Bronx Science’s historic season ended in defeat. However, the legacy the group leaves behind will be its ultimate victory.
The sixth-seeded Wolverines let a five-run lead in the fourth inning get away in a tough 10-8 loss to host and No. 4-seeded James Madison in the PSAL Class A softball quarterfinals on May 28. It closed out a year that saw Bronx Science win the Bronx A division title outright and reach the program’s first quarterfinal.
“It’s been an honor being on this team and seeing it grow,” senior shortstop Eliza Williamson said. “This is the first time that we have all truly came together. We have been good. We all have our talent, but this is the first time we put it all together.”
The group of six seniors won the program’s first playoff game during their tenure. It went through some heartbreak too. Lehman upset Bronx Science in the playoffs last year in the second round before breaking through this season.
“For us to get to this top eight is what you hope for as a coach,” Bronx Science headman Tom Morris said.
The Wolverines (17-3) led 8-3 after three and a half innings, but struggled to keep the top of the Madison order at bay. The Golden Knights first four hitters of Taylor Trim, Valerie Horton, Isabella Gerone and Sam Mendelsohn combine to go 10-for-15 with eight RBI and seven runs scored. Trim was a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, four runs scored and three RBI.
“We couldn’t just shut down that leadoff stop,” Morris said. “We couldn’t find a way to stop her and that pretty much was the difference in the game today.”
Madison (16-2) scored four times in the bottom of the fourth against Wolverines ace Ava Cutler and three more times in the sixth against reliever Anna Leidner to grab a 10-8 lead. SsssMendellshon’s one-out. RBI- double put the Brooklyn school up for good. Bronx Science got just a one-out single from Alexa Asch in the top of the seventh.
The Wolverines build it lead by doing what it did all year. It hit the ball hard and in play, forcing the Madison defense to make plays behind Gerone. Bronx Science led 3-0 in the opening frame thanks to an RBI-fielders choice by Ava Cutler and a two-run triple from Asch.
Madison got two runs back in the bottom of the frame, but the Wolverines added a run on an error in the third. They took control of the game thanks to a four-run fourth. Williamson, who had two hits, drove in runs along with Anna Leidner, Maheen Khan and Louisa Oreskes to make it 8-3.
“If you would have told me before this game that we were going to score eight runs, I’d really like our chances,” Morris said. “That’s what its has been. It’s been bats all year.”
Ultimately it was Madison’s bats that proved more powerful, but that doesn’t take away from what Bronx Science accomplished by getting there. The program is in a much better place than it was four years ago.”
“Being able to leave the team and see how everyone is growing at the same time, it’s amazing,” Williamson said. “I’m very happy despite what happened.
