Burke Sisters’ RBI-Doubles, Celi’s 10 Ks Lead Westhampton to Redemption Win over Comsewogue

The score was the same, only the names were changed.

Behind multiple RBI doubles by sisters Katie and Ellijean Burke, and 10 strikeouts from righthanded pitcher Addison Celi, the Westhampton Beach softball team (14-8) avenged last season’s 5-1 Class A elimination game loss to Comsewogue with a 5-1 win of their own Friday.

The Hurricanes will look to keep their season going this Monday, May 22, when they travel to East Islip (14-7) for a 4 p.m. elimination matchup.

“We’re in the same spot we were last season, so this feels really good to pull away with this one,” Katie Burke said. “We all worked together this time.”

The freshman third baseman was quick to get to work with one out in the bottom of the first inning, hitting an RBI-double to left field that sent home junior Ashley Erbis. The left fielder had drawn a walk and stole second to get into scoring position.

“When Katie is up and there’s runners on I feel confident she is going to drive in runs for us. She’s shown time and time again she can do it in big situations,” Celi said of Burke (2 for 4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run). “And her power is insane. She’s a constant for us, and we love seeing that in the playoffs.”

Celi said the runs on the board also motivate her that much more to do her job in the circle, as she followed up her teammate’s showing by striking out the side. She came away with two Ks in the third while Burke dug out a hard hit in-between them and beat the runner with her throw to first. The freshman third baseman had a lot to say about her pitcher, too.

“She’s incredible,” Burke said of Celi. “When her energy up she brings the rest of us up. We wouldn’t be this team without her. And it’s crazy she’s so young.”

But both are only freshmen, and even Burke’s older sister is just a sophomore. The shortstop, who was 2 for 3, grabbed two pop-ups for outs in the top of the fourth before a single to left center and an RBI-double to left field by Comsewogue (12-11) batters made it a new game. Still, the Hurricanes remained unfazed.

“We weren’t worried,” Ellijean Burke said. “Addison pitched great today per usual. She was very positive and she seemed very comfortable on the mound, so we were all trying to stay positive and do anything to back her up. And we’ve seen the pitcher twice before this season. There was just a feeling we were going to win.”

Her senses were tingling for a reason, because after another RBI-single by her sister, and walks of Kali Baumiller and Rylee McGinness to start the bottom of the fifth, the sophomore smacked a two-RBI double into left center to make it 4-1 Westhampton.

“It felt great. I loved the support for the team,” said the shortstop. “We were expecting a lot of changeups, which made us more confident when approaching the plate.”

After Katie Burke crossed the plate first off her sister’s hit she turned to the shortstop and pumped her fists as she let out a scream in celebration. She tipped her helmet as she walked off the field toward congratulations by her teammates.

“I’m so happy for her,” the freshman said of her older sister. “We’ve never gotten multiple hits in the same game and worked together like that. It was really impactful.”

It was also a big day for Burke because she said she’s been struggling at the plate the past couple of weeks.

“She put it back together today,” head coach Jeff Doroski said. “We needed big hits from her, and she came up with big hits. It’s good to see. She’s a really good player right now and she’s only going to get better, which is scary.”

The third baseman credited her coach for keeping her calm across her at-bats.

“Coach Doroski is always a voice for me out there,” Burke said. “He helped me get out of my head.”

Celi picked up her ninth punchout in the top of the sixth before Burke threw a bullet to her older sister to get the second out and eighth-grader Michaela Hertwig made a grab in center field to end the inning.

“I was working on more first-pitch strikes. It worked a little bit today,” Celi said, laughing. “And the girls played great behind me. They’re playing like they never have before.”

Hertwig continued to make waves when she singled to left field before Erbis’ sacrifice bunt moved her into scoring position. Once again it was Burke with a big hit to left field that brought home the eighth grader for the final run of the game.

Baumiller made a catch in foul territory, Celi picked up her final K and a runner was caught trying to steal third to end it.

“It was a good team win today,” Doroski said. “I’m super happy for them having the opportunity to play a home playoff game behind the support of our fans against a team that’s played us tough and that we’ve seen a lot of in the last two years. We worked hard for it. They wanted it from the beginning and they came out and showed that.”

The coach said when his Hurricanes pull it all together, they’re a tough team to beat. His players agreed.

“With the way we’ve been playing the last few games we know we can battle with any team,” Burke said. “This shows we can beat any team.”

Celi said Westhampton will continue its redemption tour with avenging losses at the hands of East Islip last season.

“This team has come so far, and I’m really excited to see where we go,” Celi said. “The teams we lost to last year, we’re going to beat them now, and this win shows that. Watch out for them Hurricanes.”