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South Glens Falls 3, Pearl River 2

June

Update (4:58 p.m.) Ali LaRue’s run-scoring single with two out in the bottom of the seventh gives South Glens Falls a 3-2 win.

Update (3:43 p.m.) South Glens Falls pulled even, 2-2, in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer by Amanda Perry.

Update (2:50 p.m.) I’m rubbing sunblock on my spacious dome as we speak. The sun is out, play is about to resume. (The rubbing sunblock crack was courtesy of my colleague and Knicks beat writer, Mike Dougherty. I think Mike is jealous because he still has his hard and does not tan as easily as I do.)

Update: A thunderstorm has delayed the game in the bottom of the first inning.

Pearl River took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Lorraine Schule came in on a wild pitch and Kaitlin Dinet delivered Jackie Bruno with a two-out single.

Even though Pearl River fell one run short, the ladies deserve congratulations for an outstanding season, especially the seniors. I had the pleasure of covering Pearl River in 2007 as the Rockland County softball beat writer, and once again this year, I had three Pearl River games – John Jay, Brewster and South Glens Falls.

The Pirates are one of the strongest programs in Section 1 annually, and Mike Carlacci is one of the best coaches in the state. His girls are always fundamentally sound, they can hit and they play the game with great passion. Based on their underclassmen, I feel Pearl River will be the team to beat in Class A next year.

Congratulations Pearl River on a great season.

Posted by Tony Pinciaro on Saturday, June 14th, 2008 at 2:10 pm |
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Pearl River 4, Maine-Endwell 0

June

“At this point, it’s about trying to win the game and move on,” Pearl River coach Mike Carlacci said on Monday after the regional semifinal win and the Pirates do move on. The Pirates win the Class A regional final today at North Rockland High School by defeating Section 4’s Maine-Endwell 4-0. This is the second team in the history of Pearl River High School to make it to the state semifinal round so congratulations to the Pirates on a huge day for the school.

They will face Section 2’s South Glens Falls on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the BAGSAI Softball complex in Binghamton.

Once again, Katie Scrima pitches another gem allowing two-hits, a walk and struck out 12. She had the Spartan batters looking real silly.

Kelly McMorrow gave the offense a shot of life leading off the game with an inside the park home run to right center field.

Krystina Poloni had another big day at the plate going 1 for 2 with two RBI in the third inning to give the Pirates some breathing room and she reached base via an error charged to the Spartans shortstop.

The Spartans pitcher Nicole Osovski was no slouch. She pitched a four-hitter allowing four runs, a walk and struck out 11.

Posted by Debbie Schechter on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 8:02 pm |
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Reilly-Boccia the Gatorade NY player of the year

June

Yorktown senior first baseman and Alabama-bound Cassie Reilly-Boccia has been selected as the Gatorade New York State softball player of the year.

Posted by Tony Pinciaro on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 8:02 pm |
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Horseheads 5, Yorktown 1

June

Horseheads pitcher Cortney Cruttenden tossed a five-hitter as the Section 4 champions denied Yorktown a trip to the state final four.

Congratulations though, to the Yorktown softball team for another excellent season. The Cornhuskers finished 22-7 on the season and the talented senior class leaves as two-time sectional champs.

Yorktown grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second as Tori Matzura led off with a single. Paula DeVito drew a two-out walk and Erica Wenzel lined a ball back up the middle, that Cruttenden got her glove on, to load the bases. Kelly Dumser got to a full count, fouled a pitch off, then walked to bring in Matzura. The inning ended on a force out.

Kasey O’Connor led off the third and was robbed off a hit by shortstop Whitney Van Houten. She ranged to her right, speared O’Connor’s hot smash and, from deep in the hole, got O’Connor by an eyelash. This was a huge play because Cassie Reilly Boccia followed with a double to the fence in left field. This would have scored O’Connor.

Horseheads countered with two runs, after two were out, in the bottom of the third. Abbie Surosky singled with one out and moved to second on a passed ball. After Adrianne Parmenter flared out to Wenzel at shortstop, Hali Enderby walked. Gina Brenzo yanked the first Bisaccia offerning, an inside pitch, down the third-base line, chasing home Surosky and Enderby to third. She would score on a swinging strike wild pitch.

Cruttenden limited Yorktown to two hits over the final five innings by effectively working the corners, moving the ball in and out and changing speeds.

Horseheads scored three runs in the fifth after two outs again. However, there were two plays which left me wondering so, Joe B., if you read this post I need your breakdown because you are an umpire.

