The College of Staten Island softball team will get back out onto the diamond after a long layoff, looking for their first victory of the season when they take on CUNYAC-rivals York College at Padavan-Preller Field in Queens. Both teams will be looking to turn around some lengthy losing streaks as well as start off strong in conference play.
CSI vs. YORK COLLEGE
Matchup: College of Staten Island (0-10, 0-0 CUNYAC) vs. York College ( 0-6, 0-4 CUNYAC)
Where: Padavan-Preller Field – 236-02 Hillside Ave, Queens, NY
All-Time Series: CSI leads, 28-0
Last Meeting: April 23, 2018 – CSI won both, 15-1 & 14-0
Players to Watch (CSI): The Dolphins are looking to break out offensively after a slow start this season. They are being led at the plate by junior Patricia Riches, who is batting .545 with 18 hits in just 33 at bats. Freshman Sierra Kaplanek has displayed power in her first few weeks. She is batting a healthy .448 and leads the team with four doubles and a home run and eight RBI. Antoinette Galbo is next on the docket with a .276 average, having walked a pair of times as well. In the circle, Jaclyn Kateridge has done a lion’s share of the pitching, as she is 0-9 this season with a 4.67 ERA in a heavy 48 innings. Vanessa Porto has put in 14.1 innings, and sits with a 5.86 ERA.
Players to Watch (YC): York is batting just .176 as a team, but they are led by the hot hitting of Nicole Ovelheira, who is batting .375, leading York with six hits, two doubles and a pair of RBI. Mary Cuevas is batting .286 and is tied with Dorianny Rojas and Rosenery Chicaiza with three runs scored so far this year. In the circle, Chicaiza is 0-3 with a 17.32 ERA having gone 19 innings, fanning 12. Rojas also doubles in the circle, and is 0-3 with a 31.11 ERA. she has had a problem with control, walking 29 batters in just nine innings.
News & Notes: The all-time record speaks for itself, as CSI has had tremendous success against York since the two teams have been meeting regularly since 2002. The Dolphins are 28-0 all-time against York and have won all 13 meetings in which York has hosted. CSI has won the last five meetings and 10 of the last 11 meetings by over 10 runs. CSI has also shut out York in eight of the last nine meetings. The teams share no common opponents thus far this season. York is already 0-4 in conference play, having dropped both ends of doubleheaders against Hunter College (21-0, 16-2) and Baruch College (6-3, 21-8). CSI has started the season 0-10 for the first time in school history, and have lost 12-straight since last season. They will certainly look to reverse that fortune against the Cardinals, who they have had plenty of success against in the past. CSI will go right back to work after this doubleheader with another doubleheader against Baruch College tomorrow, played at Baruch’s home field at Randall’s Island.
