The College of Staten Island women’s softball team is known for its national-caliber program on the diamond each spring, and the fall season is usually a time to hone their craft further and get in a solid season of practice and skill work.  The Dolphins took a break from that, however, in time for the 3rd Annual College of Staten Island Fall Festival held on the campus’ Great Lawn on Saturday.  The Dolphins, who held a batting, fielding, and pitching clinic on-site was also there to cheer on the many kids in attendance and simply welcoming the campus community onto the CSI grounds.
“It was a great time, and we had a lot of fun,” said CSI head coach Stella Porto, who just recently enjoyed her sixth-straight 20+ win season with the Dolphins.  Indeed, the Dolphins turned out in numbers to the yearly event which has become a tradition for the CSI diamond-goers.  Over 100 youths passed through the CSI hitting, fielding and pitching stations.  A few yards away, members of the CSI women’s basketball team were at a similar station, working a basketball shooting station.
The Community Fall Festival which took place between 11am-4pm on Saturday was open to the entire CSI community free of charge but with a suggested family donation of $10.  All proceeds raised during the event goes to the Staten Island Breast Cancer Research Initiative, a support cause that CSI Athletics supports year-round with events such as CSI Volleyball’s Serving For a Cure, and CSI Baseball’s Grace Hillery Breast Cancer Awareness Night.
The event is also just one of many that the CSI Softball team devotes its time toward.  In the spring, CSI softball coaches will conduct a PSAL Coaches Clinic along with the help of their players, and the team will be taking part in Staten Island’s P3 Annex Field Day and Volunteer to Support Autism Awareness Fair, also slated for Spring 2010.