With one in the fifth, pinch hitter Kortni Lorson was hit by the first pitch she saw. However, she made no attempt to avoid the pitch. So, Joe B., doesn’t the hitter have to make an attempt to evade the pitch? After Bisaccia caught Endeby looking, she jumped ahead of Brenzo, 1-2, but Brenzo was patient and walked. Alicia Cacciato, who was 0 for 2, lined a single to center and centerfielder Kelly Dumser came up throwing. As Tori Matzura was preparing to receive the one-hop throw, Lorson clipped her and knocked Matzura down.

Now, once again Joe B. how is Lorson allowed to interfere with the catcher when she is waiting for the throw? I’m also asking this because I once got thrown out of a rec league softball game for running into the catcher. (And what stunk was the umpire was a family friend.)

I asked Yorktown coach Becky Melikian about both of these situations, specifically the play at the plate, and she said the home plate umpire told her there wasn’t going to be a play.

Despite the loss, Yorktown has plenty to be proud of. Melikian told me she could not have asked for a better group of girls to coach in her first two years as a varsity coach. Melikian said she is very proud of them and they should be proud of what they accomplished.

The seniors — Cassie Reilly-Boccia, Kasey O’Connor, Larissa Porcelli, Dana Bisaccia, Danielle Montesano, Allia Afifi, Kelly Dumser, Paula DeVito, Jess Berne and Victoria Dosso — leave by bringing Yorktown to consecutive sectional championships, the program’s first.

O’Connor said to me after the game that she will miss playing with her teammates, many of whom she has been with for close to 10 years. O’Connor concluded by saying that this is only the beginning for Yorktown softball. With the returning players, led by Tori Matzura, Erica Wenzel, Emily Harkins, Casey Iorio and Laura Pironi and the JV, which had a very good season, O’Connor said the program will continue building.

And, before I forget, last year I had the pleasure of watching Tappan Zee’s Julie Pacino hit. I never had a chance to see Yorktown last year because I was covering Rockland County softball, but my former colleague, Erin “Jenny Finch” Bruehl told me I would enjoy watching Yorktown play, especially Cassie Reilly-Boccia and Kasey O’Connor. Erin was right, in one respect, the Bash Sisters were excellent, but so was the entire lineup.

Sure, Cassie and Kasey were well-known, but this Yorktown team was solid, 1 thru 9, in the lineup with ultra-quick Larissa Porcelli setting the table, followed by O’Connor and Reilly-Boccia, then Tori Matzura in the clean-up spot and designated hitter Allia Afifi, who had four RBI combined in the Arlington and FDR-Hyde Park games. Danielle Montesano hit behind Afifi and the third baseman had many key hits. Paula DeVito, Erica Wenzel and Kelly Dumser were one of the most, if not the most, difficult 7, 8 and 9 hitters in the section.

Posted by Tony Pinciaro on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 6:02 pm |
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State quarterfinal updates

June

11

Class AA update No. 4: Horseheads went on to beat Yorktown 5-1. Courtney Cruttenden hurled a five-hitter to lead the Blue Raiders, who advanced to Saturday’s state final four at the BAGSAI Complex in Binghamton. Horseheads will play Clarence (Section 6) in the semifinals at 11 a.m.

Class A update No. 3: It’s official, Pearl River wins 4-0. Scrima fired a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts and just one walk. The win advances the Pirates the state final four on Saturday at the BAGSAI Complex in Binghamton.

Class AA update No. 3: Horseheads leads Yorktown 5-1 after five innings. Horseheads scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth with two out.

Class AA update No. 2: After three innings, Horseheads leads Yorktown 2-1. Horseheads scored twice in the bottom of the third inning with two out. The second run came in on a wild pitch.

Class A update No. 2: Pearl River now leads 4-0 after two and a half innings. Pitcher Katie Scrima singled to left, McMorrow reached on an error, moving Scrima to second, and Lorraine Schule bunted for a base hit to load the bases with none out. Krystina Poloni singled to center to plate two runs. One out later, Kaitlin Dinet bunted toward first, driving in Schule.

Class AA update: Through one and a half innings, Yorktown leads Horseheads 1-0 in a Class AA state quarterfinal at North Rockland High School. Kelly Dumser drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the top of the second inning to bring in Tori Matzura.

Class A update: Pearl River leads Maine-Endewll 1-0 after the top of the first of their Class A state quarterfinal at North Rockland High School. Kelly McMorrow led off the game with an inside-the-park home run to right-center field.

