It’s that time again. As the spring sports season come to a close, join The Courier as we look back over an eventful three months. Like last time, the words that follow are not meant to be an exhaustive referendum on the best in the borough; rather, their aim is to represent some highlights of The Courier’s high school coverage since March. Please join us as we reminisce.
GAME OF THE SEASON: RFK vs. Prospect Heights (first round, ‘B’ playoffs, baseball)
Extra innings, penalty kicks, and general contentiousness between teams are never forgettable, but Jordan Wiener accomplished something else entirely when he threw a no-hitter in the playoffs one day after burying his father, a beloved and high-profile victim of swine flu whose initials were scrawled on the caps of RFK’s players.
Runners-Up:
Archbishop Molloy vs. St. Francis Prep (Brooklyn-Queens championship, softball)
Beacon vs. Francis Lewis (city semifinals, girls’ soccer)
Holy Cross vs. St. Francis Prep (Game 2, 5/13, regular season, baseball)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, BOYS: Jonathan Raude (Benjamin Cardozo tennis)
Flamethrowers Bobea and Ramirez carried their teams to division titles and gave up less than a run per game along the way. Johnson excelled in 10 different events and legitimized the Springfield Gardens program. But no one is closer to the top of his respective sport than Jonathan Raude, who may be the best tennis player in the city.
Runners-Up:
Jonathan Bobea (Francis Lewis baseball)
Weymour Johnson (Springfield Gardens track)
Franklyn Ramirez (Newtown baseball)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, GIRLS: Janelle Boyd (Archbishop Molloy softball)
Her complete-doubleheader performance in the Diocesan championship against rival St. Francis Prep cemented Boyd’s reputation as a team player and an uncommonly unhittable pitcher.
Runners-Up:
Amanda Annicaro (Benjamin Cardozo softball)
Ingrid Diosa (Francis Lewis soccer)
Despina Psomopoulos (Bayside soccer)
COACH OF THE SEASON: John Brennan (St. Francis Prep tennis)
Cardozo softball, Molloy softball, and Lewis soccer all reached unexpected heights in 2009, but no trip to the top was as inspiring as that of St. Francis Prep tennis, whose much-loved coach survived cancer and returned sooner than expected to his city-champion team.
Runners-Up:
Lawrence Alberts (Benjamin Cardozo softball)
Maureen Rosenbaum (Archbishop Molloy softball)
Roger Sarmuksnis (Francis Lewis girls’ soccer)
BEST TEAM SPIRIT: Benjamin Cardozo softball
The loudest of many loud sidelines, Cardozo’s softballers relished their victories over Bayside and Lewis, and they entered and exited Tottenville’s lair with heads held high in the city semifinals.
Runners-Up:
Archbishop Molloy softball
Francis Lewis baseball
Newcomers cricket
Finally, one more award is in order. This one goes to Pat from Floral Park, who submitted the winning entry in last blog’s “Belmont Stakes name game” contest, combining Dunkirk and (eventual Stakes winner) Summer Bird to breed a very-original horse called “Dunk the Bird.” Congratulations, Pat! Your free copy awaits you.
