2003 CUNYAC / Sprint PCS Softball Final

Hawks Soar To Three-Peat
May 2nd, 2003

BOX-SCORE

●Lehman-Hunter

Staten Island, NY - Behind a stellar performance from junior starter Dara DeVincenzo (Jackson, NJ), Hunter College dominated Lehman College 9-1, in the 2003 CUNY Athletic Conference / Sprint PCS Championship final at the College of Staten Island. The Hawks (22-11-1) will represent the conference in the NCAA Championships next week for the third straight season.

DeVincenzo, a transfer from Brookdale Community College, gave up only three hits, one run, no walks and struck out seven batters in six innings on her way to being named Tournament Most Valuable Player.

"Dara is a tremendous pitcher,” said Hunter head coach Betsy Hipple, who has guided the Hawks to the CUNYAC title in each of her three seasons on the bench. "She has amazing control and poise out there. She could be the best pitcher I'll ever have the pleasure to coach.”

Hunter went right to work in the bottom of the first inning with junior 1B Jen Agosto (Brooklyn, NY) and freshman SS Kari Porto (Staten Island, NY) scoring on a triple from sophomore DH Cynthia Cabrera (Bronx, NY). Cabrera, the 2002 CUNYAC Tournament MVP, scored on a single by sophomore catcher Samantha Grabkowitz (Bayside, NY) on the next play. Despite a 3-0 lead, the Hawks continued to hit Lehman senior starter Erika Noriega (Bronx, NY), scoring two more runs on a Porto single in the bottom of the second inning. With a 5-0 lead, DiVincenzo (16-7) mowed down the Lightning, only facing 24 batters in the afternoon.

"It's awesome to be able to get back to Nationals,” said DeVincenzo, whose previous team won the National Junior College (NJCAA Division III) title last season. "This team has a lot of confidence now, and we're behind one another 100 percent. We played good team softball all week.”

Lehman (14-10) got on the board in the sixth inning when senior CF Mechelle Barnwell (Bronx, NY), an All- American in Indoor Track this past March, singled and scored on a double by senior shortstop Sakeena Esteves (Bronx, NY).

In the bottom of the sixth, leading 7-1, Hunter rallied to put the game away as Agosto, who is also a member of Hunter's two-time CUNYAC basketball championship team, walked with one out. Porto (5 RBIs) got her third hit of the day, followed by Cabrera's second single, plating Agosto. With Porto on third, a wild pitch by Noriega to Grabkowitz let the winning run score, as the 8-run mercy rule came into effect - just before a thunderstorm was looming in the air.

"We keep getting better every year,” said senior 3B Cagla Boz (Brooklyn, NY), the only four-year senior on the squad. "This team is very balanced and gifted and there's no reason why it can't continue in the NCAA's and into next season.”

The 2003 NCAA Division III Championship teams will be selected this Sunday night, with games at eight regional sites beginning this Thursday.

 

BOX SCORE
School	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Lehman	0	0	0	0	0	1	-	1	3	2
Hunter	3	2	1	0	1	2	-	9	12	1

WP: Dara DeVincenzo, Hunter
LP: Erika Noriega, Lehman
 

CUNYAC / Burger King Softball All-Stars

Theresa Caputo (Curtis HS / Staten Island, NY), a sophomore righty from Staten Island, was named Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season. Caputo had a 7-2 mark and held batters to a league-low .177 average. She had a 1.75 ERA in 60 innings pitched with 82 strikeouts.

Hunter shortstop Kari Porto (Port Richmond HS / Staten Island, NY) was named Rookie of the Year after batting .495 with 42 runs scored and 28 RBIs in her freshman season.

Her coach, Betsy Hipple was named Coach of the Year for the third straight season, as she has led the Hawks to three CUNYAC titles and three NCAA Championship appearances during that span.

 2002-2003 CUNYAC SOFTBALL YEAR IN REVIEW