Softball: Harrison wins the Section 1 Class AA title for the first time
THIELLS — Harrison softball has been knocking on the door of the Section 1 softball championship game for a lot of years.
They got eliminated one year ago in a semifinal.
In Saturday's Section 1 Class AA championship game, they kicked the door down.
The third-seeded Huskies put up two runs in the first and didn't look back as they cruised to a 5-0 win over the fifth-seeded Somers at North Rockland.
"It's all about the team," Huskies shortstop Lexi Cozzali said. "I'm so happy we made it this far. It takes all of us to do this. I'm really proud of everybody."
This win gave Harrison its Section 1 softball championship in program history.
Huskies ace Gabriella 'GT' Triano has been on this team a long time and kept the gold glove close as she described what it means to finally win it.
"It's an amazing feeling," Triano said. "Especially with this group of girls. We're such a close knit team and to be able to do this with them my senior year and these coaches is a surreal feeling. I'm so happy that it happened."
Cozzali led of the bottom of the first with a triple. With one out in the inning, Huskies catcher Barbara Jo Coppola walks and then designated player Jordana Yomtov flied out center scoring Cozzali. Coppola scored on a wild pitch to put them up 2-0.
Triano did the rest.
She tossed a three-hitter with no walks and struck out seven taking a perfect game into the seventh inning.
"I had some idea," Triano said. "I would hear chirps in the dugout and the excitement coming from the stands but I tried not to focus on it and let it go in one ear and out the other. My main goal was winning the Section 1 championship, winning with this team and making sure that everyone not just me did their part. That's exactly what we did."
She inspired her teammates, in the words of Cozzali.
"GT is insane," Cozzali said. "She wins the game for our defense. She's insane. Her pitching is phenomenal."
What it means
Harrison will play Section 9 champion Minisink Valley Tuesday in the sub-regional Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Monroe Woodbury High School.
Somers will conclude its own historic season with a record of 14-6.
Player of the game
Gabriella 'GT' Triano, Harrison: The Carnegie Mellon bound senior pitched an immaculate game where she took a perfect game into the seventh inning before allowing her first hit.
By the numbers
Harrison (18-5): Jordana Yomtov 0-3, 2 RBI; Lexi Cozzalli 2-2, 2 RS, 3B; Gabriella 'GT' Triano 1-2, 2B, BB, WP; Maddy Mazzella 1-2, RBI.
Somers (14-6): Ellie Walsh, Caitlin Fitts and Katherine Papa each went 1 for 3; Emily Boyle LP, 4 ER, 5H, 4BB, 2K.
They said that
"We've been here before and the outcome wasn't as good. I never felt in all the years I got to these games at this point that we were the best team. We are the best team and they played like it. So proud of all of them." - Harrison coach Dean Marino on winning the Section 1 title for the first time in program history.
"This means a lot to me. I wanted to make history within my school but it also felt good to do it for my team - do it for the seniors. I wanted them to leave their cleats on home plate as Section 1 champions. - Huskies designated player Jordana Yomtov
Twitter: @LoHud_Debbie; @LoHudSoftball
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Softball: Harrison wins the Section 1 Class AA title for the first time
