WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. March 30, 2004: The White Plains High fastpitch softball season began Tuesday, weather permitting with a pair of games at White Plains High School. Ted O’Donnell’s Varsity softball team and John Jay (Cross River) tied 1-1 in a scrimmage today at 3:30 on “O’Donnell’s Bluff” and the Junior Varsity under Alberto Minotta came back to tie, 5-5 on the lower softball field, playing in Arctic conditions. WPCNR talked to Coach O’Donnell about the make up of this year’s Varsity that was 17-5 last season. One thing is sure you’re going to see good starting pitching.
THE 2004 WHITE PLAINS HIGH VARSITY SOFTBALL TEAM: Photo by WPCNR Sports
Frozen Fast Pitch Season Starts.
O’Donnell said in an interview Friday that this year’s varsity was a “dedicated, hardworking group of kids excited to get on the field and play.”
He said he had not made up his mind on any particular lineup combination and was looking to this past weekend scrimmages in the Minisink Valley to make up his mind and see what order combinations worked the best.
He described the lineup, no matter what combination, as one “with no weak links,” with the ability to “string a lot of hits together.”
Taking the picket duty first, O’Donnell said he sees Erin Cook, a sophomore in left field, whom he described as an excellent outfielder with a lot of range. Offensively, he said, she gets better every year.
Captain Kelly O’Neil, one of four seniors on the team, is at first base. O’Donnell described her as a first team All County First Baseman as a Junior. At 5’ 11” in height, O’Donnell said her long arms and long legs are ideal for first base, giving her the ability “to bail out a lot of those throws wide or in the dirt.” He says she handles the bunt very well. At the plate he sees O’Neil as a clean-up hitter with power who doesn’t strike out a lot.
Abbotts Up the Middle: The sister combination of Sophomore Carrie Abbot at shortstop and Junior Candace Abbott at second is “strong in the middle” O’Donnell said.
Coach Ted described Carrie Abbott, as having “really grown in last year as a shortstop,” and that she played every inning of every game during the summer season. He says she has been getting stronger by working out, and that her arm is a lot stronger even since the summer and is very accurate. He describes her as totally fearless, able to hang in as runners bear down on her at second. At the plate he notes she is tough offensively, “coming into her own last year.”
Sister and Captain Candace Abbot , a Junior, starting for the first time at the keystone sack, is expert on the bunt rotation, according to the coach, coming in to cover first when first sacker O’Neil crashes the plate on a bunt attempt. At the plate, the coach says the summer experience helped give her confidence. He describes her as having “a tremendous eye-hand coordination, rarely strikes out, and explodes out of the box, going from 0 to 60 very quickly.”
Danielle Szabo, a freshman, is seen as a third sacker who can handle every single play at third. “She’s got quick reflexes, a strong arm and honed skills.”
With a stick, he says, she has power, bat speed, good hand-eye coordination
Behind the plate, Camille Marquis takes over the catching duties. O’Donnell said she caught all summer long and has become an excellent catcher with the reflexes to get out and handle the bunt well. He says she’s working on her mechanics, but has a gun for an arm that gets the ball “down there in a hurry.”
Marquis, O’Donnell says, “has so much power, good quick hands.” Marquis also plays the outfield.
Sandra Mastrangelo, an eighth grader, who catches and plays the outfield, O’Donnell says “is ready for the varsity experience,” because she impressed him in her stint in the 16-and-under games she played this past summer, and has grown “tremendously as a player, and instilled confidence.”
“That’s what summer ball is for. The summer experience (with his 16-under team), benefited her. It’s about getting experience at a highly competitive level with very little pressure. I don’t care about winning in the summer. What matters is the experience.”
Pitching: The Usual Suspects
Senior and Captain Tara Pollard, starting on the Varsity since 8th grade, twice all State Pitcher as a sophomore and Junior, will be the number 1 starter, with Sophomore Kelsey Kulk in the Number 2 slot.
“Every year Tara keeps getting better,” O’Donnell said admiringly. “She’s been competing for so long, I expected some drop off in motivation. But, she has such a strong work ethic, this year she’s worked harder than every to be the best she can be.”
League 1-A hitters will not rest easy knowing that Tara the Tiger has a new drop curve to go along with a rise, change, and curve. “She’s a warrior,” O’Donnell said.
When Tara is not in the circle, she will play third base, where O’Donnell describes her as “excellent.” He also rates her 2004 stick as “the best I’ve ever seen of her offensively.”
When Tara is not in the circle, Kelsey Kulk of the Brooklyn Beach Girls will be on the hill. Kulk has played all over the country with the Beach Girls this winter against top gun fastpitch teams in California, Arizona and Florida all winter long, hitting over .350, and brings not only a mean competitive demeanor to the mound, but a bat that’s strong.
O’Donnell describes Kelsey as giving White Plains two strong pitchers, and recalled how she came in against Lakeland last year, stopped the bleeding, and ignited a comeback resulting in an extra inning win.
He said Kelsey is an excellent outfielder and will be the regular starter in centerfield.
COACH O’DONNELL WATCHES Ashley Encarnacao hit on “O’Donnell’s Bluff” at Friday’s Tiger Fastpitch practice. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
Ashley Encarnacao, a sophomore, also a pitcher is seen as an outfielder. He says Ashley has bought into being a member of the team, and is accepting her role in the outfield as in the best interest of the team. “It’s a new position for her,” O’Donnell said, “She can play, has tremendous bat speed and power.”
Christine Younkin, a Junior, in her second year on the varsity, plays the outfield, and brings more power to the plate, and O’Donnell says he is “anxious to see that power.
Emily Lettieri, a senior, in her second year on the varsity is a veteran of many summers on O’Donnell’s summer team, playing on it since eighth grade. He describes her as an experienced player, able to play the outfield and the infield.
A Smaller Grittier League 1-B (Renamed AGAIN!)
You can’t tell the leagues without a decoder in Westchester-Rockland sports, because they change the league alignments and the names every year.
O’Donnell described the new League 1-B which will see the Tigers competing with New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Ossining, Scarsdale, Ursuline and Yorktown. He sees New Rochelle as being very strong, and a formidable “contend-a.” He singled out Ursuline as another fastpitch force, which features Vickie Sconzo and Tara Kushman, two White Plains players on the club.
THE WHITE PLAINS HIGH VARSITY SOFTBALL SCHEDULE. Photo by WPCNR Sports
