On this day 15 years ago, the softball team topped Pierson/Shelter Island, 4-1, to clinch the League VIII Championship, the first in program history.

Juanita Gonzalez pitched a two-hitter with 16 strikeouts to carry the Bears. The junior phenom, who went on to finish the season with 306 Ks, started the game with nine straight strikeouts and retired her first 11 batters before an error and a single in the 4th plated the Whalers’ only run.

Gonzalez also helped at the plate with an RBI while Lisa Cook notched 3 hits and an RBI. The Bears hung two runs in the 1st and 4th innings and that would be the only scoring that was required during Gonzalez’s dominant performance.

At the close of Gonzalez’s All-State season, she led Suffolk in strikeouts (306), tied for 6th in wins (12), and tied for 3rd in home runs (5).

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2004 League VIII Standings

1.	Stony Brook	12-7
2.	Port Jeff	11-8
3.	Southold/Greenport	8-11
3.	Mattituck	8-11
5.	Pierson/Shelter Island	6-14
6.	Smithtown Christian	5-14
7.	Mercy	3-17

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