Around the Bases

Softball practice begins Monday!

March

I will be driving home from Rochester and the state wrestling championships Monday and I admit, I will be bummed out. I love wrestling and each year I dred the season’s conclusion.

However, with one season finishing, the spring season, specifically softball, opens practice.

Yes, let the windmilling begin. Wow, it just seemed like yesterday that Erin and I were at North Rockland covering the sectional finals, which were interrupted by a severe thunderstorm.

Let’s recap the 2007 season as Yorktown (Class AA), Hen Hud (Class A), Albertus Magnus (Class B) and Dobbs Ferry (Class C) were the respective Section 1 champions, while Hen Hud was Section 1’s state final four representative.

Section 1 lost some phenomenal players to graduation, highlighted by Tappan Zee’s Julie Pacino, New Rochelle’s Jillian Schonberg, Pearl River’s Melissa Tarantino and Hen Hud’s Jillian Gallagher, to name a few.

Section 1 is not devoid of returning talent, though.

Here is a list of a few impact players back in ‘08:

Brittni Alexander, Tappan Zee: The best all-around player in Rockland County, Alexander is especially disruptive on the basepathes with her blazing speed. (‘07 Section 1-leading 41 thefts.)

Cassie Reilly-Boccia and Kasey O’Connor, Yorktown: Opposing windmillers will have their hands full with this power-hitting duo.

Nicole Tamburri, Hen Hud: One of Section 1’s finest windmillers, Tamburri is effective mixing her pitches.

Sandra Mastrangelo, White Plains: The senior started at catcher as an eighth-grader. An outstanding defensive catcher, Mastrangelo also swings the aluminum with authority.

Jackie Bruno, Pearl River: This hard-hitting senior will step up and take the leadership role. Bruno can do it with her bat and glove.

Gabby Torzilli, John Jay: The Syracuse-bound senior windmiller is a strikeout machine.

Kirby Wright, Hen Hud: Baserunners beware attempting to run on Wright, who also strikes fear into opponents with her bat.

Erin Flaherty, Albertus Magnus: The senior, who pitched Albertus to the Class B title last year, will do it windmilling and with her bat.

Tayla Gardner, Tappan Zee: The sophomore pitched Tappan Zee to the sectional final. When she is not pitching, Gardner is a slick-fielding shortstop.

Section 1 fans, these are just a few of the impact players who will treat us to another fine softball season. I’m looking forward to it and I’m sure all of you are also.

I am sorry to say that Erin left last fall and is working for the USTA. She will definitely be missed, but she has promised me she will continue following Section 1 softball.

Unfortunately for the Westchester and Putnam coaches, and fortunately for the Rockland coaches, I will be crossing the Hudson and covering the Westchester/Putnam softball beat. Former Ramapo gold-glove, hard-hitting first baseman Debbie Schecter will take the Rockland beat. Debbie can still take the riseball to the opposite field with power, and will field anything thrown in her vicinity.

I am also sorry to say that the ‘Coin Flip’ will return this season when I think games are too close to call. I know I made one player’s older sister angry last year with my choice after a coin toss. Whenever I cover that team this year I will have to wear a hat, hairpiece and sunglasses so I won’t be recognized.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 at 9:30 pm by Tony Pinciaro.
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9 Responses to “Softball practice begins Monday!”

baller March 10th, 2008 at 10:06 am
do not forget dobbs Ferry’s talent group of Freshman, they had 5 Freshman start on a sectional championship team
Pinky's Brain March 10th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Tony,

Best of luck to Erin, she will be missed. The team that will be able to fill the graduation gaps best is Tappan Zee. Gardner will do fine again with her pitching, and will probably get 90% of the time this year instead of half like last year. Losing Julie is a big hit to the team, but as you said they are in no shortage of talent.

New Ro was hit pretty hard losing Schonberg and Bock, but I know that there are alot of girls, particularly 7 or 8 from a club ball team that are from New Ro, so they should be very competetive, if the coach lets them try out for varsity.
I heard that the Gallagher family, moved to a different school district, not sure if that is true but, that team has so much talent too. (Hen Hud)

Beacon will be pretty strong in the North, also alot of young talent moving into the school.

Yorktown lost the least, so look for them to be a very strong team. White Plains too.

Looking forward to seeing you at the games this year.
Beacon March 14th, 2008 at 8:04 am
As for Beacon, with 7 returnings starters, it looks like a bright season. There is a a bunch of young talent on the team and looks like this year there is a high chance at the section title.
Tony Pinciaro March 18th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Beacon –

I only know of two players from Beacon – Jackie and Meagan – who were a great help at the head table, working with Beacon Math teacher/coach, Dave Ryley, for the Section 1 Wrestling Championships. I think Jackie said she was a windmiller and Meagan was a starting outfielder.
Beacon March 20th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Megan is the pitcher and Jackie is the outfielder but close!
Softball Faanz March 26th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Tony/Debbie

Good Luck to a new year in softball.
Watch Pearl River this year, Tarantino may be gone, but
95% of thier hitting machine is still intact.
North Rockland always strong.
How about an early show of hands for some type of ALL
ROCKLAND TOURNAMENT. The News Papers need to show some
support for this.
BobsUrUncle March 26th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Can’t forget Tammy Wray in Somers either.
Erin Bruehl March 26th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Hi Everyone!! See just as Tony said, I promised to still be around softball this year. I forgot I never really got a chance to say goodbye to my softball folks because I left The Journal News in the fall, so instead my goodbye to everyone in our area was on mine and Dan’s volleyball blog. I will miss softball a lot this spring and don’t be surprised to see me show up at some games occasionally. It was a great two years covering softball and thanks to all the players, coaches, parents and of course my softball partner Tony, for making it such a great experience!!
And thanks Pinky!! Glad to see you’re back as a blog poster again this season!
Tony Pinciaro March 27th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Erin (a.k.a. Jenny) –

We miss you already! The Westchester/Putnam coaches are complaining to me. They want to trade me, a scorebook and a few bats to the USTA for you. I don’t think the USTA would want me. After all, I’m old and over the hill.

Stop by a game any time. Maybe you could cover it and I could be the fan!

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