Two games of note from Tuesday were Hen Hud defeating North Rockland, 11-0, and John Jay edging Brewster, 8-7 in 11 innings.

   According to my colleague, Debbie Schecter, North Rockland windmiller Samantha Welsh left the game in the second inning with an injury. Hen Hud’s Nicole Tamburri scattered seven hits and fanned 11.

   John Jay’s Gaby Torzilli struck out 23 and earned the win when John Jay scored its second run in the top of the 11th on a foul out.

So I came home tonight on a nice day off and sat down at the comp to check softball scores and what an afternoon it seems it was!

First, Hen Hud is the real deal. The Sailors were great last year but seem nearly unstoppable so far off to a 6-0 start, including a big 11-0 win over North Rockland today.

They also have wins over AA teams Carmel and Greeley as well as A teams Somers and Lakeland… proving they are playing a very difficult schedule before they even get into their league play. Tamburri has been awesome and their offense is solid 1-9.

What does everyone think? Are the Sailors the team to beat in A this year? Or is it Pearl River? Tappan Zee? (better than their record right now) Brewster? Someone else?. Let me know everyone’s thoughts.

What a battle it seems John Jay-Brewster was today in another game in the tough central league… one John Jay took 8-7 in 11 innings.. wow!! And Torzilli went all 11.. striking out 23. Sounds like she was on the top of her game as usual against a tough Brewster lineup. And went 3 for 3 with a HR. Slingerland went all 11 for the Bears.

In Class B, Valhalla extended its winning streak to five games with a win over Haldane, one day after Haldane pitcher Chelsea Lisikatos pitched a no-hitter with 20 ks. The Vikings are now 6-1 and Pleasantville, with a win over Byram Hills improved to 7-1.

I think there will be a shake up in the power rankings this week!! Stay tuned for my Saturday notebook to find out how things play out I’ll be working in the office tomorrow night on said notebook and will next be out to game action at a good league game in White Plains-New Rochelle on Thursday. No one should count out the Tigers who are off to a nice start.

   Sophomore Kaitlin Dinet, making her first start of the season, tossed a two-hitter and struck out five in Pearl River’s 8-0 win over rival Nanuet.

   Dinet also capped a seven-run third-inning surge with a two-run single. Dinet has been hampered in the early going by a pulled hamstring, but it appears that she is close to 100 percent.

   Against Harrison on Monday, Dinet blasted three home runs and drove in six runs.

   The scary part about Dinet’s performance is that Pearl River coach Mike Carlacci will not hesitate to go with her to give No. 1 pitcher Melissa Tarantino a breather. Dinet was consistently in the strike zone and did not walk anyone.

  

So tonight I was at John Jay-Lakeland as the two teams both started their league schedules in the central league of Conf. II, which is arguably the toughest league in the section with Somers, Brewster, Fox Lane, Greeley and Yorktown as well.
And it was a great matchup and my first time seeing John Jay this season as the Indians won 3-2. Gaby Torzilli was terrific, pitching a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts. But the Hornets had their chances to score, with baserunners in every inning but the seventh.
Torzilli and Tina DeVito both came up with the big hits for John Jay with Torzilli hitting an RBI single in the first and DeVito hitting a big two out two-run double in the third that was the difference. DeVito really looked good at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a walk and worked to a 3-2 count in both the third (when she hit the double) and before walking in the sixth.
I also didn’t remember Caroline Dewar being so fast from last year but her speed looked terrific as she went first to third on a sacrifice and legged out an infield single, going 2 for 3. Paige Bosin also nailed two sacrifices in the two spot.
The Indians were without starting shortstop and leadoff batter Stephanie Finn, who had nine stitches above her eye after a baserunner slid into her at second on Saturday.
For the Hornets, pitcher Christina Scala looked great on the mound again with just two walks and seven strikeouts, giving up just five hits. She also was 2 for 2 with a walk. Brittany Lischinsky had the other hit for Lakeland, a double leading off the fourth. Taylor Bell then drove in Lischinsky with a fielder’s choice and Lauren Daley, running for Scala, scored on a wild pitch.
The two teams square off again on Wednesday!!

   Defending James “Ace” Morabito champion Brewster and coach Michelle Gosh return and are looking to make it two straight when the 2007 Morabito tournament takes place May 19-20 at the BAGSAI softball complex in Binghamton, site of the 2007 state championships.

