Daily Sports Digest: Eastchester Softball Preview

The Top Spot:

The Eastchester softball team had a spectacular season in 2011 going 21-2 on the year. Head Coach Christopher Walpole and the rest of the Eagles are hoping to duplicate some of last year’s success with almost an entirely new lineup.

Patch recently caught up with Coach Walpole to discuss this year’s team.

As far as age and, more importantly experience goes, what type of team
do you expect to have this season?

“We'll have 10 players back from last year’s team and some good players up from JV. We lost only two starters from last year’s squad.”

What were some of the weaknesses your team had last year that you hope
to improve upon this season?

“I thought we lacked a little team speed and look to improve upon that this year.”

Who are some of your returning players coming back who you see being
big contributors?

“Anna Crowley P/CF 2011 All Section SR.

Danielle Cacciola P/SS 2011 All Section Hon. Men. JR

Kristin Martin C 2011 All Section, All State JR

Tatlor Delgatto 3b/ C 2011 Hon. Men. All Section SR”

Who are some of your new players you are expecting to thrust into a
larger role on the team?

“Tryouts are still ongoing, but we should have some sophomore contributors, who were role players last year, as well as some new kids up from JV. Sophomores Casey Dell' Area, who was Hon. Mention All Conf. as a freshman and Ashley Petrone should see bigger roles.”

How has the team been preparing in the off-season?

“A lot of our kids play on teams that train year round and that is always helpful to any program. We did have a select group who lifted every other morning from December on and as a result of those efforts have really stood out on the field so far.”

What are your goals for the season as a team?

“We came real close last year to winning the section championship and that is our goal again this year. We look to improve by playing a competitive schedule and try to get back to the section final.”

Are there one or two games circled on the schedule this season?

“Pearl River for sure and our inter-conference rival Pelham are always big games.”

What are you personally looking forward to this season?

“I am looking forward to seeing how kids perform in new roles, how our pitchers will compete against some of the better programs and how their hard work in the off- season carries over onto the field.”

College Sports Notebook:

Suffern’s Steinberg Sizzles at Rutgers

The Rutgers University women’s lacrosse team, coming of a 13-7 victory over Monmouth, will play three of the next four games at home, starting with Saint Joseph’s on Wednesday night.

Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the RU Turf Field inside the Stadium Complex in Piscataway, NJ. It will be the first home game under the lights for the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers reached the .500 level at 3-3 following the victory over the Hawks (1-6), a game in which senior midfielder Ali Steinberg of Suffern had a career day with five goals and two assists.

Annie McGinley of Moorestown, NJ, aided the effort of the Scarlet Knights (3-3) with three goals and one assist. For Steinberg, it marked the 10th hat trick of her career, including fourth this season.

Seven Scarlet Knights posted at least a point, with five scoring at least one goal, in another solid team effort. The Hawks (1-6) were led by Sam Lillo of Short Hills, NJ, with three scores.

Junior goalie Lily Kalata of Nesconset earned the win with nine saves, while junior Aimee Chotikul of Baltimore, MD, also saw action in the net for the Scarlet Knights.

Mortarboard musings

• Joe Clinton, athletics director at Dominican College, has announced that assistant coach Colin Hodge has been named to replace head coach John Campbell, who resigned last month after seven years at the helm. Hodge, who was a two-year starting defender for the Chargers and was an assistant coach the last four seasons, currently coaches U-10 and U-13 Boys teams in the Clarkstown Soccer Club.

• The Manhattan College baseball team, coming off a 13-11 victory over Big East member West Virginia in Morgantown, W.VA, welcomes Hofstra on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the Jaspers’ home opener at Van Cortlandt Park in Riverdale. Senior reliever Taylor Sewitt of Highland Mills earned his second win of the season.
• After picking up two wins and leading the Manhattanville College softball team to a victory over nationally ranked Coast Guard, junior Katie Pitcher of Cold Spring was honored as the Freedom Conference pitcher of the week.
• The Dominican College baseball team (3-11), coming off a split at Wilmington University, meets Nyack College in a doubleheader today at 3 p.m. at Provident Bank Park (PBP) in Pomona. The Chargers then challenge another local rival, St. Thomas Aquinas College, in a single game on Wednesday at PBP at 3 p.m.
• Senior Kevin Earlie of Moriches, who went the distance as the Nyack College baseball team (7-6) defeated St. Michael’s College, 12-0, was named Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference pitcher of the week. Earlie picked up his fourth win at the Palm Beach Challenge in Lake Worth, FL.

Weekly Sports Poll:

This week, the Daily Sports Digest Weekly Poll looks at the New York Knicks and the . Tell us if you would like to see John Calipari, Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Mike Woodson or someone else on the bench next year and feel free to add your comments to an already lively debate.

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