Every summer for the past 15 years, Brooklynites from all over the borough head to Coney Island’s MCU Park to cheer on our beloved Brooklyn Cyclones.
Between the ballpark’s family atmosphere and the chance to see prospects who may someday play for the New York Mets, it’s quite the fun experience for fans.
But just like the Mets’ farm club takes the borough of Kings by storm each summer, there’s another Brooklyn Cyclones’ team that has garnered the attention of the local softball world.
The Brooklyn Cyclones travel fast-pitch softball team is a program made up of local GCHSAA high school players from Fontbonne Hall Academy, Bay Ridge; St. Edmund Prep H.S., Sheepshead Bay; and several area public schools.
Just like the professional team in Coney Island, these Cyclones mean business whenever they step foot on the softball diamond.
“Summer softball is a lot different than the Catholic school league since there is a lot less pressure on the girls,” said Frank Marinello, the team’s head coach, who is also Fontbonne’s head coach during the spring season. “The kids are great; they all get along. The competitiveness of what they did during the year is irrelevant.”
The summer schedule is made up of a series of tournaments – usually one each weekend – in the tri-state area and beyond. While many high school girls enjoy some time off during the summer, these Cyclones have dedicated their summer vacation to improving their softball skills.
Along the way, the team sees plenty of strong competition from all over the country, which makes the game lots of fun.
“The majority of the time we’re going to Jersey or Long Island where girls are playing year-round just like us,” said Jill Nixon, the team’s catcher who recently graduated from Fontbonne. “It’s good competition.”
Each spring, Fontbonne and St. Edmund’s are among the top softball teams in their respective divisions. So having these girls play together in the summer goes a long way in the preparation for the spring high school season.
With the limited amount of good weather in this area right when the season starts, the summer schedule allows the girls to develop the sense of chemistry needed to play on the GCHSAA stage. Team members are able to identify their strengths and target some areas of improvement before the main slate of spring games begin.
While preparation is key, playing in the summer also strengthens the ties of friendship developed among these players. Years from now, maybe these girls won’t remember the score of a particular game or who got the big hit, but they will undoubtedly remember the travel trips – and maybe sometimes the shenanigans – that made their summers of softball enjoyable.
So the Mets’ farm team better watch out! This Brooklyn Cyclones softball team can hit, they can field and they can pitch, all of which have contributed to a fun summer of competitive softball.
Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com.