The weather is getting warmer, days are getting longer and basketball season is over – almost. It must be time for softball.
The PSAL is in for one of its most interesting years in awhile. Tottenville lost a ton of talent from its sixth straight city title team. James Madison returns everyone from a team that lost to the Pirates, 4-2, in the final. Can the Knights dethrone the Staten Island power? Where does Susan Wagner fit in? Could Queens – with Cardozo, Bayside, Bryant and Construction all solid – dethrone the Island as the deepest borough?
All these questions will be answered as we get closer to June. But for now, check out the preseason PSAL softball rankings:
1. Tottenville (0-0)
The Pirates might have lost a plethora of talented players – including superb pitcher Alyssa Corvino. But they don’t rebuild at Tottenville. They reload. Nicole Palase will be in the circle and Victoria McFarland returns to give opposing pitchers nightmares. Coach Cathy Morano’s team will be just fine.
Next: No. 3 Susan Wagner (March 22, 4 p.m. @ Great Kills LL)
2. James Madison (0-0)
Madison didn’t lose a single senior from a team that came within two runs of winning the PSAL Class A city title. The Knights are stacked from top to bottom. No offense to new coach Jeff Meltzer, but his job is simply not to screw it up.
Next: Midwood (April 7, 4 p.m.)
3. Susan Wagner (0-0)
The face of the program for three years, Dia Cascone, has graduated, but that hardly means Wagner is in for a down year. Precocious sophomore windmiller Taylor Sarcone is back and improved and the Falcons lineup is even more balanced with the emergence of Kayla Grieco. Coach Marco Altieri’s team should be right there again as one of the city’s best.
Next: No. 1 Tottenville (March 22, 4 p.m. @ Great Kills LL)
4. Cardozo (0-0)
The Judges have as much experience as any team in the city and a four-year pitcher in Amanda Annicaro. Needless to say, there isn’t much they haven’t seen. Cardozo made the PSAL Class A semifinals last year and is a favorite to do that again.
Next: John Bowne (March 23, 4:30 p.m.)
5. Bayside (0-0)
This could be a different Bayside team than most people are used to. Instead of having a dominant pitcher, like they did two years ago in Nicole Marra when they went to the PSAL Class A city final, the Commodores could be carried by their offense in 2010. Julie Wagner will be in the middle of a stout lineup.
Next: Townsend Harris (March 23, 4 p.m.)
6. Port Richmond (0-0)
The Red Raiders lost some slugging, but they do return steady windmiller Caitlin Shields and the speedy Tina Mazzarisi. Like most teams on Staten Island, Port Richmond has to worry about staying afloat in the toughest league in the PSAL. The Island teams beat up on each other, yet the fourth or fifth best teams would win divisions in other boroughs.
Next: McKee/Staten Island Tech (March 22, 4 p.m. @ West Shore LL)
7. Bryant (0-0)
With a solid core returning, including windmiller Lana Kovac, and some intriguing young players, Bryant looks poised for a fourth straight division title. The Owls could have one of their best seasons in awhile in coach Wally Hausdorf’s 30th campaign.
Next: Lane (March 25, 5 p.m. @ Highland Park)
8. Bronx Science (0-0)
The Wolverines won their first division title last year, but a first-round loss in the playoffs has them motivated to go even further now. Big bats Stephanie Sfiroudis, Mackenzie Charter and Phoebe Mankiewicz will lead a more balanced squad.
Next: John F. Kennedy (March 22, 4 p.m. @ Kingsbridge LL)
9. Construction (0-0)
The Red Hawks were at St. Francis College on Saturday to see their boys basketball team fall in the ‘B’ title game. Construction softball is still the only team at the new school to win a title. Coach Marco Migliaccio’s club is in the ‘A’ league now and ready to contend already.
Next: @ Forest Hills (March 25, 4 p.m.)
10. CSI/McCown (0-0)
The Dragons had an incredible, breakout season last year in only their second as a varsity squad. They went 9-8 in the toughest division in the city and made the playoffs. The challenge now for coach Rosario Miano will be to sustain without star windmiller Corinne Fairlie.
Next: @ Curtis (March 22, 4 p.m.)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: New Dorp (0-0), Riverdale/Kingsbridge (0-0), Lincoln (0-0), Francis Lewis (0-0), Bushwick (0-0), McKee/Staten Island Tech (0-0), Adlai Stevenson (0-0), Manhattan Center (0-0), and Stuyvesant (0-0)