Tottenville celebrates winnig the 2012 PSAL Class A championship Thursday. (Denis Gostev)
Jen Palase saw one pitch from ace Cheryl Lopez to know not much had changed since Tottenville was last at St. John’s University.
“Her first changeup in our warm up was perfect,” the senior catcher said. “I knew that it was going to work.”
Lopez continued to set down Susan Wagner hitters, preserving the lead she gave her team with a three-run blast on Wednesday. It took an hour and 16 minutes over two days, but top-seeded Tottenville held on to beat rival No. 2 Susan Wagner, 3-1, in the continuation of the PSAL Class A softball final Thursday at St. John’s University’s Red Storm Field. The contest was called after the fourth inning because of darkness. The final 2-1/2 frames took just 24 minutes to complete.
“Playing two different days, that kind of ruins the moment, the like feel to it,” Lopez said. “It’s still a championship game. You still win. The feelings are still there. I think it’s better to get it over with.”
The Pirates (21-0), who won their eighth title in the last nine years, are no strangers to waiting to complete the final. Two years ago it took eight innings for James Madison to end their string of six straight crowns and last season Lopez tossed 10 shutout innings in a win over Madison. This time she allowed just two second-inning hits, including one to Jeri Genarro that drove in Wagner’s only run, struck out three and walked none.
“She is a true leader on this team because she picks people up,” Tottenville coach Cathy Morano said. “She does it sometimes in a quiet way and sometimes in a loud way with that shot yesterday.”
The third inning began with Palase reaching on an error and a Nicole Bellini single. Lopez then proceeded to hit the second pitch she saw over the left centerfield fence. She said she didn’t know it was out until the umpire signaled for a home run.
The frame was the only hiccup for Falcons ace Taylor Sarcone, who coach Marco Altieri said continued to rise to the occasion. The senior held the mighty Pirates lineup to just six hits and walked just one. Tottenville, though, felt its bats were coming alive when the game was halted.
Wagner (17-3), making its first championship game appearance since 1989, appeared it might have something going in the top of the sixth when Jennifer Greenberg reached on an error. After a close strike call on what could have been ball four, Jillian Regan recovered from a bobbled ball to cut down lead runner at second.
“I can’t say enough about my girls,” Altieri said. “I can’t say enough about Taylor. She’s a tough kid.”
While Sarcone and the rest of the Wagner’s seniors fine careers come to a close this may just be the beginning of another Tottenville string of titles. Lopez is a junior, Regan and Bellini just sophomores and middle-of-the-order hitters Nylah Ramirez and Ashely Notaro are freshman.
“We have a lot of young kids,” Morano said, “that are going to remember [this] and hopefully carry it over to the next group.”
For those like Palase, who has been a part of three championship teams, the feeling is one they will cherish and will always remember.
“It feels good as a captain to [keep] the streak going,” Palase said. “To win as a senior really means a big deal to me.”