By Marc Raimondi
The Cardozo players bounded out of the dugout, mobbing Gabriella Valdes at home plate. Minutes later, they came together around Kelly Phillips on the pitcher’s circle for a seemingly choreographed chant and dance. When they arrived back at the dugout area, Coach Pete Douglas was greeted with a rah-rah speech and the chanting of the girls’ names.
If one didn’t know any better, it would seem like a typical Judges season. Happy. Unified. Together.
It hasn’t been quite like that, but perhaps it’s getting there. Just a little more than a month after longtime Coach Larry Alberts was stunningly removed, Cardozo knocked off rival Bayside 2-1 in eight softball innings, on Phillips’ walk-off RBI single last Thursday in Oakland Gardens.
With this win and a victory over Francis Lewis May 1, the Judges (11-2) are now tied with Bayside (11-2) atop PSAL Queens A-I. The thought of that seemed out of the realm of possibility in late March, when Alberts was escorted from the field during practice by school safety officers. City Department of Education spokeswoman Marge Feinberg said at the time that the 26th-year coach was dismissed pending an investigation for the use of inappropriate language.
“It’s been tough, but we’re getting through it,” Cardozo ace Shelby Yacovone said. “We had no idea [Alberts would get fired]. None of us wanted that. It was shocking.”
Yacovone did her part against Bayside, allowing just a single hit in eight innings and striking out seven. Cardozo trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh when Krystle Roldan led off with an inside-the-park home run to right center.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Judges pulled off the dramatic. Valdes lined a double down the left field line and Phillips pulled a hard-hit single just under the glove of Tara Bernstein at shortstop to plate the speedy Valdes.
“I’m a senior,” Phillips said. “I wanted to come through for my team. I wanted to do it for them.”
It’s been a rough season. Cardozo lost to Francis Lewis 10-2 following Alberts’ dismissal. Two weeks ago, the Judges were run-ruled by Bryant 12-2. But they feel like right now they are hitting their stride under Douglas, the former longtime baseball coach at Cardozo.
“They’re two different coaches,” Yacovone said. “But they’re both great coaches. We love them both.”
Douglas looks rejuvenated and says he has really enjoyed the experience.
“They’re wonderful girls,” he said. “It’s just a delight. Just their personalities, their attitudes. They’re so positive, so together. It’s just a joy.”
Yacovone has stepped up huge recently. She struck out 14 and gave up just two earned runs in that 8-5 win against Lewis. For the season, she’s sporting a 2.80 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched. Douglas marveled at her “poise and determination.”
“She is great,” Phillips said. “She keeps her composure. Nothing bothers her. She never gets rattled, always consistent.”
Not getting rattled could be the credo of this season at Cardozo. The Judges could have been reeling with the loss of one coach and the transition to another. Instead, they have a chance to win a third division title in four years.
“What happened, none of us felt good about it,” Phillips said. “We just had to get past it for the sake of the season.”
