By Dylan Butler
Annabell Rodriguez didn't feel like a hero, not on Monday at least. The Van Buren catcher made a couple of mental errors in the VeeBees 2-0 win over Oyster Bay.
Against The Mary Louis Academy in the final of the Van Buren Holiday Tournament at Preller Field, Rodriguez more than made up for her mistakes as she made two outstanding defensive plays and belted the winning hit as Van Buren defeated the Hilltoppers, 1-0.
“She's our captain and she recognizes the fact that she was not so good yesterday,” Van Buren head coach John Felicciardi said of Rodriguez, who was named the game's MVP. “Today, she made all the plays behind the plate and got the big hit. I was real pleased with her performance.”
Both Tehmeena Afzal of Van Buren and Mary Louis' Kim Glauner pitched well as the game was played at a rapid pace. Glauner spoiled Afzal's bid for a third straight no-hitter with a double to left centerfield in the bottom of the fourth inning.
In the fifth, Marybeth Agate led off the inning for Mary Louis (10-5) by reaching on an error. Her sister Roseann Agate tried to advance the runner, but her bunt popped in front of the plate and was caught by a diving Rodriguez. An inning earlier, Rodriguez made another stab of Jenny Campuzano's foul pop-up.
“That bunt isn't caught and maybe it's first and third with one out,” said Mary Louis head coach Steve Contino. “It changes the whole inning.”
In the top of the seventh, it was Rodriguez' time to shine at the plate. After Jasmine Edwards led off with a single to left centerfield and reached second on a wild pitch, Rodriguez ripped Glauner's 0-1 pitch just over the head of Susan Posner in left field, as Edwards scored to put the VeeBees ahead, 1-0. It was the first back-to-back hits for Van Buren all game.
“I just knew with Jasmine on second I needed a hit to get her around,” Rodriguez said. “I would have been happy with anything.”
While Glauner pitched well, only allowing one run on five hits while striking out six, Afzal was that much better. The senior hurler mixed up her pitches well, keeping Mary Louis batters off balance with a wicked change-up followed, more often than not, by a blazing fastball. Afzal allowed just one hit, while striking out six.
“I just wanted to do my best, like any other day,” Afzal said. “This is probably the toughest team we've played all year. I know my team is behind me. We pick each other up.”
“She's one of the toughest pitchers around,” Contino said. “She got stronger as she went along.”
Van Buren improves to 17-0 on the season, marking the best start in school history. The VeeBees take on another Catholic powerhouse as Felicciardi's bunch faces St. Francis Prep at Preller Field Friday at 10 a.m.
Van Buren 2, Oyster Bay 0. Jasmine Edwards gave up a bloop single to lead-off the game, but that was all the offense Oyster Bay would muster as Edwards pitched a one-hitter, striking out 11 and walking three.
The VeeBees only had two hits off Oyster Bay's Bridget Borzilleri, who walked two in the first inning and allowed Maria Scalisi to score on a wild pitch. Cherise Soto added an insurance run with an RBI-single with two out in the sixth inning. Oyster Bay dropped to 2-8.
Van Buren also won the Madison Tournament last week, first by defeating New Utrecht, 9-2 and by stopping Madison, 14-1 in a mercy rule shortened game last Friday.
In the win over New Utrecht, Edwards pitched a two-hitter with 15 strikouts and Scalisi went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Scalisi was named MVP of the tournament, going 3-for3 in the final with an RBI. Nicole Santiago had three hits and two RBIs and Casey Paternoser had two hits and an RBI.
Bryant 15-14, Richmond Hill 5-4. Bryant swept a doubleheader last Thursday. Tanya Banzil had three triples and seven RBIs in the nightcap for the Owls (20-3).
Francis Lewis 18, Hillcrest 1. Victoria Meluzin went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored and Alyssa Schneebaum fanned 12 and went 2-for-3 for Francis Lewis (9-5, 4-3 Queens III). Lucy Oswald added a homer and two RBI for the Patriots.
Adams 19, Far Rockaway 8. Michelle Tusa went 3-for-5 with two home runs and Christina Bell went 5-for-5 with four RBIs and Michelle Ali was 4-for-4 with three RBIs. Adams improves to 5-1 in Queens II.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
