2001 CUNYAC Softball Preview

The theme of CUNYAC softball recently has been increased competition. It became much more than a theme last season as each of the top four teams entered postseason play harboring legitimate hopes of winning the championship.

John Jay went on to capture the title for the first time ever last May and earned the league's first automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Consequently, the Bloodhounds enter the 2001 campaign wearing the label of team to beat.

Last spring's title victory by John Jay (23-15) broke a streak of 16 straight seasons in which the CUNYAC Tournament had been won by either Hunter or Staten Island. The Bloodhounds, in fact, overcame a 10-run deficit against Staten Island to claim the crown.

"The league has been improving dramatically, it's no longer just an Staten Island and Hunter league," said 10th year John Jay coach Pat Malia

Unheralded OFEva Perez ensured the 11-10 win by connecting with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning. While Perez has completed her career, eleventh-year head coach Pat Malia has plenty of talent, including 14 newcomers, to work with as John Jay attempts to defend its title.

Leading the way for the Bloodhounds is junior Heather Stewart (Brooklyn, NY / James Madison), the returning CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year. She went 15-12 with a 5.89 ERA and a 4.59 strikeout ratio while batting .442 and tallying 44 RBI at the plate.

Senior 2B Alissa Logan (Great Neck, NY / North) was named CUNYAC Tournament MVP a year ago after earning regular season All-Star honors. She recorded 39 RBI and smacked a conference-high eight home runs while crossing the plate 50 times.

Also back is senior 3B Yvonne Raggo (Monsey, NY / Ramapo), another CUNYAC All-Star who posted a .446 batting average last year. New faces to keep an eye on include freshman P Lisa Kelly (Bayside, NY / Bayside) and sophomore SS Carri Raffone (Islip, NY / East Islip), a Division I transfer from Providence.

Last season's conference runner-up, Staten Island (16-15), can also be expected to work hard in pursuit of regaining the title. Head coach Gina Batista returns all of her CUNYAC All-Stars, nine letterwinners, and seven starters in her fourth year guiding the Dolphins.

Leading the way for Staten Island is the most feared hitter in the conference, senior 1B Michelle DeBella (Staten Island, NY / Moore Catholic). The two-time CUNYAC Player of the Year batted .533 with a league-leading 47 RBI while scoring 35 runs and posting a .777 slugging percentage.

Adding solid punch to the line-up for the Dolphins is senior SS Kelly Payne (Staten Island, NY / Port Richmond), who hit .526 with 33 RBI last spring. The CUNYAC All-Star has also been known to pitch in a pinch, logging nine innings with a 2.96 ERA last spring.

The outfield returns two CUNYAC All-Stars in senior Colleen Canavan (Brooklyn, NY / Bishop Kearney) and sophomore Nicole Addington (Staten Island, NY / St. Joseph's), who batted .409 and scored 42 runs. A newcomer looking to contribute on this veteran squad is freshman P/SS Theresa Caputo (Staten Island, NY / Curtis), who will pitch and play shortstop.

Lehman (15-11) enjoyed its best season in many years last spring behind a young group of newcomers that only looks to get better this season. Head coach Roxann Moraza welcomes back a quartet of CUNYAC All-Stars expected to set the team's tone in her third year.

Any discussion of the Lehman offense has to begin with sophomore C Tara Dempsey (Bronx, NY / St. Catherine), who was named CUNYAC Rookie of the Year. She led the conference in batting average (.563), slugging percentage (1.050), doubles (18), and RBI per game (42 in 25 games for a 1.68 average).

Paving the way on the mound will be sophomore P Erika Noriega (Bronx, NY / Herbert Lehman), who went 9-8 with a 4.17 ERA and a 4.46 strikeout ratio while hitting .486 with 32 runs and 21 stolen bases. Speedy sophomore OF Gina Sotomayor (Bronx, NY / John F. Kennedy) hit a robust .525 with a .763 slugging percentage, 38 runs, and a league-best 40 stolen bases.

Also making major contributions should be sophomore OF Sakeena Esteves (Bronx, NY / John F. Kennedy), who batted .463 and recorded 23 stolen bases last spring. Continuing the youthful trend, the Lightning will have at least two impact freshmen in P Christina Pizarro (Bronx, NY / Herbert Lehman) and P/OF Monica Rodriguez (Bronx, NY / Herbert Lehman).

Hunter (14-19) is also primed to make a run back to the top of the conference. The reasons for enthusiasm include an experienced group of upperclassmen and a dynamic new leader in first-year head coach Betsy Hipple.

Look no further than junior OF Jezel Rodriguez (Bronx, NY / DeWitt Clinton) to find the player who makes the Hawks fly. The only two-time CUNYAC, ECAC, and NYSWCAA All-Star in the conference, she batted .426 and topped the league in runs with 51 and triples with five.

Pacing the squad on the mound will be senior P Andrea Perlas (Pompey, NY / Fabius-Pompey), who went 13-16 with a 5.83 ERA and a 3.79 strikeout ratio in her first year at the position. Sophomore SS Cagla Boz (Brooklyn, NY / Abraham Lincoln) hit .442 with 37 runs and 36 RBI in her rookie campaign.

Senior 2B Kathleen Devine (Brentwood, NY / Brentwood) was a CUNYAC All-Star two years ago and hit .323 while scoring 32 runs last spring. Freshmen who could provide a quick impact are 1B Jen Agosto (Brooklyn, NY / Midwood) and OF Tara Goins (Staten Island, NY / Curtis).

Brooklyn (8-12) will continue its upward climb in the conference under second-year head coach Maureen Tracy. The Bridges lost only to the top four contenders in conference play last spring while beating the remaining teams.

Offensively, Brooklyn looks to a CUNYAC All-Star in senior SS Ariana Weitzman (Brooklyn, NY / James Madison) and a strong bat in junior C Jaclyn Apicello (Brooklyn, NY / Wingate), who totaled 17 RBI. Sophomore P Charisse Gillett (Brooklyn, NY / Franklin Roosevelt) led the conference in strikeouts with a 6.00 per game ratio.

Coming off the first season in school history, Baruch (1-13) will be looking for improvement in all categories. Head coach Penny Weiner came out of retirement to take on the project and will look to a slew of young players including sophomores P/1B Evelin Urbaez (New York, NY / Park West) and C Julia Dib (Rego Park, NY / Forest Hills) to lead the Stateswomen.

Medgar Evers (2-13) is hoping to become more competitive with the traditional powers this year. The Cougars have a new head coach in Safiyyah Wilson and are optimistic about the season. Sophomore OF Annalee Anthony (Brooklyn, NY / Unstated) batted .406 with 14 RBI last year.

New to the conference is New York City Tech, competing in its first season as a varsity team. Head coach Greg Bowen hopes the Yellow Jackets will put forth a solid effort in their debut campaign. He will look to sophomore P/1B Luz Carrion (Bronx, NY / Adlai Stevenson) to set the table for the team.

"It should be a fun and competitive season," said Malia. "Repeating as champions is never easy but we are looking forward to the challenges in front of us this year. Playing our best ball at the end of the season and getting CUNY's first NCAA spot was tremendous."

CUNYAC

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