The best word to describe Manhattan this year was competitive.
Environmental Studies won PSAL Manhattan A despite at least three other teams that could have earned that crown. In Class B, Manhattan was a powerhouse. LaGuardia won the title, beating borough foe Lab Museum in the championship game. A. Philip Randolph and Economics & Finance had deep runs in the playoffs also.
All-Manhattan softball Player of the Year: Alex Sappington, LaGuardia
One of New York City’s elite pitchers was shrouded in anonymity. LaGuardia is known for producing actors, singers, dancers and musicians – not softball players. But Sappington stormed onto the scene in a major way in her junior year. The right-handed flamethrower led the Athletics to their first-ever PSAL Class B city title and didn’t give up an earned run until the championship game, a win over Lab Museum.
According to coach Greg Brummell, Sappington wasn’t just responsible for much of the team’s success on the field. She was also LaGuardia’s spiritual and emotional leader. In a group of players with obligations like plays and choral performances, Sappington was a softball player first and her teammates were drawn to her excitement for the game. There’s a very good chance of her terrorizing the ‘A’ league next season.
All-Manhattan softball Coach of the Year: Jose Ferrer, Environmental Studies
At the start of the season, PSAL Manhattan A was a tossup. Any one of four or five teams could have taken the division title. But Environmental Studies was the class of the borough throughout. Ferrer had to deal with an injury to pitcher Jocelyn Jimenez, but the Eagles stayed consistent. Environmental Studies has been near the top of the division for the last few years, but this season the team won its first playoff game in awhile.
All-Manhattan first team
3B Alex Albright, Stuyvesant
The senior slugger was one of the most feared sluggers in Manhattan. Albright hit .537 with two home runs and 29 RBIs in just 14 regular-season games. Next year, she will play softball at Williams College in Massachusetts.
RF Dulce Aybar, George Washington
Arguably GW’s best pure hitter, Aybar lived on base. She hit .485, but also drew 13 walks in 14 games. The junior was a superb tablesetter.
1B Yaribilisa Colon, Murry Bergtraum
There was not a better freshman in Manhattan. Colon hit .540 with three home runs and 31 runs for Bergtraum, which made an incredible turnaround and made the playoffs.
C Chelsea Correa, LaGuardia
She didn’t get the accolades Alex Sappington did, but Correa had a hand – literally – in the pitcher’s success. The junior was very steady behind the plate and hit .588 with a .971 slugging percentage in the regular season.
P Sarah D’Amico, Lab Museum
The sophomore took things to a whole different level in the playoffs. D’Amico tossed gems against LaGuardia, Jamaica and Queens HS of Teaching to lead Lab Museum to its first PSAL Class B championship. The future is extremely bright for the crafty right-hander.
P Holly Garcia, Murry Bergtraum
If you’re looking for one reason why Bergtraum was worlds better than it was last season, Garcia is it. Not only did the junior give the Blazers stability in the circle, she was perhaps their best hitter. Garcia really was the difference between two wins and 10.
CF Carolyn Lehman, Stuyvesant
Offensively, there wasn’t much Lehman didn’t do. She could hit for average, produce runs and had speed on the bases. The junior hit .452, walked 15 times and scored 18 runs in 15 regular-season games.
P Jocelyn Jimenez, Environmental Studies
The junior wasn’t overpowering, but she was certainly steady. Jimenez went 10-2 in the regular season with a 2.73 ERA. In Environmental Studies’ first-round playoff victory, she tossed a five-inning one-hitter against CSI/McCown.
1B Alberta Jordan, Environmental Studies
The consummate team player, Jordan was not a pitcher, but filled in for right-hander Jocelyn Jimenez when she was injured this season. Against George Washington, she was masterful, holding the Trojans without a hit in four innings. Oh, and Jordan was also one of the best hitters in the division.
C Yen Pham, Manhattan Center
Her team wasn’t the best in Manhattan like it was in 2009, but Pham was the anchor of this playoff squad. The sophomore moved from shortstop to catcher and was a rock behind the plate. Pham, who also starts on the school’s girls basketball team, was perhaps the most productive hitter in Manhattan with a .609 average, 30 runs scored and 15 RBIs.
All-Manhattan honorable mention
C Sara Batka, Lab Museum
P Chelsea Bernstein, Eleanor Roosevelt
1B Charlotte Bradley, Environmental Studies
2B Wesley Cady, LaGuardia
P Amanda Croce, A. Philip Randolph
SS Diamond Diaz, Lab Museum
P Yaniris Figueroa, George Washington
3B Kianna Flowers, Murry Bergtraum
SS Jane Goldstein, Dalton
CF Mayelyn Gomez, George Washington
P Morgan Higgins, Stuyvesant
P Stefanie Lechich, Dalton
P Ariel McKayle, Frederick Douglass
P Leeann Rosa, Norman Thomas
1B Sarah Tembeckjian, LaGuardia