Posted by Tony Pinciaro on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 3:43 pm |
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State quarterfinal updates

June

11

Class AA update: Through one and a half innings, Yorktown leads Horseheads 1-0 in a Class AA state quarterfinal at North Rockland High School. Kelly Dumser drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the top of the second inning to bring in Tori Matzura.

Class A update: Pearl River leads Maine-Endewll 1-0 after the top of the first of their Class A state quarterfinal at North Rockland High School. Kelly McMorrow led off the game with an inside-the-park home run to right-center field.

Posted by Joe Lombardi on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 3:18 pm |
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All-section softball dinner and players list

June

10

The All-Section softball dinner was held Tuesday (June 10) at Rudy’s Beau Rivage in Dobbs Ferry and, once again, it was an excellent night as the ladies were honored for their outstanding seasons. Congratulations to all of the ladies who were selected all-section and all-section honorable mention.

The following is the list of all-section players followed by the all-section honorable mention players, the Diamond 9 plus 1 award winners (combination of academics, athletics and community service) and the scholarship recipients.

League I-A
Chrissy Capalbo, sr. Mamaroneck; Kehli Washington, so., New Rochelle; Chelsea LoBue, so., Scarsdale; Kaitlin Slikowitz, so., Scarsdale; Nicole Lee, so., Scarsdale; Jackie Flloks, sr., White Plains; Kate Smayda, jr., White Plains; Sandra Mastrangelo, sr., White Plains; Lauren Sputo, fr., White Plains.
Coach of the year: Dave Scagnelli, Scarsdale.

League I-B
Megan Weaver, jr., Clarkstown North; Melanie Culpepper, sr., Clarkstown North; Jessica Crowley, jr., Suffern; Julie Jefferson, so., Suffern; Catrina Delgais, sr., Suffern; Krystn Benson, so., North Rockland; Amanda Babcock, jr., North Rockland; Samantha Welsh, jr., North Rockland; Kristin Mayz, so., East Ramapo; Katie Morelli, so., Clarkstown South.
Coach of the year: Michelle Shaw, North Rockland.

League I-C
Danielle Basciano, sr., Carmel; Jordan Hunt, sr., Mahopac; Nicole Angelo, jr. Mahopac;
Emmalee Dolfi, jr., Arlington; Caitlin Schell, sr., Arlington; Jill Seaaro, sr., John Jay-East Fishkill; Krista Hayden, sr., John Jay-East Fishkill; Emily Devanzo, sr., John Jay-East Fishkill; Chelsea Boyes, fr. R.C. Ketcham; Suzi Karath, sr., R.C. Ketcham; Michelle Sasso, sr., R.C. Ketcham; Jessica Syska, jr., R.C. Ketcham.
Coach of the year: Scott Saterlee, R.C. Ketcham.

League I-D
Michelle Brown, sr., Yonkers; Racine Brown, sr., Saunders; Ashley Cardillo, sr., Gorton.
Coach of the year: Carleen Gilot, Yonkers.

League II-A
Cassie Reilly-Boccia, sr., Yorktown; Kasey O’Connor, sr., Yorktown; Larissa Porcelli, sr., Yorktown; Tori Matzura, jr., Yorktown; Lindsay Goff, sr., Brewster; Kim Bentson, sr., Brewster; Taylor Bell, jr., Lakeland; Brittany Lischinsky, jr., Lakeland; Heather Clausen, sr. Hen Hud; Kirby Wright, sr., Hen Hud; Niki Tamburri, sr., ,Hen Hud; Fran Kiernan, jr., Hen Hud; Nikki Lee DiSalvio, sr., Beacon; Julianne Constantino, so., Beacon.
Coach of the year: Steve Fallo, Lakeland.

League II-B
Brittni Alexander, sr., Tappan Zee; Tayla gardner, so., Tappan Zee; Tammy Wray, so., Somers; Caroline Dewar, sr., John Jay; Gaby Torzilli, sr., John Jay; Nina Curto, jr., Ursuline; Taylor Pirone, fr., Ursuline; Ashley Marino, so., Harrison; Kate Jones, jr., Nyack; Erica Borgeest, sr., Horace Greeley.
Coach of the year: Joe Mammoser, John Jay.

