2002 CUNYAC Softball Preview

Top Four Programs Reloaded & Ready

If the upcoming season turns out to be as exciting as the last one then- watch out! In 2001, the perennial CUNY Athletic Conference powers, Hunter, John Jay, Lehman & Staten Island fought it out all season- with Hunter coming out on top, beating Lehman in the tournament final. Hunter was the fourth seed in the Championship and Staten Island was the first, but with a single-elimination event such as this, anything can- and will happen. The quality of league play proved helpful, as the Hawks won CUNYAC's first-ever game in the NCAA Championships, getting to the second round.

Hunter College (19-16, 10-4 CUNY) had the right mix of surprising and experienced players in their lineup last season, but they will not have much of that experience to call upon in 2002, as three four-year starters (Kathleen Devine, Molly Horne and Andrea Perlas) have graduated, leaving that duty to senior Jezel Rodriguez(Clinton / Bronx, NY). A three-time CUNYAC all-star, Rodriguez (.452, 5 HR, 40 runs) is one the most accomplished CUNY athletes in a long time, having gone to the NCAA Championships five times in three sports (volleyball, basketball & softball), while garnering individual honors in each. On the diamond, she has been a fierce centerfielder and leadoff batter. Having already rewritten the Hawks' record book, she'll get a chance to flex some muscles this year, playing shortstop and batting lower in the order.

"We're looking forward to the challenge of defending the title," said second-year head coach Betsy Hipple. "We peaked at the right time last season and hope that carries over to this season. We will rely heavily on our defense and expect a lot from our young pitchers."

The Hawks also return OF Shevon Collins (Canarsie / Brooklyn, NY), who was a hitting star in the NCAA's, C Jen Agosto (Midwood / Brooklyn, NY) and OF Vana Loukissas (Cardozo / Flushing, NY). Junior Cagla Boz (Lincoln / Brooklyn, NY), an all-star, who was second on the team last year with a .402 average, will slide over to third base from short to bolster the infield. Hunter's top newcomers include freshmen Beth Tuccillo (Poly Prep / Brooklyn, NY), Samantha Grabkowitz (Bayside / Bayside, NY) and pitcher Cynthia Cabrera (Walton / Bronx, NY).

The defending regular season champions, the College of Staten Island (18-8, 13-1) will also have to recover from the loss of four-year starters. The four players that fifth-year head coach Gina Battista will have to replace won three Regular Season CUNYAC titles, two Tournament Championships, two CUNYAC Player of the Year awards and one tournament MVP honor.

"Kelly [Payne, a four-time all-star] will be the hardest to replace, as she called all the shots in the infield for four years," said Battista. "We had to play a scrimmage to figure out where to put people. Our two seniors, Jaclyn Scimone and Ann Marie Saporito will carry that load this year."

Scimone (Tottenville / Staten Island, NY), the 1999 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year, batted .367 last season, while Saportio (Curtis / Staten Island, NY) hit .271. The Dolphins top returning offensive threats are three all-star sophomores in Theresa Caputo, Pam Barone and Donna Przybyszewski. Caputo (Curtis / Staten Island, NY) was an instant success on the mound with an 8-6 record and a 3.27 ERA and at the plate with a .395 average. Barone (St. John Villa / Staten Island, NY), who proved to be strong defensive player, hit .328 and Przybyszewski (Port Richmond / Staten Island, NY) led the team in batting last year with a .414 average.

The new crop includes three players from PSAL powerhouse Port Richmond HS in Staten Island, where Battista works during the day as a Dean; pitcher Julie Lowe, first basewoman Danielle Urti and outfielder Melissa Quiles.

After appearing in the school's first CUNYAC final since 1985, the team at Lehman College (19-10, 11-3 CUNY) is primed and ready for the school's first championship in 19 years. The Lightning return six of their top starters and could lead CUNYAC in hitting for a third straight season if their junior and sophomore classes continue to develop. Only one of the seven, CF Gina Sotomayor, won't be back for season #3. The numbers that this group put up are impressive to say the least, with each one leading the squad in a different offensive category.

