Season Preview: Fox Lane Softball

It is easy to understand Anthony Rodrigues' optimism as his Fox Lane varsity softball team prepares for the 2010 season.

The Foxes return with an underclassmen-oriented group that was instrumental in leading the team to one of its finest seasons in recent memory last year.

Fox Lane went 12-7 last season, finished second in its league and earned a seventh seed in the Section 1 Class AA Championships. Unfortunately, the Foxes drew defending champion Yorktown and were eliminated.

The early conclusion to the season did not disappoint Rodrigues because he witnessed the future of the program develop throughout the year.

Fox Lane returns with five sophomores, who will once again have major roles this season. Allison Lombardi (pitcher/first base), Brittany Ciullo (outfield), Isabella Rago (shortstop), Jenna D'Adamo (catcher/outfield) and Natalie Beyer (second base) comprise the group.

They are joined by juniors Carlie Speno (third base/outfield) and Toni-Ann Licata (pitcher/first base) as prime-time players.

"These are probably the highest expectations we've had going into a season," said the seventh-year head coach, who just concluded another excellent wrestling season. "The girls have all improved. Last year, I felt that the five freshmen were the best freshmen group we've had. This is a feisty team. In the past, I felt we would wait for something bad to happen, but this team fought back all the time."

Last year, Fox Lane exhibited this grit and determination from game one, rallying to sweep Port Chester to open the season. The Foxes would later add wins over rivals John Jay and Horace Greeley. Rodrigues said they were the first victories over John Jay and Greeley in at least 15 years.

Fox Lane also swept perennial Rockland County power Tappan Zee, 5-4 and 1-0. In the 5-4 win, at Tappan Zee, Jessica Van Galen homered in the top of the seventh for the decisive run.

Even with his optimism, Rodrigues said he and the team will miss catcher Jocelyn Friedman and Van Galen, who played shortstop. Van Galen was a sure-handed shortstop and infield leader, and Friedman was a strong-armed catcher who kept opposing base runners honest and also called an excellent game. The two five-year varsity players graduated and are currently playing in college.

Van Galen and Friedman left the program in good hands, though. Lombardi, Ciullo, Rago, D'Adamo and Beyer, along with Speno and Licata, are ready to take the leadership reins and show last year was not an aberration.

"The girls all went through the grind of last season so they know what to expect," Rodrigues said. "They all worked hard and played during the offseason.

"They are a year older, stronger and came in ready to go. Even though we are young, we're a mature team."

The maturity is bolstered by seniors Christina Quaranta (outfield) and Jenna Dominguez (outfield).

Rodrigues has added four new players: junior Natalie Thompson (pitcher), sophomores Jackie Gigante (outfield) and Carly Boyajian (utility) and freshman Christine Lombardi (catcher).

"We want to be consistent, stay healthy and go from there," Rodrigues said. "We feel we will be competitive in every game we play and our goal is to win the league."