By Joseph Staszewski
Bayside softball Coach Steve Piorkowski believes his lineup is deep enough that he could invert it and have similar success at the plate.
Watching the Commodores hit against rival Francis Lewis certainly bolstered his case. Cynthia Ponce, Taylor Moy and Courtney Hafkin, Bayside’s six, seven and eight hitters, went a combined 5 of 10 with four RBIs and scoring two runs in a 7–1 victory over the host Patriots during both teams’ regular season finales last Friday.
“It helped out a lot,” pitcher and cleanup hitter Hedi Gomez said of the lower half of the order’s batting success. “Top of the lineup was a little weak today, but the bottom of the lineup helped out.”
Bayside scored four times in the bottom of the first inning, in which Tara Bernstein first got on base by getting hit by a pitch. Twin sisters Emily and Hedi Gomez each drove in runs and Moy delivered a two-run, two-out single to quickly make it 4-0.
Moy, who also had an excellent defensive game, thought the fast start was important especially after the Commodores beat Lewis by a score of 2-0 in the teams’ first meeting.
“As long as we get out early and get an early lead on them and keep them down, anything helps,” she said.
Hafkin helped the Commodores (15-1) to add to their lead with a two-RBI double with two outs that scored Hedi Gomez and Ponce in the third inning to make it 6-0. An errant throw to third brought home Victoria Perez to provide the final margin.
Hedi Gomez took care of the rest from the mound. She allowed just two hits, five total base runners and struck out nine for the complete game win.
Piorkowski said she has developed into a dominant pitcher after giving up seven runs in the first two innings against Construction in late March. The number of walks and runs she has allowed has gone down since Gomez has become more poised. She doesn’t let one mistake bother her and lead to another.
“Because she is so much looser, she is putting the ball where she wants, hitters are having a tough time and she’s loose and she’s calm,” Piorkowski said.
She got some defensive assistance in the second inning when Selena Lallave was thrown out at home by Berstein trying to score from second on a single by Jessica Kovach to centerfield. The Patriots’ (9-7) lone run came in the bottom of the sixth when Christina Huerta crossed the plate after a high throw to second got past the centerfielder.
Bayside, which should be a Top 3 seed, heads into the post-season looking to compete for a city title with seven seniors who have been on the team since their freshman year.
A late season victory over defending champion Construction solidified the Commodores’ confidence that they can bring home a crown to conclude their careers.
“This is what we have been working for since the beginning,” Moy said.
