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Middle School Boys Baseball
The MS Boys Baseball team had an undefeated season, with the team playing very competitive baseball throughout. Great pitching, solid defense and timely hitting proved to be the ingredients for an outstanding season. We had 13 players on the roster, and everyone stepped up and contributed. The pitching was extremely strong behind the arms of 8th graders Adrian E. and Adam W. The seventh graders did a great job coming to practice and contributing during games. Our team got better and better as the season went on, especially on the offensive attack, we had some really nice hits and scored some very exciting runs. The defensive play was pretty solid and kept us competitive in all the games. Eighth graders Adrian E., Adam W., Charlie S., Malik W., Thomas C. and Aidan P. led the way, and seventh graders Noah W., Charlie H., Sammy H., Diego M., Max N., Henry J., and Henry W. were quick learners and contributed offensively and defensively. We are already looking forward to next year as these 7th graders move up and a strong class of current 6th graders join the team. Blue Pride!
Middle School Girls Softball
The softball team had a winning season, on both an individual level and a group level. We had the balance of seven 7th grade players and seven 8th grade players. The girls showed great defensive efforts in our opening game, losing by just two runs to the hard hitting UNIS team. All girls played one primary position and at least one secondary position. Daisy, Karie, and Sonya stepped in as our new pitchers, working hard with Jenna to improve their skills. Taty and Bella were our experienced pitchers. Airenakhue, Jaden, Ashley, and Karie protected the plate as our catchers and helped motivate our pitchers. Sonya, Fiona, Karie, Ashley, and Maya were our main outfielders, while Aoife, Bella, Nell, Sophie, Jaden, Taty, and Hannah were our main infielders. It was fun for coaches Jenna and Marna to witness the excitement of each player's first awesome play - whether it was a player getting their first base hit, a pitcher making their first strike out, an outfielder catching a fly ball, or an infielder making an amazing play to 1st base. Highlights of the season were Bella's double play in the Dalton game, making a comeback and almost beating Staten Island Academy in the bottom of the last inning, and beating Berkeley Carroll 12 - 2. Blue Pride! 
Upper School Boys Varsity Baseball
The 2011 Varsity baseball team entered the spring with improbably high expectations. Thoughts of an undefeated season and two championships were on the minds of the students. It was only when the team took the field that it became apparent that these expectations were not impossible. Right from the beginning of the season the team started dominating with pitching and defense. The team rushed out to a 10-0 start, including shutouts over UNIS and Nazareth and a 7-1 victory over ECHS during their annual game at MCU Park (formerly Keyspan), home of the Brooklyn Cyclones. The first and only regular season loss came at the hands of Garden School during split squad action. While half of the team was defeating Churchill on field 3 in Redhook, the other half of the team dropped a heart breaking 6-4 division on field 4. That loss, disappointing as it was, reinvigorated the team and refocused them. After the loss the team won their next eight games by a combined score of 103 – 21, which included three shut outs and a no-hitter by team ace Owen K. So the team rolled into the playoffs carrying great momentum and dominating their competition along the way. But then the rains came, and the team did not step onto the field for an eleven day span from May 12th to May 23. When they did get on the field it was in the ISAL championship game vs. Garden School. After splitting two match ups in the regular season, the two teams were to meet one final time to decide the ISAL championship. The game was a tough pitching duel that was scoreless until the sixth inning. It was in the sixth when BFS broke through with the aid of back-to-back errors by Garden’s shortstop and an over throw by the center fielder for a 2-0 lead. Misha gave way to Owen who came in for the save with runners on first and third. Owen picked off one runner and struck a batter before Erez M. caught a runner trying to steal third to capture the ISAL crown for the second straight season. The celebration, though joyous was subdued because the team and coaching staff knew there was more work to be done. The next day’s game would bring Bay Ridge Prep into Redhook for a PSAA semi-final contest. After a 1-6 start to the season BRP went on an unlikely 4-1 run to finish 5-7 and capture the fourth and final PSAA playoff spot. Once the game started it was clear that the run took its toll on the BRP pitching staff, as the Panthers jumped on them early and often, eventually winning by mercy 12-2. With the win the BFS Panthers placed themselves in the PSAA finals for the second consecutive year. And as luck would have it, their opponent turned out to be LWA, the team that defeated them in the PSAA finals on May 25th of the 2010 season, exactly one year to the day. Once again right from the beginning of the game it was clear BFS was the better and more focused team. After holding LWA scoreless in the top of first inning, the Panthers scored two to start the scoring in their half of the first. In the second already leading 2-0, BFS started the inning with four straight hits. Those hits (including two doubles and a triple) eventually led to a four run inning and a 6-0 lead. From there the boys cruised adding a run in the fourth and in the sixth. The only bump in the road for the Blue Pride was when they allowed an unearned run in the top of the sixth. In the seventh inning Misha H. took over the pitching duties and struck out the leadoff batter, produced a soft liner to first and struck out the final batter of the game, catapulting the team on to the field for a raucous celebration. After the game Owen K. received 2011 League MVP and Playoff MVP. Coach Pittari was named coach of the year and honored with a Gatorade bath by his ace pitcher.
