Calhoun softball scores 14 runs, moves one win from Colts' first state title
Calhoun's Sophia Nicastro in the pitching circle during the Class AA softball state semifinal against Minisink Valley in Binghamton on Friday. Credit: Nicholas Soccocio
BINGHAMTON — When Calhoun’s softball team needed to tack on insurance runs, Adriana Lazo answered the call.
The junior went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and five RBIs to lead Calhoun to a 14-2 win in six innings over Minisink Valley (Section IX) in the state Class AA semifinals Friday at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park.
Calhoun (17-12) will face Fayetteville-Manlius (Section III) in the final at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Lazo’s leadoff home run in the fifth jump-started a seven-run inning for the Colts.
“Hitting a home run is always one of the best feelings ever, but doing it for this team at this part of the season is just amazing,” Lazo said.
Sophia Nicastro, Kaitlyn DiPaola and Madison Martins each added an RBI single. The lineup flipped back around to Lazo, who lined a single to center to plate Melina Wood and Megan Hobdy for a 13-2 lead.
“Batting around is such a great feeling,” Lazo said. “Especially when I start something off and it relays to the rest of the team. It makes me so happy.”
Lazo drove in Wood and Martins to give the Colts a 3-0 lead in the top of the third.
Keira Filip’s two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of third swung the momentum to Minisink Valley (19-5).
But Calhoun answered right back. DiPaola lined a two-out single to leftfield to drive in Alexa LaBarbara and Nicastro for a 5-2 lead in the fourth.
Aside from Filip’s homer, Nicastro was masterful in the circle. The sophomore struck out nine and allowed four hits and two walks in six innings.
“She’s such a great pitcher,” said DiPaola, Calhoun’s catcher. “She hits her spots so well. I tell her exactly where I want it and she’ll put it right there.”
DiPaola went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Martins went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. In the last two weeks, Calhoun has won its first Nassau championship, Long Island title and state semifinal. Now, the Colts are one win away from their first state title.
“It’s uncharted waters,” coach Michael Pisano said. “With that, every step brings a new challenge. The girls just put the work in and rise to the occasion.”
“If you would’ve asked me in the beginning of the season if we would be here, I would’ve said, ‘Probably not,’” said DiPaola, a senior. “I’m not playing in college, so the fact that this is my last go and we’re making it this far, I’m just so happy that we’re all spending as much time together as possible.”
Matt Lindsay is a high school sports reporter who joined Newsday in 2022 after graduating from Stony Brook University.
