Lady Bears Sweep Weekly Softball Accolades
BROOKLYN, NY – In announcements released earlier today, Theresa Mendez (Queens, NY/St. Francis Prep) was named Association of Division III Independents (AD3I) Player of the Week, Caitlyn Kakavas (Queens, NY/St. Agnes) was named United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Player of the Week and Lisa Scheer (Queens, NY/Mary Louis) was named USCAA Pitcher of the Week for the week ending May 3. The St. Joseph's College softball team went 6-0 on the week and captured their third Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) title and extended their winning streak to eight games.
Mendez, a senior co-captain, had a spectacular week batting .500 (8-for-16), slugging .688, with a triple, double, two stolen bases, scoring six times and driving in five runs. The centerfielder was also perfect in the field in seven chances, including an outfield assist.
In the victory over St. Elizabeth in the HVWAC championship game, Mendez registered two of the Lady Bears six hits and hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning that drove in the game tying run, allowing St. Joseph's to clinch the victory in the ninth inning. This is the first time in her career receiving the honor.
Kakavas, a freshman catcher/third baseman, compiled a .375 batting average (6-for-16) and .750 slugging percentage with a home run, triple, double, six RBI and six runs scored.
The highlight of her week came in a USCAA battle against Briarcliffe College where Kakavas delivered both game-winning RBIs in the late innings to secure the sweep. In the opener, with the game deadlocked at 1-1 in the bottom sixth, Kakavas delivered a two-out double to deep left field to give the Lady Bears a 2-1 lead. In the nightcap, with the Lady Bears trailing 4-3 in the bottom fifth, Kakavas blasted two-out three-run home run to left field, giving the St. Joseph's their first lead of the game en route to the victory.
Scheer, had a tremendous week in the circle going undefeated posting a 3-0 record, improving to 13-4 on the season. For the week, the freshman ace had a 1.22 ERA, allowing seven runs (three unearned) on 16 hits, striking out 25 while walking four in 23 innings of work.
The highlight of Scheer's week came in the HVWAC championship game, where she tossed seven scoreless innings in a game that remained deadlocked at 0-0. Scheer pitched nine innings, surrendering only one run (unearned) on three hits, and striking out 11. She also helped her own cause delivering the championship-winning RBI with a double in the bottom of the ninth. For her efforts, Scheer received tournament MVP honors.