Reigning World Series champion Massapequa suffers its first loss at the Regionals

BRISTOL, Connecticut – The Massapequa International 12U softball team is breaking new ground.

Massapequa lost 6-0 to West Point (Pennsylvania) in the second round of the Mid-Atlantic Region tournament at Breen Field on Monday morning.

It was the team’s first loss since the start of last season. Massapequa will play elimination games for the remainder of the tournament, beginning with a game against Hanover Township (New Jersey) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

“If you look at them, they look good,” manager Rich Eaton said. “They said they want to play Pennsylvania again. I said we have to get there first. There are a lot of other good teams in this tournament, so there’s no guarantee they’ll make it to the championship, and we may have to play them sooner. But our team is definitely confident if we have to play them again.”

Eaton said that pitcher Olivia Feldman addressed her teammates at the postgame team meeting and said, “We’re getting more time on TV now.”

West Point took a 1-0 lead in the first when Piper Hoppel scored on a Rian Starz groundout. Feldman managed to get out of a bases loaded situation and limit the damage to one run.

Feldman began the bottom of the first with a rocket-powered hit that ricocheted off West Point pitcher Lexi Stabile’s left shin. After recovering to make the play, Stabile took a minute to work off the pain before returning to the circle and dominating.

Stabile allowed five hits and had five strikeouts throughout the game.

“My defense was great today,” she said. “If they can keep playing like that, we can win any game.”

A solid groundout in the fourth inning brought home Morgan Maiers, who broke through in the sixth inning with an inside-the-park grand slam into deep left field.

Massapequa had its chances, but Stabile and her defense were up to the situation with runners on base.

Massapequa’s Sophia Evans hit a single in the third inning, stole second base and attempted to reach third base when the throw went into the outfield, but was stopped by a perfect throw from Maiers.

Later in the inning, Lexi Phillips tried to score with a single through the middle by Feldman from second base, but another strong throw from Maiers beat her to it and meant the third out.

“As a third-base coach, I take the blame,” Eaton said. “Even in the home game, I take my hat off to the center fielder. I saw that she was close enough and that she would beat (Phillips) if she made a good throw, but usually they miss the ball in those spots. She threw it right there and it was a great throw.”

Massapequa needs to win three games in a row to reach Friday’s final. West Point will face the winner of Brunswick, Maryland/Washington DC on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

“These girls don’t realize what a big win this is,” said West Point manager Matt Maiers. “(Massapequa) came here yesterday with a World Series flag. It’s our first time here.”

“Every game is new to us and they’ve been here three years in a row now… They’re a great team, no question about it. They’ve got great hitters from head to toe, their pitching is really solid, they’ve got good fielders. They definitely have some weapons.”