League III-A
Devon DiSiena, jr., Kennedy; Samantha Amoruso, sr., Westlake; Katie Hogan, sr., Westlake; Kristen Brown, sr., Putnam Valley; Kim Tracey, sr., Briarcliff; Chelsea Brooks, jr., Pleasantville.
Coaches of the year: Pat Hogan, Kennedy and Marcy Byrne, Westlake.

League III-B
Julianna Carfora, sr., Pelham; Kerry Davis, jr., Pelham; Kelly O’brien, sr., Pleham; Ashley Tuccitto, sr., Eastchester; Noelle McDonough, so., Eastchester; Janine Lalli, fr., Eastchester; Michelle Roemer, jr., Ardsley.
Coach of the year: Keith Maley.

League III-C
Erin Flaherty, sr., Albertus Magnus; Maura Power, jr., Albertus Magnus; Jackie Bruno, sr., Pearl River; Krystina Poloni, jr., Pearl River; Kelly McMorrow, sr., Pearl River; Kaitlin Dinet, jr., Pearl River; Allaire Primiano, sr., Sleepy Hollow; Mira Lieman-Sifry, sr., Hastings.
Coach of the year: Tony Milewski, Sleepy Hollow.

League IV-A
Chelsea Lisikatos, fr., Haldane; Jade Lyons, so., Haldane; Cassie Barcavage, sr., Haldane; Kerry Casey, sr., North Salem; Danielle Corde, jr., North Salem; Carly Anderson, sr., Dover.
Coach of the year: Nick Lisikatos, Haldane.

League IV-B
Tiffani Troilo, jr., Blind Brook; Samantha Fabricant, sr., Rye Neck; Jessica Clavini, eighth grade, Rye Neck; Alicia DeMileo, sr., Valhalla; Nicole Sicuranzo, sr., Valhalla; Lindsay New, jr., Valhalla.
Coaches of the year: Joan Spedafino, Rye Neck and John Hayes, Valhalla.

League IV-C
Jacqueline Perri, sr., Tuckahoe; Brie Ewoldt, so., Bronxville; Hayley Bingham, so., Dobbs Ferry.
Coach of the year: John Kavanah, Dobbs Ferry.

Honorable mention

League I-A
Jervette Baldwin, jr., Mount Vernon; Rachel Galluzzo, jr., New Rochelle; Devin McClintock, sr., Scarsdale; Christina Coppola, fr., White Plains; Devon Serrano, sr., Mamaroneck.
League I-B
Kristen Martini, so., Clarkstown North; Lindsay Cohen, fr., Suffern; Samantha Marshall, sr., North Rockland; Heather Hansen, jr.., North Rockland; Julianne Skrapits, fr., Clarkstown South.
League I-C
Amanda Macio, sr., R.C. Ketcham; Alexandra Rodriquez, so., John Jay-East Fishkill; Ally Brown, sr., John Jay-East Fishkill; Elayne Dombrowski, so., Arlington; Amanda Farina, sr., Mahopac.
League I-D
Maggie Roche, sr., Yonkers; Nicole Sayegh, jr., Yonkers; Jessica Negron, so., Saunders.
League II-A
Dana Bisaccia, sr., Yorktown; Danielle Montesano, sr., Yorktown; Megan Hill, sr., Brewster; Cassie Kardias, jr., Lakeland; Alex Okaes, jr., Lakeland; Lynzi DeLuccia, fr., Our Lady of Loures.
League II-B
Brianna Scapperotti, jr., Harrison; Kristen Guernier, sr., Horace Greeley; Jackie Finn, jr., John Jay; Kayla Meyer, jr., Tappan Zee; Christina Laine, sr., Fox Lane.

League III-A
Christina Marino, jr., Kennedy; Natalia Stockinger, jr., Putnam Valley; Jackie Gallagher, jr., Putnam Valley; Melissa Fanelli, jr., Pleasantville; Katie Verlizzo, sr., Pleasantville.
League III-B
Marissa Aversano. fr., Eastchester; Sara Keith, jr., Pelham; Sika Gasinu, sr., Ardsley; Kira Hessekiel, jr., Rye; Sydney Ortega, sr., Edgemont.
League III-C
Katie Maher, sr., Nanuet; Lorraine Schule, sr., Pearl RIver; Danielle Fanelli, sr., Sleepy Hollow; Deanne Lindsay, jr., Sleepy Hollow; Jamie Bucci, eighth grade, Sleepy Hollow.

