By Joseph Staszewski
Victoria Perez didn’t flinch when Bayside’s lead was first in jeopardy, or when it was trickling away against Francis Lewis.
The junior, in her first season as the Commodores’ ace pitcher, navigated her way in and out of jams in the third and fifth inning. Then, after giving up two runs in the seventh, she stranded what would have been the tying run at first with two outs. Perez’s toughness helped give Bayside an important 5-4 victory over Francis Lewis in PSAL Queens AA softball on April 30.
“I just knew my team would back me up,” said Perez, who was an outfielder last year. “It was an unbelievable feeling when I got that third out. It was exciting because we really wanted to win this game.”
She scattered seven hits and struck out five. The victory moves Bayside into second place, a game behind first-place Construction. The Commodores beat Francis Lewis in both of their meetings this season. Perez has been a big reason why.
“She has done an exceptional job,” first-year Bayside coach Andrew Cogliati said. “She’s come in and been the ace.”
Cogliati’s club grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a Francis Lewis throwing error. The Patriots then tied the score in the bottom of the frame on a two-run homer by Felicia Lopilato.
The Commodores (11-3) took control of the game with a three-run third inning. Junior first baseman Katherine Hanson smashed a two-run double and Mayra Sanchez brought her home with a double of her own.
“It was a big game,” said Hanson, who went three-for-four. “It was a little more nerve wracking. I had to do it and it felt great.”
Francis Lewis (10-3), on the other hand, struggled to get the big hit. It left the bases loaded with two outs in the third and runners on first and second with two away in the fifth. The Patriots finally broke through as Jessica Kovach and pitcher Diana Ferreira delivered RBI singles, but Perez got a pop-up to end the rally.
“We blew chances in this game,” Francis Lewis coach Bryan Brown said. “We had two or three chances in this game to really do something and we didn’t.”
Brown got another reason to be upset after the game when he took issue with Bayside having its post game meeting and celebration behind the pitching circle. Lewis was trying to have its own gathering in the circle, but Bayside saw their rivals there and continued anyway. Brown started yelling at the Bayside bench as the team walked back.
“Play the game the right,” Brown said. “These girls know the game. It’s doesn’t matter what the sport is, you just don’t celebrate on the other team’s [field.]”
Cogliati apologized for his team’s actions and said he got caught up in the moment.
“I should have know better,” he said. “I feel bad. It is something that I regret happening and wish I could take it back.”
Bayside, which made it to the semifinals last season, can build off this win and make a run at a division title. The Commodores and Francis Lewis both have games left with first-place Construction, so the division title is wide open.
“It was a serious game,” Hanson said of the win. “We played as hard as we could, and I think we deserved it.”
