2011 Preview: Kings Park Softball

The Kings Park softball team's 16-1 season-opening defeat at the hands of Deer Park Monday was a rude awakening. It had surrendered just 14 runs all of last year, but 10 errors in their season opener paved the road to disaster.

The Kingsmen aren't worried. They're just diligently working to right what went wrong, to limit or eliminate those mistakes by the time the middle of the season rolls around. While KP has its share of returning players, including All-State pitcher Lindsay Taylor, it’s also working out the kinks that come with starting underclassmen still new to the varsity level.

“We’ve got some babies on the field for us now,” head coach Kim McGinley said. “We just have to figure out what’s best for us."

Coach: Kim McGinley (12^th year)

Last Year’s Record: 22-3, 19-1 League V

2010 Playoffs: Lost to Eastport-South Manor in Suffolk County Class A finals

Key Losses:

• Marissa Armocida, C, playing at St. Leo
• Jessica Julich, CF, playing at C.W. Post
• Megan McGinley, 1B, playing at Binghamton
• Jessica D’Erario, 2B, playing at Quinnipiac

Pitching/Catching: In the circle, the Kingsmen have one of the most dominant pitchers in New York State in senior Lindsay Taylor.

A First Team All-State selection the last two seasons, Taylor features five pitches, all of which she can throw for strikes consistently. Last spring, she went 22-3 and posted an 0.59 earned run average. Her 2010 resume included 15 shutouts, nine no-hitters, three perfect games and a gaudy 291 strikeouts. Taylor's nine no-nos set the New York State single-season record and brought her total to 15 for her career. Taylor's also on pace to eclipse 1,000 Ks for her career; she entered the year at 833 and fanned 13 in the loss to Deer Park.

Of the Syracuse-bound Taylor, McGinley said, “She has discipline and does the right thing. She’s just a great player. She works hard not just for a couple weeks; she works throughout the year. She knows how to play the game and she has that grit and determination that you need.”

While Taylor’s a shoo-in at pitcher, sophomore Alysia Chendemi and eighth grader Arianna Ambrosio are jockeying for time behind the plate. More than anything, McGinley is looking for her young catching corps to master the fundamentals.

Infield: The right side of the infield, which D’Erario and Megan McGinley manned for so long, was vacated, but veterans have slide over as reinforcements. Junior Reina Torlincasi, a three-year third baseman, takes over at first base, while senior Nicole Brieva, a two-year starter at short who’s bound for SUNY Oneonta, replaces D’Erario at second. Both have reliable gloves and also are vital to KP’s offensive success as Brieva’s a tablesetter for Torlincasi, who will hit cleanup.

From where they came, the Kingsmen are inexperienced. At short, Paige Julich has gotten the nod, while third base duties will be shared by sophomore Sabrina Jankowski and eighth grader Cheyenne Giarraputo, who’s currently injured.

Outfield: Center fielder Jessica LoBianco is the most polished of the KP outfielders. LoBianco, who will join Megan McGinley at Binghamton next spring, posted the highest on-base percentage on last year’s team (.495). She has power in her bat, but she can also slap and bunt her way on. Additionally, her speed allows her to cover plenty of real estate.

The Kingsmen have a trio of young players – sophomore Claire Hugues, sophomore Nicole Torlincasi and freshman Sydney Vignola – that can flank LoBianco in the outfield. It’s a formula that Coach McGinley is still working on.

Expectations: “Winning’s important to us, but our main focus is good sportsmanship and doing what’s right. We’ve produced some great players, and team chemistry is critical to our success,” McGinley said. “We want to battle for the league and fight for the small school county championship. We’re working on some wrinkles and we’re going to take our bumps, but we’ll get girls in the right place, they’ll learn the game and we’ll make adjustments. We’ll be fine.”

Key Games:

• April 7 vs. Hauppauge (4 p.m.)
• April 14 at Sayville (4 p.m.)
• April 23 vs. East Hampton (11 a.m.)
• May 5 at Deer Park (4 p.m.)
• May 14: vs. Eastport-South Manor (11 a.m.)