Molloy’s Rosenbaum named All-City coach 2011

By MARC RAIMONDI and JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

One team returned to the top after a year’s absence, one remained there and another made history.

Tottenville won its seventh PSAL city championship in eight years after falling last season to James Madison. The Pirates beat the Knights 1-0 in 10 innings in the final, defeating Kayla Hill, the city’s best pitcher.

In the CHSAA, Archbishop Molloy won its first state title while the school celebrated its 10-year anniversary of having girls’ athletics. The Stanners won a third straight Brooklyn/Queens title before completing something they have been striving toward for a decade.

Poly Prep managed to win a sixth straight NYSAISAA championship despite losing four Ivy League games and finishing third in the division.

All-City softball Player of the Year: Kayla Hill, James Madison

Last year as a junior, Hill gave up just two runs in eight innings to beat Tottenville in the PSAL Class A city championship, earning Madison its first-ever title. What could she possibly do for an encore?

Hill actually somehow pitched better in this year’s final. The Pace University-bound flamethrower allowed no earned runs and scattered eight hits against the city’s best lineup, dancing out of jams with aplomb, in 9 2/3 innings. The one problem was that Madison’s lineup didn’t hit and Tottenville took back the championship with a 1-0, 10-inning victory.

The 5-foot-2 sprite was as dominant as ever this season, giving up just one earned run the entire year. In the inaugural NYC Mayor’s Cup, she earned MVP honors by striking out 12 batters in five innings to lead the PSAL team to a 6-2 win over the CHSAA.

“Without her, we’re almost an ordinary team,” Madison Coach Jeff Meltzer said. “With her, we almost win the city championship again.”

All-City softball Coach of the Year: Maureen Rosenbaum, Archbishop Molloy

It was the best anniversary present she could ask for. Rosenbaum has been at the helm at Molloy for all 10 years of the program’s existence. She finally reached the pinnacle with the school’s first-ever CHSAA state title. As the majority of her teams do, the Stanners peaked at the end of the season becoming an unstoppable force at the plate en route to winning CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens for the third straight year and the city crown for the first time since 2007.

“This is ultimately the win that you want,” Rosenbaum said. “This is what we worked for all season.”

Rosenbaum can be tough on her players when need be, but is always quick to express her confidence in them to get the job done. No matter how big a spot, her calming influence led to championship plays and contributions up and down the roster.

“I have total confidence in them,” Rosenbaum said.

First Team

SS Taylor Baggs, Moore Catholic

The senior, who will play women’s basketball at Caldwell College, was one of the city’s most consistent hitters and run producers. She never hesitated to sacrifice her body in the field as Moore won its first CHSAA Archdiocesan title since 2007.

P Katie Derby, St. Francis Prep

The Post University-bound senior led SFP to the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens final, pitching nearly every single inning this season. Derby, who also excelled with the bat, threw 13 hitless innings at one point.

3B Jackie Kelly, St. Joseph by the Sea

There may not be a better fielding third baseman in the city nor a more professional hitter. The Hartford-bound senior was also a force at the plate, batting .543 with 15 RBIs as Sea won a fourth-straight CHSAA Staten Island crown.

P Cheryl Lopez, Tottenville

The sophomore transfer was up to the challenge in her first year with the city’s top team. She pitched Tottenville into the PSAL Class A city championship game with three starts in three days, the latter a no-hitter of Francis Lewis in the semifinals. In the final, she pitched a three-hitter in 10 innings to down Madison.

CF Victoria McFarland, Tottenville

The city’s best all-around player, the Albany-bound senior did everything for PSAL city champion Tottenville. It was McFarland’s single in the title game that eventually scored Samantha Mattsson from first with the winning run.

SS Kate Miller, Fieldston

Miller is the best player in New York City that no one knows about. The junior superstar plays on a little-known team outside of the Ivy League, but is a true five-tool player. Miller has a host of Division I suitors interested in her services.

3B Laura Montalto, Preston

The Manhattanville-bound senior again lived up to her “Monster” nickname. Her feared bat and slick glove earned the Panthers a second-place finish in CHSAA Bronx/Westchester and she was a menace in the Archdiocesan quarters versus St. John Villa.

SS Nicole Palase, Tottenville

She started the season as the team’s ace, but eventually deferred that role to Cheryl Lopez. Palase’s defense at shortstop, probably the best in the city, was too good not to have here there and the St. Joseph’s University-bound slugger was equally adept at the plate.

P/SS Maria Palmeri, Archbishop Molloy

The C.W. Post-bound Palmeri put all her skills on display in the postseason. The junior allowed just a run in the CHSAA state final, was superb in the field and hit a mammoth home run in the city title game against Moore Catholic.

P Brittany Smith, St. John Villa

Smith pitched and hit the Bear to the season’s biggest upset by knocking off St. Joseph by the Sea in the CHSAA Archdiocesan semifinals. The CSI-bound senior has unmatched speed and played each game with unquestioned heart.

Second Team

3B Sydney Ginsberg, Horace Mann

The freshman started from Day 1 and was the best power hitter all year for the Ivy League champion Lions. The switch-hitter also provided excellent defense at the hot corner.

P Victoria Goldbach, Archbishop Molloy

Goldbach, a junior, tossed a gem for the Stanners in the first game of the Brooklyn/Queens final and city title game. After a rough start, she shut the door in a 6-5 state semifinal win over Kellenberg.

CF Danielle Locke, Susan Wagner

One of the best leadoff hitters in the city, Locke was a line drive and stolen base waiting to happen. The senior’s defense in center was fantastic, but her leadership is what set her apart from the rest.

3B Samantha Mattsson, Tottenville

The Queens College-bound senior was instrumental in Tottenville’s victories in the PSAL semifinals and final. She hit a long homer in the semis and scored the title-winning run in the championship game.

1B Dana Moss, Archbishop Molloy

Moss was impossible to get out during the Stanners’ title run. She had four hits in the CHSAA city title game and had three hits and two RBIs in the state final against Mount Mercy.

DP Taylor Moss, Archbishop Molloy

The freshman capped an incredible season with a memorable last two games. Moss, your prototypical power hitter, went 5-for-7 with seven RBIs in the state playoffs.

C Jennifer Palase, Tottenville

The New Haven-bound junior mixed being an excellent defensive catcher with excellent speed on the basepaths. One of the best leadoff hitters in the city, Palase also had serious pop in her bat.

P Britney Rodriguez, Construction

The freshman stormed onto the scene this season and quickly became one of the city’s best pitcher. The lithe lefty throws gas, but learned how to pitch, too, in leading Construction to the PSAL semifinals.

C Samantha Rodriguez, James Madison

Excellent at calling a game and even better at gunning down runners with her cannon for an arm, Rodriguez was critical to Madison ace Kayla Hill’s success. The junior also came up with big hits regularly.

CF Maria Scopellito, St. Joseph by the Sea

Scopellito was one of the city’s best leadoff hitters and center fielders. The Kean University-bound senior hit .472 with 17 runs scored and six RBIs as Sea again won CHSAA Staten Island.

Honorable Mention

SS Ashley Burke, Construction

P Jackie Cautela, St. Joseph by the Sea

SS Danielle Cervasio, St. Francis Prep

SS Gina Gerone, James Madison

P Blayse Halvorsen, McKee/Staten Island Tech

P Jocelyn Jimenez, Environmental Studies

P Priscilla Lallave, Francis Lewis

P Samantha Lallave, Francis Lewis

SS Kristina Mazzarisi, St. Joseph by the Sea

P Alyssa McDonald, Bishop Kearney

3B Shannon Minihane, Mary Louis