The Lawrence softball team is in pretty good shape, and that’s not to brag.
“We’re pretty middle of the pack,” said coach Craig Mannhart. “They fight hard from start to finish, it’s really all a coach could ask for.”
Of the 11 players on the team, six of them are seniors. In left field there’s Madeleine Ramos, and Mannhart said she has a great arm, but where her true improvement has been this season is seen at the plate.
“We’ve made some changes this year and she’s taken them in stride and she’s getting some good hits this season,” he said. “She has a few extra-base hits, a couple of double that she’s not used to, but I know she’s happy with her progress. I know I am.”
Heather McKale behind the plate, and she’s stepped in throwing, coincidentally, as in throwing out baserunners trying to steal second. Mannhart said that McHale has always had a pretty good bat and has always been a terrific defensive catcher.
There’s also some senior utility players: Melanie Flores and Jocelyn Reyes, whose bats have become more prominent this year, and in turn, produced more for Lawrence’s offensive output this year.
There’s also Gina Pasquariello at third base, with Mannhart saying that she has a good bat and glove on her. He said that Pasquariello has improved the most with her softball IQ and understanding how to react to game-time movements, even little things like when to move closer or further away ahead of a play.
“She’s always had a good understand, but you develop more and more as the season goes and different situations arise,” he elaborated.
Last but not least is the captain of the squad, Kristelene Kribbs, and Mannhart called her an extension of himself. Normally, that would sound like favoritism, but given the small nature of the school and the team itself, and notable no assistant coaches, it makes sense that he called Kribbs an extension of himself as a coach.
“A true born leader, she runs with that and she is the kind of player you want on your team,” he said.
Not only is she a fierce and dedicated leader for her teammates but she’s also an incredible player. On May 1, against Hempstead, she hit for the cycle, going 5-for-5 at the plate with five RBIs and five runs scored herself. Then last Friday against Valley Stream Central was a completely different story: a tough 21-2 loss.
The Golden Tornadoes (7-5-1) have three more games left in the season: Westbury, Friends Academy and neighboring Hewlett.
Mannhart said he’s hoping for positive results in at least two of those three days. “Hewlett will be a true testament to our growth this season,” he said, mentally preparing for the week of games ahead. “If we bring our A-game, we are more than capable of competing with them. They’re the number one in our conference right now, so they’re definitely a hard team to beat, but it’s definitely something that we’re striving to do.”