   Joining Brewster will be Tappan Zee, led by all-section catcher Julie Pacino, New Rochelle and its fireballing windmiller, Jillian Schonberg, Eastchester and John Jay-East Fishkill.

   Thanks to tournament director Bill Shaw here are just a few of the other top teams in the state who will be at BAGSAI for the Morabito—Cicero-North Syracuse (Section 3), Williamsville South and Kenmore West (both of Section 6), Minisink Valley (Section 9) and a large group of Section 4 teams—Susquehanna Valley, Seton Catholic, Corning West, Horseheads, Chenango Valley and Union-Endicott.

   I hope everyone enjoyed the fantastic weather the past three days. Now, can we have some consistentcy and keep the sun shining and I’ll even take temps in the mid-high 60s. I don’t want to ask Mother Nature for too much.

   Let’s take a look at what the softball fans will see in Rockland this week:

   Monday’s highlighted game is North Rockland travelling to Clarkstown North in a matchup of two excellent teams and outstanding windmillers. North Rockland sophomore Samantha Welsh has been stingy as has Clarkstown North senior Alix Gebhardt. And, both pitchers are fresh off Saturday blankings.

   Gebhardt two-hit arch-rival Clarkstown South, 6-0, and Welsh also twirled a two-hitter in a 1-0 win over Suffern. And, not to be overlloked, Suffern junior Katrina DelGais finished with a two-hitter.

   The North Rockland-Clarkstown North matchup is the first of three showdowns between the teams in the new league setup with each team facing playing three league games apiece against the rest of League I-B.

   Tuesday and Thursday gives us the Pearl River-Nanuet two-game set with the first tilt at Nanuet. Pearl River is on fire in all facets—offensively, defensively and pitching. Nanuet received a lift last week with the return of sophomore windmiller Katie Maher, who was out sick the first week of the season.

   Also on Tuesday, North Rockland travels to Montrose to face Hen Hud in what should be a hellacious non-conference game.

   On Wednesday, Clarkstown North goes to Suffern and Friday, Tappan Zee will take a trip down Route 303 to swing against Nyack.

   This weekend the action will take place in Chappaqua for the Horace Greeley tournament. Clarkstown North, Clarkstown South, Pearl River, East Ramapo and I believe Nyack will comprise part of the nine-team field. Don’t quote me on this because I have to check with Greeley coach Stan Sotherden, but I believe the remaining four teams are the host, Harrison, Hen Hud and Sleepy Hollow.

   According to Pearl River coach Mike Carlacci and Clarkstown North head man Brian Peterson, there will be three-team divisions with the first-place team in each division playing a round-robin format on Sunday. Somehow, according to my math, Clarkstown North, Hen Hud, Pearl River and Greeley are four teams that don’t go into three. So, one of these fine teams will be on the outside looking in.  

Sorry this is a day late everyone but things have just been crazy and I’m trying to ease my eyes back into looking at a computer all day! But Pelham-Eastchester was a good rivalry game on Friday. The Pelicans really played a solid game all the way through and got out of a few jams with some great defensive plays. Pitcher Kristen Borsella helped save the game with her glove, snagging a sharp line drive right back at her by Ashley Tuccitto in the seventh inning. Pelham centerfielder Keri Paolercio also made a few great plays, with a leaping grab in the gap in the third on a drive hit from Janine Lalli. She has impressed me in center field.

Eastchester shortstop Jaime Lorenzo is just a great hitter, going 4 for 4 with two doubles and three RBI – and all her hits were rockets, a few into the gaps.

Tonight I was in the office but noticed a few good results I thought I’d pass along in case anyone misses them. New Rochelle beat Mamaroneck, 4-3, in ELEVEN innings with Schonberg going the whole distance with 21 strikeouts, just unbelievable. In the last two games, she has 39 Ks- I think wow is just the best word for that. She also hit a HR today and Ashley DiZenzo was 3 for 5 with two RBI.

Also, in what appeared to be a great game, Yorktown defeated Tappan Zee, 3-0, at TZ. Juliana Dias pitched a two-hitter for the Cornhuskers with just one walk and four strikeouts. Michelle Wedemeier went the distance for TZ with four Ks.

