Preston’s Rachel Mazza is The Post’s All-Bronx softball Coach of the Year. (Robert Cole)
Bronx softball is on the upswing.
The perfect example for that is Preston, which won CHSAA Bronx/Westchester and advanced to its first Archdiocesan final since 2004, where it almost knocked off Staten Island powerhouse St. Joseph by the Sea. Cardinal Spellman had one of its best years recently, finishing second in Bronx/Westchester.
The PSAL was wild as usual, with Adlai Stevenson winning the Bronx A division title, but Clinton advancing further in the playoffs, into the quarterfinals. Morris made the PSAL Class B championship game.
In the Ivy League, Fieldston won a share of the division title and advanced to the NYSAISAA semifinals. Horace Mann, though, knocked the Lions off, making their third straight NYSAISAA finals.
All-Bronx softball Player of the Year: Kate Miller, Fieldston
Miller was already the best position player in the city and an incredible defensive shortstop. This year, she added pitching – where she never played before – to her repertoire, getting tips off YouTube and becoming pretty effective in the circle. That just speaks to how gifted the Princeton-bound Miller is as an athlete.
This year, she finished her incredible career by helping to lead Fieldston to a share of the Ivy Prep League title and a trip to the NYSAISAA semifinals.
“I never expected anything less for her,” Fieldston coach Stefanie Gozdziewski said of Miller playing at Princeton. “I knew she would be able to play D-I. She really stepped it up and proved herself.”
All-Bronx softball Coach of the Year: Rachel Mazza, Preston
Mazza knew she had something special in this young group and just had to bring the potential out of them. She played as challenging a schedule as anyone in New York City and her team even exceeded her expectations.
“Did we expect championship?” Mazza said of this year. “They made us believe. We could only get better. They’re so young.”
The Panthers reclaimed the CHSAA Bronx/Westchester title, picked up a win over CHSAA city champion Molloy and lost a heartbreaking, 1-0 game to St. Joseph by the Sea in the program’s first Archdiocesan final since 2004. The best is still yet to come for Mazza and this group.
“I knew they had the talent to do it,” Mazza said. “This year I really focused on the mental game. I tried to get it into their heads that they had to stay mentally in the game.”
FIRST TEAM
CF Keyana Brown Wiggins, Stevenson
A phenomenal athlete, Brown Wiggins excelled in just about every aspect of the game this year. The senior had 33 RBIs, 23 stolen bases and slugged .770 to lead Stevenson to its first PSAL Bronx A title since 2005.
P Nicole Cornet, Riverdale
The senior stalwart was on the mound in all the big games this year for Riverdale and usually very effective. Cornet led the Falcons to another winning season in the Ivy League Prep and a berth in the NYSAISAA tournament.
P Mia Farinelli, Horace Mann
She didn’t have the best regular season, struggling at times with her control. But the junior got it done when it counted, putting together some of the best games of her career in the NYSAISAA tournament as Horace Mann reached the final.
P Maguette Fofana, Clinton
Enigmatic at times with control issues, Fofana bore down in the postseason leading Clinton back to the PSAL Class A quarterfinals for the second straight year. Her brilliant performance in the second round against Cardozo won’t be soon forgotten.
CF Megan Kelly, Preston
Kelly was one of Preston’s key dual threats. The junior was a consistent and calm fire baller in the circle and was in center field when she wasn’t pitching. Kelly pitched to a 2.00 ERA and picked up a signature win over Archbishop Molloy, 2-0. She allowed just one hit, walked three and struck out eight. Kelly batted .425 with 21 RBIs.
3B Danielle Kibler, Preston
Preston may have its next star in the freshman third base. Kibler replaced Laura Montalto seamlessly at the hot corner, gobbling up everything that came her way. She also was one of the Panthers most consistent bat, hitting .500 and with plenty of power. Kibler drove in a run in Preston’s Archdiocesan semifinal win over Moore Catholic.
C Kitty Lajqi, Preston
On a team filled with young talent Lajqi was the lone senior influence. She was a rock defensively behind the plate working with Megan Kelly and Julianna Orrico. Lajqi was a hit .413 with 14 RBIs and was a consistent run producer all season long. Her leadership was influential in Preston’s first trip to Archdiocesan final since 2004.
P Julianna Orrico, Preston
Orrico handled herself and played like a seasoned veteran, not like the freshman she was. She was one of the city’s top pitchers when it mattered most, hurling the Panthers to a 2-0 win over Moore Catholic in the CHSAA Archdiocesan semifinals and allowed just a first inning run in final’s loss to St. Joseph by the Sea. She had a 0.37 ERA and batted .529 with 30 RBIs.
3B Victoria Quinones, Cardinal Spellman
Quinones is one of the city’s most versatile players and was as surehanded as they come at third. He found her groove at the plate midway through the season and didn’t stop mashing, helping the Pilots to their best season in her four years on the team, placing second in CHSAA Bronx/Westchester and beating rival Preston for the first time.
P Tiffany Rondon, Cardinal Spellman
Rondon was at her best in her final season. The Spellman ace gritted out wins in the circle, including her first-ever victory over Preston, where she went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. The senior showed a greater composure on the rubber than ever before and became an integral part of the Pilots’ lineup as one of its best run producers.
HONORABLE MENTION
SS Cara Annunziata, Horace Mann
1B Angie Arroyo, Cardinal Spellman
SS Tiara Brown, Morris
C Heidy Cabral, InTech Academy
SS Maranda Diaz, Stevenson
OF Madeline Giannini, Preston
P/CF/2B Madison Kahn, Riverdale
C Kimberly Martinez, Clinton
P Sarah Paisner, American Studies @ Lehman
CF Kaitlyn Puglia, Horace Mann
C Marisa Rackson, Fieldston
SS Jessica Signore, Preston
3B/OF Nicole Srbin, Bronx Science
P Diamond Villegas, St. Catharine
C Stephany Ward, Walton