By Mitch Abramson
It’s up to debate which was the more formidable opponent for Bayside Monday: the rain-soaked conditions or Francis Lewis’ softball team. Aided by the Texas Turf that prevented the game from being canceled, Bayside showered Francis Lewis with four runs in the first inning and four runs in the sixth to prevail, 11-1, over the Patriots Monday.
Bayside’s senior pitcher, Annel Sanchez, whose profile has risen almost as steadily as her offensive statistics, struck out five, allowed four hits and gave up one earned run in a six-inning complete game that ended because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Sanchez, who is tied for the division lead with three home runs and 19 hits with Lehman’s Crystal Bravo, went 3-for-4 and scored four runs in the win. Gayle Silverstein went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs, and Shakia Woods, sixth in the division in RBIs, also drove in a run for Bayside, which leads Francis Lewis by a game in the Queens A division.
Bayside (13-3, 8-1 Queens A), the quarterfinal loser the past two years in the PSAL A playoffs, may have the offensive equipment and a star pitcher in Sanchez to improve on last season’s results.
“I don’t want to boast,” said Commodores coach Stephen Piorkowski, in his 12th year at the helm, “but I believe we could have the best offensive team in the city. Softball is a funny game because if you’re making plays and you have a dominant pitcher, you usually win. In softball, four runs is monumental. I’m an Earl Weaver type of manager in that I play for singles, doubles and triples, whatever it takes to move the runners over.”
Case in point is Sanchez, who used to bunt more often than she would swing for the fences. A late bloomer to softball who competed in gymnastics until she tore ligaments in her neck during an event in 2002, Sanchez will be relied on by Piorkowski to pitch the remainder of the season to compete for the division title and secure a high seeding in the playoffs.
Francis Lewis (14-2, 8-2 Queens A) will try and avenge Monday’s loss when both teams meet Saturday at Bayside, but even if the Patriots win, Bayside will have taken two out of three games to win the head-to-head matchup and clinch the division, a fact that prompted Francis Lewis’ coach, Manny Solomon, to bemoan Monday’s rainy weather.
“Both teams were playing under the same conditions,” Solomon said. “It was misty and raining the whole day. The difference was that we don’t have the pitching that Bayside has. We rely more on our defense to win games and the conditions for the game were not great for fielding.”
Newtown 9, Grover Cleveland 4. Erika Collado struck out eight in a complete-game win for Newtown (8-0, Queens II-B) Saturday at Grover Cleveland, which fell to 4-3 in the division.
Grover Cleveland 26, Renaissance 13. Jillian Miller went 4-for-6 with seven RBIs for Cleveland at Flushing Meadow Park Friday. Renaissance dropped to 0-9 in Queens II-B.
Francis Lewis 14, John Adams 0. Tiffany Hernandez went 2-for-4 with four RBIs for Francis Lewis (8-2, Queens A) at Centerville Field Friday, and John Adams fell to 0-9 in the division.
Franklin K. Lane 28, Long Island City 18. Davika Ramtahal drove in six runs for Lane (7-2, Queens II-B) Friday at Long Island City, which dropped to 3-5 in the division.
Forest Hills 32, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts 0. Jasmine Valle knocked in five runs for Forest Hills (4-2, Queens II-B) at the Maurice Avenue Field Friday. Frank Sinatra fell to 1-5 in the division.
John Bowne 15, Jamaica 5. Gloria Fernandez struck out 12 and allowed four hits in a complete-game win for John Bowne (6-2, Queens III-B) at home Friday. Jamaica dropped to 2-6 in the division.
Robert F. Kennedy 13, Thomas Edison 1. Erica Gruner hit a home run and drove in two runs for Kennedy (4-2, Queens III-B) at M Fajardo Playground Friday as Edison fell to 0-7 in the division.
William C. Bryant 10, Benjamin Cardozo 0. Melissa Pena drove in three runs for Bryant (6-3, Queens A) at home Friday as Cardozo dropped to 1-8 in the division.
CHSAA
St. Francis Prep 9, St. Agnes 0. Christine Hunt tossed a three-hitter, striking out five, Mary Anne Diehm was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Christina Reilly tripled and drove in two runs for St. Francis Prep (9-5, 7-3 CHSAA).
Stella Maris 5, Christ the King 2. Jackie Frank hit a first-inning grand slam and Katie Scotko tossed a one-hitter with six strikeouts for Stella Maris (8-4, 6-3 CHSAA). Christ the King falls to 3-9, 1-6.
Molloy 21, St. Agnes 0. Amanda Ruecker pitched a no-hitter, striking out 11, and Kristen Connor hit two triples and had three RBIs for Molloy (10-3, 8-1 CHSAA).
Reach reporter Mitch Abramson by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 130.
