The Bronx was solid at the top. The PSAL, CHSAA and Ivy League all had contenders in a borough not known for its softball prowess.
Riverdale/Kingsbridge had its best season ever, sharing the PSAL Bronx A crown with DeWitt Clinton and advancing to the PSAL Class A quarterfinals, where the Tigers fell to eventual champion James Madison. In the CHSAA, Preston advanced to the Archdiocesan semifinals before pushing eventual champion St. Joseph by the Sea. And in the Ivy League, Horace Mann had a renaissance season, finishing second behind Poly Prep and falling to Poly in the NYSAISAA title game.
All-Bronx softball Player of the Year: Nelyssa Rosario, Riverdale/Kingsbridge
Not only did Rosario take her team to new heights, she helped earn PSAL Bronx softball a new measure of respect. It didn’t really matter what borough the senior shortstop played in. She was a monster at the plate, forcing some coaches to pitch around her or just intentionally walk her outright. In the field, she was just as good, a product of getting up every morning at 6 a.m. to work with her father, Nelson, a former professional baseball player in the Dominican Republic.
Without Rosario, Riverdale/Kingsbridge does not win a share of the PSAL Bronx A title in just its second season in the ‘A’ league and the Tigers don’t advance to the quarterfinals either. She wasn’t just their best player on the field, she was a leader and motivator off of it. Her teammates fed off the Concordia-bound Rosario. Coach Bob Finz will sorely miss her.
All-Bronx softball Coach of the Year: Ray Barile, Horace Mann
At the beginning of the season, Horace Mann had potential to be in the Ivy League mix, but a tough loss to Fieldston had the Lions on their heels. They needed a change. So Barile called up pitcher Mia Farinelli from the junior varsity and the season took off. Mann ended up finishing second in the Ivy League to Poly Prep and the Lions advanced to the NYSAISAA championship game where they lost to Poly. Barile, who took a 10-year sabbatical from coaching softball before last year, clearly still has it.
FIRST TEAM
SS Nicole Cavigliano, Preston
Cavigliano has packed a punch since the minute she put on a Preston uniform. This year was no different. The senior hit the ball to all fields, slammed five homers and drove in 30 runs as part of a lethal 1-2 punch with Laura Montalto. Anything hit to her at short was gobbled up for outs.
2B Mackenzie Charter, Bronx Science
There might not have been a better pure hitter in The Bronx than Charter. The senior batted .659 and had eight extra-base hits in the regular season. She also made a seamless transition from shortstop to second base.
SS Lauren DelPrete, Horace Mann
For someone who had not played softball for four years, DelPrete didn’t show much rust. She hit eight home runs and had 50 RBIs to help lead Mann to the NYSAISAA championship game. Coach Ray Barile called the school’s star tennis player the best hitter he has ever coached.
P Mia Farinelli, Horace Mann
Her presence almost singlehandedly changed the momentum of Horace Mann’s season. After being called up from the junior varsity, Farinelli showed uncommon poise for a freshman in helping lead the Lions to the NYSAISAA championship game.
CF Clara Hill, Horace Mann
Hill had anything you could ever want in a leadoff hitter. The left-hander could slap, drive the ball or lay down a magnificent bunt – and she had the speed to beat out plenty of infield hits. She was undoubtedly the catalyst for a strong lineup.
SS Kate Miller, Fieldston
There may not have been a more feared hitter in the Ivy League. If there were runs out there to be driven in, the sophomore usually found a way to get the home — when she was not pitched around. Miller is one of the best all-around players in city and one who made difficult plays look routine at short.
3B Laura Montalto, Preston
The junior, nicknamed Monster, was certainly that again this season, especially in the playoffs. She was 3-for-5 with six RBIs in two games. Montalto slugged nine home runs, including a grand slam that sent the Panthers to the Archdiocesan semifinals, and drove in 37 runs. She was also as surehanded as they come at third.
P Tayna Pena, DeWitt Clinton
Coach Richie Eaton said it all season – Clinton was only going to go as far as Pena took them. Well, that turned out to be pretty far. The junior went 11-2 with a 2.14 ERA in the regular season and was also the Governors’ best hitter as they shared the PSAL Bronx A crown with Riverdale/Kingsbridge.
3B Victoria Quinones, Cardinal Spellman
What position didnt Quinones play? The sophomore mostly found herself at short and third, but even caught and pitched at times this season when injuries struck. Quinones is a consistent contact hitter with some pop. Swinging in pain, she played the game right after injuring her shoulder late in the season.
C Jane Witkowski, Riverdale/Kingsbridge
Though somewhat overshadowed by Nelyssa Rosario’s superb season, Witkowski was just as impressive at bat. She hit .649, walked 17 times and scored a ridiculous 32 runs in 13 regular-season games. Also, no one ran on her cannon-like arm behind the plate. Witkowski will walk-on at Iona next year.
HONORABLE MENTION
3B Cara Annunziata, Horace Mann
P Nathaly Campos, Stevenson
C Kristen Carew, Cardinal Spellman
P Kristie Davidow, Preston
SS Xiomara German, InTech
RF Allie Hellman, Horace Mann
C Jessica Kerrigan, Preston
P Emily Kling, Fieldston
C Malaya Lambert, Cardinal Spellman
1B Phoebe Mankiewicz, Bronx Science
P Zanovia Pierce, Riverdale/Kingsbridge
3B Niki Rodriguez, DeWitt Clinton
P Tiffany Rondon, Cardinal Spellman
SS/P Stephanie Sfiroudis, Bronx Science
2B Jessica Signore, Preston