It was quite a year of softball in the Bronx.
Fieldston defeated rival Poly Prep in the NYSAISAA title game for the program’s third straight crown. A championship again eluded Preston as the Panthers lost a heart breaker to St. Joseph by the Sea in the Archdiocesan championship game.
Over in the PSAL, Bronx Science delivered one of the best seasons on program history. The Wolverines won the division title and reach its first Class A quarterfinal. Theodore Roosevelt finally reached the mountaintop as it took down Kennedy for the league ‘B’ city championship.
Plenty of players contributed to those feats and plenty more had big seasons, Here are the athletes selected as the best in the Bronx:
All-Bronx
Softball Player of the Year
Julianna Orrico, Preston
The senior’s stellar career ended without a diocesan title despite her doing everything she could. Orrico blasted a grand slam in the semifinal and became more and more dominant in the circle as the games grew in importance. She went 14-3 with a 1.85 ERA and 75 strikeouts. Orrico also batted .505 with 36 RBI, making her one of the city’s best all-around players.
All-Bronx
Softball Coach of the Year
Tom Morris, Bronx Science
Morris has his hands all over the Wolverines growth of the last three seasons, culminating in a division title and quarterfinal appearance. This group of seniors won the first playoff game during its tenure and he helped move them past a heart breaking post season loss a year ago to become a team that could compete with the best the league has to offer.
All-Bronx
Softball First Team:
CF Lyric Anate
Adlai Stevenson
The slick fielding senior saved her best season for last. Anate posted career highs with a .580 average 37 RBI, 35 runs scored and 10 doubles. She was also a major threat on the bases with 49 steals
P Daphne Burdeaux
American Studies @ Lehman
Burdeax remained one of the borough’s most productive players as she helped the Senators to a second place finish. The senior hit .453 with 31 RBI and 25 runs scores. She also posted a 13-3 record in the circle with a 3.18 ERA and 132 strikeouts.
P Ava Cutler
Bronx Science
The sophomore was super this season. She went 7-0 with a 3.00 ERA and helped lead the Wolverines to its first quarterfinal. Cutler also hit .434 with 30 RBI and nine extra base hits. Her future is bright.
P Madison Kahn
Riverdale
Kahn was one of the premier players in the borough over her four seasons at Riverdale. She was a force in the circle and a feared hitter at the plate. Her presence always kept the Falcons as one of the Ivy League’s top teams.
1B Maheen Khan
Bronx Science
The Wolverines No. 3 hitter was a big reason they had its best year in program history. The senior posted a .467 average in regular season and went 5-for-7 in the post season. Khan drove in 22 runs and scored 34.
3B Danielle Kibler
Preston
Kibler missed games early with a hand injury, but more than made up for is. The senior batted .405 with 27 RBI. Her ability to play multiple positions in the field made her a big asset to first-year coach Frank Toscano.
P Temma Levis
Fieldston
Levis remained one of the most feared windmillers as she pitched the Eagles to a third straight NYSAISAA crown. At the plate the junior hit a blistering .534 with 25 run scored 16 RBI and 12 extra base hits.
C Bianca Mastropietro
Preston
It was a breakout year for the junior. Mastropietro hit a team leading .508, blasted eight home runs and 14 doubles to help drive in 39 runs as the Panthers cleanup hitter. She was also superb defensively and always a threat to throw out runners.
CF Alexa Mendal
Fieldston
The senior was a clutch bat all season for the Eagles and remained that way the playoffs. Mendal went 3-for-4 with two runs, delivered an RBI single in the finals. She hit .488 with 23 RBI for the year.
SS Jenny Reiss
Horace Mann
Reiss is arguably the Ivy League’s most feared hitter. The senior, who is also an excellent defensive shortstop, batted .650 with nine home runs. She also posted 42 RBI and 30 stolen bases to fuel the Lions offense.
SS Savannah Stern
Fieldston
The senior was a serious versatile threat for the Eagles as a sure-handed fielder and dependable bat on the state championship team. Stern posted a .483 average with 21 runs scored and 15 RBI as the team’s clean up hitter.
Honorable mention:
P Esther Boateng
Roosevelt Educational
SS Yeisy Cruz
Roosevelt Educational
CF Madeline Giannini
Preston
P/SS Deanna Faligla
Cardinal Spellman
P Pamela Guerrero
Adlai Stevenson
SS Lisa Hernandez
Lehman
SS Jenny Kronish
Riverdale
2B Anna Leidner
Bronx Science
P Chelsea Martinez
Walton
C. Phoebe May
Fieldston
C Caitlyn Tein
Horace Mann
C Jada Robinson
Cardinal Spellman
