The Knights will miss the New York…
By Anthony Bosco and Dylan Butler
The Queens College baseball team took 2-of-3 from Philadelphia University this weekend, raising the team’s conference record to 13-11, but it is a case of too little too late as far as the playoffs are concerned.
The Knights will miss the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference postseason tournament, just out of the top four slots guaranteed a spot in the NYCAC playoffs, and were scheduled to finish up their league season Wednesday.
But against Philadelphia this weekend, Queens looked solid.
In the opener of the three-game set, the Knights pounded Philly 13-3, behind a complete game by pitcher Jarod Harling, who scattered eight hits and struck out seven. Pete Cavouto provided a bulk of the offense for Queens, going 3-for-5 with a triple, home run and two RBIs. Nick Gulotta added three hits, three runs, a home run and three RBIs.
In the nightcap on Friday, Philadelphia tattooed the Knights’ staff for 15 runs in a 15-6 defeat. Matt Derba was the lone bright spot for Queens, going 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs, two stolen bases and two runs scored.
In the series finalé Saturday, Queens again pounded Philadelphia for double-digits en route to an 11-0 win. But it was pitcher Keith Haack who was the story, striking out 17 while going the distance for the win, allowing just three hits and one walk.
Offensively, Cavouto blasted two home runs, a double, drove in three and scored three times. Vic Pantopoulos was 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored in the win.
Bridgeport 6, Queens 5. The Knights scored four times in the ninth inning, but the rally came up just short in the loss Thursday. Cavouto, Carlos Cruz and Pantopoulos each had two hits in the loss.
Queens 9, St. Thomas Aquinas 6. Haack got the win for the Knights last Tuesday, going six innings and allowing seven hits and three earned runs while fanning five. Cavouto and Mike Eddy were both 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Roberto Valdes was 2-for-3 with a double and a home run.
Fardella garners NEC honors again
Molloy grad Jason Fardella had another spectacular week, earning Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Week honors for a second straight week while leading St. Francis College over rival Long Island University Saturday.
The Ozone Park native struck out 15 in his eighth consecutive win, becoming the first pitcher in Terriers history to win eight games in a season. Despite allowing 10 hits, the junior hurler held the Blackbirds to two runs as St. Francis won 3-2 in eight innings in the front end of a doubleheader.
Fardella, who has been named NEC pitcher of the week three times this season, leads the conference with a 1.92 ERA and has struck out 39 batters over 29 innings in his last four conference starts.
Former St. Francis Prep standout Kasey Koslowski was also instrumental in the Terriers’ win as the senior catcher scored the game-winning run on Mike Molinini’s double in the eighth. In the nightcap the Ozone Park resident went 2-for-5 with four RBIs in the Terriers’ 11-7 win.
Martin grad Thomas named assistant football coach at Robert Morris
Jamaica native Ray Thomas, an August Martin grad, was one of three new assistant coaches named to the Robert Morris football staff by its head coach, former Jets coach Joe Walton. Thomas, who will be the defensive backs coach, joins Adam Sauers (offensive line) and Gare Mattes (receivers) as new Colonials coaches.
Thomas was named first team All-NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette and first team All-Northeast Conference as a strong safety at Robert Morris in 1999 and 2000. He made 240 tackles during his four-year career, leading Robert Morris in tackles in 1999 and 2000. He was part of four NEC championship-winning teams, two that were ranked No. 1 in NCAA I-AA Mid-Major in 1999 and 2000 and one that captured an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Bowl title in 1997.
Loukissas earns CUNY honors
Former Cardozo hoops star Vana Loukissas is making her mark on the softball diamond for Hunter College as the Flushing native earned CUNY Rookie of the Week honors, the league announced Monday.
The Hawks rightfielder went 9-for-12 with five RBIs, nine runs scored and seven stolen bases — including two of home — in five games. Loukissas is now batting .392 on the year.
SJU softball drops four over weekend
It was a tough weekend for the St. John’s softball team as the Red Storm lost a pair of games to local foe Long Island University Saturday and were swept by Virginia Tech in a Big East doubleheader at Mitchel Field Sunday.
The weekend started with an 8-0 pasting at the hands of LIU. The Blackbirds (33-13) scored four runs in the second and the fourth innings to cruise to an easy win. Gina Calabrese picked up the loss, allowing six runs — three earned — on eight hits while walking three with four strikeouts. The Red Storm didn’t help Calabrese out by committing six errors.
In the nightcap, Michele Crokus made her debut on the hill for St. John’s (28-29, 6-10), replacing sophomore Courtney Fitzgerald who missed a start with tendinitis in her wrist. LIU again jumped on the Red Storm early, scoring two runs in the top of the first. The Blackbirds added one run in the second, third and fifth innings to extend their lead to 5-0 en route to a 6-4 win.
The Red Storm continued their struggles Sunday against Virginia Tech. While Fitzgerald returned to the mound in the opening game, the St. John’s offense continued to struggle against a Big East opponent. The Red Storm managed just one run on four hits in a 2-1 loss in the opener.
St. John’s didn’t fare much better from the plate in the nightcap, again scoring just one run on five hits as the Red Storm again fell 2-1 to the Hokies (34-23, 10-8).
After hosting Connecticut in a doubleheader Saturday, the Red Storm wrap up their season with a pair of games against Syracuse Sunday. Both Big East doubleheaders start at noon.
Men’s Tennis
York 5, New York City Tech 4. Roman Smart won 10-6 at No. 3 singles for York (6-2, 4-2 CUNY) while Craig Copping won 10-4 at No. 2 singles for NYC Tech (2-6, 1-5).