Shortstop Sakeena Esteves (Kennedy / Bronx, NY), led the team with a .463 average, which led to 47 runs, 22 stolen bases and 43 RBIs. Catcher Tara Dempsey (St. Catherine's / Bronx, NY) led the team with 46 RBI's, while batting .349 and hitting eight round-trippers. Then there's pitcher Erika Noriega (Lehman / Bronx, NY), arguably the most valuable of the crew with a 10-4 record (78 innings), a .434 average, 31 RBI's and team highs in runs (58/2.07 per game) and stolen bases with 31. All three are two-time CUNYAC all-stars.

One thing that the sophomore class has in common, like their Dolphin counterparts, they all went to the same high school (Lehman High School in the Bronx) and are friends off the field as well.

Lehman's third baseman, Stephanie Rodriguez was the 2000 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year after posting a .412 average, 30 RBIs and a CUNYAC-high .838 slugging percentage (6 doubles, 4 triples and 5 homers). Stephanie's identical twin sister, Monica had a .333 average and double-digit steals (10) and walks (12) in limited action but will be in the outfield every game this year. The third member, P/CF Christina Pizzaro had great numbers, 6-5 record (64 innings) and posted fewer walks and more K's than Noriega. At the plate, she averaged .342 with 35 runs scored.

Also expected to contribute are newcomers Maritza Almonte (Stevenson / Bronx, NY) and Isabel Lorenzo (Norman Thomas / New York, NY) leaving veteran coach Roxann Moraza very confident that this team will be successful.

"This is by far the most talent we have ever returned," said the 14th year Lehman mentor. "They now know what it takes to win CUNY and will accept nothing less this year."

Rounding out the lead group is John Jay College (16-15, 10-4), the 2000 CUNYAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions.

"We took a slight step back last season," said 12th year had coach Pat Malia. "But with the new players we brought in, we have very high expectations."

The Bloodhounds feature arguably the two best players in CUNYAC, shortstop Carri Raffone (East Islip / East Islip, NY) and pitcher Heather Stewart (Madison / Brooklyn, NY). Raffone, a transfer to the Manhattan school from Providence College for her sophomore year, batted a league-high .564 with 15 home runs, scoring 63 runs, getting a whopping 73 RBIs (2.35 per game). Meanwhile, Stewart, a three-time all-star and the 2000 CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year, is as proficient at the plate as she is trying to defend it. Last season on the mound she led CUNYAC with 93 innings pitched, getting 92 K's while yielding 4.27 earned runs a game; she also batted .394 with 9 doubles, 44 runs and 46 runs batted in.

Malia will have to replace three seniors with freshmen, but he is excited to coach players like outfielder Kim Grabkowitz, Theresa Darby (Bishop Ford / Brooklyn, NY) and Jamie DeSapio (Bishop Kearney / Brooklyn, NY). Grabkowitz, from Bayside is the twin sister of Hunter's Samantha. The two teams will face off for a doubleheader at Hunter's field on Wednesday, April 3.

Seeking to improve from the school's fifth straight fifth-place finish is Brooklyn College (11-9, 6-8), under the direction of new head coach Paul Watson. The Bridges bring back six starters: seniors 2B Dara Reisman (Merkaz / Brooklyn, NY) and C Jaclyn Apicello (Curtis / Staten Island, NY); juniors P Charisse Gillett (FDR / Belize City, Belize), Kenisha Caicedo (Panama City, Panama), OF Allyson Pollachek (Madison / Brooklyn, NY) and OF Kristine McDonald (McAuley / Brooklyn, NY). With two freshmen on the team as well, BC could sneak up to the lead pack.

For the second straight season, a new school has added softball, increasing the league from six members in 1999 to the nine members that will battle for CUNYAC's automatic NCAA bid. Medgar Evers College , led by second year head coach Saffiyah Wilson will be challenged by these new teams - Baruch College and returning infielder Arelis Rodriguez and a strong recruiting class, NY City Technical College and the brand new team, York College.

The 2002 CUNYAC / Subway Softball Championship will be a single-elimination tournament contested over three playing dates. The quarterfinals will be played at the higher seeds' home fields on Monday, April 29th. The semifinals (May 1st- 3:00 pm) and the championship final (Saturday, May 4th, 1:00 pm) will be held at the Conference's home school, Lehman College. Like with the other 22 CUNYAC Championships, admission will be free. We hope to see you there.