By Dylan Butler
Their season had just ended and for some, so too their high-school career. But all was fine with the St. Francis Prep softball team Tuesday afternoon. Despite a 4-1 loss against St. John the Baptist in a CHSAA state semifinal at Wagner College on Staten Island, there were no tears. Just plans to meet up at Applebee’s.
That’s because the Terriers had already accomplished their goal for the season when they beat rival Archbishop Molloy to win the Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan title last Thursday.
“It was just so satisfying winning the Brooklyn/Queens championship,” St. Francis Prep coach Ann Marie Rich said.
Once Prep gave up three runs in the third, a victory was nary impossible. That’s because SJB pitcher Olivia Galati, who has drawn interest from Fordham, St. John’s and Hofstra, tossed three perfect games and five no-hitters this season and throws a rise that is impossible to hit.
But St. Francis Prep (18-3) did what no team on Long Island could do this season — it scored a run off Gulati during regulation.
“Wow, wow, I did not even know that,” said Hofmann, who goes to the same pitching coach as Gulati. “That’s impressive.”
Nicole Weinman, whose double was one of the hardest hit balls Gulati gave up all season, advanced to third on a Bianca Pappas bunt and then scored on a passed ball for the Terriers’ lone run in the fifth inning.
Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at dbutler@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
