SYOSSET, N.Y. — Ending both a memorable season and the accomplished career of starting pitcher Janelle Boyd, Archbishop Molloy’s softballers finally hit a wall on May 26. They were bounced by St. Joseph by the Sea in the state semifinals, and a colossal walk-off hit was largely responsible.
St. Joseph is the best-rounded team Molloy has faced all year, and starting pitcher Amanda Barrese proved a worthy adversary for the Stanners’ Boyd; they had previously combined to concede only six hits the last time the starters matched up. The presence of two powerful pitchers on Tuesday meant that bunts and advanced baserunners would win or lose the contest, and indeed it was the Vikings who were slightly better at small ball throughout their 4-3 victory.
Molloy was down 3-2 entering the seventh inning and managed to tie. But in the bottom frame, home-team St. Joseph hit a deep fly ball to right-centerfield that Stanners head coach Maureen Rosenbaum knew right away could not be caught. Jackie Bonamassa, on second base, scored the winning run off of Jackie Kelly’s hit, and the Vikings went on to the state title game, which they ultimately lost to St. John the Baptist.
“We knew once it came off the bat and went over their heads, that was the game,” Rosenbaum said.
For the players, the skin-of-their-teeth loss stung.
“We could have had them,” insisted Maria Palmeri.
“I wanted to break down and cry, [but] I’ll do it when I get home,” said Boyd. “I just can’t believe it’s over.”
Boyd’s reaction was due to more than the ‘L’ on the Stanners’ box score. May 26, win or lose, marked the last day of the current team’s existence, as seven seniors leave Molloy for good this summer. As Monday’s consolation game wound down, the team’s thoughts were mostly of the previous four years, punctuated by last week’s Diocesan championship and the red imitation champagne that flowed in the dugout.
“We’re more than just a softball team,” said Palmeri. “A lot of the girls have grown together.”
Palmeri started in the Stanners’ consolation game, played against St. Mary’s of the Buffalo Diocese. Molloy dropped the contest 4-2, just two hours after its loss in the semifinal.
There was considerable value in watching Palmeri start, as she is a favorite to take the graduating Boyd’s place as Stanners ace next year. The freshman can hit, too: Her extra-inning RBI double in the Diocesan championship had essentially reserved a spot for Molloy on Monday’s schedule.
“It would be hard to fill Janelle’s shoes,” Palmeri said. “She’s a really good pitcher.”
