John Jay softball overcomes tough start in win over Sleepy Hollow

Posted Thursday, April 3, 2025 9:41 am

Rich Monetti

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - On April 1, Riley Foote was unable to reach the second inning for John Jay’s home opener versus Sleepy Hollow. Walking in three in a four-run first inning, Foote’s difficulty didn’t have Coach Steve DelMoro the least bit worried that half his starting rotation would be a question mark going forward.

“One hundred percent,” he assured. “I have all the confidence in the world in her.”

But it was still first things first, and Maria DeGaetano made sure the Horseman knew no one was looking ahead yet.

The sophomore gave up one run the rest of the way, and the bats made up the difference in a 7-5 victory.

The comeback seemed to start immediately too. Foote walked to leadoff the bottom, but Sleepy Hollow’s manager noticed a discrepancy in the lineup card.

“The names were right, but the numbers were off,” DelMoro took full responsibility.

Foote was called out and went right back to the batter’s box. This time she reached on an error, and the Wolves looked to be in business when Carys Cooper singled to right.

Unfortunately, the girls couldn’t push across a run. So DeGaetano was put in position to settle things for her team, and falling back on past experience was the elixir.

“I’ve done this before,” she said. “I try to get in that head space where I focus and rely on my mechanics.”

Set at ease, Sleepy Hollow wasn’t so lucky. Following a lead off walk, the reliever struck out the side and then traded the circle for the rectangle.

After Bella Barry led off with a single to center, walks were issued to Clare Doherty and Maggie Lawton, and the pitcher got her team on the board. She lifted a sacrifice fly to center, and the lead was cut in half when a wild pitch brought in Doherty.

4-2 now, DeGaetano one-upped herself in the top of third. Three batters this time, she struck out the side again.

John Jay didn’t get any closer in the bottom of the inning, which did not deter their pitcher. Three batters, all went down on strikes, and the crowd roared when an off-speed-swinging strike made Lucy Black look like she just fell off her horse.

That put the Wolves in the saddle, and Lawton kicked the stirrups first. She led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on a DeGaetano walk.

Staying put after Laney Daley fouled out, the Wolves sent their thoroughbred to the plate.

“She’s the stud on our team” said Doherty of Carys Cooper, and an RBI single up the middle proved the point.

A one-run game, the first-inning miscues came around the other way. Charlotte Bender reached on an E6, and Elise Templeton tied the game on a free pass.

On to the 5th, DeGaetano finally proved human. She only struck out two, and Horsemen reached base on a single and error.

Of course, breaching home plate was another matter and the tie held up until the 6th. DeGaetano getting the first two, deadlock seemed imminent. But Meghan O’Hanlon doubled, and Black singled her in.

Nonetheless, John Jay did not appear fazed, while Amber Lopez wanted no part of Cooper. A walk on four pitches, the move looked even better when Bender flew to center.

So DelMoro went small ball. Foote bunted down first, and beating the throw, the tying run was at second. Not for long, Barry swung a redo.

The centerfielder singled up the middle again, and the lead was next.

“She did exactly what she was supposed to do,” DeGaetano said of Doherty, the Wolves slap-hitting lefty first baseman.

A picture-perfect push to left, Doherty explained her craft.

“It takes a lot of practice to get the footwork down. It’s a super short swing, straight to the ball,” she said. “I try to keep my feet on one line in a straight motion, so I make sure I’m not moving around.”

Insurance then came on the heels of walks by Sophia Cheng and DeGaetano, and the latter mostly had her way in the seventh.

Save a Annie Luciano leadoff single, the winning pitcher added two more strikeouts and DelMoro set the game down in order

“That’s what we do and always say,” the coach concluded. “Pick each other up, Maria came in, she knew what to do and took care of it.”