The Post’s All-City softball honors

Susan Wagner’s Marco Altieri is The Post’s All-City softball Coach of the Year. (William Thomas)

In the end, it was Tottenville once again.

Cheryl Lopez pitched a shutout and hit a three-run home run to lead the Pirates to their second straight PSAL Class A city title and eighth championship in the last nine years. In the final, they beat Susan Wagner, which was making just its first title game appearance since 1989.

Archbishop Molloy has put together an impressive run atop the CHSAA, too. The Stanners won their fourth straight Brooklyn/Queens title and second consecutive city crown, beating St. Joseph by the Sea in the state semifinals before falling to Kellenberg (L.I.) in the final.

In the NYSAISAA, Holy Child won the whole thing, defeating Horace Mann in the championship game. Mann has now been to the last three finals, falling each time. Poly Prep’s string of six straight state titles was broken – the Blue Devils lost in the semis.

All-City softball Player of the Year: Cheryl Lopez, Tottenville

Lopez was already the favorite for All-City Player of the Year. She put herself over the top by putting the ball over the wall.

The city’s best pitcher beat Susan Wagner, 3-1, in the PSAL Class A city championship game and provided every single run of support for herself with a three-run home run out of St. John’s University’s Red Storm Field.

The incredible performance added to Lopez’s already impressive résumé. The junior went through the playoffs like a buzz saw, leading Tottenville to a second straight title and an eighth crown in the last nine years. In last year’s championship game, Lopez gave up just one hit to Madison over 10 innings.

This time, she did it with her bat, too.

“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.”

All-City softball Coach of the Year: Marco Altieri, Susan Wagner

After reaching five semifinals in the last six years, Altieri and Wagner broke through to the PSAL Class A championship game for the first time in 23 years. Doing it with bulldog ace Taylor Sarcone, a four-year starter n the circle, meant a lot to Altieri. He and assistants Tim McAuliffe and Melissa Zipf did a phenomenal job getting the most out of their talent. All three of the Falcons’ league losses were to eventual champion Tottenville.

“We have been coming up short, running into really good teams,” Altieri said of reaching the title game. “One thing the girls said is we are going to do it this year. We all believed in each other.”

FIRST TEAM

P Jackie Cautela, St. Joseph by the Sea

The junior was Sea’s most consistent hitter and a dominant ace in the circle even with her team sporting a three-pitcher rotation. She went unbeaten with an 0.81 ERA and notched 39 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched. Cautela tossed a 1-0 shutout of Preston in the CHSAA Archdiocesan final and hit .667 in five playoff games.

P Victoria Goldbach, Archbishop Molloy

The Catholic University-bound windmiller saved her biggest moments for her final season. Goldbach won four playoff games, including a 1-0 victory against Fontbonne Hall in which she struck out 13, and blanked St. Joseph by the Sea, 1-0, allowing just two hits in the CHSAA state semifinals.

P Nicole Lomangino, St. Francis Prep

The Terriers leaned heavily on the senior who only got more dominant as the year went on. Lomangino waited her turn to earn the title of ace and threw nearly every inning this season. She struck out 14 in a win over Fontbonne Hall and pitched the Terriers to the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens final series.

P/SS Kate Miller, Fieldston

The best position player – and perhaps best athlete – in the city was someone that few people outside of the Ivy League knew. Fieldston is not a citywide powerhouse, but the Princeton-bound Miller led the Eagles to a share of the Ivy League title and a trip to the NYSAISAA semifinals while pitching for the first time.

1B/SS Dana Moss, Archbishop Molloy

Moss, who is headed to C.W. Post, was one of the top hitters in New York City, often collecting three and four hits a game. That, along with her superb glove, made her the total package.

P Julianna Orrico, Preston

Just a freshman, Orrico never played like one at any point this season, competing with a veteran’s poise and determination. She got big hit after big hit and pitched Preston past Moore Catholic, 4-1, and into its first CHSAA Archdiocesan final since 2004.

SS/P Maria Palmeri, Archbishop Molloy

One of the most decorated players in Molloy history, the C.W. Post-bound Palmeri again provided punch in the Stanners’ order. She led the Queens schools to a third straight trip to the CHSAA state final and a fourth consecutive Diocesan crown by driving in the tying run in Game 1 of the championship series against rival St. Francis Prep.

