2004 CUNYAC Softball Preview

March 23rd, 2004

After three consecutive CUNYAC Championships, three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and three consecutive CUNYAC Coach of the Year awards, what can Hunter (22-13-1 overall, 15-1 CUNY) bench boss Betsy Hipple do for an encore? That question will be answered in 2004 as she attempts to guide her Hawks to their fourth straight conference title, a feat no team has accomplished in a dozen years. Staten Island (18-7, 12-4) and John Jay (18-10, 13-3 CUNY) figure to be Hunter’s top challengers in 2004. The semifinals (Wednesday, April 28) and championship game (Friday, April 30) will be played at the College of Staten Island.

Hunter
Leading the way for the Hawks will be two-time CUNYAC All-Star and 2002 CUNYAC Tournament MVP Cynthia Cabrera. The junior outfielder is coming off a campaign in which she batted .431 with 32 runs and a team-leading 33 RBI. Joining her in the middle of the order will be sophomore shortstop Kari Porto, the 2003 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year. Porto hit a team-best .491 with 28 RBI and a team-high 43 runs. Fresh off shooting the Hawks to a CUNYAC basketball title, senior Jen Agosto will split time catching and playing first base. She batted .339 with 19 runs and 19 RBI last season. Also sharing time at first base will be classmate Beth Tuccillo. Selected to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament two years ago, the two-sport standout (volleyball) contributed a .308 batting average, 11 RBI, and 12 runs last spring. Four other players expected to perform major roles for Hunter this year are juniors Samantha Grabkowitz and Shani Espinal along with sophomores Jen Chico Ithier and Toyin Coker. Grabkowitz moved from second base to catcher last year and fielded the position solidly. Espinal provides strong outfield defense while Ithier and Coker have demonstrated the skills to play throughout the infield and outfield. Joanna Lore, a sophomore transfer, will take over as the team's new ace on the pitching mound. She will be complimented by the addition of freshman Joanna Quirindongo. In addition to the two new hurlers, Cabrera and Espinal will again factor into the rotation this season.

John Jay
The Bloodhounds enjoyed a 13-3 conference record last season, but lost in the semifinals of the CUNYAC Tournament. For most teams that would be a tremendous year, but for the Lady Bloodhounds it means unfinished business. Co-Captains, senior Liz Amato and junior Jaime DeSapio are the reason why this team should make more noise. Both are First Team CUNYAC All-Stars and they form one of the best battery mates in CUNY. Amato has a blazing windmill delivery which led the team with 89 strikeouts last season. She also led the team with 5 home runs and was second with 36 RBI. DeSapio was second in home runs (3) and led the squad with 39 RBI. This group has a strong core of returning players led by sophomores Claudia Cardoza, Lorraine Fuentes, Stephanie Cutignola, Mariela Echavarria and Jennifer Rodriguez. Transfers Colleen Gray and Michelle Wallace should contribute immensely to the team. Newcomer Marisol Cardenas should provide another strong pitching arm. The team has plenty of depth this season and the schedule which is grueling will allow for some of the young players which include five freshmen valuable playing experience.

Brooklyn
The Bridges are excited about the 2004 season after winning 10 games in 2003. With the core of the offense remaining in tact, and a few talented newcomers, expect the team to put up some big numbers again this season. Junior catcher Christina O'Shea is back with confidence after leading the conference with 6 home runs in her first season in the CUNYAC. Junior Shortstop Monique Mustrulli, a Second Team CUNYAC all-star, led the squad with a .464 batting average and was one of the team's defensive leaders. Sophomores Dana Caputo and Erin Valentin were both keys to the team's success as freshmen and will be counted on to step up their play this season. Caputo will be back in centerfield while Valentin will be utilized at second base and shortstop. Also returning are Alyson Stevens, a senior catcher and outfielder, and Karina Benitez, a junior outfielder. The biggest loss from last year's team is number one pitcher Charisse Gillett, who gave the team a consistent hurler for the last four seasons. 2004 will see three first year players stepping forward to round out the rotation. Jennifer Barney, a freshman out of James Madison, Vanessa Rivera, a freshman from Queens Vocational, and Francesca Kennedy, a junior transfer from Kingsborough will all get a chance on the mound. Kennedy will also see a lot of time at first base and may do some catching as well. Kymberli Washington, a first year player out of John Bowne, will see some time at third base and should add some pop to the lineup. Teresa Rodruigez, a freshman from Cathedral, will be used in the outfield.

