With the wind whipping and the temperature dipping, the Bayside Lady Commodores seemed like the only team in the mood for a ballgame.
Bayside’s starting nine pummeled the squad from John Bowne High School, 21-3, at Bayside High School Field on Friday, March 26.
After allowing one run in the top of the first, the Lady Commodores (2-0) never looked back and never let up, unleashing an offensive outburst that saw them score 15 runs in the bottom of the second against the Lady Wildcats (0-2).
Commodores’ coach Stephen Piorkowski said that his girls overcame the windy conditions by simply waiting for their pitches and driving the ball.
“We hit the ball hard and got plenty of legit base hits,” said Piorkowski. “When we hit like this, the weather makes no difference at all.”
However, the Commodores did receive help from some poor play in the field by John Bowne. During that 15-run second inning, the Lady Wildcats committed no less than three errors, including a crucial drop in the outfield that cost them three runs.
It was more support than junior pitcher Kaitlyn Klein needed, as she tossed a two-hitter; striking out eight overwhelmed Wildcats in four innings of work.
In her first two games this season, Klein is 2-0 with a miniscule .78 earned run average (ERA) and a no-hitter in her first game of the season against Townsend Harris on March 23. The righty slinger is also making all of the necessary mid-inning adjustments; altering her pitches to fit the volatile March weather.
“The wind was a little difficult at first,” said Klein of the gusty field conditions during the game against John Bowne. “I adjusted to the wind by throwing low and making them chase the ball.”
Bayside now goes on spring break, with their next game coming against Public School Athletic League (PSAL) juggernaut Tottenville of Staten Island on April 9.
The six-time defending PSAL champion Pirates are 2-0 and heavily favored to grab their seventh title, but Coach Piorkowski said that his team is hungry and ready to make a run at the crown.
Finishing a disappointing 10-6 last season in fourth place, the Commodores are looking to get back to where they feel they belong; the top of the Queens ‘A’ division.
“We are throwing strikes and we have outscored our first two opponents 30-3,” said Piorkowski. “We need to keep it rolling, but so far so good.”
