Staten Island Wins CUNYAC/Modell's Softball Championship For Fourth Straight Year

CUNYAC Softball Presented by Modell's

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In Day Two of the 2016 CUNYAC/Modells Softball Double Elimination Tournament, the #2 Hunter Hawks faced off against the #3 Baruch Bearcats in the last elimination game before the final. The Hawks would come from behind to defeat the Bearcats by a score of 6-5. They would then face off against #1 Staten Island, who defeated them on Day 1 in a very close game 2-0. Looking for payback, and trying to keep their championship dreams alive, the Hunter Hawks just could not overcome Jacqueline Cautela and the Dolphins. She allowed no hits as the Dolphins took home a fourth straight championship by a score of 8-0.

Championship Game: #1 Staten Island 8, #2 Hunter Hawks 0

The College of Staten Island took on Hunter College in the championship game as the great sunny weather continued. The Dolphins would retained the championship for the fourth straight year, defeating the Hawks 8-0 behind Jacqueline Cautela's no-hitter and a six-run first inning.

"What a feeling!," said Stella Porto, the Dolphins' head coach. "It never gets old, from being a player to now coaching one of the best teams that I've ever crossed my eyes on. The heart that these children had with the weather that we went through all year. It's been a very, very tough season and to win it is just an amazing, amazing feeling."

Cautela took the mound fresh off her 13 strikeout, no hit performance on Day 1 of the tournament. She continued that strong pitching in the first inning, retiring the side in order. Then, she led off a six-run first inning with a dribbler in front of the catcher for a single as she beat the throw down the line. After a couple of hits and walks, and with the score at 2-0 with the bases loaded, Ashley Notaro cleared the bases with a long double over the left fielder's head. Her teammate, Nicolette Trapani, immediately followed up her double with a double of her own. That quickly enlarged the Dolphins' lead to 6-0 before the first inning would end.

The Hunter hitters continued to be stymied by Cautela. She pitched stellar in the second, third, and fourth innings, once again allowing no hits to the Hawks. She got some help from her defense too, as Trapani made a diving stop at first base and tagged the base to record the final out of the third inning. Cautela fueled the offense yet again, starting the fourth inning with a walk. Christina Tufano drove her in with a double. She came home after Vanessa Joia singled her to third base and a wild pitch allowed her to cross the plate. The Dolphins led 8-0 at the end of the fourth inning.

Cautela proceeded to finish her no-hitter in the fifth inning after a walk. She ended the game with a strikeout as the team ran to her to celebrate a fourth straight championship.

For all of her efforts, Cautela was named Most Valuable Player after her two dominant performances in the tournament. She pitched her team to the CUNYAC/Modell's Softball Championship as she allowed no hits in ten total innings while striking out 17 batters. At the plate, she picked up two hits, including a huge home run on Day 1. She also drove in two runners and scored four times.

"It's an honor," said Cautela about winning the MVP award. "I love this sport and [the MVP award] would mean nothing without my team behind me. They help me a lot and I'll be nowhere without them."

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Elimination Game: #2 Hunter Hawks 6, #3 Baruch Bearcats 5

A lively game on a sunny Sunday afternoon between the #2 Hunter Hawks and #3 Baruch Bearcats ended with a 6-5 victory for the Hawks. They advance to the Championship game with the victory.

Hunter jumped out to an early lead thanks to Emily Ruiz's RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning. Baruch would answer in the second using a little small ball. They got a runner home after a single, a wild pitch, and two bunts. But, Baruch would cough up the lead after an error in left field allowed a runner to score, giving Hunter a 2-1 lead after 2 innings.

Baruch would make up for that error in the third inning. Captain Nicole Bellini sent a shot to center field that landed for a two-run double. The next batter, Olivia Dellston, popped one down the right field line that was just out of the reach of Hunter's diving right fielder. She was thrown out trying to stretch the double into a triple but the run scored. A diving play in foul territory by Baruch's left fielder highlighted the end of the third inning with the score in favor of Baruch 4-2.

Bellini would strike again in the fifth inning with another long drive to center field that hit the bottom of the wall. This time it was Kaitlyn Vichas who followed her double, hitting a bloop single to score the runner with two outs. No further damage was done as Sara Beck kept the Hawks close after taking over at pitcher. This was important because Hunter would immediately respond in the next half inning. Two bunts and a hotshot up the middle created a bases loaded and one out situation. With the bases full, a passed ball led to a run. After a walk reloaded the bases, back-to-back singles through the infield evened the score at 5. Baruch would finally get out of the inning after a flyout and a grounder back to the pitcher.

Hunter got back to business in the sixth inning. After a quick top half of the inning, Christine Kline would step up to the plate in the bottom half and hit a blast to left field that cleared the fence with no problem. The solo home run would turn out to be huge as it became the game-winning run after Erika Colangelo came in for the Hawks in the seventh inning and closed the door on the game. She overcame an error and struck out two batters on her way to the save. The Hawks won the game by a score of 6-5.

With the win, Hunter advanced to the championship game to face the #1 Staten Island Dolphins.

Thursday, May 5th @ Brooklyn College

Game A 5:00 pm #3 Baruch 10, #6 Brooklyn 2 (5inn)

Game B 7:00 pm #5 Lehman 14, #4 John Jay 12 (11 inn.)

Saturday, May 7th @ College of Staten Island

Game 1 12:00 pm #1 Staten Island 8, #5 Lehman 0

Game 2 2:15 pm #2 Hunter 8, #3 Baruch 0

Game 3 4:30 pm #3 Baruch 9, #5 Lehman 7

Game 4 6:45 pm #1 Staten Island 2, #2 Hunter 0

Sunday, May 8th @ College of Staten Island

Game 5 11:15 Am #2 Hunter 6, #3 Baruch 5

Game 6 1:45 pm #1 Staten Island 8, #2 Hunter 0