By Dylan Butler
A lot has changed for Maria Scalisi in three years.
As a sophomore, she was the starting shortstop on a Van Buren softball team that lost the PSAL championship game, 1-0 in extra innings.
Fast forward to this season and the senior, one of the few VeeBees who have any softball experience, has been forced to be the team’s starting pitcher because no one else could.
What was a marquee matchup last year became a mercy-rule shortened game this season as host Francis Lewis blew out Van Buren, 12-0, Tuesday afternoon.
With the exception of Scalisi and a handful of other players, the only thing that is similar to last year’s team is the gray and red uniforms.
“We just don’t have enough players,” Scalisi said. “We’ve lost 11 players in two years and that’s a big void to fill. The whole starting team left.”
Unfortunately for Scalisi, Van Buren (0-4 Queens A) is in limbo — too good to play in the newly formed B division and not good enough to compete against many of the teams in the A division.
While it was clear from the pregame warmups who was the better team, Francis Lewis (7-1, 3-1) wasn’t taking anything for granted, especially coming off a disappointing 4-2 loss to Townsend Harris April 11.
The Patriots jumped ahead 3-0 on Alyssa Schneebaum’s first inning three-run home run to centerfield. Back-to-back doubles by Schneebaum and battery mate Lucia Oswald drove in two more runs in Lewis’ six-run second inning.
The run support was more than enough for Bucknell-bound Schneebaum, who struck out seven in three innings. The only hit she gave up was a leadoff infield single by Scalisi in the second inning.
Lewis coach Judy McCleary pulled Schneebaum after three innings for Meghan Wooley, which was also important with games against Cardozo and John Adams on the horizon.
“We really play better when we have the lead,” Schneebaum said. “This win helps everyone’s mindset, especially off a tough loss. For me it was good because I could relax a bit and concentrate on my hitting more.”
Bryant 6, John Adams 5. Stephanie Yanofsky hit a two-run single and then made an over-the-shoulder catch in leftfield with the tying run at third with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning to save the win for Bryant (11-4, 2-1 Queens A).
Franklin K. Lane 9, Forest Hills 5. Joevelyn Rivera was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored and Jamie Bellettini was 2-for-4 with one RBI, one run scored and fanned nine for Lane (3-1 Queens II-B). Jessica Chow went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored and Fontaine Lloyd was 2-for-4 for Forest Hills (3-1 Queens II-B).
Newtown 28, Long Island City 3. Monica Pahl went 4-for-5 with eight RBIs and five runs scored, Erika Collado was 4-for-6 with four RBIs and four runs scored and Alesandra Zarate was 3-for-4 with four RBIs for Newtown (10-3-1, 4-0 Queens II-B). LIC falls to 0-3.
Townsend Harris 11, Van Buren 5. Meghan Davidow was 4-for-4 with three RBIs, Patty Pabon went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored and Kristina Casper was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored for Harris (2-5, 2-2 Queens A). Natasha Diaz went 3-for-3 with four RBIs for Van Buren.
Robert F. Kennedy 23, John Bowne 7. Marlene Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and five stolen bases to lead RFK (3-0 Queens III-B).
Flushing 24, Richmond Hill 13. Rosandy Morel went 4-for-6 with a home run and five RBIs for Flushing (2-1 Queens III-B).
Jamaica 20, Edison 4. Kedisha Farquharson went 5-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and four runs scored for Jamaica (5-7, 1-2 Queens III-B).
Cardozo 6, Van Buren 1. Lindsay Rhodes had eight strikeouts and scattered three hits and Priscilla Juarez went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored and Stephanie Weingart went 1-for-2 with two runs scored to lead the Judges (1-2 Queens A).
Richmond Hill 14, Jamaica 4. Alexandra Almonte had five strikeouts and two RBIs for Richmond Hill (1-2, 1-1 Queens III-B).
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
