St. Francis Prep’s Briana Franceschini has hit two homers against the Stanners already this season. (Damion Reid)
CHSAA softball beat writer Joseph Staszewski breaks down the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens championship series between St. Francis Prep and Archbishop Molloy.
SCHEDULE
Games 1 and 2 – May 21, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. @ Floyd Bennett Field
Game 3 (if necessary) – TBD
Archbishop Molloy Stanners
Record: 14-1
Head coach: Maureen Rosenbaum
Player to watch: Maria Palmeri
St. Francis Prep Terriers
Record: 11-4
Head coach: Ann Marie Rich
Player to watch: Briana Franceschini
Outlook: Does this matchup look familiar? Well it should. St. Francis Prep and Archbishop Molloy, which swept last year’s series, will again meet for the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens crown in what seems like a regular occurrence each spring.
The Stanners, the defending champions, have dominated this rivalry over the last year or so but the Terriers broke through for an impressive, 10-4 win in their regular-season finale to end Molloy’s 28-game league winning streak. Senior Briana Franceschini has had a knack for the big home run against the Briarwood squad. Her three-run shot tied up an eventual eight-inning loss and then got a six-run sixth inning going with a solo shot in the SFP win.
“We have seen that we could beat them,” Franceschini said. “That definitely gives us a better chance and hope for the team.”
Coach Ann Marie Rich’s team’s bats have been lively of late including Katie Derby, Alex Sobrino, ToniAnn Groth along with Franceschini, also the team’s No. 2 starter. They come into the final after a 8-3 win over Mary Louis Thursday. The key like always will be pitching and defense. Derby, the team’s ace, has been excellent all season in the circle and is capable of shutting down the Stanners lineup. Rich’s teams are known for their superb defense and have improved as the season has done on. They have won five straight games.
The Stanners have not been as dominant this season as their record may show, but they are without a doubt one of the deepest teams in the city. Their pitching combo of sophomores Palmeri and Victoria Goldbach will certainly make them though. Palmeri, also the team’s top hitter, struck out 14 in a shutout performance in the team’s first meeting and Goldbach is coming off a game where she allowed just two runs on eight hits against Christ the King in the semifinals.
“She really stepped up in a big spot,” Rosenbaum said. “It’s really nice that we have two of them to go to.”
Rosenbaum all season has stressed being aggressive on offense. Her team has the type of attack that can be relentless with Palmeri, Dana Moss, Marissa Puzino and Julia Lipovac, among others. Molloy have not added on to leads at time, but have had the knack for comebacks. St. Joseph by the Sea awaits the winner.