 You can’t have an amazing year without amazing effort, and that is just what the 22 player roster did on a daily basis. Senior pitchers Owen K. and Maceo T. were each 5-0 on the season while sophomore Misha H. went a very respectable 4-0. Owen set school records for strikeouts in a game with 20 and strikeouts in a season with 99. On the offensive side of the ball the team produced runs at an amazing 10 run per game average while batting .312 as a team. Led by the seniors the team received big hits from different players all season long. Owen almost .500 and led the team in RBI’s (29), runs (24) and extra base hits (14). Ben R. hit over .400 for his second straight season. Leadoff man and team captain Morgan R. batted over .300 and led with a team high 16 walks. One of the biggest surprises on the year was the play of Ben F. Always a solid player and good athlete, Ben became a leader and an All Conference player while batting almost .400 and driving in 18 RBI’s, including two last inning walk-off game winning hits during a one week span. When you add it all up, it equals an amazing season. It has been “A season for the ages”, and one that this coach was extremely proud of and honored to be a part of.
Upper School Girls Varsity Softball
Girls Varsity Softball went through a transitional year. With four seniors and one junior, we had leadership, but we lost our experienced pitcher when Molly went down with a season ending injury during basketball. Sarah and Chineke stepped up and learned how to pitch again. Willa learned to play third base. Olivia became a hitter and Krystal became a base stealer. Five Freshmen joined us as well and instantly became starters. Julia and Sarah M. also learned how to pitch and we had four pitchers in every game. Anna Emy learned how to be a catcher, Sophie played nearly every position and Chloe learned three positions. We welcomed juniors Bianca and Victoria to the team as substitutes and they played well when called upon.
Our inexperience showed: we beat Bay Ridge and Claremont Prep in non-league games, but had trouble with our league rivals. We finished with a 2-7 record ( 0-7 league). We had some flashes of brilliance with great fielding from Julia at shortstop, two home runs from Chineke, three triples from Julia and two doubles from Chloe. We often would have a lead but lose the game in the last inning. Our spirit did not waver and we had fun this year because we had to all step up and play every inning of every game.
Upper School Varsity Track
The US track team had a great season! There were lots of all time bests and school records set. The team was led once again by senior Kieran N, he won 3 events at our league championship bringing his career total to 12! Kieran's current best times are 1:57.06 in the 800 meter run and 4:21.62 in the 1600 meter run. Seniors Christian H and Jake N provided great leadership along with Kieran. Alan H had a great season which culminated in his 3rd place finish at our league championship in the 200 meter dash. Alex D-L and Dante P will join Kieran and Alan at the NYSAIS State Championships on May 25 at Icahn Stadium. The four runners won the 4x400 meter relay at the league championships and will run it on the 25th as well as running individual events. Kieran will be attempting to defend his state championship in the 800 meters.
On the girls side, we need more athletes!! Elinor H. had a great freshman season, she worked hard and improved all the way through the season. She ran 2:55 in the 800 meter run on May 12th which is an impressive time for a freshman. She needs some teammates for next year!
Middle School Track
The middle school team was larger than it has ever been. Eighth graders Giovanna M and Maya K led the way running 3:01 and 3:05 respectively for the 800 meter run. A large group of seventh graders also bolstered the team, Kamal G, Mason L, Mia B, Mia P, Grace G, Grace M, Ginger A, Meledi M, Sierra V came to practice as often as they could and used the time to learn the basics of the sport. They will make it a deep and strong team next year when they're in eighth grade. |