The East Islip softball team felt like it had unfinished business this season.

After making it out of last year’s elimination bracket, East Islip lost an extra-innings heartbreaker in the Suffolk County championship game.

Back in the title game on Monday, pitcher Caitlin Ropiak made sure that her team went home with a championship plaque.

The freshman struck out six in a two-hitter to lead top-seeded East Islip to a 2-0 win over No. 2 Smithtown West in the Suffolk Class AA championship game at Martha Avenue Park in Bellport. East Islip secured its fourth county title and first since 2022.

Things got interesting for Ropiak in the top of the seventh inning, as she issued a four-pitch leadoff walk to Brianna Frayler and fell behind 2-and-0 in the count against Gianna Portigiano.

But she didn't flinch.

“I was relaxed because my team had made all the defensive plays for me the entire game,” Ropiak said. “I knew whatever I was gonna do, they had my back. I was feeling pretty confident.”

Ropiak induced a fielder’s choice groundout before recording a strikeout for the second out of the inning. Fittingly, Gabrielle Guttieri then hit a hard grounder to shortstop Lexi Kneisel, who fielded it cleanly and fired to Kayla Varga at first for the final out, leading to a party in the circle.

“I was praying it was coming to me,” said Kneisel, who had eight putouts. “I was ecstatic, it felt amazing. We came here last year and were cut short, so we finally got what we came here for.”

East Islip (19-7) will face Glen Cove (14-10) in the Long Island championship/regional semifinal on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Farmingdale State.

Ropiak walked to start the bottom of the second inning and scored the first run on Alyssa Corso's double to leftfield. Kneisel hit a leadoff single in the third and scored the second run on Marisa Renganeschi's double.

Coach Jason McGowan said that Renganeschi had an outstanding regular season but had been struggling in the playoffs.

“It felt really good to finally get out of my little slump,” Renganeschi said. “I’m glad I came up big for the team because they always have my back.”

Smithtown West starter Erin McDaid struck out 10 and allowed three hits in six innings.

“McDaid was awesome today,” McGowan said. “Beating her is tough. She’s one of the best pitchers we’ve faced since I’ve been coaching.”

Smithtown West (15-9) had sent East Islip to the elimination bracket with a 3-0 win on May 28 in the double-elimination playoffs. But EI worked its way back to the county finals and earned a 7-6 win over Smithtown West this past Saturday to force Monday’s winner-take-all game.

“Sitting back and watching them rush the circle, it’s the best,” McGowan said. “Just because we’re the No. 1 seed doesn’t mean we’re gonna win the county. Look at who we had to beat twice. That’s what I’m proud of, the resilience. No quit.”