By The TimesLedger
Bernie Estevez Jr. SS Cardozo
Quite simply, the best PSAL shortstop in Queens. Estevez, a three-year switch-hitting starter and the team’s MVP last year, batted .436 with three home runs and 21 RBIs. Defensively, again, Estevez was nearly flawless. “He has the softest hands I’ve ever seen. He makes the difficult plays look easy,” said Cardozo coach Pete Douglas.
Jose Soriano Sr. SS John Adams
After playing almost every position on the diamond last year, Soriano was the Spartans’ everyday shortstop this season. Soriano, who had the team’s best arm and one of the quickest bats in the city, didn’t disappoint, batting .446. But Soriano, who is likely joining teammates Kervin King and Victor Santos at Globe Community College in the fall, truly excelled in the postseason, batting .529.
Mario Santiago Sr. P Francis Lewis
Santiago emerged from Jonathan Lewis’ imposing shadow this year and was impressive as the Patriots’ ace. The 6-foot-2 righty was 4-2 with a 0.97 ERA and struck out 40 in 36 innings. The three-year player, who will be at Queensborough Community College in the fall, pitched a three-hitter in a 3-2 win over Cardozo and shutout Bayside for a second straight year.
Anthony McCardy Jr. P Bayside
After sharing the spotlight with Roger Michel last year, McCarty was the go-to man this year for the Commodores and he was a strikeout machine, finishing fourth in the city with 68 in 52 innings. He was also tied with six others for most wins in the city with six. McCarty wasn’t too shabby at the plate either, batting .340 with 11 RBIs.
Landon Veissy Sr. C/DH Cardozo
Undeterred by Tommy John surgery, Veissy worked his way back into shape and into the Cardozo lineup. Another three-year starter, he was the first player ever named team captain as a junior. Veissy led the city with a .679 batting average, was fourth with 10 doubles and 11th with 25 RBIs. Veissy will play for former Cardozo standout Chris Reardon at Caudwell College in New Jersey next year.
Brian Berg Sr. P Van Buren
That Brian Berg had a 2.41 ERA on a team that went 3-15 and was blown out of many games is a testament to how good Van Buren’s senior hurler really is. Berg, who also batted .511 with 12 RBIs, fanned 51 in 32 innings for the struggling VeeBees. Berg, who was 1-5 on the mound and has three quality pitches, will play at Queens College next year.
Kervin King Sr. P/OF John Adams
Adams coach Glenn Beyer calls King, the “team MVP,” and considering the Spartans advanced to the PSAL semifinals, that’s saying a lot. In the absence of Mark Rios, who was sidelined most of the year to injury, King more than stepped up. He was 5-0 with a 2.20 ERA, striking out 41 in 41 innings. King also batted .333 with 17 RBIs in 54 at-bats.
Jose Diaz Sr. P Flushing
A year after helping lead Flushing to the PSAL ‘B’ title game at Shea Stadium, Diaz did his best to bring the Red Devils back there. In four playoff games, he improved on his .564 batting average to bat .667 with five RBIs. On the mound, Diaz was 2-1 with a 2.79 earned run average and 38 strikeouts in 20.1 innings and won his lone playoff game, allowing three earned runs while striking out nine in a complete-game victory.
Jorge Rivera Sr. P Richmond Hill
“The best kept secret in Queens,” was how Richmond Hill coach Greg Reo described Rivera before the season and the lefty hurler lived up to the title, quietly pitching brilliantly for the much-improved Lions. Always on the hill against the tougher teams on Richmond Hill’s schedule, Rivera was 3-3 with a 1.88 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 41 innings. Rivera, who will likely attend a junior college in the fall, also batted .468 with 16 RBIs.
TimesLedger PSAL Baseball All-Queens Second Team
Mike Lenzo Jr. P Cardozo
Ricky Perez Sr. P Cleveland
Luis Abreu Sr. P Richmond Hill
Edwin Tolentino Sr. 2B/OF Newtown
Brandon Plair Jr. P August Martin
Carlos Guzman So. 3B John Adams
Hendinson Baez Jr. P Bryant
Alex Cordero Jr. 1B John Adams
Kelvin Espinal Sr. P Lane
