Marlboro High School’s Taylor Felicello celebrates as she runs home to score the winning run in the Class B state title game on Sunday against Windsor.
Marlboro High School’s Taylor Felicello, left, hugs Ashley Votta after Votta hit the game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning in the Class B state title game against Windsor on Sunda in South Glens Falls.
SOUTH GLENS FALLS – There were many reasons the Marlboro High School softball team was excited on Sunday.
Marlboro High School’s Ashley Votta hits a game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning against Windsor in the Class B state title game on Sunday In South Glens Falls.
Walking off victorious against Windsor. The thrill of making history; winning the first-ever New York state Class B title in program history. Meeting a goal set at the beginning of the season.
But for four of the Iron Dukes, it meant even more.
“I feel like beating (Windsor) was the best part,” senior infielder Ashley Votta said.
Votta, along with junior center fielder Taylor Felicello, senior pitcher Cassie Lapointe and senior shortstop and outfielder Amber Mianti, were members of the Marlboro softball team three years ago, when the Iron Dukes reached the state final and lost to Windsor of Section 4.
Three years later, the Iron Dukes made up for it.
“It’s incredible. I mean, (Windsor) is an awesome team,” Lapointe said. “So the fact that we were able to beat them this time is amazing. There is no better feeling.”
The win came with a twist of irony. In the 2013 state final, Windsor handed Marlboro a 2-1 loss. The Iron Dukes beat Windsor by the same score at Moreau Recreational Park.
Although coach Ryan Naccarato wasn’t standing at the helm of the team in 2013 — Jennifer Veronesi was — he called it “only right” that his team returned the favor.
“Three years ago we lost to Windsor 2-1. Three years later we beat Windsor 2-1,” the coach said. “Much better outcome this time.”
The better results were a product of maturity, work and growth.
“I just think we’ve grown as a team,” said Felicello, who scored the winning run in the seventh inning on an RBI single off Votta’s bat. “We’ve just worked on hitting every day and gotten better. It finally paid off and we got the victory.”
Lapointe agreed, and cited teamwork as another reason the Iron Dukes were able to emerge as state champions.
“We’ve had the same group of girls for the past four years, so we’ve all matured together and all helped each other get better in the game,” she said.
Windsor not only won the Class B state title in 2013, but also won in 2011, 2008 and 2004.
But this year was the Iron Dukes’ turn. Their turn at glory. Their turn at a community celebration.
“I’m happy for the school, the girls and the athletic department,” Naccarato said. “It just fell into place this year.”
A.J. Martelli: amartelli@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4836, Twitter: @AJM_PoJoSports