By Everett Fell
Bryant’s star pitcher, Ally Stamatiades, led the No. 5-seeded Owls to a 1-0 victory over the No. 4-seeded Port Richmond Red Raiders in the PSAL ‘A’ softball quarterfinals on Central Park’s Great Lawn Monday afternoon.
Stamatiades broke up the pitchers’ duel between herself and Port Richmond’s Gabriel Carletti with a lead-off double over the leftfielder’s head in the top of the seventh.
After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Stamatiades scored the winning run when first baseman Jessica Santiago singled to right for the only run of the game.
“I got lucky,” Santiago said. “I thought I was going to make an out. I have been in a slump the last couple of months.”
Santiago’s hit was only Bryant’s fourth of the game. Through six innings Carletti allowed just two hits, walked none, struck out eight and allowed just one batter to reach second.
While Carletti retired the first eight batters she faced, Stamatiades struggled to get through the first. Second baseman Christi Pisanti singled, then advanced to second on catcher Andrea Maise’s walk.
Stamatiades struck out the next two batters — she finished with six in total — to get out of the jam.
“I was nervous to start the game, but after I got through the first inning I felt better,” Stamatiades said.
Stamatiades walked two more and gave up only one more hit on the day.
“She (Stamatiades) has been throwing well,” Bryant coach Wally Hausdorf said. “She was a little nervous to start, but she’s a kid. Once she got over the jitters and adjusted to the strike zone she was fine.”
Bryant’s flawless defense supported Stamatiades in her shutout bid. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Carletti grounded a ball into right field for an apparent single.
However, rightfielder Nina Chao thought differently, charging the ball to throw out Carletti before she could reach first for the old 9-3 putout.
“We were fantastic in the field,” Hausdorf said. “They had a chance to keep the inning going in the seventh, but instead it was the second out. That’s the eleventh runner Nina’s thrown out at first this season.”
Stamatiades capitalized on the great play by striking out leftfielder Crystal Palfini to end the game.
The girls swarmed toward the mound but celebrated with restraint, knowing with their experience they can go further. Stamatiades and Santiago are two of the five seniors on the team.
“Most of these girls have four years of experience,” Hausdorf said. “It’s now finally come to fruition. They realize what they can accomplish.”
The Owls (35-3) will now face No. 1-seeded Tottenville in the semifinals, a team Port Richmond beat twice this season, Thursday at the ASA Complex on Staten Island at 3 p.m.
“We’re as good as anybody out there,” Hausdorf said. “Today we proved it.”
Midwood 4, Bayside 1. Joe Marie Sinagra was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, Allison McCarthy was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and Dawn Duggan pitched a four-hitter for No. 6 Midwood (21-7) in an upset of third-seeded Bayside Monday at the Great Lawn.
Jamaica 4, Theodore Roosevelt 1. Renita Raghubir was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, Samantha Williams drove in three runs and Kedesha Farquharson struck out 10 for No. 7 Jamaica (18-7-1) in a PSAL ‘B’ quarterfinal game Monday at the Great Lawn.
The Beavers advance to play either Forest Hills or Beach Channel in the ‘B’ semifinals Thursday at 3 p.m. at the ASA Complex.
Reach contributing writer Everett Fell by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 130.
