Playing it cool

It’s hot. It’s cold. It’s rainy. It’s snowy. None of the weather changes have stopped high-school softball teams from taking the field. And the players are confident that sunny times are still ahead.

This spring will be historic for the St. Maria Goretti Lambs, who will play their final season before they merge schools with St. John Neumann and become the Saints.

The Public League will have one less team this year: Furness High dropped its program due to insufficient numbers. The school is replacing softball with a soccer squad, which will play an introductory non-league schedule this year.

The remaining four softball teams are putting their best swing forward. Here’s an early look at the order.

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Catholic League

Team: Goretti Lambs

Coach: Chip Reitano

Division: Southern

Home field: Palumbo Playground (10th and Fitzwater streets)

A work in progress is the best way to describe the Lambs softball team. The squad started practicing March 1, but thanks to Mother Nature, was forced to hold all but four sessions indoors. That didn’t help the players take batting practice or brush up on fielding grounders in the grass.

Last Monday, Goretti did make it outside for a non-league game against Bishop McDevitt, even though it was an unseasonable 40 degrees. The Lambs ended up losing 6-3, but Reitano said the game helped identify areas that need strengthening.

"We have a lot of work to do," the coach said. "Our infield might be one of the strongest defensively in the Catholic League. Hitting is where we need to improve if we are going to compete in the Catholic League."

2003 recap: The Lambs finished sixth in the Southern Division with a 5-12 record.

"I think our biggest problem last year is we weren’t consistent," said Reitano, now in his second season. "We went into a tailspin where we were shut out three games in a row."

The players: Freshman second baseman Caitlyn Smith was a standout on the Sacred Heart CYO team, and Reitano considers her a promising rookie.

Smith played in the Department of Recreation all-star game at Veterans Stadium in August. With the Lambs, she went 1-for-3 in the McDevitt game with a stolen base and a run scored. Smith will be the team’s cleanup hitter.

"She is a contact hitter who gets the bat on the ball," Reitano said.

Junior shortstop Alicia Klevecka, a returning First Team All-Catholic selection, will be the Lambs’ leadoff hitter.

Fellow All-Catholic Megan Kelly, a junior catcher, will captain the team, while classmate Kristie Sandefur will cover third base.

Senior Kim Jannelli is Goretti’s ace pitcher. Against McDevitt, she walked three and struck out six. Junior Katie Zioli, whom Reitano described as a control pitcher, also will start.

Coach’s outlook: "I think if the pitchers pitch with control and they don’t walk a lot of people and we hit the ball, we should be competitive."

Schedule

Away

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Today	Little Flower	Away
Saturday-Sunday	Hallahan Tournament
Tuesday	West Catholic
Wednesday	Carroll
April 13	Dougherty
April 15	O’Hara
April 20	Hallahan	Away
April 22	Prendergast
April 27	Little Flower
April 29	West Catholic	Away
May 4	Carroll	Away
May 11	O’Hara	Away
May 13	Hallahan
May 17	Prendergast	Away

All games start at 3:30 p.m.

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Public League

Team: Bok Wildkittens

Coach: Greg Frangipani

Division: Bronze

Home field: 11th and Bigler streets

If last Thursday’s 12-0 loss to Franklin Towne Charter is a sign of things to come, the Wildkittens could be in for a very long season. The local squad had three runners reach base without a hit.

Frangipani said he doesn’t expect most contests to be that difficult, but noted that matching last year’s .500 record will be a challenge. The upside is Bok has five returning players.

"They have experience, but we will struggle to win as many games as we did last year," the coach said.

2003 recap: The Wildkittens finished a respectable 5-5, more than doubling their win total from the previous two seasons combined.

The players: Jessica Walker, senior pitcher; Gloria Brown, freshman center fielder; Jasmina McCullers, senior catcher; Tania Miller, senior first baseman; Mira Duncan, senior second baseman.

Coach’s outlook: "[The players] have been through it before so they are not going to get frustrated. It’s going to be an uphill battle."

The team’s schedule was not available at press time.

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Team: GAMP Pioneers

Coach: Frank Cipparone

Division: Gold

Home field: Sabres Field (Seventh Street and Packer Avenue)

The Pioneers opened the softball season with top pitcher and hitter Angelica Malatino watching from the bench with a sprained foot. The returning All-Public, now a junior, is expected back this week, which should help the local squad climb out of its early 0-4 slump. As a sophomore, Malatino hit .460, led the team in hits and RBI and accounted for all 11 wins.

The coach remains optimistic about the season.

"Like every year, hopefully we will hit our peak in late April or early May when the playoffs approach," Cipparone said.

2003 recap: The Pioneers set a school record with nine Gold Division wins. They advanced to the Public League quarterfinals, where they lost to Girls’ High.

The players: The core of the Pioneers softball team played — and won championships — together at St. Monica. Sophomores Amanda Rassino and Leslie DiVicenzo are rotating between first base and left field, while fellow sophomores Jacklyn Mellett, shortstop, and Dana Anello, third base, are key infielders. Center fielder Anna Baccari, the team’s only senior, is the leadoff hitter.

Coach’s outlook: "[The sophomores] have to perform. If they perform, we’ll be OK."

The team’s schedule was not available at press time.

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Team: Southern Lady Rams

Coach: Bob Fisicaro

Division: Silver

Home field: 13th and Bigler streets

When a team graduates four experienced players from its infield, rebuilding is the first task.

And Fisicaro is quite pleased with the foundation he has set at first, second, shortstop and catcher. Even though the girls lost their first two of three games to Edison and Mastbaum, the coach believes Southern will score a winning season and make the playoffs.

"Losing the first two games doesn’t mean we are not going to be good," Fisicaro said. "The group is getting better every time."

2003 recap: The Lady Rams made the playoffs, but lost in the first round to Washington.

The players: Four-year starter Katrina Leopanto will again be handling the pitching duties. Junior Jessica Benson is replacing catcher Jazzman Ingram. Senior Renellis Brown is back to play third base and serve as the team’s cleanup hitter. Juniors Maya Hunter, shortstop; Stacy Martorano, first base; and freshmen Rachael Knight and Phateama Harris, second base, are newcomers who should make big contributions, Fisicaro said. Juniors Kristen Allen, Julia Rosa and Juliet Haba are the starting outfielders.

Coach’s outlook: "I am optimistic that we can do as well as we did last year."

Schedule

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Away

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Today	Dobbins
April 13	Roxborough	Away
April 15	Kensington
April 19	William Penn
April 22	E&S;
April 26	Lamberton	Away
April 29	Gratz	Away
May 3	Strawberry Mansion

All games start at 3:15 p.m.