The Post high-school staff takes a look at the top performers in boys basketball and girls basketball from the week of March 26.
BASEBALL
Nick Alvarez, William Bryant
Alvarez kicked off his senior season with an unforgettable performance. He notched three hits, scored four runs, drove in nine and fanned 10 over six innings of work as Bryant blasted Lane, 18-4, in its league opener. Alvarez added an RBI and run scored in a 10-0 win over Lane two days later.
Braian Angelista, James Monroe
On a team with very little experience, Angelista is one of the elder statesmen though he is only a sophomore. He showed his teammates the way in a pair of victories over Mott Haven last week, driving in seven runs adding two doubles.
Phil Maldari, Poly Prep
The junior righthander tossed six shutout innings of two-hit ball and struck out seven in Poly Prep’s season-opening, 1-0 non-league victory over CHSAA foe Monsignor Farrell.
Brian Russell, St. Joseph by the Sea
Russell is supposed to be one of Sea’s best pitchers, but he meant a whole lot more Friday. The righthander noticed smoke coming from their bus en route to Myrtle Beach for a tournament and alerted his coaches – good thing since the team evacuated the vehicle before it caught fire.
Anthony Spina, Berkeley Carroll
The junior fanned eight in five innings of work in an 8-3, non-league win over Regis and in Berkeley Carroll’s two victories, over Regis and Stuyvesant, has two RBIs, two runs scored, a double, triple and four hits.
SOFTBALL
Bianca Concepcion, Francis Lewis
Francis Lewis coach Bryan Brown said in the preseason that the team needed Concepcion to hit like she did earlier in her career. Well, she has been the Patriots’ best bat early this season, batting .667 with 14 runs and 12 RBIs in just five PSAL Queens A-I games so far.
Nicole DeMartino, Moore Catholic
The Moore Catholic senior had a big day at the plate in her team’s league-opening win. She showed plenty of power as she went 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs to lead Moore’s 16-hit attack.
Julianna Orrico, Preston
Coach Rachel Mazza called the freshman windmiller a godsend. Orrico came on and didn’t allow an earned run in 6-2/3 innings of relief in two Preston wins. She also drove in two to help Preston top Maria Regina.
Taylor Sarcone, Susan Wagner
There aren’t many situations Taylor Sarcone hasn’t seen in her four years in the circle for Wagner. She shook off a rough first inning and didn’t allow a run over the next six in a win against McKee/Staten Island Tech. Sarcone also went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Nicolette Trapani, Fontbonne Hall
Trapani was the hero in Fontbonne’s 6-5 upset of Molloy, homered to drive in the tying run and won the game with a single in the bottom of the seventh. She also got the win in the circle. Trapani followed that up by allowing two earned runs on two hits and struck out 10 in a win over Mary Louis.
LACROSSE
Maria Cacciapuoti, Tottenville
Cacciapuoti has embraced her role as Tottenville’s go-to scorer in the early season. She was also the Pirates hero in an overtime win against Midwood. She led their run back from a halftime deficit and scored the go-ahead goal in overtime.
Chris Fiore, New Dorp
There aren’t too many givens in lacrosse, but the senior net minder always gives his team a chance to win. Fiore made 19 saves to help his team rally for a 9-5 win against Hunter. He followed that up with 25 saves in a win over Curtis
Tabitha Rosario, Beach Channel
The Dolphins have won three straight games since losing their first two and Rosario has been a big reason why. The senior scored three times against Stuyvesant and three more against Hunter. She is off to a good start filling in for Whitney Brown.
