by Neil A. Carousso

The St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, L’il Terriers baseball program has been one of the best programs in N.Y.C. While the Prep softball team is playing well this year, so is the baseball team, as they both look to make a run towards a Brooklyn/Queens title.

 

Senior captain Nick LoPrinzi has been a great asset to the L’il Terriers. LoPrinzi, a four-year varsity standout, has been behind the plate, on the mound and at first base in the last four years. This season, he’s focusing on catching and calling a competitive game for star pitchers Taso Stathopolous and Dylan Lawrence.

LoPrinzi will be attending St. Joseph’s College’s Brooklyn Campus, Clinton Hill, where he has a chance to start his freshman year, but for now, he’s content on bringing a championship home to Fresh Meadows. “I think we have gotten better and better every year, and we built a team this year that can win a championship,” LoPrinzi said.

While the L’il Terriers are confident in their team, they will need to stay healthy and remain consistent throughout the season. Although their pitching has been consistent all around, along with their defense, the offense has been the backbone of the team. LoPrinzi said, “If we hit, in my opinion, no one can stop us.”

St. Francis Prep sure has a good shot at winning a championship for the first time since 2007. They have a strong starting rotation and a solid bullpen. While inconsistent, they seem to get timely hits. “This is definitely the best team I’ve played on [during] my years at Prep,” said LoPrinzi.

Softball Captain Ready To Leave on a High Note

Danielle Cervasio has played on the St. Francis Prep softball team for her four years of high school, leading off the lineup and starting at shortstop. She has led her team to four winning seasons. She is the heart and soul of the Lady Terriers and will continue her student-athletic career at SUNY Cortland.

“I think we have upheld a reputation as a top team, and that has a lot to do with the coaching,” said the modest Cervasio, who has a team-first mentality.

 

Cervasio has plenty to be excited about, including a chance to take her Lady Terriers squad to the Brooklyn/Queens diocesan championship game. The Lady Terriers have been just shy of a Brooklyn/Queens title the last four years, which makes the team hungrier to win this season in one of the more competitive leagues in New York. “I believe that we can go very far [this season] because we have a strong defense and a very tight lineup [in which] every girl can hit and knows how to work the count and run the bases. They are all true softball players.”

The Lady Terriers have a great sense of camaraderie that has benefited them on and off the field. “I feel like we have really come together well as a team, and everything clicks with these girls,” Cervasio said. “We all play very well together and communicate very well with each other.”

The Lady Terriers began this season with high expectations, and as the season winds down, they look to capitalize on another strong regular season, hopefully to come away with a Brooklyn/Queens title in 2013. but they’ll have to deal with a few tough teams in their way, including The Mary Louis Academy Hilltoppers, Jamaica Estates, and the Archbishop Molloy Stanners, Briarwood.

[hr]Neil A. Carousso is a senior at St. Francis Prep and serves as a journalist, broadcaster and media liaison for the school.[hr]