By Joseph Staszewski
Nicole Lomangino was amazed how far a simple poll can travel and how it can bring people together.
The nypost.com poll asking, “Who is the top softball pitcher in the city?” spread like wildfire among her family on Facebook.
It was a rare chance for her extended family in Florida, Texas and Connecticut, as well as New York, to hear about the St. Francis Prep senior’s success. It reached people, especially cousins on her father’s side, whom she does not keep in regular touch with.
“I think it made my family a lot closer,” Lomangino said. “They were like, ‘Hey, this kid has a lot of talent.’ Everyone kept texting, calling each other up, ‘Oh, she’s up one. She’s up this.’ My phone’s been going off. People have been getting my number and I’ve been talking to all my cousins. It’s exciting.”
That enthusiasm and energy turned into a victory for Lomangino. She received 39,158 votes, good enough for 41.68 percent of the 93,958 cast over the week. She also credited her friends at school for voting. Horace Mann ace Mia Farinelli surged to a second-place finish with 26,348 votes and Molloy’s Victoria Goldbach was third with 15,857.
“I’ve established myself as a pitcher,” Lomangino said. “I may not throw 100 miles an hour, but I do know how to work in and out of situations.”
After losing much of last season in the circle due to an ankle injury, she hasn’t missed a beat replacing Katie Derby. Two weeks ago she struck out a combined 22 batters and allowed just two runs in wins over Fontbonne Hall and Mary Louis. Lomangino allowed just one run over the first five innings in an eventual 6-2 loss to Molloy. She has shown an improved change-up that has allowed her to get out of tough jams.
“This year she’s just come into her own,” Terriers Coach Ann Marie Rich said. “Her and [catcher] Jess [Menna] are working real well. Jess is calling great games. She’s not getting anxious. She’s not getting over-reactive. She’s just pitching, what she likes to do.”
She’s doing it well and was happy that the rest of her family and also the city have gotten to see just how good a player she is.
“After getting hurt I think it’s great to say, ‘Hey, I’m here. I haven’t gone anywhere,’” Lomangino said. “You just never got to see me play.”
