By Dylan Butler and Joseph Manniello
With a non-league record of 4-7, it’s hard to think that Bayside should be considered a contender for the PSAL Class A softball championship.
But glance past the record and at the opposition and it’s clear the Commodores are among a handful of teams that could be bringing the hardware home in June.
Bayside coach Steve Piorkowski purposely scheduled powerhouses such as Preston, Holy Trinity, Mary Louis, Molloy and St. Francis Prep as well as defending PSAL champion Midwood and Murry Bergtraum.
The Commodores are led by pitcher Annel Sanchez, shortstop Gayle Silverstein and second baseman Dayna Navatta, and their convincing 7-1 win over Murry Bergtraum Monday has Piorkowski believing this year’s team can make a deep playoff run.
“We have a lot of new kids and many are learning very quickly,” he said. “The non-league losses have been valuable.”
Losing its star pitcher, Meghan Wooley, to graduation, chances at advancing deeper into the postseason for Francis Lewis may depend on the arms of senior Jennifer Smith and sophomore Camille Sedayao.
“If they put the ball over the plate, the defense will take care of the rest,” said second-year coach Manny Solomon, who also is expecting strong performances from Jessica Gerloven and twin sisters Stephanie and Catherine Alves.
Melinda Carrion, the team’s lone windmill pitcher, is ineligible and that doesn’t bode well for a young Cardozo team coming off a 3-11 league finish.
Despite the inexperience, head coach Larry Alberts points to a young defensive infield as the Judges’ strongest point, highlighted by freshman Laura Guzman.
“She’s a name you’re going to see in the future,” he said, “Guaranteed.”
Howie Furman takes over at Townsend Harris after longtime coach Larry Cerulo retired and has one of the best batteries in the city with pitcher Alyssa Wick and Coppin State-bound catcher Patricia Pabon.
Also back for the Hawks, who lost to New Utrecht in the second round of the playoffs last year, is Katherine Incantalupo, who moves from the outfield to shortstop, and third baseman Jessica Grodzki.
“In softball, the pitcher and catcher are so very important,” said Furman, whose team lost to Madison in a non-league game and beat Cardozo, 17-3, in its division opener. “And fortunately we have a very good pitcher and catcher.”
Bryant had the deepest playoff run of any team in last year’s playoffs, falling to Tottenville in the semifinals. The Owls are also the team hit hardest by graduation, losing their outstanding battery and the right side of their infield.
Sandy Tejada has made the transition from third base to pitcher and has already tossed a no-hitter. Also back for the Owls is Nina Chao and Alma Pupovic.
Finishing just 5-9 in league play last season, John Adams has already continued its struggling ways against division foes, losing to Bayside, Francis Lewis and Cardozo by a combined score of 40-5.
With six seniors and 10 juniors returning, experience will be the key to a successful campaign.
After losing in the PSAL ‘B’ quarterfinals the past two seasons, Beach Channel is no longer content with just qualifying for the postseason. With strong hitting and solid pitching by Jody Vitale — who threw a no-hitter against Far Rockaway April 2 — the Dolphins are looking to further extend their playoff run.
“We make the playoffs every year,” head coach Robert Antonio said. “We’re looking forward to hitting the next step.”
Although this season will be a learning experience, first-year Van Buren coach Rachel Sand-Winstein is optimistic, saying the team’s goal is to make the playoffs.
“Next year we want to move back to Division A,” she added.
Van Buren's starting pitcher — freshman Hayley Pine — may make that happen.
“In two or three years she’s going to be pitching no-hitters, going to blow them away,” Sand-Winstein said. “She’s one to watch.”
After the team lost in the ‘B’ quarterfinals last year to finalist Richmond Hill, much of blue-collar Newtown is back, which could make for an even deeper run.
“They’re a solid group and they’re a veteran group of hard workers,” said fourth-year coach Wayne Crawford, whose killer non-league schedule includes perennial ‘A’ powerhouses Bayside, Townsend Harris, Bryant and Francis Lewis.
Back for Newtown, which started the season 3-0 in Queens and beat Adams from the ‘A’ division, is starting pitcher Erika Collado, catcher Katelyn Ranzie, centerfielder Annie Wu, shortstop Laura Ulloa and third baseman Kathy Gorman.
Robert F. Wagner is 1-0, scoring four runs in the seventh inning to beat John Bowne March 30. And according to fifth-year coach James Gildea, that's already an improvement from last year when the Panthers struggled, finishing 6-9 in Queens III-B.
“We will be able to score a lot of runs this year,” Gildea said. “We’re a very young team this year but we’re hoping for eight wins.”
While there are eight newcomers, veterans Nicole Sims, a senior shortstop, junior pitcher Diane Krauss, second-year third baseman Angela Deleo and junior first baseman Brittany Purcell provide the leadership.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