League IV-A
Shelby Hanaburgh, jr., North Salem; Marilyn Knapp, sr., Pawling; Erin Wood, eighth grade, Dover.
League IV-B
Jamie Ianello, sr., Rye Neck; Jamie Florindi, sr., Blind Brook; Alexandra Kinnally, fr., Valhalla.
League IV-C
Katie Martin, so., Dobbs Ferry; Grete Falck-Pederson, so., Dobbs Ferry; Jacqueline Crews, so., Dobbs Ferry; Anne Piper, jr., Bronxville.

Diamond 9 plus 1

Brittni Alexander, Tappan Zee; Kerry Casey, North Salem; Catrina Delgais, Suffern; Nikki Lee DiSalvio, Beacon; Jessica Gilpin, Nyack; Sandra Mastrangelo, White Plains; Kelly McMorrow, Pearl River; Kelly O’Brien, Pelham; Kasey O’Connor, Yorktown; Lily Rubino, Haldane.

Regarding the Diamond 9 plus 1, Rye Neck coach Joan Spedafino pointed out that the collective average of the 10 was 97 plus. Outstanding. Congratulations ladies.

Scholarships:
Tony Zimbalatti: Samantha Amoruso, Westlake.

Jim Mackenzie: Mira Lieman-Sifry, Hastings.

Coaches scholarship: Danielle Basciano, Carmel.

Also, 18 Section 1 schools earned all-NY state honors with a collective grade-point average of 90 and higher. The schools were: Haldane, Horace Greeley, Tappan Zee, Edgemont; Rye; White Plains; Ursuline; Clarkstown South; Valhalla; Hastings; Yorktown; Putnam Valley; North Rockland; Beacon; Nanuet; Pearl River; Irvington and Our Lady of Lourdes.

A few highlights on the evening:

Tuckahoe coach Pat Gallo doing a great job of raising money for the 50-50. The raffle was won by Suffern coach Jim Lloyd, who also won one of two dinners that was raffled off.

Rye Neck coach Joan Spedafino for welcoming and checking everyone into the dinner (and tolerating me).

Eastchester coach Skip Walsh and North Salem coach Bob Mittelstadt for doing good job announcing the players’ names. Check that, they did okay. They did stumble on a few names. I don’t remember if coach Walsh and coach Mittelstadt were wearing their glasses while at the microphone.

Rudy’s beau Rivage because the food was excellent.

Posted by Tony Pinciaro on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 at 11:06 pm |
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Regional finals at North Rockland

June

10

Section 1 softball coordinator Tony Toronto let me know at the all-section dinner Tuesday that the regional finals are scheduled for 3 p.m. at North Rockland High School. No fans will be allowed on the North Rockland campus until 2:30 p.m.

Class AA — Yorktown will play Horseheads (Section 4) on the same field the Cornhuskers played Arlington and FDR-Hyde Park.

Class A — Pearl River will face Maine-Endwell (Section 4) on the same field the Pirates played Brewster and Goshen.

Debbie will be covering Pearl River and I will be at the Yorktown game. I cleared it first with Mr. Porcelli (Larissa’s father) and he said it was okay for me to cover the game.

Posted by Tony Pinciaro on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 at 10:12 pm |
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All-Section softball dinner Tuesday, June 10

June

9

The All-Section softball dinner will be held Tuesday, at Rudy’s Beau Rivage in Dobbs Ferry.

Posted by Tony Pinciaro on Monday, June 9th, 2008 at 11:33 pm |
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I asked Section 1 coordinator Tony Toronto…

June

9

I was thinking of this recently so I had to ask Tony Toronto Saturday.

For as long as I have been covering softball, the state rotation has been Sections 1, 9 and 4. Nothing has changed.

In 2006, in field hockey, the rotation changed from Sections 1, 9 and 2 to Sections 1, 9 and 4. Now, when the rotation was 1-9-2, what evetually happened is that you would have a Section 1 team playing a Section 4 team in a class final. Now, when I asked Section 1 field hockey coordinator and Pelham coach Sue Hughes why the rotation changed, she explained to me that its changes every few years.

Now with Section 4 on the same half of the bracket with Section 1, the Long Island sections got bumped to the other side of the draw. The Section 8 or Section 11 champion deals with western NY.

So if the rotation changes in field hockey, why does it not change in softball? Coach Toronto said that is a question he and the Section 9 coordinator have been discussing.

I’d be willing to ask the state coordinator, but I’m sure I would not get a straight answer.

Posted by Tony Pinciaro on Monday, June 9th, 2008 at 11:32 pm |
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