Pearl River Softball Seniors Focused on Quarterfinal

Pearl River softball coach Mike Carlacci made sure his team knew that Beacon, the Pirates' opponent in the Section 1 Class A quarterfinals 4:30 p.m. today, is much better than its 11-10 record.

Beacon plays in a league with the top two seeds in the Section 1 Class AA tournament -- Ketcham and John Jay-East Fishkill, so the Bulldogs have been tested by a brutal league schedule.

He most likely did not have to bother. Pearl River is the top seed and a favorite to win its fourth consecutive section championship. The Pirates are also the ranked No. 4 in the state in Class A. But Pearl River (20-1) is a veteran team that has no intention of taking any opponent lightly.

"Going into each game, you know it’s not going to be easy," senior catcher Jamie DeGennaro said after Friday's 15-0 first-round victory over Nyack. "Especially now. Everything has to go into every single game.

"Any game could be my last game because I’m a senior. We have great chemistry. We all love each other so much. Knowing every game could be our last game, we work so much harder. We came out today and knew we had to put everything into this game. If we don’t put everything into it, anything can happen."

Senior pitcher Katie O'Flynn, who improved her career post-season record to 14-1 Friday, wanted no part of talking about section or state titles.

"We're not going in thinking we're going to win the whole thing," O'Flynn said. "Now that I'm a senior, I want to play every pitch and every at-bat like it's the last. You should always play like that."

O'Flynn and DeGennaro are two of four seniors who have been part of the program for the last three section championships, though none of them played much as freshmen. Shortstop Gemma Mahoney, who has been a starter since her sophomore year, and second baseman Kaity Goldrick are the other two. Senior first baseman Amanda Schule joined the varsity as a sophomore.

"When we were freshmen, none of us really played," DeGennaro said. "I would hit occasionally. Katie played a little bit. The seniors when we were freshmen were amazing. It was a big learning experience. The next year, we had to step it up a bit. Every year, you take a little step up. It helps you ease into the whole thing. Last year, it was all on us."

The current seniors were part of a team that reached the state finals as sophomores, then got back again and won the state championship a year ago.

"I certainly would like to think experience gives us a slight edge," Carlacci said. "Obviously, you have to play the game on the field, but there is no one who can say they have as much experience in the postseason as us."

That starts on the mound with O'Flynn, who is 17-1 this season with a 0.64 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 110 innings pitched.

Beacon, the No. 9 seed, reached the quarterfinals with a 7-1 victory at No. 8 Panas Friday. Shaylyn Wood struck out four and gave up only three hits in the win and teammate Leandra Echi was 4-for-4 with three runs scored.

The winner of today's game advances to the semifinals Thursday. Pearl River would be at home again with a victory. The section championship game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday at North Rockland.

Editor's note: Changed to reflect Pearl River's No. 4 ranking in the state in Class A.