By Laura Amato
Lizul Portgual doesn’t look at the numbers.
In fact, the Construction softball standout does her best to try and ignore them completely. She’s more interested in having fun and leaving a legacy at a program she’s helped shape over the last four years.
Portugal might not look at the numbers, but they were impressive this spring. Her success on and off the field has earned her TimesLedger Player of the Year honors.
“I take a lot of pride in that,” Portugal said of her time at Construction. “I can’t say it was all me, but we put in the effort together, and I fed off of what everyone else was doing. We just always tried to build off each other.”
The Red Hawks came up short of their championship goal this season — falling to Susan Wagner in the PSAL ‘A’ final — but Portugal still managed to impress every single time she suited up for the squad.
She led the PSAL ‘A’ conference in batting average this spring, hitting a stellar .814 during the regular season, with an on-base percentage of .857 and a slugging percentage of 1.814. The shortstop also drove in 55 runs, connected on 21 extra-base hits and struck just twice in 43 at-bats.
Portugal is always quick to point out that she didn’t spend much time worrying about the numbers, but does admit that plenty of other people did. After all, numbers like that are hard to ignore.
“I don’t look at the numbers,” Portugal said. “I don’t, really. People look at them for me and they ask ‘Do you know that you have these numbers and records?’ and I just don’t. I never look at it.”
Portugal didn’t slow down once Construction hit the postseason. She hit .400 in the Red Hawks’ first three playoff games, racking up six RBI and three doubles with three runs scored. It’s a performance at the plate that’s become tradition for the multi-year starter, but one that’s also required a lot of work.
“I think it’s just a lot of practice. Extra practices at home, and just having fun, not thinking too much,” she said. “When I’m at the plate, I don’t like to think. I just have fun with it.”
Portugal didn’t win a city title this season, but she knows she’s left her mark at Construction and that’s all she ever really wanted. She knew she wanted to play for the Red Hawks years before she went to high school and helping move the program to the forefront of city softball has been one of her greatest joys.
“I was introduced to [Construction coach Marco Migliaccio] when I was really young, like 9, and from then, I knew I was going to Construction,” Portugal said. “All those people before me did a lot and I knew I had a lot to live up to at Construction and try to make my own name.”
Portugal has a few weeks to herself before taking the next swing in her career – she’ll head to NYIT where she’s set to join the softball team there and once again is hoping to leave her mark on another program. She has mixed emotions about leaving to begin the next chapter of her playing career, but right now, she’s not worried about anything except having some more fun.
“I’m so excited,” Portugal said. “I’m a little nervous because it’s a new team and new faces, but it’s the same sport. So I know I just have to keep working and I can’t wait.”