SS Jillian Regan, Tottenville

One of the most feared hitters in the city, Regan is just a sophomore. That’s bad news for the rest of the PSAL since the shortstop was one of the very best players in the five boroughs, whether it was crushing home runs, getting on base or making smooth defensive plays in the field.

P Britney Rodriguez, Construction

Few players in the city could match her versatility – Rodriguez was a flame-throwing left-handed pitcher and led the PSAL in almost every offensive category this season in helping Construction to a second straight Class A semifinals. Just a sophomore, she is a pure athlete – she can do anything on the diamond.

P Taylor Sarcone, Susan Wagner

When it comes to experience and being a workhorse, no one else can compare to Sarcone. The senior got the ball every day for Susan Wagner for four years, was a middle-of-the-order hitter for almost as long and this season she led the Falcons all the way to their first PSAL Class A city final since 1989.

SECOND TEAM

SS Gina Gerone, James Madison

For pure athleticism, there was few better than the Catawba College-bound star. Gerone, a senior, has been a key player for Madison since she was a freshman and this year led the Knights to the PSAL Class A quarterfinals.

P Nicole Hubert, Mary Louis

The sophomore cemented herself as one of the city’s best young players. She was the Hilltoppers unquestioned ace and one of the team’s most productive and powerful hitters. Even more will be expected of her next season.

SS Maxine Jasko, Moore Catholic

The senior finally got to show the city what she was capable of after an injury-plagued junior year and she didn’t disappoint. Her strong arm and range made her one of the city’s best shortstops. Jasko hit over .400, scored 17 runs and drove in 16 in league play.

P Lianna Jordan, St. Joseph by the Sea

Jordan, like her teammate Jackie Cuatela, was a double threat. She was the Vikings No. 2 pitcher and second-place hitter. The junior went 4-0 with a perfect ERA and hit .406 with 10 RBIs. She was pivotal in Sea’s small ball-style, with her ability to bunt and put the ball in play.

3B Danielle Kibler, Preston

A star was born in this freshman. Kibler hit .500 with 30 RBIs and played a near flawless third base. In Preston’s win over Moore Catholic in the CHSAA Archdiocesan semifinals, she went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

C Jen Palase, Tottenville

Whatever coach Cathy Morano asked of the senior leader, Palase did with sterling results. The New Haven-bound leadoff hitter could bat lefty, slapping and bunting, or turn around and mash righty while also providing excellent defense behind the plate.

SS Maria Serrantino, Fontbonne Hall

Serrantino was part of the backbone of the Bonnies defense, displaying a strong arm and plenty of range. A dangerous middle-of-the-order bat, the sophomore was known for her scorching line drives, and enjoyed a big three-hit day in a win over Mary Louis.

P Tiffany Rondon, Cardinal Spellman

The four-year starter saved her best year for last. Rondon showed great poise and effectiveness in the circle, including her first win over rival Preston. First-year coach Brendan McCarrick was rewarded for showing faith in her at the plate as she became an important piece of the batting order.

CF Victoria Slavik, James Madison

A St. Francis Prep transfer, Slavik made a seamless transition to Madison and the PSAL. She was one of the league’s best defensive centerfielders and established herself as one of the Knights top hitters. The junior batted .525 with 21 RBI and 29 run scored, while also picking up two wins in the circle.

P Nicolette Trapani, Fontbonne Hall

Trapani had a breakout season in the circle, putting her name amongst the city’s top windmillers. She pitched and hit the Bonnies to an upset of Archbishop Molloy and shutout the Stanners for seven innings in an eventual 1-0 playoff loss.

HONORABLE MENTION

CF Keyana Brown Wiggins, Stevenson

P Sarah D’Amico, Lab Museum United

3B Stephanie DeMartino, Moore Catholic

3B Bianca Concepcion, Francis Lewis

P Mia Farinelli, Horace Mann

SS Gabrielle Faustino, Bryant

P Maguette Fofana, Clinton

P Heidi Gomez, Bayside

1B Jennifer Greenberg, Susan Wagner

P Morgan Higgins, Stuyvesant

P Blayse Halvorsen, McKee/Staten Island Tech