A Perfect Start: Westhampton Beach Softball Tops Sayville, Celi Throws First-Ever No Hitter at East Hampton - 27 East

Southampton Sports

A Perfect Start: Westhampton Beach Softball Tops Sayville, Celi Throws First-Ever No Hitter at East Hampton

icon 9 Photos
13 gets the ball in the webbing of her mitt.    MARIANNE BARNETT

13 gets the ball in the webbing of her mitt. MARIANNE BARNETT

Westhampton Beach outfielders, from left,    , get set for an inning to start.    MARIANNE BARNETT

Westhampton Beach outfielders, from left, , get set for an inning to start. MARIANNE BARNETT

The Westhampton Beach infield gets ready just before an inning begins.   MARIANNE BARNETT

The Westhampton Beach infield gets ready just before an inning begins. MARIANNE BARNETT

11 watches the pitch cross home plate.   MARIANNE BARNETT

11 watches the pitch cross home plate. MARIANNE BARNETT

slides in safely at home plate.    MARIANNE BARNETT

slides in safely at home plate. MARIANNE BARNETT

Westhampton Beach freshman Addison Celi takes off with the ball in play.   MARIANNE BARNETT

Westhampton Beach freshman Addison Celi takes off with the ball in play. MARIANNE BARNETT

13 walks to first base.    MARIANNE BARNETT

13 walks to first base. MARIANNE BARNETT

Westhampton Beach freshman Addison Celi threw her first-ever no hitter at East Hampton on Friday.    MARIANNE BARNETT

Westhampton Beach freshman Addison Celi threw her first-ever no hitter at East Hampton on Friday. MARIANNE BARNETT

Westhampton Beach freshman Addison Celi threw her first-ever no hitter at East Hampton on Friday.    MARIANNE BARNETT

Westhampton Beach freshman Addison Celi threw her first-ever no hitter at East Hampton on Friday. MARIANNE BARNETT

Drew Budd on Apr 5, 2023

It’s no longer a secret — the Westhampton Beach softball team is pretty good.

The Hurricanes defeated host Sayville, 17-9, on Monday in what was a convincing win over what were the Class A county finalists a year ago in the Golden Flashes. Westhampton Beach was coming off an 8-0 victory at East Hampton on Friday, in which freshman pitcher Addison Celi threw her first ever no hitter, and a 12-0 victory at home over Rocky Point to open the season on March 29.

Westhampton Beach head coach Jeff Doroski agreed that after Monday’s victory, and his team’s overall strong start to the season, opposing teams will most likely not take his team lightly anymore.

“I don’t think people will look past us anymore at this point,” he said on Monday night. “Addison’s name is out there now as a legit pitcher, and the way we hit, we hit the ball hard today.”

Sayville took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and maintained that lead through four innings, until freshman Katie Burke led off the fifth inning with a home run that opened the flood gates for the ’Canes, who went on to score eight runs in the inning. They then tacked on an additional eight runs in the sixth. To Sayville’s credit, the Golden Flashes scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Celi and the ’Canes came right back in the seventh and shut down any hope of a comeback with a one-two-three inning to close out the game.

Burke finished 3 for 4 with her roundtripper and three RBIs while Celi was an offensive weapon as well, going 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs. Kali Baumiller, a sophomore, continued her strong start to the season offensively by going 3 for 5, which included a double with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Kayla Spanbock, a junior, provided a big lift at the bottom of the order by going 2 for 5 scoring a pair of runs and also driving in a pair and came up with a big timely hit, which has been the team’s top quality early on.

“With runners on base last year, we couldn’t get timely hits. This year, at least early on, we’re stringing hits together,” Doroski said. “Everybody’s getting involved, and that’s the fun part of it. We’re just building on what we’ve been doing, and I like how we’re playing. I think we’re seeing this growth of this group we’ve had a for a couple of years now.

“It’s early, and I know how quickly things can turn, so we’re going to take things game by game,” he continued. “One thing I continue to stress, because we really do have a young team with no seniors, is that we only need to worry about us and not worry about what the other team has or who it is. If we can just concentrate on us, and what we can do, well, I think we can do well as a team.”

