By Collin Bolebruch
SOFTBALL
The Plattsburgh Cardinals softball team (16-4, SUNYAC 5-1) continues to wreak havoc on its schedule. After dropping its first SUNYAC game this season to the Potsdam Bears (6-18, SUNYAC 2-4) 3-4 April 15, it beat the Bears in the second game of the doubleheader 9-5. Four days later, April 19, the Cardinals beat the Canton Kangaroos (2-16) twice in a doubleheader, by scores of 15-0 and 11-0.
Pitcher Kristina Maggiacomo had the game of her lifetime, becoming the sixth Cardinal ever to record a no-hitter. In the first game against the Kangaroos, Maggiacomo struck out 15 of 16 batters. No Cardinal has no-hit an opposing team since 2009.Â
In the second game, pitcher Julia Golino struck out 16 batters, allowing just one hit to the ‘Roos. Outfielder Michelle Gonzales had a strong week, recording seven runs batted in in four games. Gonzales and catcher Rebecca Diller scored five runs each.
The Cardinals look to maintain its status in the SUNYAC, playing two conference doubleheaders this weekend. Plattsburgh will host the Buffalo State Bengals (2-20, SUNYAC 1-5) today, April 21. Tomorrow, April 22, the Cardinals welcome the Fredonia Blue Devils (16-8, SUNYAC 5-1) to town for senior night.
TRACK AND FIELD
Cardinals outdoor track and field competed in two meets on consecutive days last weekend. A small portion of the distance squad participated in the RPI Under the Lights Invitational in Troy, New York, and a larger group went to the Southern New Hampshire Penman Relays in Hooksett. Sprinters Brexton Montville and Janyll Barber were scheduled to run in the Larry Ellis Invitational in Princeton, New Jersey, but the meet was canceled due to thunder and lightning.
Five Cardinals recorded times at RPI facing Division II and III competition. Aislyn McDonough was the only participant from the women’s team. She won the 800m with a time of 2:21.34 — more than three seconds faster than the runner up — and qualified for the SUNYAC Championships. From the men’s team, Noah Bonesteel was named an AARTFC Championships qualifier for his 1500m run (4:00.48). Two other Cardinals qualified for SUNYACs: Logan Van Buren in the 800m run (1:58.44) and Erik Kucera in the 1500m run (4:05.04).
At Southern New Hampshire, six qualifying times were posted by Cardinals. Charles Cypress placed second in the 200m dash (22.15) and qualified for the AARTFC Championships. Bonesteel was the runner-up in the 800m dash (1:57.24) and qualified for SUNYACs. Other SUNYAC qualifiers included Aiden Masten in long jump (6.28m), Aiden Tous in shot put (12.69m), Jorge Cabrera in hammer throw (38.53m) and Spencer Trudo in hammer throw (37.24).
Plattsburgh competes in its second-to-last regular season meet tomorrow, April 22. The Cards will travel to Middlebury, Vermont to compete in the Middlebury Outdoor Invitational. Playoffs begin May 5 and 6 with the SUNYAC Championships.
TENNIS
Plattsburgh tennis finished its spring slate of games this past week. In the previous two seasons, the Cardinals played conference games in the spring, but this year, Plattsburgh participated in friendly matches.
The Cards hosted a doubles tournament, competing against the Russell Sage Gators, the Northern Vermont University – Johnson Badgers and the Castleton Spartans. Head Coach Kelci Henn hopes to make the tournament an annual event. NVU, Castleton and Vermont Technical College will be merging to form Vermont State University in July, meaning the event would feature the new university moving forward.
Russell Sage’s doubles team of Tirzah Spivey and Emma Nuzzi won first place, scoring the highest through nine rounds of matches. The duo was awarded a prize by Henn that included a Starbucks gift card. Plattsburgh had three duos compete in the tournament: Nicole and Samantha Svantner; Sarah Benowitz and Sophia Gottschall; and Jackie Svantner and Hallie Hurwitz.
After completing its spring games, tennis wraps up the spring semester with a tennis clinic available for the Plattsburgh community. Hosted tomorrow, April 22, at the McDonough Hall Tennis Courts, participants can learn tennis skills and play with the team. Session one, for attendees ages 5 through 12, will run from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and session two, for attendees ages 13 through 17, will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration is $40 per session and the link can be found at gocardinalsports.com/sports/womens-tennis.
