Dans Papers - June 8, 2007 - Bonackers Win L.I. Class A Softball Title

A sea of maroon shirted parents and fans lined the eastbound shoulder of Montauk Highway early Tuesday evening eagerly awaiting the arrival of the yellow East Hampton school bus carrying the women's softball Long Island Class A Champions.

Blaring horns and loud roars alerted the crowd the bus was on its way into Wainscott, as it passed the Saracen sign. The Bonackers' players screamed and waved to the fans as the bus driver pulled over onto the shoulder. A police officer then temporarily stopped traffic to allow the school bus to be escorted back to East Hampton High School. A red fire truck with its siren on and lights flashing led the way as the bus merged back onto the road. Fans with "Bonac Softball 2007 Long Island Champs" or other variations signifying the victory written on their rear glass windows joined the procession that was anchored by police trucks.

The celebration continued at the high school. With smiles on their faces and arms around one another swaying back and forth in a circle, the softball team sang along to Dean Martin's "That's Amore" blasting from a car stereo.

"Every year down in Florida we find a song we click with," winning pitcher Jessie Stavola said, noting "It's a Small World" was last year's song. "We just find a song that's unique and no one else has."

The team has come a long way since spring training in Florida, amassing a 24-1 record on the year, en route to the Southeast Regional Finals in Binghamton after defeating Clarke 2-1 in the Long Island Class A Championship game played at the Town of Brookhaven Bellport Park.

In the top of the sixth inning with East Hampton leading 2-0 thanks to a first inning run scored by third baseman Nicole Fierro on a passed ball and right fielder Devin O'Brien reaching the plate on an error in the fifth, Clarke started a rally. With two outs and runners on second and third, Stavola threw a pitch that was hit and floating towards centerfield. It looked as if the ball was going to fall in for a single.

"I was hoping we'd just get away with the tying run scoring," Coach Lou Reale said he was thinking at the time.

East Hampton centerfield Molly Nolan sprawled out and made a diving catch, keeping Clarke scoreless and the Bonackers still in control of the Long Island Championship.

"I knew she had it," Stavola said. "Being a freshman and making a catch like that in the Long Island Championship, I'm so proud of her."

An assist should go to Monday's rain. Due to a wet field, Reale was forced to conduct an indoor practice. It was inside he noticed a mat set up on the floor so he decided to setup a drill in which the players were diving on the mats making catches.

"Molly was killing herself; her hips were sore and bloody" Reale said about the freshman's effort during the diving drill. "It helped."

Nolan's game saving catch prevented a last inning run scored by Clarke from doing any damage. First baseman Marta Johann caught a fly ball in the top of the seventh inning to end the game. The Bonackers had reached the bar they set prior to the start of the season.

"After losing [in the Long Island Championships last season] 3-2 on an error to Floral Park, our goal was to get to the states," Reale said.

East Hampton last reached the state finals when the Bonackers won the Long Island Championship in 2001.

Stavola, who struck out eleven batters, pushing her Long Island strikeout record to 340, said she likes her team's chances in the one loss elimination, two game Southeast Regional Finals scheduled for Binghamton in Upstate New York on Saturday.

"Our coach always tells us the only team that can beat us is ourselves," Stavola said. "Just one down. Two more to go."