The Post high-school staff takes a look at the top performers in boys basketball and girls basketball from the week of April 23.
BASEBALL
Vinny Capone, Fordham Prep
The second baseman was already having a big week, including a bases-clearing triple in a win Tuesday over Salesian and two hits against Cardinal Hayes on Monday. On Sunday, Capone topped himself, plating the game-winning run against St. Raymond with a sac fly in the seventh.
Adam De La Cruz, St. Raymond
The rain didn’t bother De La Cruz one bit. The sophomore right-hander actually found his breaking ball as the game wore on Thursday at Cardinal Spellman, giving up no runs on five hits with eight strikeouts in a complete-game effort for the red-hot Ravens.
Max Kassan, Fieldston
The sophomore southpaw tossed a complete-game shutout in Fieldston’s 7-0 win over Collegiate on Friday on Randall’s Island. He struck out 10, allowed three hits and came five outs shy of a perfect game before allowing a Jake Singer single in the sixth.
Jerry Liang, Manhattan Center
The switch-hitting sophomore homered and tossed a scoreless inning to lead Manhattan Center to a 4-3 win in 14 innings over George Washington – the Rams first victory over the national powerhouse in 11 years. He also doubled and had two RBIs in an 8-0 victory over Graphic Communications earlier in the week.
Brian Russell, St. Joseph by the Sea
The flamethrowing right-hander with Division I interest had a monster week. On Sunday, he struck out 17 and allowed just three hits in a 1-0 win over Cardinal Spellman, following up on a gem Tuesday against Monsignor Farrell, where he gave up three runs in a complete game.
SOFTBALL
Jacquie Kennedy, Poly Prep
She’s not just a basketball player or a volleyball player. Poly Prep’s three-sport superstar went 2-for-3, knocked in the tying run and scored the eventual winning run in a 5-3 victory over Riverdale to avenge a previous loss to the Falcons.
Kate Miller, Fieldston
The Fieldston star recently committed to play at Princeton and showed exactly why in an important win over Horace Mann last week. Miller went 3-for-3 with a walk and triple while driving in five and scoring three times. She also allowed just three hits and walked four in the circle for a 13-3 win.
Shannon Minihane, Mary Louis
The senior third baseman has been disappointed in her performance in big game of late and decided to take the pressure off. It translated into arguably her best game of the season. Minihane went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in the first inning, a double and three RBIs in an 8-7 win over Molloy.
Alexandra Prescia, St. Joseph by the Sea
St. Joseph by the Sea coach Mike Ponsiglione was unsure if Prescia was going to be in the leadoff stop after she injured her pinky catching earlier in the week. She ended up rewarding his confidence by collecting two hits and two RBIs in a 6-2 win against Molloy.
Jillian Regan, Tottenville
Jillian Regan was only doing what Tottenville ace Cheryl Lopez predicted. Lopez said the sophomore slugger would homer more than once against Wagne. Regan followed suit. She blasted two balls over the centerfield fence at Great Kills Little League in a 7-2 win, drove in two and scored three times.
LACROSSE
Madeline Hopper, Riverdale
Hopper ended the game with rival Poly Prep with a bit of a chip on her shoulder, unhappy with the way she’s performed. She no longer has that feeling. Hopper scored an astounding nine times to lead the Falcons past the Blue Devils on Saturday to pull them into a second-place tie.
Victoria Orlick, Tottenville
The senior was a thorn in Cardozo’s side last week. Orlick scored five times in the team’s first meeting and three more times after a long bus ride from Staten Island to Queens on Friday. She scored 11 times over three wins.
Billy Trizano, Iona Prep
Trizano, the coach’s son, was expected to be the Gaels’ third attack when the year started. Since then he has matured and is arguably the team’s best player after Shane Fee. He scored 13 times over three wins last week, including six goals against Mount St. Michael.