Cassie Reilly-Boccia and Kasey O’Connor each had two hits for Yorktown and Tori Matzura was 3 for 3 with an RBI. That’s a big win for Yorktown, who played a doubleheader vs. Beacon on Friday. It is their second win over TZ this season.

North Rockland also a big 1-0 win over Suffern. Both teams only had two hits off Red Raider pitcher Samantha Welsh and Mounties pitcher Katrina DelGais. I’ll leave any other Rockland updates to my softball writing partner!

Somers won their tournament over Rye Neck and John Jay-East Fishkill won the Jayfest tournament over John Jay Cross River. Scarsdale also won their tournament.

I don’t think any games are scheduled for today. On Monday I head up to Cross River to see the Indians host Lakeland. I’ll also be at White Plains-New Rochelle on Thursday. Let’s all hope this gorgeous softball weather holds through June!

   The last time I saw New Rochelle’s Jillian Schonberg pitch was when she was an underclassmen.

   New Rochelle was hosting Mahopac, on a cold, rainy May day. And, if I remember correctly, it was a first-round sectional game. Anyway, Schonberg struggled with her control that day, but it was understandable because the ball was constantly slick. Despite this, Schonberg was still bringing it. You could see that the promise was already in place and that one day, Schonberg would develop into an outstanding pitcher.

   Well, that time came last year, based on what my colleague, Erin, told me. Today, I finally had the chance to see Schonberg in person and, quoting Dick Enberg, Oh My!

   Schonberg struck out 18 and also hit a solo homer in a 5-1 victory over Suffern.

   Schonberg wass bringing the heat and appeared to be dialing it up as the game progressed. New Rochelle catcher Samantha Bock’s glove was popping with each snare of a Schonberg offering. Schonberg now has 45 strikeouts in three games and owns a 3-2 victory over R.C. Ketcham.

   Schonberg is bringing the gas at such a high octane that not even Alex Rodriguez, who is sizzling for the Yankees, would be able to put a bat on the ball.

   Batters beware the remainder of the season when you face No. 8 in the circle for New Rochelle.

Hi all! So I am back a little earlier than I had anticipated. I was hoping for Friday but just a day after surgery, I am seeing 20/20, it’s just amazing. Waking up and being able to see is something I couldn’t even remember.. it’s been 15 years! I highly recommend anyone who hates their contacts and glasses as much as I did look into LASIK. It means I will now get to see softball that much better this season! Unless (knock on wood) I wake up tomorrow and have blurry vision, I should make it to Eastchester-Pelham as per my schedule.

I was forbidden from watching TV, reading or looking at a computer screen yesterday so when I read today’s paper I couldn’t believe how much I missed in one day! Apparently the really bad guy was finally eliminated from American Idol and there was some unbelievable pitching in the Lo-Hud Valley!

Karianne Brown of Putnam Valley pitched a no-hitter vs. Briarcliff, Erica Borgeest of Greeley took a no-hitter into the seventh vs. Harrison and finished with a one-hitter. Jacky Koch of North Salem pitched a one-hitter against Blind Brook. Pearl River’s Melissa Tarantino and North Rockland’s Samantha Welsh each pitched two-hitters and Ardsley pitcher Michelle Roemer two-hit Woodlands.

Tappan Zee and John Jay finally got to play, I know at least Tony and I were looking forward to that matchup and it sounds like it was a great game with the Dutchies winning 4-2 . Gaby Torzilli had ten strikeouts for John Jay and Julie Pacino, one of if not the best hitter in Section 1, had three hits. I’m looking forward to seeing Torzilli pitch in person on Monday when I cover Lakeland-John Jay.

Phew! Hopefully the weather will stay good for awhile (so I hear) and Tony and I can keep getting out to multiple games each week!!

Any matchups anyone is particularly looking forward to next week?

Well everyone I am leaving you all to Tony for at least tomorrow and probably Thursday as I have my vision corrected with what I hear is wonderful LASIK surgery! I am forbidden by my surgeon to look at a computer screen for at least a day.
I’ll be back by Friday and if the weather holds out, the fields dry out and my vision adjusts, I will be at the Eastchester-Pelham game on Friday.
A few games did get played tonight, with Rye Neck winning big over Rye Country Day, Pleasantville defeating Rye and Lourdes defeating John Jay in a tight one, 2-0.
Clarkstown North-White Plains was rescheduled.