Going into the Suffolk Class AA championship on Monday, May 27, No. 2 seed West Islip and No. 3 seed East Islip went head-to-head, competing for the title of Suffolk County champion.

The tense game, held at Martha Avenue Recreation Park in Bellport, was tied one to one at the bottom of the eighth inning. Alexa Ficalora’s drive, hit into the left centerfield gap, scored Alexa Reale from first base, bringing West Islip a 2-1 walk-off win and earning the girls the title of Suffolk County Champions!

The big win is West Islip’s first softball county title win since 2004, a season in which the team went on to win the Long Island championship.

On Friday, May 31, West Islip returned to Bellport’s Martha Avenue Recreation Park for the Long Island championship game against Bellmore JFK. Going into the game, the team was ready to give it their all, like they do in every game.

“Our mindset is the same it has been all season, one pitch at a time, one inning at a time, one game at a time and it has worked well for us,” shared West Islip coach Colleen Reilly.

As the 5 p.m. game began, Nassau County champions Bellmore JFK also came out swinging, earning four runs in the top of the first inning. West Islip continued to hustle, but the Bellmore JFK Cougars ultimately won the championship with a score of 10-1.

“Going down four runs in the top of the first was a tough hill to climb,” explained Reilly. “However, I am proud of my team for staying positive, picking each other up, and working hard until the last out.  Congratulations to Bellmore JFK.”

Indeed, West Islip had a successful season they should be proud of, with a final overall record of 20-6, ending a 20-year drought for West Islip softball.

“Being a part of the West Islip program has been really special to me,” shared captain and senior, Alex Gitomer-Dawson. “Every team since Little League has shown drive and hard work with everything we do. Being able to be a captain and win a county championship was a dream I’ve had since I was a kid. This team has taught me a lot about perseverance and being there for each other.”

“This team showed grit all season. We had many come-from-behind and extra-inning victories, showing their determination to always keep grinding and never quit.  There were so many memorable moments in hard-fought, close games that amounted to a wonderfully successful season, and ultimately a Suffolk County Championship for the first time in 20 years,” shared Reilly. “We have quite a few returning players that are determined to build upon the success we had this year, and we are thankful for our 2024 seniors and the positive impact they have had on the West Islip softball program. They will be missed.”