Cardozo beats Queens again on way to city’s top four

BY ALEX FUMELLI

Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:16 PM EDT

They may have run away with the division thanks to a 16-0 regular season, but the members of the Benjamin Cardozo girls’ softball team had to conquer a few familiar foes before calling themselves New York City semifinalists.

In the second round of the city tournament on June 1, and then again in the third round on June 4, the Judges had to relive their climb to the top after years of Bayside dominance. In the first game, against Bayside, they nearly blew it, conceding seven runs over the last three innings and turning a 7-0 thrashing into an 8-7 barnburner.

In the next game, however, second-place Francis Lewis proved an easier adversary. Usual starting pitcher Constantina DeLuca was replaced by Susan Celentano, typically an outfielder, catcher, or third baseman. Unlike her mound opponent Amanda Annicaro, she garnished her pitches with little windmill wind-up and little velocity – although the change of pace actually proved tricky to the fastball-geared Cardozo hitters.

“It just took a little while to get used to the slower pitching,” head coach Lawrence Alberts said.

Cardozo was leading 3-2 through four innings, but a six-run explosion in the bottom of the fifth proved decisive. Annicaro reached base on an error, moved to third on a bunt by Angelamari Saint, and scored on a leftfield blooper by Sandy Tomasik. Saint scored on an errant throw to first, marking the second of two runs delivered in large part by the Francis Lewis defense.

Of course, those events were trifling compared to what followed: a two-RBI, opposite-field hit by Jaclyn Liebowitz, and a massive two-run homer pulled to right field by Anna Laboccetta. The final score: Cardozo 12, Lewis 2.

The semifinal appearance is the first of Alberts’ coaching career, and his players did not underestimate their achievement.

“We wanted it bad, and it took a lot to get here,” Annicaro said.

“It’s such an accomplishment,” Liebowitz said. “We’ve been trying to do it every year I’ve been here.”

The Judges face perennial juggernaut Tottenville, winners of a 23-0 quarterfinal matchup with Port Richmond, in the semifinals on June 10.