Anna LaBoccetta didn’t expect to get athletic money for college – partial or otherwise. The Cardozo softball first baseman was realistic. She knew how tough it was for players in New York City. Judges coach Larry Alberts said he doesn’t recall any of his players getting an athletic scholarship in his 25-year tenure.
“I wasn’t too confident that I would,” LaBoccetta said.
But things quickly fell into place. The coaches from Briarcliffe College, a Division II program in Bethpage, L.I., saw her play over the summer with the Long Island Select travel team and liked her. For LaBoccetta it was a perfect fit and they were offering a partial scholarship. That made the decision easy. She signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Briarcliffe last week.
LaBoccetta likes that it’s a small school that gives plenty of individual attention to its students and it has the major – criminal justice – that she wanted. She’s hoping to get into law.
“I was really happy with what they offered,” LaBoccetta said.
And Briarcliffe will likely be happy with what it is getting. LaBoccetta has started every game for four years at Cardozo, helping to lead the Judges to the PSAL Class AA semifinals last year – their first trip there in more than 25 years. She hit .465 with two home runs and 22 RBIs in 16 games in 2009.
“She’s a top player,” Alberts said. “I always get excited when she gets up to bat. She’s an all-around good player.”
LaBoccetta has even had to pitch three innings this season in a strange year at Cardozo. Ace Amanda Annicaro missed the first part of the campaign with an illness and her backup and sister Alyssa also got hut. LaBoccetta didn’t allow a run and gave up just one hit in those three frames.
But her biggest strength, of course, comes at the plate. She’s a sweet-swinging left-hander with power. LaBoccetta has been a run producer for the Judges since she was a freshman when she hit .564 with four home runs and 34 RBIs. Then division pitchers became a little more wary.
“She’s a very good player, very dangerous hitter,” Bayside coach Steve Piorkowski said. “Walking her is not the worst option. She can hit the ball a mile.”
Next year, she plans to do the same thing at Briarcliffe.