Few high school softball teams on Long Island can match the success Bayport-Blue Point has garnered dating back to 2023 when it captured Suffolk and Long Island Class A championships.

The Phantoms, 54-8 in their last 62 games dating back to that magical season, had a playoff berth wrapped up by late April and is looking to take a League VII crown into the postseason.

They’re led by five seniors, including four starters from the 2023 team, and improved to 13-0 May 1, thanks to an 11-5 victory at Babylon.

“Last year we had a great season, winning 21 games; we just didn’t pull through in the playoffs,” said BBP coach Nicholle Marchetta. “It’s going to be interesting when playoff time comes. Miller Place won the county title last year and didn’t graduate anyone. That’s the team to beat on paper, but we’re looking to go as far as we can. One game at a time.”

Senior Linda Edwards is a three-year starter playing her third position and thriving as shortstop. She’s played outfield and second base in previous seasons and tearing the cover off the ball as the Phantoms’ No. 2 batter. She’s hitting an eye-popping .707, with 21 RBIs and 31 runs, and also providing leadership.

Senior catcher Lianna McCormack is another two-way standout with a high softball IQ. Bayport’s cleanup hitter is raking at a .514 clip with 18 RBIs and handling a revamped pitching staff that features eighth-grader Delaney Felton (five wins, 38 strikeouts) and juniors Saran Swan (four wins) and Makayla Grauer (four wins.)

Marchetta feels the Phantoms boast one of the best center and left field combinations in all of Suffolk, with seniors Izzy Hurst and Kelly Graf. Hurst covers a ton of ground in center, has erased two runners at the plate, and ignites the offense from the leadoff spot. She’s hitting .512 with 29 runs. “Izzy is the best centerfielder I’ve ever coached,” Marchetta said. Graf, who bats third, is having a huge spring with a .500 average, five triples, 21 RBIs and 24 runs. Freshman Jayde McGowan has taken over as the full-time right fielder and has several multi-RBI games.

In addition to Edwards, the infield has senior Mia Zelenka (.545 avg., 22 RBIs, 19 runs), a returning starter at first base; hot-hitting sophomore Sarah Benedict (.571 avg, team-best 1.029 slugging pct.) at third base; and sophomore Abby Fuller at second.

In the circle, both Felton and Swan have earned shutouts among their victories. Felton beat Center Moriches, 9-0, on April 24, and struck out seven as Graf led the offense with a pair of RBIs. Swan blanked Mattituck/Greenport/Southold on April 10, fanning five in a 12-0 win and getting plenty of support from Zelenka and Benedict, who knocked in three runs apiece.