Lady Bears Celebrate Senior Night With Sweep of Golden Eagles
BROOKLYN, NY – Senior co-captain Theresa Mendez(Queens, NY/St. Francis Prep) had four hits, scored three runs and drove in two over a two-game sweep of sister campus St. Joseph's College-Long Island on Tuesday night as the Lady Bears celebrated Senior Night. Freshman Lisa Scheer (Queens, NY/Mary Louis) also had four hits, two RBI and a run and picked up a win in the nightcap. This was the first official regular season meeting between the two campuses.
All five seniors made big contributions with Mendez, Carissa Cancemi (Queens, NY/Martin Luther), Danielle Kramer (Queens, NY/Martin Luther), Catherine Norris (Queens, NY/Long Island City) and Jennifer Safi(Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) each getting at least one hit and scoring once. Norris also made three great catches in right field to help maintain the Lady Bears lead in game two. Thirteen Lady Bears picked up hits over the two-game set.
In the opener, the Golden Eagles started off the game with three consecutive hits scoring once to take an early 1-0 lead. The Lady Bears answered quickly in the bottom half, with Mendez drawing a leadoff walk and Jackie Marinello(Brooklyn, NY/Fontbonne) doubling to the right field corner. Mendez scored from first to tie the game after Long Island botched the relay. Marinello later scored on a groundout to take a 2-1 lead.
Both teams added a solo run in the second keeping the difference at one run. The Lady Bears committed two errors in the fifth inning allowing the Golden Eagles to score a run, equalizing the game at 3-3. Brooklyn was unable to respond in their half of the frame and the game remained tied entering the sixth.
Starting pitcher Alyson Chiaramonte(Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) retired Long Island in order in the top of the sixth striking out two. In the bottom half, the Lady Bears sent 10 batters to the plate in a five run inning to take a commanding 8-3 lead going into the final inning. Cancemi, Lauren Norris (Queens, NY/Long Island City), Scheer, Chiaramonte, and Emily Palmieri(Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa) all singled during the rally. The Golden Eagles also committed two errors causing all five runs to come unearned to starting pitcher Julie Cincotta.
Brooklyn surrendered two runs in the final inning, but the five-run cushion was too much to overcome and the Lady Bears walked away with game one, 8-5. Chiaramonte picked up her 11th win of the season finishing with eight strikeouts and allowing five runs (two unearned) and eight hits. She also had two hits at the plate with an RBI. Scheer led the Lady Bears going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Marinello doubled and scored two runs. Mendez singled, walked twice and scored twice.
In between games, both teams and all fans in attendance were treated to a barbecue for the Senior Night festivities.
In the nightcap, after two innings with neither team generating significant offense, Brooklyn drew first blood in the third plating three runs. Kramer started the rally with a single and Safi followed reaching on an error. Mendez singled to right for her second hit of the game delivering Kramer. Safi later scored on a Marinello single through the left side. Scheer drove in Mendez on a fielders' choice.
Long Island scored their first run in the fourth knocking three singles in the inning. The Golden Eagles threatened to score more, but two tough catches by C. Norris in right with the darkening sky held Long Island to one run, maintaining a two run lead.
The Lady Bears got two runs back in the bottom half with Caitlyn Kakavas(Queens, NY/St. Agnes) leading off with a single for her first hit of the series. After two great plays in the outfield, C. Norris singled in Kakavas who advanced to second on a passed ball. Fellow senior Mendez later drove in C. Norris with a single, her third hit of the game.
Long Island scored two more runs in the top fifth, and once again a great defensive play ended a Golden Eagle rally. With runners on first and second and one out, Kakavas turned a double play stepping on third and throwing across the diamond to end the rally, keeping the Lady Bears up 5-3.
Brooklyn continued to apply the pressure on Long Island, extending their lead again in the bottom half plating three more runs. Scheer led off the inning with a single and Palmieri walked. Kakavas singled home Scheer and C. Norris layed down a perfect sacrifice to put runners on second and third. Cancemi walked to load the bases and a strikeout set up Safi with the bases loaded and two out. She delivered with an infield single that scored Palmieri and Kakavas for an 8-3 lead.
Scheer retired the Golden Eagles in order in the sixth and the Lady Bears reserves added an insurance run in the bottom half. Melissa Simo(Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) singled to right for her third hit of the season. She advanced to third on an error by the catcher trying to pick her off at first. Chiaramonte, entering as a pinch-hitter, hit a two-out laser to the third baseman that was too hot to handle, scoring Simo.
Facing the very potent top of the lineup in the final inning with a six-run cushion, the Lady Bears allowed two runs taking the 9-5 victory and the sweep.
Mendez finished 3-for-4, with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Kakavas was 2-for-3, scoring twice and driving in one. Safi finished with a hit, two RBI and a run scored. Scheer improves to 11-4 in the circle allowing five runs (one unearned) on nine hits, striking out seven and walking two.
The night concluded with the a beautiful Senior Night celebration with the underclassmen presenting farewell gifts to the seniors and recognizing the seniors' parents who supported them throughout the career. A special laser light show by Daniel Bernatowicz of DBI Productions ended the evening.
Brooklyn improves to 22-8 while Long Island falls to 9-23. The Lady Bears host Briarcliffe College for a two-game slate on Thursday, April 30 at National Grid Softball Field to close out the regular season. Game one begins at 5 p.m.