By Anthony Bosco
The St. Francis Prep varsity softball team has started its season on the right foot, winning two games last week over perennial Brooklyn/Queens contenders Stellar Maris and The Mary Louis Academy.
Against Mary Louis on Thursday, the Terriers were led by pitcher Kristen McEvitt, who tossed a two-hitter and struck out 12 en route to a 1-0 victory.
“It was absolutely amazing,” said St. Francis Prep head coach Ann Marie Rich. “What a game. They were battling up until the seventh inning.”
McEvitt also had a hand in the team’s only run. In the top of the seventh inning, Marina Ysaac reached first on a bunt and stole second to bring McEvitt to the plate. The sophomore from Flushing doubled to bring home the game’s only run.
Mary Louis had a chance to tie or win the game in the bottom of the inning, as two errors and a single gave the Hilltoppers runners at second and third with no outs. McEvitt quelled the rally, striking out the next three batters to end the game.
The win came on the heels of the Terriers’ 9-1 win over Stella Maris to open league play. In that win, Karla Grabher, a junior from Bellerose, allowed just three hits while striking out a pair. McEvitt was 3-for-4 with two singles, a double and two RBIs, while Michelle Gutierrez, a sophomore from Fresh Meadows, was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
St. Francis Prep 21, St. Agnes 1. Karla Grabher pitched a four-hitter, striking out five. Diana Cuppini was 4-for-4 with a grand slam and seven RBIs, Michelle Gutierrez was 3-for-5 with two RBIs, as the Terriers improved to 3-0 in league play and 5-0 overall.
Christ the King 14. St. John’s Prep 2. Kristin Healy led Christ the King to the win with three hits and four RBIs. St. John’s Prep, coached by Donna Castillo, still has high hopes for the season despite an 0-2 start.
“If they would get the jitters out of their bodies they’d be a good team,” Castillo said of the Red Storm. “The play scared all the time.”
Led by junior captain Amy Mascia and seniors Joanna Chines and Robin Donach, St. John’s was slated to play back-to-back games against Stella Maris this week.
Stella Maris 10, St. John’s Prep 9. The Red Storm received solid play from pitcher Eleni Kalandanis and catcher Amy Masca, but lost this back-and-forth battle in the bottom of the seventh.
St. Agnes 8, Stella Maris 5. Freshman Stephanie Worko powered St. Agnes, coached by Francis Leary, to its first win of the league season Thursday. Worko had two hits and two RBIs in the win for St. Agnes, now 1-1 in league play.
Mary Louis 18, St. John’s Prep 1. The Hilltoppers opened the season with a drubbing of the Red Storm before falling to Prep Thursday.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130.
