Francis Lewis routs Cardozo

Francis Lewis entered this spring with sky-high expectations. Buoyed by Mary Louis transfer Angelica Farrell, a fire-balling windmill pitcher, and a solid group of hitters who had helped the Patriots win the Queens A championship the last two seasons, they expected their run of success to continue. Instead, they were quickly sent back to earth after absorbing an 8-2 bludgeoning at Bayside.
“That was a wakeup call,” Francis Lewis Manager Bryan Brown said. “We came in thinking we were going to run shop. We have been winning the division; it is not going to be a problem. After that game [we felt], maybe we’re not that good.”
Or maybe, they just needed a reminder of the necessary work it will take to earn another Queens crown. That loss, as much as any motivational speech or strenuous practice, has actually helped Francis Lewis, who, after taking care of Cardozo Friday afternoon, 15-4, have won three straight, and sit just a half game back of undefeated rivals Bayside and Townsend Harris.
“The last couple of games we got better,” Brown said. “Now we’re starting to gain confidence and build momentum.”
They are sure warming up offensively. They’ve averaged just under 11 runs per game since that early defeat. Chief among the reasons is junior Amanda Kesner, a converted shortstop who had three hits, three runs batted in and four runs scored in the victory. The cold weather was a difficult transition for Kesner, insofar as she had just returned from a spring break school trip to Italy.
“It’s always good to win in hard conditions,” she said. “It’s a sense of pride. A good team wins in bad conditions.”
“Since she’s come back,” Brown added, “she’s been more relaxed at the plate and she’s been driving the ball better.”
The coach has no complaints with his pitcher after this latest win, either. As she has been in all three victories, Farrell was particularly dominant against the Judges, allowing just three hits and two earned runs in addition to her four strikeouts that lowered her earned run average to a very respectable 3.37.
When the Flushing resident transferred into the Fresh Meadows school this fall, she didn’t know anything about the program. It was not until Farrell met her new coach and teammates that she learned about the winning tradition. Ironically, perhaps no Patriot is as important to continuing those winnings ways.
“Everyone’s glad she’s here,” Kesner said.