falling to the Hamilton Hurricanes, 1-0, in the championship game.
Poly Prep grad Victoria Capozucca won three times, including a perfect game and a two-hit shutout. St. Joseph by the Sea’s Amanda Barrese also won three and notched a save. In the final, the two star hurlers combined for a two-hitter and the Panthers got seven hits – just not the big one.
Facing elimination earlier Sunday, the Panthers mounted a huge comeback against the NJ Shock. New Utrecht’s Nicolette Sinagra hit a home run and Tottenville’s Lisa Cutrona smacked a two-run double in a five-run sixth inning when the team was down 4-1. St. Joseph by the Sea’s Jackie Bonamassa went 3-for-3 and scored two runs in the game.
In the semis, the Panthers put up an eight-run third inning and eventually run-ruled the Hudson Valley Hurricanes, 11-0 in four innings. St. Joseph by the Sea’s Laura Leone had a home run, James Madison’s Brittany O’Brien had her 10th hit of the weekend and Tottenville’s Tara Gallo had an RBI double to go along with her slick defense. Barrese pitched the two-hit shutout.
The Panthers Elite beat the Clifton Cobras in the quarterfinals behind Capozucca’s two-hit shutout. St. John Villa’s Stephanie DeMartino, St. Edmund Prep’s Casey Sclafani and Leone all had big hits.
The performance at the War at the Shore earned the NY Panthers Elite a second bid to the ASA Nationals in August.