2004 CUNYAC Softball Semifinals

Top-Seeds Staten Island & Hunter Advance To CUNYAC Softball Championships
Staten Island Blanks John Jay; Hunter Shuts Down Baruch

Staten Island, NY - #1 seeded Staten Island and #2 seeded Hunter advanced to Friday’s CUNYAC Softball Championship with semifinal victories this afternoon at the College of Staten Island. Staten Island shutout #4 seeded John Jay by a 3-0 count, and Hunter blanked #3 seeded Baruch, 3-0.

In the opener, the top-ranked Dolphins scored all the runs that they would need in the bottom of the first inning when they pushed across two runs on three hits and were aided by a John Jay error. Junior shortstop Jennifer Doscher (Moore/Staten Island, NY)led off with a double and then came around to score on Donna Przybyszewski (Port Richmond/Staten Island, NY) bunt and a subsequent error by Bloodhounds’ first baseman Fanny Echavarria. Przybyszewski advanced all the way to third and then scored on a sacrifice fly by senior pitcher Theresa Caputo (Curtis/Staten Island, NY). Staten Island added their final run in the third as Doscher scored when John Jay failed to covere home plate after a sacrifice bunt by Przybyszewski.

Caputo was dominant on the mound all afternoon as she limited the Bloodhounds to just three hits. In addition, she fanned 13 batters and only handed out three free passes. Doscher was the only player in the game to record two hits as she went 2-for-3.

Sophomore Joanna Lore (Curtis/Staten Island, NY) was outstanding on the hill for Hunter as she allowed just two hits and did not walk a batter in the Hawk’s 3-0 victory over Baruch. Hunter scored in their first turn at bat as sophomore shortstop Kari Porto (Port Richmond/Staten Island, NY) singled in third baseman Joanna Quirindongo (Leadership/Bronx, NY), who had led off the game with a single. Hunter made it 2-0 in the third as Quirindongo scored after Bearcats’ centerfielder Seryi Betancourt dropped a fly ball off the bat of catcher Samantha Grabkowitz (Bayside/Queens, NY). The Hawks added another unearned run in the fifth inning for the games final tally.

“I’m proud of my team for coming into this game with a serious mindset,” said Hunter head coach Betsy Hipple. “We knew not to take Baruch lightly and I think that we played a real clean game.”

Staten Island and Hunter will meet for the 2004 Championship on Friday at 4:00 at the College of Staten Island. “It should be a great game,” said Hipple, who will be aiming for her fourth straight conference championship. “These are two quality teams who are both a credit to metro-area softball.”