On Friday, May 4, a day which promised thunderstorms in the afternoon but instead brought bright sunshine and intense heat, the Hicksville High School Lady Comets Varsity Softball team played their last home game against the Baldwin Bruins, and won the game with a final score of 4 to 3 in a conference game.
Before the start of the game, there was an opening ceremony, which is a yearly tradition to recognize the seniors from the varsity team who are graduating this June. Taking place in the center of the infield, coach Rich Hinnerschietz and assistant coach Jason Surdi called each of the seniors out to the center of the field. Members of the team, including team captain Marisa Ciriello, presented each of the graduating seniors with a bouquet of flowers, after coach Hinnerschietz, or “H”, as he is known, made a short speech of gratitude to the seniors for a job well done.
The emotional ceremony, which has taken place at every final home game for quite some time, was videotaped and photographed by the proud parents of the seniors. The dugout was resplendent in orange and black team color balloon bouquets for each of the seniors, and the team worked on posters of each of the graduating seniors, which were also hanging in the dugout. The previous night, each senior found a joke gift on their mailbox, as well as their homes decorated with toilet paper and a gift from their teammates to lighten the atmosphere. A bittersweet feeling hung in the air as the girls went on to play their final game on home turf.
This year, Hicksville Lady Comets Softball Team said goodbye to the following players: Ashley Longo (pitcher, outfield), Emily Tuszynski (several positions, including second base), Elizabeth Rilling (catcher), Jackie Opitz (outfield) and Allie Cimino (outfield). It will be quite a loss to the team, but the seniors are wished continued success as they leave high school behind and move forward to college and greener pastures.
After the handshake at the end of the game, the Lady Comets took their victory lap. It was incredibly poignant to watch, as this would be their final victory lap on their home field. It is a fondest wish, as parents of the remaining members of the Lady Comets Varsity softball team, that Ashley, Emily, Elizabeth, Jackie, and Allie have much success in their future endeavors.
