The girls varsity softball team soared to new heights during the 2024 season with their remarkable talent and unwavering determination. Led by their stellar lineup of student athletes, the team showcased their prowess on the field, finishing with a 15-4 record. Among the standout performers, senior Daisy Labella earned an All-Conference accolade. Alongside Labella, senior Elise Rudes distinguished herself with an All-County Honorable Mention, as her contributions to the team’s success were undeniable. Senior Eve Aponte’s stellar performance over the season secured her a spot in the All-County roster. Senior Lyla Mousouroulis and junior Caroline Brock further solidified the team’s dominance, earning All-County honors.
After losing to Baldwin in their first game of the regular season, the Vikings got on a hot streak. Huge wins over Jericho, Valley Stream, New Hyde Park Memorial and Wheatley gave them a huge momentum boost as they coasted into the midpoint of the season. Their success continued, as they took down South Side by a score of 6-2 to extend their winning streak to five games.
Unfortunately, the team did suffer a tough loss on April 13 on a walk-off single in a high scoring game against Valley Stream North by a score of 10-9. But, they got right back on track with a come from behind victory against Floral Park Memorial where they entered the final inning down 2-1 and managed to pull away and win the tough road game by a score of 3-2. They then went on to defeat Garden City also in a nail-biting 3-2 ballgame and Sewanhaka in a more resounding 14-6 victory. After two more wins, the team held a very respectable 10-2 record and were near the top of Class AAA. Then, they suffered a rough 14-1 loss against Ovideo, but the out of conference loss did not hurt their position in the conference standings. They followed the loss with four straight wins, including a key win 2-1 against Wheatley that extended the streak to three games, who were also near the top of the standings at the time. The team was in a good spot to clinch the conference championship after a 6-2 victory against South Side with huge support from the bat of Brock, who managed to collect three hits in four at bats and extend the win streak to four games.
“It felt great to have such a big impact on a great team win, one which set us up for a spectacular rest of the season,” said junior Caroline Brock.
However, a 4-2 loss in Garden City in their second to last game would jeopardize this, as it would certainly be a close finish down the stretch. The team’s journey came down to one final game against Sewanhaka at home. Even with their earlier loss, a win could still clinch them the conference. The team pulled off a decisive triumph over Sewanhaka, clinching the coveted title of co-conference champions with the 12-3 victory. Alex Miller led the team with four RBI’s to guide Port to a victory.
“Winning the conference was a huge accomplishment for us, it showed how all our hard work paid off,” said senior Eve Aponte.
As the season unfolded, each player brought their unique talents to the forefront, contributing to the team’s success in their own right. The first round of the playoffs showed this, as the team delivered a dominating 9-0 victory over Baldwin whilst on the road, moving them to the quarterfinals of the playoffs. Once again, Brock came through in the clutch with three hits, including a double in the third inning that began to break open the game for the Vikings.
“I just felt like we had incredible chemistry, and that was really what propelled us to do so well,” said senior Lyla Mousouroulis.
The season had an unfortunate and abrupt ending May 16 in Massapequa after being defeated by an extremely tough Chiefs team in the quarterfinals of the Nassau County Playoffs by a final score of 7-3. While the conclusion of the season may have arrived sooner than anticipated, the memories forged on the field and the accomplishments made will endure for a lifetime. As they bid farewell to the 2024 season, the girls varsity softball team can take pride in their accomplishments, knowing that they gave their all and left nothing to chance. As they reflect on their journey, one thing remains clear: while the season ended earlier than expected, the spirit and passion of the Vikings will remain, and they will return in the 2024-25 season with the ambition to repeat as conference champions.