Over 1,000 Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) participants and family members attended the New York Mets game on May 19 as part of the MLB team’s Future Stars Program.
CYO members from 12 parishes participated in a pre-game parade on the field and received a complimentary ticket to watch the Mets take on the Los Angeles Angels.
CYO received $10 from each additional ticket sold to friends, family and members of the community. Queen of Peace, Queens Village, sold the most tickets and received a signed bat from Mets captain David Wright.
“The CYO of the Diocese of Brooklyn is extremely grateful to the New York Mets for this great opportunity and partnership in the Future Stars program,” said CYO Director Rob Caldera. “This program provides many opportunities for the children and CYO leaders in our diocese to come together as a community. We look forward to the continued partnership with the New York Mets for years to come.”
The Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, girls’ varsity lacrosse team made history by capturing the program’s first-ever city championship in its first-ever season.
The team was comprised of all freshmen girls and competed on the varsity level since there is no junior varsity level in GCHSAA lacrosse.
What made this championship even more impressive is that the entire team had never even picked up a lacrosse stick before March 1.
The regular season began with a 7-2 loss to Cardinal Spellman H.S., the Bronx, but that game served as a precursor for things to come. After two more losses, the team rallied to win six of the next seven to finish the regular season 6-4 and tied for second place with neighborhood rival, Fontbonne Hall Academy.
A thrilling 7-6 OT win over Fontbonne in the semifinals, capped by a sudden-death game-winning goal by Lauren Koenig, sent the Clippers to the finals in a rematch against Spellman.
The championship game was a back-and-forth matchup. Giana Romano recorded a hat trick, and Jenna Tertycz, Ava DeGratto and Koenig scored two goals each. Three key saves by goalie Olivia Serrano in the final two minutes sealed Xaverian’s 9-8 title victory.
“I think what I am most proud of with this group is their ability as a whole to contribute to the team,” said head coach Erin Kennedy. “Because we had so many multisport athletes and other girls who had commitments to our music and speech and debate programs, we had to play many games without a full squad.”