Wantagh's Lucy Olore fires three-hit shutout, drives in two runs in Long Island Class A softball final
Wantagh players hold their plaque after winning the Long Island Class A softball championship over Miller Place in Bellport on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Credit: Brittney Dietz
Wantagh’s gymnasium has been lacking softball banners for more than three decades.
Lucy Olore and the Wantagh softball team have been on a mission to change that.
Olore struck out 12 in a three-hit shutout and added two RBIs in Wantagh’s 3-0 win over Miller Place in the Long Island Class A softball championship/state Regional final Saturday at Martha Avenue Park in Bellport.
It marks Wantagh’s third Long Island title and first since 1990.
“We looked at the banners in the gym before we left today and we were like, ‘We want to put another banner on the wall,’ ” Olore said. “It’s just awesome because we haven’t done it in so long and we just happen to be the ones who did it.”
Wantagh (18-6) will face Pearl River (Section I) in the state semifinals at 10 a.m. on Friday at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park in Binghamton.
Olore helped her own cause with the bases loaded in the top of the first. The junior lined a double to leftfield to plate Megan Martone and Scarlett Bartilucci and take an early 2-0 lead.
Emily Polarolo added a leadoff home run to left in the third inning.
“When I saw it, I was like, ‘That’s my pitch. I’m going to go for it,’ ” Polarolo said. “I was glad I was able to help Lucy with an insurance run.”
With the help of her defense, Olore shut down a high-powered offense. Gianna Gerbe made two-diving catches in shallow rightfield, one of which ended the third inning and prevented a run from scoring.
“I trust the ball going to her every single time,” Olore said. “Seeing her dive just shows how much she cares and wants to win. She’s only a freshman and I’m so proud of her.”
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Sadie Bryant hit a double off the leftfield wall and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Olore picked up her final strikeout of the game to dethrone the reigning state champion and two-time defending Long Island champion Panthers (20-5).
“We’ve faced a lot of good hitting in our conference, but especially after watching Miller Place’s games last weekend, I knew they were going to be a tough lineup,” Olore said. “I just used my movement pitches and just kind of stayed calm and knew my team was going to back me up.”
Kelsey Hoffmann added a double and Annabella Filomeno had a single for Miller Place.
Martone and Morgan Pfaff each had two hits for Wantagh, which will look for the program’s first state title next weekend.
“They’re just a unique group,” coach Christine Moran said. “We’ve had so much talent the last few years and as much as it’s rare that we’re in this moment, the momentum has been building toward this year for a handful of years.”
Matt Lindsay is a high school sports reporter who joined Newsday in 2022 after graduating from Stony Brook University.
