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Fontbonne Hall softball eliminated by St. Francis Prep in Brooklyn-Queens semis

May 13, 2015 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Bianca Marletta gave up two runs in the first two innings against St. Francis Prep, but settled down after that. Unfortunately, Fontbonne Hall's offense couldn't pick her up, and the Bonnies lost 2-0 in the semifinals. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese
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It’s the end of the line for Fontbonne Hall’s softball team as the Bonnies were eliminated from the Catholic High School Athletic Association’s Brooklyn/Queens AA semifinals when they lost 2-0 to St. Francis Prep (SFP) in Queens on Monday.

“It was really frustrating. It was so upsetting,” said Fontbonne Hall’s starter Bianca Marletta. “We tried so hard to come back; we tried to pick each other up. Honestly, I don’t think [SFP starter Katie Siano] was doing anything differently [than she did in our 3-0 win against her last week]. Everybody couldn’t hit today for some reason.”

St. Francis Prep was able to take advantage of an early mistake to make it 1-0 in the first inning when Miranda Cintron hit a single to centerfield that took a strange hop over centerfielder Delaina Allegretti’s glove and allowed Taylor Russo to score.

St. Francis Prep scored again in the second to make it 2-0 when Rebecca Colak smashed a triple that drove in Russo. Marletta settled in and pitched great after that, but the damage had been done.

Normally, a 2-0 hole is not a major cause for concern for the Bonnies’ powerful lineup — but that turned out not to be the case on Monday against St. Francis Prep’s Siano.

Fontbonne Hall’s best chance came in the third inning when Brittany Haneman singled, Ella Greber reached on a fielder’s choice and Marletta walked to load the bases with just one out. Unfortunately, Ariana Dillon popped out and Natalie LaCognata struck out looking to end the danger.

The Bonnies threatened again in the fourth, but a base-running mistake cost them a chance to finally break out.

“We couldn’t get that ball in play at the time we needed it,” said Fontbonne Hall coach Frank Marinello. “We left nine girls on base. Bases loaded with less than two outs, we’re supposed to be able to put the ball in play to put pressure on the defense and see what we do. Strikeouts don’t work at this level.

“Hitting is what our specialty is over the years, but we didn’t get that today,” he continued. “We did hit the ball hard, but right at people.”

While St. Francis Prep goes on to face Molloy High School in the finals, the season is over for Fontbonne Hall. The team finished with a 5-3 record during the regular season which was good enough for third place in the division

The Bonnies lose some of their best players who are graduating this year, including center fielder Delaina Allegretti, right fielder Ella Greber, catcher Jill Nixon and Steph Poulos. Marinello said losing those players would be tough, but with so much talent at the junior varsity level, he predicted the team will be in decent shape.

“That team right there [referring to the JV squad], if they had any pitching they would be beating varsity teams,” Marinello said.

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