Softball: Marlboro erupts late to beat Seaford, advancing to the Class B state semifinals

In evaluating a team and projecting what its ceiling might be each season, easily measured are the clear-to-see things like talent and past success. But, what often isn't revealed until put to the test is composure.

It's difficult, if not impossible, to determine with certainty how a group of athletes will perform under pressure, when a defiance of the odds is required. When the possibility of elimination becomes real.

"The core last year was a group that had been building together for years, we knew how good they were, and they finally got the chance to get there," Marlboro softball coach Ray Leduc said of his team reaching the state semifinals last spring after the pandemic delayed what seemed inevitable.

"This season, we only had one starter returning to the same position and there were more variables. We didn't know what to expect."

But what we've learned in recent weeks, as the Iron Dukes again made their way to the state final four, is how steady and imperturbable this squad is. The talent was obvious in April, but the postseason has revealed their mettle.

Leah Gunsett again was unflappable Saturday, pitching a shutout and delivering a three-run double as Marlboro erupted late for a 5-0 win over Section 8's Seaford in a Class B regional final at Farmingdale State College.

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The Dukes (18-2) advance to the state semifinals and will face Section 5's Wellsville on Friday, 4 p.m. at Moriches Athletic Complex in Suffolk County.

"It was a team victory with good pitching and defense keeping it scoreless, and offense getting big hits late," Leduc said. "You need those collective efforts when you get this far into a season."

There's that ol' saying about pressure making diamonds.

Gunsett allowed four hits and struck out seven, twice escaping jams in the earlier innings to keep the Long Island champions off the board.

"She's been amazing," Leduc said of the junior, who became their full-time starter this season and has allowed only a run in four playoff games. "That's especially impressive after you get into regionals, seeing the best teams from other sections. Tough situations don't bother her."

But Marlboro's lineup struggled similarly against Seaford ace Skyler Secondino, missing opportunities, including leaving the bases the loaded in the first and second innings.

That is, until the top of the sixth when the Dukes did all their scoring. Madison Gibney and Kalista Birkenstock each singled and Lily Sullivan reached on a defensive blunder, loading the bases.

Ella Leduc drove in the first run on a fielder's choice then, with two outs, Gunsett lashed a double off the fence in left that cleared the bases. Taylor Castellani followed with a single that scored courtesy runner Mia Verdi, creating the margin.

Gibney went 2 for 4 and Birkenstock was 1 for 1 with four walks and three steals, including her 40th of the season. Secondino had pitched six consecutive shutouts for Seaford (14-11).

This followed Marlboro's dramatic 1-0 walkoff win in the subregional. Here, Seaford was the "home" team, competing in a venue about 10 minutes from its town, and the Dukes had to avoid a late-game heartbreak.

"They were definitely excited about the win, but not overly so," Ray Leduc said of his team's reaction. "Their goal from the start has been to get farther than we did last year. So, in their minds, winning these games was part of the plan."

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4826, Twitter: @StephenHaynes4