Staten Island
The Dolphins are loaded with 16 former top-notch high school players from the Island comprising their roster. Moore Catholic standouts Christina D’Arpa (pitcher/third base), a freshman, and junior shortstop Jen Doscher are two transfers that are expected to make big contributions in 2004. Curtis’ Theresa Caputo (senior) should alternate with D’Arpa at third and on the mound. Freshman Christina Pisanti and junior co-captain Melissa Quilles, both Port Richmond products, will see time at second base, and co-captain Julie Lowe (senior)and sophomore Dana Glennerster are both solid at first base. Freshman Andrea Meise and senior Donna Przybyszewski will play left and centerfield while sophomore Michelle Van Pelt has the advantage in right field. Sophomore Theresa Tepedino and senior Andrea Lisi will compete for time at catcher. St. John Villa graduates April Avena (senior), Kristina Samaritano (freshman), Jaclyn Badagliacco (senior) and Jennifer Carillo (sophomore) can all play in the infield and on the grass.

Lehman
After losing seven seniors from the 2003 CUNYAC runner-up squad the Lehman Lightning is looking to rebuild starting with changes in the coaching staff. Kim Santoiemma, a former four-year captain for the Lightning, has taken over as head coach and brings along with her pitching coach Melissa Torres (St. Thomas Aquinas, 97) and former Lightning women’s basketball assistant coach, Donald Gannon. Despite returning less than half of last year’s 14-10 squad, Coach Santoiemma remains optimistic. She will depend greatly on her seniors, 3-time all-star senior Stephanie Rodriguez, her sister Monica Rodriguez as well as Martiza Almonte to provide leadership for the young Lightning squad. The team’s line-up is expected to be strong with freshman speedster Lucia Sufran leading off and taking over the centerfield position. Junior Stephanie Cepeda will be depended upon to add stability to the infield but most of all she will provide power as the Lightning’s clean-up hitter. Maria Adorno and Marleny Felipe are expected to have very successful freshmen campaigns both on the field and at the plate. Taking over as head hurler is Bronx Community College transfer Olga Torres who will be caught by freshman Shirley Arrieta, a member of the Lightning women’s basketball team.

Baruch
The Bearcats return all but one player from last year's 8-13 squad (8-8 CUNYAC). The top returnees include 2003 NCAA Division III batting champion Nathalie Laureano (.508, 29 RBI), and a pair of CUNYAC all stars with shortstop Rose Tejada (.481, 14 RBI) and pitcher Kathy Maher (3-2, 50Ks). Catcher/third basemen Jessica Terrusa (.492), first basemen Nicole Errico (.359, 18 RBI), and outfielder Seryi Betancourt (14 hits) are also back with plenty of game experience. Two talented freshmen from William C. Bryant high school pitcher/outfielder/short Stop Alexandra Stamatiades (All City Queens) and from Dewitt Clinton high School outfielder Leidy Nunez have been added. Daina-Marie Henry, a prominent member of the basketball team along with Stamatiades, will add depth to the outfield position and will be available as a strong pinch-hit option. The rest of the team is rounded out solidly with second basemen Diana Peluso (.333), pitcher/catcher Alexis Burnett (12 runs scored), and outfielder Orlendys Tineo.

City Tech
First-year coach Edward Esses has infused the program with a sense of intensity and optimism it has not had previously, and he is continuing to attempt to recruit new talent. City Tech has some quality players returning in 2004. Sophomore infielder/outfielder/pitcher Jessica Gonzalez hit .243 and stole 9 bases last season. Senior outfielder Sandreka Williams (.375) returns as will senior infielder/outfielder/pitcher Andrea Paul (.378), who had the second highest batting average on the team last year. Junior catcher Melodie Noel hit .282 with 2 home runs and 11 RBI in 2003 and was the team-leader with 11 stolen bases. The team is still a work-in-progress, with new players such as freshman infielders Natalie Jackson and Jennifer Reeder, freshmen outfielders Priscilla Ugalde and Tawana Haynesworth along with freshman infielder Tanisha Gomez. Senior infielder Rosemary Gomez, junior infielder Nicole Dilan and sophomore outfielder Princilla Francis are expected to contribute, and offset the loss of pitcher/infielder Sandy Kouw (2 HRs, 11 RBI in 2003) to graduation.