Softball: John Jay suffers heartbreaking extra inning playoff loss

Maria DeGaetano delivers to the plate for John Jay. Laney Daly lays down a bunt for the Wolves. Riley Foote connects for a two-run home run for John Jay against Eastchester. Jim MacLean Photos

By JIM MACLEAN

The skies opened up and a steady rain fell on the field and washed away any playoff aspirations for the John Jay varsity softball team.

John Jay had high hopes, wrapping up a league title and entering the playoffs on a hot streak, but the Wolves knew it would be a tough challenge in the first round of the Section 1 Class A tournament as No. 8 seed John Jay hosted No. 9 seed Eastchester on May 22.

Eastchester jumped out to an early lead, but John Jay rallied back to take a 6-2 lead after a big two-run home run by Riley Foote.

However, Eastchester never gave up and Sofia Gutierrez drilled a grand slam homer to tie it up in the sixth inning to force the game into extra innings. The Eagles then scored the winning run in the top of the eighth inning and held off a John Jay rally to advance.

“Definitely a tough ending, but Eastchester is a good team and I am proud of how my girls battled,” said John Jay coach Steve DelMoro. “The way Class AA shook out was tough, to be 14-6 and be an eight-seed shows how strong the class was as a whole. It was a battle, down 2-0 our girls never quit. It certainly is a tough ending, but I can’t help but feel so much pride in this team.”

Eastchester got off to a fast start with two runs in the top of the first inning, but John Jay answered back in the bottom of the third inning with a five-run rally. Natalie Sacco started it off with a single, and Maria DeGaetano and Erin Samuelson followed with a pair of walks to load the bases. Elise Templeton came up with a clutch single that ended up clearing the bases to give the Wolves a 3-2 lead. Riley Foote then followed with a two-run shot over the fence to make it 5-2.

John Jay added another run in the fourth inning as Bella Barry led off with a single. Laney Daly had a bunt single and DeGaetano walked, and Barry came home to score on a throwing error to make it 6-2.

DeGaetano was strong on the mound for the Wolves and settled down after the first inning despite the wet conditions, but Eastchester got the big hits in the sixth inning and eighth inning to take the 7-6 lead. John Jay had a pair of runners on in the bottom of the eighth, but could not get the tying run across the plate.

Despite the final outcome, DelMoro had high praise for his team as they made it a special season on the field despite having to overcome emotional challenges with the loss of teammate Brooke D’Aleo, who died of cancer June 2024. 

“Our seniors were Farah Ganesan, Erin Samuelson and the late Brooke D’Aleo,” explained DelMoro. “I think it doesn’t get recognized enough how mentally strong these kids are to battle through what they have had to deal with in losing a friend and a teammate. These seniors embodied resiliency just the way Brooke did. I couldn’t be more proud of them and all their accomplishments.”

With the loss, John Jay finished at 14-6 overall as the Wolves had several highlights throughout the year with big wins over good teams, capping it off with a league title. Almost the entire team will return again next year anxious to take the next step.

“To have the season we did, to be so mentally tough and to overcome late game deficits, extra-inning games, we just had so much fun doing it and you can tell by the positive attitude the girls had all season,” added DelMoro. “This group is special and will be good for years to come. They are truly taking this program to another level and I am excited to see where it goes.”