By Laura Amato
Queens softball made its presence known across the city this year as some of the best and brightest in the sport led their squads to championship berths and title victories.
St. Francis Prep captured the Brooklyn/Queens CHSAA title, while Mary Louis notched one of the program’s most successful regular seasons in the league.
In the PSAL, High School for Construction took just about everyone by surprise, as the young roster made it as far as the “A” championship game. Bayside, Francis Lewis and Benajamin Cardozo also notched solid springs.
Of course, there were plenty of players who made all of this success possible. Here are the players who were among the best during another stellar softball season in Queens:
All-Queens Coach of the Year: Marco Migliaccio, High School for Construction
The longtime Red Hawks coach knew his team had talent this season, but never quite expected them to accomplish as much as they did. The fresh-faced Construction squad cruised through league play, battled through some tough postseason games and made it as far as the PSAL “A” title game before falling to Tottenville. It was a tough way to end the season, but Migliaccio was the first to admit that just getting that far was more than he could have hoped for. The team will return nearly its entire roster next year and it seems safe to say Migliaccio will be expecting quite a bit come spring.
All-Queens Softball
First Team
P Monica Zhivanaj,
St. Francis Prep
The senior was a leader for the Terriers this season, finding ways to get outs when she had to, despite a 4.05 ERA during the regular season. Zhivanaj was a major part of her squad’s champinoship run, even contributing at the plate with a .371 average and 13 hits in 35 at-bats.
P Claudia Migliaccio, Construction
The freshman phenom didn’t let her age get in the way of production this spring, whether she was in the circle or at the plate. Migliaccio hit .500 during the regular season and .667 during the playoffs, connecting on a total of 29 hit sand 18 RBI. She also posted a 17-2 record as a pitcher, racking up 128 strikeouts.
P Victoria Perez, Bayside
The senior capped off her impressive high school career with her best effort yet, dominating on both sides of the ball. Perez hit .625 during the regular season and .857 during the postseason, in addition to racking up 95 strikeouts in the circle.
C Yenifer Paulino,
Francis Lewis
The junior had some serious pop on her bat this spring, hitting .653 during the regular season. In 14 games, Paulino racked up 32 hits, 11 RBI and just three strikeouts. For good measure, she also stole four bases.
1B Amber Chin, Bayside
Chin went out on an offensive high note, leading Queens “A” in home runs and wrapping up her high school career with 26 hits, 20 runs and 31 RBI during the regular season. She added five more hits and nine RBI during the playoffs, hitting .714 in a pair of postseason games.
1B/P Camille Sears, Archbishop Molloy
The senior did a bit of everything in her final high school season, hitting .457 with four home runs and 14 RBI. She earned the team’s coaches award for her efforts, serving as Molloy’s unquestioned leader on and off the field.
3B Miranda Cintron,
St. Francis Prep
The senior was a defensive force on the corner, regularly corraling line drives, but she did her best work in the batter’s box this spring. Cintron led the Terriers with a team-high .439 average and .512 slugging percentage as the squad’s cleanup hitter.
3B Unique Salas,
Construction
There’s success at the plate and there’s what Salas did this season. The sophomore hit .706 in the regular season, a Queens “A” best, racking up 24 hits and 21 runs in 34 at-bats. She was just as efficient during the postseason, boasting a .455 average with five hits, including a pair of doubles.
SS Alyssa Seiss,
St. Francis Prep
The Dominican College-bound Seiss was everywhere for the Terriers this season, dominating on both sides of the ball. She connected on a team-best 13 RBI and boasted an on-base percentage of .549. Seiss also led the team in innings played, rarely making a mistake in the field and wrapping up her senior season with a .957 fielding percentage.
OF Jessica Kovach,
Francis Lewis
The senior made every at-bat count and, more often than not, those at-bats ended with a hit. Kovach posted a .604 batting average during the regular season, connecting on 29 hits and seven home runs. She was walked just six times and, in 48 regular season at-bats, struck out only once.
OF Emily Hodgson, Construction
A strong presence in the outfield, Hodgson made herself known at the plate, posting a .465 on base percentage during the regular season. She also boasted a bit of power in her swing, racking up five extra base hits.
Honorable Mention
C Kassandra Granobles, Construction
1B Caitlin Vernon, Construction
C Alyssa Mortellaro,
St. John’s Prep
IF Lauren Lavelle,
St. John’s Prep
IF Amanda Ragusa,
St. John’s Prep
P Nichole Schweit,
St. John’s Prep
C Victoria Brown,
Archbishop Molloy
3B Jessica Hickey,
Archbishop Molloy
P Liz Hanover,
The Mary Louis Academy
C Casey Woo,
The Mary Louis Academy
