Spring athletes honored

Athletes who participated in spring sports were honored with postseason awards at the end of the year. For Westhampton Beach High School, the boys tennis team highlighted a long list of honorees. The team capped off its fifth consecutive undefeated season in League VII and advanced all the way to the semifinals of the Suffolk County tournament before losing to eventual champion Commack.

Sophomore singles player Richard Sipala earned All-State status after finishing fourth in the Suffolk County individual tournament. He was the Division IV champion, beating Jeremy Dubin of Southampton in the final. The doubles team of Greg Kandell and Eric Antunovich also achieved All-State status, finishing fourth in the county individual tournament. Kandell and Antunovich beat teammates Christian LaDu and Mike Hammond in the division final. They were All-County selections as a doubles team.

The Westhampton Beach softball team had a good year, advancing to the Class A playoffs before suffering a loss to second-seeded Hauppauge in the first round. Junior first baseman Sophia Geraci was an All-County selection while senior lefty pitcher Alyssa Clancy and senior shortstop Alexa Lampasona were All-Conference selections. Senior catcher Hayley Fink, the team’s leadoff hitter, was an All-League selection.

For the baseball team, junior Mark Podlas was an All-County player. Podlas pitched and played in the outfield for the Hurricanes. Seniors Geoff Brown and Joe Candela also earned All-League status. Brown pitched and played third base while Candela played at shortstop.

For the Westhampton Beach boys lacrosse team, senior attackman Kevin Sabo was an All-County selection while senior defenseman Dave Cardaci was an All-Division player. Sabo also received the prestigious Ray Enners Award, which is given to one lacrosse player in Suffolk County by the Suffolk County Boys Lacrosse Coaches Association. The winner must be an All-County player and an athlete who best exemplifies courage, teamwork, skill and leadership.

The Westhampton Beach boys spring track team had the honor of being named a New York State Scholar Athlete team. Forest Gilbakian, Alex Choi, Jason Iannone, Avery Raimondo and Brandon Penn were all named All-League selections in track. For the girls team, Morgan Wilcox and Molly Bennett were All-Division picks while Lila Miller, Kiara Braithwaite, Sarah Weigand, Remy Kneski and Devon Clarke were All-League selections.

Hampton Bays

The Hampton Bays softball team had an excellent season, winning the League VIII regular season title before beating Babylon in a three-game series to defend its Suffolk County Class B title. The Lady Baymen suffered a loss to Carle Place in the Long Island Championship to end the season.

Senior catcher and leadoff hitter Marissa Raimo and senior pitcher Ali Hultberg were All-County players and both were also named to the Suffolk County All-Tournament team. Raimo was also a Newsday All-Long Island second team pick while Hultberg was named the League VIII Pitcher of the Year. Senior first baseman Kait Cooper was an All-Conference player while junior outfielder Emily Cortese was also named All-Conference. Cortese was also the backup pitcher and will be the starter next season. Sophomore outfielder Liz Raimo was named an All-League selection. Cooper, Hultberg and Raimo also were selected to play in the Exceptional Seniors Game, which took place on Tuesday, June 23.

For the Hampton Bays boys track team, Bruno Cavallo was All-League in the high jump; James Tran was an All-League selection in the 110-meter high hurdles; Perry Gitto and Dylan Gatto were All-League in the pole vault; Aaron Besch was All-League in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and he was an All-Division pick in the pentathlon; John Havens was All-League in the 100-meter dash; James Pace was All-League in the 200-meter race and Ben Tarpey was All-League in the discus throw.

For the girls track team, Sarah Reed was All-County in the 1,500-meter race. April Bennett was an All-League pick in the high jump; Melissa Gregory (800-meter race), Sam Makis (steeplechase), Meridythe Donnan (long jump), Kory Kingsley (discus) and Sam Carey (pole vault) were also all named All-League selections.

The Hampton Bays baseball team did not make the playoffs but had three players earn individual awards. Junior pitcher/infielder Matt Zazzarino and sophomore pitcher/first baseman/outfielder Robbie King were both named All-League. Senior infielder/outfielder Chris Hansen was named Academic All-League.

ESM

Eastport South Manor had a number of teams do well and make the playoffs this season.

The softball team was one of them and it comes as no surprise that it has a number of girls who garnered postseason honors. The Lady Sharks won League V with a 17-2 overall record and 16-2 league record. They beat Patchogue-Medford in the first round of the Class AA playoffs before losing to East Islip in the semifinals.

Pitcher Catherine Havens, catcher Melanie Boccio and first baseman Brianna Clarke were named All-County while Clarke was named League V Player of the Year. Shortstop Chelsea Kull was named All-Division while Ashley Mendez was named All-League. The softball team will not lose any players to graduation this year.