The College of Staten Island is fresh off of their 2017 CUNYAC Postseason Championship, and they were rewarded handsomely with more postseason honors from the City University of New York, earning three year-end awards and a total of four other all-star citations. Senior Jacqueline Cautela took home her third CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year honor, while freshman slugger Patricia Riches easily won Rookie of the Year honors. Head Coach Stella Porto was named the CUNYAC’s Coach of the Year, while Vanessa Jioia, Antoinette Galbo, Kristy Colangelo, and Nicolette Trapani all found their way onto the all-star team. Senior co-captain Alexandra Conanan was named to the conference’s All-Sportsmanship team.
No stranger to awards, Cautela wrapped up a phenomenal career with her finest season to date, winning the Pitcher of the Year award on the heels of her fourth-straight Tournament Most Valuable Player honor. Cautela was sensational in the circle this season, going 15-3 with a 0.78 ERA, ranked in the Top 10 nationally in that category. Opponents batted just .169 against the senior, and she led CSI in innings pitched (116.0), and strikeouts (76), breaking school records for wins and strikeouts along the way. Although not a part of the award, Cautela batted an incredible .368, leading the team with 51 runs scored and 18 bases-on-balls.
“It’s an honor to win this award three out of the four years I’ve pitched for the College of Staten Island,” Cautela said. “It has proved that the hard work, commitment, and dedication I put in paid off. But I wouldn’t be the pitcher that I am today without my team behind me. It’s an incredible feeling.”
A five-time CUNYAC Rookie of the Week, Riches’ number 13 was unlucky for opposing pitchers as she batted a heavy .536 this season, currently standing as the best mark in school history and third in the entire nation. She broke the school-record for hits in a single season with 67, and led the team in doubles (13), triples (3), home runs (5) and slugging (.808). She was a perfect 7-7 in stolen base attempts and boasted a .975 glove at shortstop, starting every game this season.
“To me this award is a huge honor. All of the hard work I’ve put in is paying off and I couldn’t be happier with the results,” Riches stated. “Softball is a big part of my life and to accomplish so much in my first year is such a huge accomplishment for me.”
Head Coach Stella Porto has won her respective award for the second year in a row and with good reason. The team managed a 34-7 record this season, the best mark in single season history while also setting single season records in winning streak (19 games), fielding percentage (.970), and team ERA (1.00).
CSI’s collection of all-star honorees were all well-deserving. Among them Galbo earned the best batting average at the dish, going .395 with 47 hits and eight doubles and 11 walks. The sophomore led the team with 12 stolen bases and her 12 sacrifice bunts easily led the team. Jioia was next in line batting .377, sharing the team lead with five homers, including one in the CUNYAC Postseason Tournament. Jioia also placed second on the squad with 18 walks and was tied for third on the unit with 28 RBI.
Enjoying her finest season was Colangelo, who earned on with a .358 batting average, spreading out 10 extra-base hits and posting 33 RBI, good for second on the team. Colangelo was a perfect 8-8 in steal attempts, making 32 put-outs in center field. Rounding out the all-stars was Trapani, who sported an 11-3 record with a 0.92 ERA, pitching 76 innings pitched, allowing only 10 earned runs, striking out 54 while only walking 12. Opponents batted just .187 against her.
The Dolphins’ season will continue this weekend, when they travel to take part in the NCAA Regional as part of the National Championship Tournament.
