Flushing falls short in ‘B’ final

Extreme uncontrollable circumstances can force the most determined athlete to make sacrifices in hopes of self-preservation. However, while high school sports seem to never create a lack of colorful stories, those involved often overlook the devotion from adults such as Flushing Coach Mary Boyle.
With an unexpected heat wave blanketing the tri-state area and sun splashing the softball field at Long Island University in Brooklyn, those present and not in uniform wisely wore weather-advisable outfits. Boyle, placing a huge emphasis on superstition, however, sported a hooded Flushing sweatshirt that withstood a morning/afternoon doubleheader.
Fortunately, for Boyle the hoodie lasted the whole day but to her dismay would not be covered in the celebratory cold water that is dumped on the victorious coach. Flushing won 6-5 to hand Manhattan Center its first loss of the double-elimination tournament but suffered an 11-4 loss to end their season a few hours later.
“I don’t want to use the heat as an excuse,” Boyle said, “but either way I’m proud that we were able to make it to the finals for the first time as a program.”
“I won’t forget being part of Flushing history,” added senior shortstop Ruth Lugo, who along with all her teammates wore commemorative lamp black stripes on their cheeks to keynote their post-season victories. “Not many people can say they were part of a championship game.”
Flushing surrendered a 5-1 lead the bottom of the seventh of the first game in part because of a questionable call by an umpire staff unfamiliar with the rules of the field. Flushing catcher Brittany Brown made a stupendous catch on a pop foul before crashing into the fence. However, the home plate umpire overturned his own initial out call after ruling Brown caught the ball out of play.
Flushing rebounded by scoring in the top of the eighth, and in doing so, provided even more reason for Boyle to don the hoodie, even if the ending was not to their liking.
“I’ve been wearing it all season,” Boyle said. “The kids would kill me if I didn’t wear it today. I told them that if I pass out on third that it’s a signal.”