Celi, who is already in her third year on varsity as a freshman, has pitched her fair share of one and two hitters along the way, but she had never, even in travel ball, pitched a no hitter until this past Friday in East Hampton. Facing a strong, well-coached team, Celi struck out 16, didn’t allow a walk and only four batters put the ball in play against her. Although a runner did manage to reach base on an error in the bottom of the seventh, the ’Canes were awarded a double play on an interference call allowing Celi to face the minimum of 21 batters throughout the game.

“She’ll be a special one down the road for sure,” Doroski said. “We just need to keep her healthy. She’s been working a lot on her change. It’s still not quite there. But once she adds a third pitch, she’s only going to be that much better, and she’ll get there.”

It helped that the offense provided Celi with a four run lead before she even took the circle. Sophomore Elliejean Burke went 2 for 4, both bunt singles, and scored both times she reached base. Her classmate Antonella Russo went 2 for 3 with a double, single and drove in three runs. Celi helped her own cause going 1 for 1 with a pair of sacrifice flies.

One of the things the team talked about heading into the season was starting strong and they did exactly that in what was a run-ruled, five-inning victory over Rocky Point in their season opener. Ashley Erbis, a junior, went 2 for 3 and reached base five times including a walk and hit by pitch, a single and double and three RBIs. Baumiller went 1 for 2 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs.

Westhampton Beach looked to keep its strong start going in a nonleague game against Kellenberg on Tuesday and a league game against Comsewogue on Wednesday. The ’Canes then have an entire week off before they host crosstown rival Eastport-South Manor on Wednesday, April 12, at 10 a.m.

You May Also Like:

Hickling, Purpura Claim This Year's Sis Rice Minsch Memorial Trophy

Luke Hickling and Nick Purpura have a knack at winning the Sis Rice Minsch Memorial ... 16 Jul 2025 by Drew Budd

Town Hosts Its Annual Mike Diveris Battle of Southampton Lifeguard Tournament

This year’s annual Mike Diveris Memorial “Battle of Southampton” Lifeguard Tournament on July 8 at ... by Drew Budd

New Traditions, Same Spirit: Sag Harbor Cup Raises Over $50,000 for Junior Sailing Scholarships

The 43rd annual Sag Harbor Cup, hosted by the Breakwater Sailing Center & Yacht Club, ... by Michael Mella

Hamptons Youth Triathlon Sees Over 160 Finishers for Second Year in a Row

For the second year in a row, over 160 youth triathletes crossed the finish line ... 15 Jul 2025 by Drew Budd

HBCL All-Stars Defeat the ACBL All-Stars; Southampton's Quintano Named MVP

The Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League All-Stars held on to an 8-5 victory over the Atlantic ... by Drew Budd

Fluke and Bluefins Keeping Rods Bent

There’s plenty of good fishing to be had around the South Fork as we get ... by MIKE WRIGHT

Joe Koziarz Memorial 5K in Westhampton Beach Is This Saturday

The 33rd Joe Koziarz Memorial 5K is set for this Saturday, July 19, in Westhampton Beach. The rain or shine race is expected to start promptly at 8:30 a.m. with a kids fun run about 15 minutes before the actual race. Online registration at elitefeats.com will remain open until the start of the race Saturday morning. Packet pickup and race-day registration begins the morning of the race at 7 a.m. and runs until 8:15 a.m. at the Westhampton Beach Village Marina, just steps from where the finish line is. A runner’s raffle will be held after the awards ceremony at ... by Staff Writer

If the Shoe Fits, Should I Buy It for Pickleball?

Pickleball shoes have hit the market, big time, this summer. On the East End, we’re ... by Vinny Mangano

HCBL Stars Set to Battle ACBL’s Finest in Sag Harbor Showdown

The Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League will play its 12th All-Star Game this Saturday, July 12, ... 9 Jul 2025 by Drew Budd

Jonny Wilson Returns To Win 34th Annual Firecracker 8K

After finishing as runner-up at last year’s Firecracker 8K, Jonny Wilson returned to the 34th ... by Drew Budd